What's in an Early Summer plant collection?

We are excited to introduce you to our brand new Seasonal outdoor plant collection. This collection focuses on beautiful early summer plants that are easy to grow, provide bags of beautiful colour, and will thrive throughout the summer.

From this point onward, all Lazy Flora Outdoor plant collections will include a selection of plants that are good for pollinators, and which provide much-needed energy sources for bees, butterflies and other insects.

Bee and pollinator populations are in decline, in part due to reduction in habitats and availability of flowering plants. By planting pollinator plants in your garden, you're doing your bit to reduce that decline.

We're very proud of this change - which isn't easy for us to implement - but we feel strongly that business should be used to do good in the world, and this is just one little way we can make a difference.

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Brachyscome

Also known as the Swan River Daisy, this pretty flowering plant is perfect for rock gardens and container gardens. They are originally from New Zealand and Australia, and as a result enjoy full sun wherever possible. Soil should be well drained, but well watered in warm weather.

Petunia

Petunias love to bathe in sunshine, and will reward you with plenty of flowers throughout the summer, if you let them. These plants will grow considerably once planted over the course of the summer, so allow some space around. They will spread horizontically and will trail from containers.

Lobelia

Lobelia is another easy annual. It will grow in sun or part shade and is a very traditional summer bedding plant. It comes from North America and often grows on low, wet ground near rivers and streams. It prefers moist to damp soil.

White Ivy 

Another beautiful trailing plant, that is almost impossible to kill. Ivy prefers shade but will tolerate some sunshine, so if you can plant it i the shadow of other plants, it will do well. It is one of the hardiest plants around and will stay with you for years to come. This beautiful evergreen has a beautiful white variegation.

Sutera

Sutera bacopa is a low trailing plant that will continuously flower providing it doesn't dry out too much. This plant will even deadhead itself and will be a popular haven for pollinators all season long. A trailing summer bedding plant - easy to grow. Plant on the edges of the container. 

Snap dragon

Loved by children for its trick of snapping when you pinch the flowers - also providing a doorway for bees and pollinators!  During the day when bees are looking for nourishment, snapdragons release four times more scent, which draws honeybees to them.

Fan Flower

Fan flowers' real name is Scaevola. This plant is a hardy evergreen that produces pretty small flowers, and should flower all summer long. As a trailing/creeping plant, it would be well sited on the edges of a container.

Pelargonium

Pelargoniums are a staple of balconies across the Mediterranean and beyond. They are exceptionally easy to grow, they thrive in bright, direct sunlight, require very little attention, and will flower right through to the Autumn. A great plant for beginners! 

Allysum

Also known as Sweet Allysum, this small, annual flowering plant is found in huge quantities in coastal areas in the Mediterranean. It has quite a strong fragrance which is very popular with insects, making it a wonderful pollinator plant.

Calibrachoa

Also known as Million Bells, for the shape of the flowers and prolific flowering, this plant closely resembles a mini Petunia. They like fast-draining soil but can quickly dry out in hotter weather, so keep a close eye on them when it gets warm.

Balloon Flower

Known as the Balloon Flower because of the shape of the buds as they are about to burst into flower. It is even possible to 'pop' the buds and you are rewarded with a satisfying sound when they burst. Great for gardening with kids, these are a firm favourite in the Lazy Flora camp.

Lavender

Lavender is one of the best pollinator plants around, and as we all know, their scent is divine. Lavender is native to warm Mediterranean climate, but can quickly dry out if it isn't watered sufficiently during warm spells, it can die on you quickly - so watch out. 

Salvia

Butterflies love Salvia! It is another wonderful pollinator plant. It is also an extremely hardy perennial plant, so you can enjoy the blooms and textures of this plant year after year. Make sure you dead head them through the season to encourage plenty of flowers.

Impatiens

Impatiens are some of the brightest and cheeriest annuals around. They are very sensitive to drought and will wilt quickly if they do not receive enough water. However, they do perk up quickly if you water them as soon as you notice this.

Zinnia

Young Zinnia plants require more water than established flowering plants, so you will want to make sure this plant is well watered when planting up. However, as it grows over the summer you will notice that it is relatively drought-tolerant and can survive with less.

 

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If you like the sound of these, you should head over to our Seasonal outdoor plant subscriptions and pick one up for yourself!