June is a brilliant time to shop for plants, and here’s why; it’s one of those sweet spots in the gardening calendar where everything lines up just right. There are so many plants to choose from at this time of year it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, here is a handy list of our top plant picks for June:
Climbers
Clematis montana ‘Elizabeth’ – A vigorous grower with pale pink, vanilla scented flowers which contrast against bronze young foliage. Flowering in late spring, the plant will be smothered in flowers, creating a waterfall of flowers when trailing from a tree or support. It will quickly cover walls or pergolas.
Clematis armandi – Clematis armandi is a large, vigorous, evergreen climber with leathery, dark glossy green leaves up to 15cm long and an abundance of single, fragrant creamy-white flowers, up to 5-6cm across, with creamy stamens and hang in clusters in early to mid-spring. This variety is perfect for growing against a sunny west or south-facing wall. Evergreen, it retains its glossy mid-green leaves throughout the year so it’s an excellent choice for screening walls, fences and pergolas. Prefers full sun. Tolerates any soil condition as long as it’s moist and well drained. Final height: 4-8m tall, 1.5-2.5m wide.
Clematis montana var. grandiflora – A vigorous, deciduous climber celebrated for its stunning, pure white flowers that bloom profusely in late spring to early summer. The large, single blooms cover the plant, creating a spectacular, cascading display over walls, pergolas, trellises or fences. Dark green foliage provides a lush backdrop, turning soft yellow in autumn. Grow in full sun or partial shade with roots kept cool in moist but well-drained soil. Clematis montana ‘Grandiflora’ can reach 8-12 metres in height and 4 metres spread, making it ideal for covering large structures and adding abundant seasonal interest.
Exochorda x macrantha ‘The Bride’ – Also known as Pearlbush, Exochorda x macrantha is a popular deciduous shrub covered with showy white flowers in April and May. A small to medium sized bush with a weeping habit. Can be trained against a wall, pergolas, trellises or fences.
Jasminum officinale ‘Clotted Cream’ – A deciduous climber with very fragrant, cream flowers in summer and early autumn. They are admired for their perfume, vigorous growth and graceful appearance.
Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Okayama’ – This Japanese wisteria which also goes by the name of ‘Yokohama Fuji’, is another anticlockwise twining cultivar. Leaves are up to 35cm long with about 11 downy leaflets and flowers hang in sprays 10-15cm long. The April – June floral display is highly impressive as scented flowers open from rich violet buds to pale lilac. The bean-like seedpods are velvety and up to 20cm long. Grow in any moist well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Like other wisteria, this variety will need support, pruning and training to retain its shape.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Domino’ – Japanese wisteria ‘Domino’ is a beautiful deciduous, clockwise-twining climber, with masses of fragrant, lilac-blue, scented pea-like flowers, produced in late spring/early summer in short trusses about 20cm long. Fantastic for early pollinators, this super bee-friendly plant is seen mostly trained up the front of houses but is also a worthy choice for training up walls, fences and pergolas and can even be grown as half-standards to create a stunning umbrella effect. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Wisteria floribunda ‘Kokuryu’ – A dramatic Japanese wisteria renowned for its exceptionally long, pendulous racemes of rich violet-purple flowers. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the cascading blooms create a breathtaking display. Fresh green, pinnate foliage follows, providing lush summer cover. Vigorous and long-lived, ‘Kokuryu’ thrives in full sun and moiat but well-drained soil. Regular pruning encourages abundant flowering, making this a spectacular choice for creating a bold garden feature.
Wisteria floribunda f. rosea ‘Hon-beni’ – A stunning deciduous climber renowned for its spectacular cascading flower racemes and vigorous growth. In late spring to early summer, it produces abundant, fragrant clusters of soft pink to lilac blooms that hang elegantly from trained branches, creating a breathtaking display. Its vigorous, twining habit makes it ideal for pergolas, arches, walls, or trained over structures, while lush green foliage provides summer interest once the flowers fade. ‘Honbeni’ thrives in full sun or partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Combining dramatic floral impact, scent, and architectural beauty, it is a show-stopping feature in any garden.
Shrubs
Calycathus ‘Venus’ – 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.
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ – 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.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ – One of our favourite trees for colour, many classify Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ as a shrub but it will mature into a small four to five metre tree it left unpruned. Its smooth oval/rounded leaves are a rich deep purple throughout the summer and its ‘smoke like’ floral display adds significantly to the interest and contrast. Perfect for smaller gardens, its stunning foliage colour is very dependable and is another great option when planting to accentuate colours. Bee friendly.
