July is about slowing down and enjoying the garden; the colour, the warmth, the scents and the sense that everything is fully alive. July is when the garden feels generous and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Here are our top plant choices for July:
Climbers
Akebia quinata ‘Silver Bells’ (Chocolate Vine) – This is a semi‑evergreen, twining climber known for its unusually pale, bicoloured flowers and elegant foliage. It’s a refined, lighter‑flowered form of the chocolate vine, offering fragrance, delicacy, and vigorous growth. Full sun or partial shade. Sweet, vanilla‑like fragrance.
Hydrangea anomala petiolaris – One of our absolute favourite plants for shade, Hydrangea petiolaris is a fabulous, large, self-clinging, deciduous climber with broadly oval leaves and impressive large white flower heads in summer, up to 20cm in width. Flowers appear in clusters, usually comprising of both small fertile and more showy sterile flowers. In autumn when the foliage turns buttery yellow, the flower heads become almost skeletal, remaining throughout winter (if not pruned) giving interest in the garden through the duller months. Perfect for screening shady fences and walls, we supply ours readily trained on a trellis. A star plant for shady and partial shade aspects, also does well in fun sun. Prune after flowering to keep in shape and to promote the next seasons flowers. Tolerates most soil conditions except for chalk, as long as it’s moist and well drained. Final height: 12+m tall, 4-8m wide. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Jasminum officinale ‘Clotted Cream’ (Common Jasmine) – A deciduous climber with very fragrant, cream flowers in summer and early autumn. They are admired for their perfume, vigorous growth and graceful appearance.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star / Evergreen Jasmine) – A vigorous, evergreen, woody climber which can reach between 8-12m in height. With twining stems, glossy dark green, oval leaves, often turning deep bronze-red in winter, it’s a wonderful addition to any sunny garden. Clusters of highly fragrant, small white flowers smother the foliage from mid to late summer.
Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ (Honeysuckle) – A semi-evergreen, fast-growing honeysuckle with strongly scented white‑to‑yellow flowers from early summer into autumn. It’s a classic cottage‑garden plant: romantic, scented, and almost unstoppable once it gets going.
Solanum jasminoides ‘Bleu’ (Potato Vine) – Solanum jasminoides ‘Bleu’ is a vigorous, semi-evergreen climber admired for its masses of delicate, star-shaped flowers and long flowering season. From summer through to autumn, clusters of soft violet-blue blooms with bright yellow centres cover the plant, creating a light and elegant display against glossy green foliage. Ideal for training over trellises, fences or walls, it provides quick coverage and adds vertical interest to the garden. Best grown in a sheltered, sunny position with well-drained soil, Solanum jasminoides ‘Bleu’ is an excellent choice for bringing prolonged colour and charm to outdoor spaces.
Fruit
Fig (Ficus carica) – A deciduous fruit tree grown for its sweet, soft figs and its bold, architectural leaves. It’s one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees and grows surprisingly well in the UK when given warmth and shelter.
Olive (Olea europaea) – Olive trees are attractive, slow-growing evergreens of Mediterranean origin. They form an oval-rounded head of small silvery-grey leaves, with tiny creamy white fragrant flowers appearing in summer, followed closely by cool-green olives that ripen to deep purple black. Perfect for drought tolerant/Mediterranean schemes these specimen trees also work superbly in planters. In the UK Olives require winter protection from the hardest frosts so they benefit being in a warm, sheltered sunny spot to thrive, in well-drained fertile soil. Mature Height: 4–8m
Herbaceous perennials
Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Fleabane) – This is a charming and resilient perennial plant renowned for its delicate beauty. Originating from Mexico, this herbaceous species has spread its appeal globally. Characterized by small, daisy-like flowers with white or pale pink petals and golden-yellow centers, Erigeron karvinskianus forms cascading mounds of blooms, creating a picturesque carpet effect. Its slender stems bear tiny, lance-shaped leaves that emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed. Adaptability is a hallmark of this plant, thriving in various soil types and displaying remarkable resilience to drought conditions. Often used in gardens, hanging baskets, or as ground cover, Erigeron karvinskianus is celebrated for its low maintenance and ability to attract butterflies and bees, contributing to biodiversity. Its enduring bloom period, extending from spring to fall, enhances its popularity among gardeners seeking a resilient and aesthetically pleasing addition to their landscapes.
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Snowbird’ – A compact, free‑flowering white gaura with a long season of airy, butterfly‑like blooms. It’s a refined, tidy cultivar; perfect if you love the movement and delicacy of gaura but want something neater and more controlled than the taller, wilder forms.
Geranium Rozanne (‘Gerwat’) – One of the most celebrated hardy geraniums ever bred; famous for its extra‑long flowering season, vigorous but well‑behaved growth, and beautiful violet‑blue blooms that light up a garden from early summer into autumn.
Geranium wallichianum ‘Bloom me Away’ – A modern, hardy geranium bred for continuous flowering, compact growth and excellent heat tolerance. It’s part of the new generation of long‑blooming hybrids designed to give reliable colour for months with almost no maintenance.
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ (Avens) – Incredibly long‑flowering, vibrant without being garish, easy to grow, and brilliant for pollinators. It’s a modern classic and one of the most reliable Geums you can plant. Pair with Salvia nem. ‘Caradonna’ for a whimsical, cottage garden combination.
Salvia ‘Amistad’/’Animo’ – These are dramatic, long‑flowering Salvias; both beloved for their deep purple flowers, near‑black calyces and exceptionally long blooming season. Summer garden staples because they flower for months, attract pollinators and bring a bold, exotic look with very little effort.
