top 10 extremely hardy perennials
top 10 extremely hardy perennials
We all know that the British weather can be quite unforgiving at times and this can be a real worry when it comes to gardening. It can be difficult to know what plants are going to survive the winter, especially if you live in the colder parts of the country. The last thing you want is all your garden dying when the cold weather arrives. Thankfully, there are actually plenty of plants that are extremely hardy and reliable that you can depend on. Keep reading for our top 10 extremely hardy perennials, perfect no matter where you live in the UK and all rated as hardiness H7 by the RHS. (That means hardy down to -20°c)
Astrantia Ruby Wedding
Posies of tiny, vibrant ruby coloured flowers make sprays of intriguing star-like blooms from May right through to the end of September, so you’ll have months of colourful flowers both in your garden and in your home, as the blooms are wonderful both in cut and dried flower arrangements too.
Iris x robusta Dark Aura
Add some exotic flair to your garden with the classic purple and yellow blooms of this Iris. Blousy blooms appear in spring and early summer over clumps or architectural foliage. Happily grown on the edge of a pond and excellent for naturalising, this beauty won’t disappoint. Plus, it's hardy down to -20°c!
Aquilegia Black Barlow
Don’t let the delicate appearance of these Aquilegia fool you, as they really are tough little chaps. Very easy to grow, rabbit and slug resistant and unfussy on soil conditions, they are both beautiful and indestructible. The 'Barlow' range also has a variety of colours to suit any garden planting scheme, from pink, blue, white and even the deepest raven black.
Hosta
A perfect choice if you’re searching for something to fill those pesky shady areas of your garden. Large, luscious heart-shaped leaves create a spectacular, weed-suppressing display in your containers and borders. To add to the dramatic display, in summer, tall flower stems appear, holding lily-like blooms above the foliage.
Geranium Rozanne
Hardy Geraniums are without a doubt one of the very easiest plants to grow and they give you so much back. Amazingly floriferous, make excellent groundcover, attractive to pollinators, slug and rabbit resistant, fully hardy, unfussy on soil conditions and not to mention beautiful. Is there anything not to love?
Helenium autumnale Can Can
Hot lava-like colour awaits your garden with this summer to autumn flowering favourite. Hardy down to -20°c and below, you can plant with confidence knowing you won't need to worry about the hard frosts! An excellent perennial for cut flower gardens or just leaving for the bees. They'll add nice height to a border too, reaching up to 80cm tall.
Hellebores
Here at Hayloft, we absolutely love our Hellebores. Whilst other plants slumber, bring a magical touch to your garden with their luxuriant blousy blooms and abundant evergreen foliage. They may look dainty in appearance but don’t be fooled as they are sturdy plants that will survive the cold temperatures of winter and remain awe-inspiring.
Echinops
Echinops sure know how to make an impact. Globes of flowers bob over thistle-like foliage from July through to September, inviting our nectar loving friends into your garden. Ideal for creating a Mediterranean feel to your garden and great for both cut and dried flower arrangements.
Primula Barnhaven
Barnhaven have been breeding Primulas since the 1930’s and have since become a world-renowned Primula specialist. The fully double, rose-like blooms will add a warm loving glow to the very coldest, darkest days of winter and will continue to flower until the end of spring. Loved for their exceptional performance, they will last in your garden for years and years to come.
Geranium x cantabrigiense Intense
Vibrant pink blooms from summer to early autumn will carpet your garden with compact colour. This new nifty, semi-evergreen, groundcover perennial will reach heights of 25cm and spreads of 50cm, the colour is truly as intense as the picture! Loved by bees and exceptionally hardy down to -20°c and below! You'll be able to enjoy this plant for years to come.
