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Top 10 Easy Plants

Top 10 Easy Plants

This collection of plants are easy to grow, flower for long periods, great value for money and really are a must have for any garden, no matter how experienced at gardening you are. This Essential Mix of plants includes our best shrubs, perennials, climbers and grasses, all grown by our very own plant nurseries.

1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  • Evergreen shrub with fragrant purple flowers
  • Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil
  • Low maintenance and attracts pollinators.

Lavender—Thompson’s absolute favourite, and it’s easy to see why! This sun-worshipping, drought-tolerant marvel is a must-have for any garden lover. Its fragrant purple spikes not only add a splash of colour but also attract a parade of buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies, making your garden a pollinator’s paradise.

Lavender thrives in well-drained soil and asks for little more than a sunny spot and the occasional trim to keep it looking its best. Whether you plant it along garden paths for a dreamy, aromatic walkway or grow it in pots for a touch of Mediterranean charm on your patio, lavender is as versatile as it is beautiful. Plus, it’s not just for show—its dried flowers can be used for homemade sachets, soothing teas, and even culinary delights. With its effortless elegance and endless uses, it’s no wonder Thompson swears by it.

2. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

  • Produces large, colourful blooms in summer.
  • Prefers partial shade and moist soil.
  • Can tolerate most UK climates.

Hydrangea macrophylla is a popular garden shrub known for its large, globe-shaped flower heads, which can range in color from blue to pink depending on soil acidity. Thriving in partial shade with moist, well-drained soil, it blooms abundantly throughout the summer, adding a splash of color to borders and containers. Low-maintenance and hardy in most parts of the UK, Hydrangea macrophylla is ideal for gardeners seeking a reliable and visually striking plant that complements both formal and informal garden settings.
 

3. Skimmia japonica

  • Evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and clusters of fragrant flowers in spring.
  • Shade-tolerant and low-maintenance.
  • Prefers acidic, well-drained soil.

Skimmia japonica is an evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, aromatic leaves and clusters of fragrant flowers that appear in spring, often followed by bright red berries on female plants. It thrives in shady or partially shaded spots with well-drained, slightly acidic soil, making it perfect for woodland gardens, borders, or underplanting larger shrubs and trees. Hardy and low-maintenance, Skimmia japonica adds year-round structure, colour, and interest to gardens with minimal care.
 

4. Clematis

  • Wide range of flowering varieties, many very hardy.
  • Requires support to climb, thrives in sun with roots in shade.
  • Blooms from late spring to autumn depending on variety.

Clematis is a versatile and popular climbing plant known for its stunning, showy flowers that come in a wide range of colours, shapes, and sizes. It thrives when planted in a sunny spot with its roots shaded and cool, in well-drained soil. Ideal for trellises, fences, or walls, Clematis can bloom from late spring through to autumn depending on the variety. Hardy and relatively easy to grow, it adds vertical interest and vibrant colour to gardens with minimal maintenance.

 

5. Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)

  • Fragrant, tubular flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
  • Hardy and tolerates most soils.
  • Can grow in sun or partial shade.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera) is a hardy and fast-growing climbing plant, cherished for its fragrant, tubular flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It thrives in full sun or partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, making it highly adaptable to UK gardens. Ideal for covering fences, trellises, or pergolas, honeysuckle provides both beautiful blooms and lush greenery, adding scent, colour, and wildlife-friendly appeal with minimal maintenance.

6. Jasminum Officinale

  • Highly Fragrant
  • Pretty flowers
  • Low maintenance

Jasminum officinale, commonly known as common or poet’s jasmine, is a deciduous climbing plant prized for its highly fragrant, star-shaped white flowers that bloom in summer. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, making it suitable for trellises, pergolas, or walls. Hardy and relatively low-maintenance, Jasminum officinale adds a touch of elegance and a delightful scent to gardens, making it a favourite for both ornamental and sensory appeal.
 

7. Sedum

  • Succulent perennial with star-shaped flowers.
  • Thrives in dry, sunny spots and poor soil.
  • Excellent for wildlife gardens.

Sedum, often called stonecrop, is a hardy, drought-tolerant perennial known for its succulent leaves and clusters of star-shaped flowers, which bloom in late summer and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Thriving in sunny, well-drained spots, sedum is extremely low-maintenance and ideal for borders, rock gardens, or container planting. Its fleshy foliage provides year-round interest, while its resilience makes it perfect for gardeners seeking an easy-care, visually striking plant.

8. Penstemon

  • Long flowering period
  • Pretty flowers
  • bees & butterflies love this plant!

Penstemon, also known as beardtongue, is a hardy perennial admired for its tubular, brightly coloured flowers that bloom from late spring to early autumn. Thriving in full sun with well-drained soil, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly gardens. Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, Penstemon adds vibrant colour, vertical interest, and long-lasting blooms to borders, containers, and cottage-style gardens.
 

9. Salvia Hot Lips

  • Long flowering period
  • Unique flowers
  • Low maintenance

Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ is a striking perennial known for its unique bicolored red-and-white flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. Thriving in full sun with well-drained soil, it is both drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making it ideal for borders, containers, or pollinator-friendly gardens. Attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ adds vibrant colour, texture, and lively movement to the garden throughout the growing season.
 

10. Stipa

  • Requires very little maintenance
  • Adds movement to your garden
  • Year round interest

Stipa, commonly known as feather grass, is an elegant ornamental grass prized for its fine, arching foliage and feathery flower plumes that sway gracefully in the wind. Thriving in full sun with well-drained soil, Stipa is exceptionally low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it ideal for borders, rock gardens, and naturalistic planting schemes. Its soft, flowing texture adds movement and contrast to flower beds, while its golden-green tones complement a wide range of garden plants. Hardy and versatile, Stipa not only enhances visual appeal but also provides year-round interest, with its delicate plumes often persisting into winter. Perfect for gardeners seeking effortless beauty, this ornamental grass combines resilience with graceful charm.

All of these easy to grow plants can be found in our Essential Plant Mix Collection. Our expert, experienced growers have selected these plants because they really are low maintenance and easy to grow for even the novice gardener!

Essential plant Mix