Pittosporum tobira ‘Neige du Mont Ventoux’ – Pittosporum tobira ‘Neige de Mont Ventoux’ is an elegant variegated evergreen shrub prized for its compact, rounded habit and foliage. The glossy green leaves are edged with creamy white, creating year-round colour and texture in the garden. In spring, it produces clusters of highly fragrant, creamy-white flowers that attract pollinators and fill the air with scent. Slow-growing and low-maintenance, it is ideal in borders. Thriving in full sun or partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. Height and Spread 1m.
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.
Sambucus nigra f por. Black Lace (‘Eva’) (Black Elder) – A dramatic, deciduous shrub prized for its deeply cut, purple‑black foliage and showy summer flowers. Its lace‑like leaves give it an exotic, almost Japanese maple‑like appearance.
Ornamental Trees
Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘China Girl’ (Flowering Dogwood) – This large shrub/small tree is vigorous and very free-flowering from a young age. Small clusters of tiny, greenish flowers appear in summer surrounded by large, showy, white bracts, followed by fleshy, deep pink strawberry like fruit. Its dark green, oval leaves turn red and orange in autumn. A highly recommended addition to your garden to add interest.
Cornus kousa ‘Milky Way’ (Flowering Dogwood) – One of our favourites, this is a real statement/feature tree. Large cream coloured petal-like bracts effectively look like flowers which smoother the tree in June creating an unmistakable display, resulting in strawberry like fruits that appear alongside beautiful autumn colour. Height and spread 4-8 metres. Plant in moist but well drained, sunny/partial shade position.
Cornus kousa ‘Cherokee’ (Flowering Dogwood) – A deciduous tree prized for its spectacular spring display. In late spring, large showy white bracts surround clusters of tiny central flowers, creating a bold and elegant feature. Fresh green foliage forms a neat, spreading canopy through summer, before turning rich red and purple tones in autumn. Ideal as a specimen tree, Cornus ‘Cherokee’ thrives in well-drained, neutral to acidic soil in full sun or partial shade, where it will flourish beautifully.
Cornus kousa ‘Teutonia’ (Flowering Dogwood) – Cornus kousa ‘Teutonia’ is a beautiful small deciduous tree valued for its elegant shape and long season of interest. In summer it is covered in large, creamy white bracts that sit proudly above the foliage, giving a light, airy appearance. These are followed by attractive strawberry-like fruits in autumn, loved by wildlife. The dark green leaves turn rich shades of red and purple in the autumn, adding another layer of colour. With its refined habit and excellent resilience, ‘Teutonia’ is ideal as a specimen tree in gardens large or small. Height and Spread 4-8m. Prefers well drained neutral to acidic soil in full sun or partial shade.
Cornus Kousa ‘Venus’ – This large shrub/small tree is vigorous and very free-flowering from a young age. Small clusters of tiny, greenish flowers appear in summer surrounded by large, showy, white bracts, followed by fleshy, deep pink strawberry like fruit. Its dark green, oval leaves turn red and orange in autumn. A highly recommended addition to your garden to add interest. Height and spread 4-8 metres. Plant in moist but well drained, sunny/partial shade position
Cornus × elwinortonii Venus (‘Kn30 8’) (Flowering Dogwood) – This vigorous Cornus has possibly the largest ‘flowers’ (they are actually bracts) of all the flowering dogwoods. These showy creamy-white bracts are up to 15cms across so this tree can be admired from afar aswell as up close. Strawberry like fruits follow in autumn along with attractive red, orange and purple coloured leaves. The RHS have given this its Award of Garden Merit (AGM) and its also great for pollinators too. Height 4-8 metres. Spread 2.5-4 metres. Plant in moist but well drained, sunny/partial shade position.
Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Sons Ornamental 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.
Trees
Catalpa bignonioides ‘Aurea’ (Indian Bean Tree) – A striking ornamental tree valued for its large tropical looking foliage, golden colour, and showy summer flowers. It makes a bold architectural statement and works beautifully as a standalone specimen in a lawn or open garden.
Malus × moerlandsii ‘Profusion’ (Crab apple) – A highly ornamental deciduous crab apple, prized for its outstanding spring blossom and autumn interest. Deep crimson buds open to masses of rich, dark pink flowers turning lighter pink in mid to late spring, creating a spectacular display. These are followed by small, dark red fruits that persist into autumn and attract wildlife. The bronze-green foliage matures to deep green before turning warm autumn tones. Ideal as a specimen tree for gardens, it grows in full sun and tolerates most soils including clay. At maturity, it typically reaches around 3-8 metres in height and offers seasonal charm.
Malus x zumi ‘Golden Hornet’ (Crab apple) – A popular crab apple valued for its reliable flowering and decorative fruit. In spring, masses of white blossoms with soft pink buds cover the branches, attracting pollinators. These are followed by abundant, bright golden-yellow fruits that persist well into winter, adding long-lasting seasonal interest. Glossy green foliage provides a fresh summer canopy before turning yellow in autumn. Reaching approximately 5–7 meters in height, ‘Golden Hornet’ has a rounded, well-balanced form and thrives in most soils in full sun.