Verbena bonariensis (Purple Top) – A tall perennial prized for its slender stems topped with clusters of small, vibrant purple flowers from summer to autumn. The long-blooming flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, adding life and movement to the garden. Its open, upright habit makes it ideal for adding height and structure to the borders, while allowing lower-growing plants to flourish beneath. Thriving in full sun and moist but well drained soil, its graceful presence creates a relaxed, meadow-like feel in any garden. Height 2.5m Spread 50cm.
Shrubs
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ (Sweetshrub) – A deciduous shrub known for its captivating fragrance. With a compact and rounded form, this variety produces large, bright red to purple flowers with a sweet, fruity scent that attracts pollinators. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the aromatic blossoms stand out against the glossy, dark green foliage. Height 4m Spread 2.5m. Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in a sheltered position from cold, drying winds. Full sun or partial shade.
Calycanthus ‘Venus’ (Sweetshrub) – Calycanthus ‘Venus’ is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its unique flowers and elegant form. From late spring into summer, it produces large, magnolia-like blooms with creamy white petals, a hint of pink, and a deep maroon centre. The glossy green foliage provides a lush backdrop, turning golden-yellow in autumn for added seasonal interest. With a height and spread of 2.5–4m, ‘Venus’ makes an excellent feature plant for borders. It thrives in moist but well-drained soil and performs best in a sheltered position with full sun to partial shade.
Hydrangeas – The quickest way to elevate your garden and add timeless style – Hydrangeas. They are one of the most versatile, generous and garden‑transforming shrubs you can grow. They offer huge blooms and seasonal interest (as long as you hold off pruning until late February / early March). With many varieties and sizes available there is something for everyone. A variety such as Hydrangea paniculata ‘Wim’s Red’ will take you through into autumn with it’s striking red sturdy stems that intensify as the season progresses.
Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ (Mock Orange) – A beautiful flowering plant which is a member of the hydrangea family. Known for its large, showy and highly-scented flowers that bloom in the summertime, it’s relatively easy to care for and does not require much maintenance. The scent, which evokes the Mediterranean, becomes stronger in the evenings so it’s a great choice to plant around patios and seating areas.
Sambucus nigra f por. Black Lace (‘Eva’) – Common Elder is a deciduous shrub prized for its finely cut, deep purple foliage and elegant habit. In early summer, it produces large, flat heads of soft pink flowers, which contrast beautifully with the dark leaves and are attractive to pollinators. These are followed by glossy black berries in autumn. Ideal for borders, hedging or as a specimen plant, it grows in full sun, partial shade or full shade and is tolerant of most soil types. Height and Spread 4m.
Trees
Heptacodium miconioides (Sevon Sons Tree) – A deciduous shrub or small tree prized for its unique late-season interest and impressive peeling bark which adds visual appeal throughout the year. As the tree matures, its bark exfoliates in strips, revealing a smooth, light brown or greyish layer beneath. This peeling bark, especially on older stems and trunks, creates a distinctive, textured appearance that contrasts beautifully with the tree’s lush green foliage and vibrant autumn colour. The tree blooms in late summer to early autumn, producing clusters of fragrant, white, tubular flowers that resemble small jasmine blossoms. After flowering, the plant produces distinctive, showy, red calyces, which persist into autumn, giving it a distinctive appearance. An eye-catching addition to the garden. Height 8m Spread 4m. Grow in well drained soil in a sheltered position. Full sun or partial shade.
Japanese Maples (Acers) – They can be large shrubs or small trees, well loved for their graceful habit, delicate foliage and range of eye catching colours. Japanese Maples will add interest in any garden. Perfect for growing in a pot on the patio or as the feature plant in a scheme, every garden should have a Japanese Maple. Perfect in dappled shade, they liked free draining soil that never gets too dry.
Koelreuteria paniculata (Golden Rain Tree or Pride of India) – a deciduous tree that typically grows to a height of 8-12 metres. It features attractive, pinnate leaves that transition from pinkish in spring to yellow in autumn, and produces large panicles of small yellow flowers in summer, followed by ornamental bladdery fruits. This tree thrives in well-drained soil under full sun and is drought-resistant.
Ornamental grasses
Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’ – This is one of the best evergreen plants for adding colour and interest to the garden during the winter months as it forms a dense, arching mound of eye-catching bright orange-green foliage. With insignificant brown flower spikes appearing in summer and drooping elegantly with age, it retains colour and adds contrast to any planting scheme. Like other Carex, it prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade and thrives in moist, fertile, well-draining soils. Mature Height: 50cm
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ – One of our favourite grasses, this miscanthus is well renowned for its vigorous versatility and stunning display of silvery green variegated foliage. It is a compact deciduous clump-forming grass that does not have invasive spreading rhizomes, so are easily contained within gardens of all sizes. Will happily grow in any moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Mature Height: 1–1.5m.
Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’ (Mexican feathergrass) – Often referred to as ‘Ponytails’ due to its light airy habit, this grass’s thread-like fronds arch elegantly and appear to dance in the wind. A perfect choice for softening a hard landscape, creating movement and interest. It is an extremely versatile plant and thus used in many planting schemes. Perfect for beds, borders and planters this self-seeding grass is an absolute favourite in modern schemes. Grow in full sun to partial shade in moderately fertile soil. Mature Height: 60cm.
Feeling inspired?
If you would like to start the first step of your journey with us then get in touch to book our consultancy service.
For just £75*, our experienced horticulturalists will provide tailored guidance to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re interested in fast-growing solutions for quick impact, seeking the enduring beauty of evergreen plants or looking to add colour and fragrance, we can offer expert advice.
**£75 fee applies if you live within a 15-mile radius of our office. Additional fees apply outside this area. All costs include VAT.