Malus toringo ‘Scarlett’ (Crab apple) – Recently introduced, this glorious crab apple has dark pink blossom in the spring and the most beautiful wine-red foliage in summer. Its red fruits are small and provide great pollination for other edible varieties nearby. Wonderful for providing a strong contrast, there are other dark leaved crab apples available but this is one of the best, for its spectacular foliage display. Its leaves are irregular in shape with indented lobes adding to interest. Malus toringo ‘Scarlet’ thrives in most situations and is a better choice than a flowering cherry where heavy clay soil is an issue. We recommend rabbit guards for areas where deer and rabbits are present. Good for wildlife and pollinators. Mature height: 5-8m
Crataegus x lavalleei (Hawthorn) – A deciduous tree valued for its rounded habit and excellent year-round interest. In late spring, it produces clusters of creamy white flowers that attract pollinators and create a gentle, ornamental display. Glossy dark green leaves turn rich shades of bronze and red in autumn. Bright orange-red berries develop in late summer and persist into winter, providing colour and wildlife value. Crataegus × lavalleei thrives in sun or partial shade and most soil conditions but will not tolerate waterlogged areas. Height 4-8m.
Crataegus x lavalleei ‘Carrièrei’ (Hawthorn) – Crataegus x lavalleei ‘Carrierei’ has broad and very dark green leaves. Glossy, almost evergreen looking, they produce a dense coverage which can last through to December, making them a useful tree for screening.
A tree with year-round interest, it has soft creamy white flowers which hang in clusters from around May and orange-red haws which appear later in the autumn time, often lasting right through winter. This lovely tree can also produce great autumn colour where temperatures drop early. This small Hawthorn forms a mature tree that has a small and compact crown.
Crataegus x persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ (Hawthorn) – An ornamental deciduous tree with charming spring blossoms, attractive foliage, and ornamental fruit. Glossy oval green leaves appear in the spring changing to dramatic reds and oranges in the autumn. Small white flowers in the spring attract pollinators, leading to red berries in the autumn that stay through the winter and provide food for the birds. A perfect addition to add wildlife to the garden. Height and Spread 4-8m.
Grows well in most soils in full sun or partial shade.
Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureomarginatum’ (Tulip Tree) – This is an elegant, deciduous tree prized for its distinctive foliage and striking presence. The unusual, shaped leaves are soft green with golden-yellow margins, adding light and contrast throughout the growing season. In early summer greenish-yellow, tulip-like flowers with orange markings appear followed by the leaves turning warm shades of yellow in autumn. This cultivar is best suited to larger gardens or parkland settings. Thriving in moist but well-drained neutral to acidic soil in full sun or partial shade, it makes a superb specimen tree.
Paulownia tomentosa (Foxglove tree) – A deciduous tree with large, ovate leaves and fragrant, light lilac-purple flowers in spring. Unusually, this tree forms its flowerbuds the previous season and so flowering is dependant on the overwintering buds not being damaged by a late frost. Can also be pollared annually to promote vigorous growth and extra large leaves upto 60cm or more accross. 9-12m tall at maturity.
Juglans regia (Walnut tree) – This is a large, deciduous tree valued for its handsome form and edible nuts. It has long green leaves that emerge late in spring, followed by small green flowers and rounded walnuts in autumn. Ideal for large gardens, parks and estates, it grows best in full sun and is adaptable to most soil types, provided conditions are well drained and not prone to waterlogging. Typically reaching 20+metres in height with a broad, spreading canopy, making it an impressive specimen tree.
Sorbus aucuparia ‘Edulis’ (Rowan) – A small to medium-sized ornamental tree prized for its multi-season appeal. In late spring, it produces clusters of creamy white flowers that attract pollinators, followed by abundant bright red berries in late summer and autumn, which are particularly large and edible, appealing to birds and humans alike. Its pinnate green foliage turns yellow to orange in the autumn, adding seasonal interest. Typically reaching 7–12m in height, ‘Edulis’ thrives in moist but well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Its compact form, reliable fruiting, and ornamental value make it ideal for gardens.
Herbaceous perennials
- Agapanthus
- Allium
- Armeria
- Aquilegia
- Bergenia ‘Fire & Ice’
- Canna lillies
- Coreopsis
- Erysium ‘Bowles Mauve’
- Gaura
- Gaura lindheimeri
- Geum
- Gerbera
- Heuchera
- Iberis ‘Masterpiece’
- Peonies
- Rhodanthemum
- Salvia
Feeling inspired?
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