Few sights are as uplifting as a summer garden in full bloom, with pots and borders packed with rich colours, beautiful scents and nectar for visiting pollinators. Lavender, agapanthus, phlox and lavatera are at their peak this month, along with the star of shady borders – astilbes.
July is a wonderful month to enjoy the garden, whether you're entertaining friends outdoors, pottering in the garden or watching bees and butterflies flit between your flowers. Cottage garden beds are bursting with colour as delphiniums, sweet peas and roses rise above mounds of salvias, geraniums and nepeta. In contemporary and tropical style gardens, lush greenery and bright whites provide a soothing retreat from the heat of the summer sun.
Whether you're planning a new border, looking for inspiration for next year or simply wondering what's flowering this month, this guide introduces some of the best garden plants for July flowers in the UK, along with their perfect plant companions. Find out what jobs need doing in your garden this month in our companion guide to July gardening jobs.
Lavender 'Hidcote' – July flower of the month
Lavender is a classic English garden plant that's at home in both tiny courtyard gardens and grand country estates. Lavender 'Hidcote' is one of the most popular varieties, due to its vibrant purple flowers and intense fragrance. Its compact, upright habit makes it an excellent choice for a lavender hedge or an informal edging plant for paths and driveways. Like other lavenders, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' is a magnet for bees and butterflies.
Lavender thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Regular pruning will help keep its neat, mounded shape and give you plenty of herbs to dry. Plant Lavender 'Hidcote' with other Mediterranean herbs in a pot or gravel garden, combine it with roses and flowering perennials in a cottage garden border, or pair it with ornamental grasses and evergreens for a smart contemporary look.
Plant it with…
Rosemary 'Sissinghurst Blue': Lavender and rosemary are natural companions in a herb or Mediterranean garden, providing year round structure and interest. This variety grows to about 80 centimetres in height, so it won't overwhelm Lavender 'Hidcote', and produces rich blue flowers from mid-spring.
Penstemon 'Harlequin Lilac': Flowering from June through to September, penstemon's bell-shaped flowers contrast beautifully with lavender's flower spikes. This variety has white flowers with a purple tinge at the edges.
Euphorbia × martini: This hardy, evergreen shrub looks good all year round, but really shines in spring when it produces lime green flower spikes that have deep red eyes. It fades just in time for Lavender 'Hidcote' to take over the stage in July.
Phlox 'Famous White'
Phlox paniculata, commonly known as border phlox, is a herbaceous perennial with a long flowering period from mid-summer through to September. Phlox 'Famous White' is a bushy cultivar that grows to around 70 centimetres with masses of lance-shaped dark green foliage. The clusters of fragrant white flowers are attractive to pollinators and (with some deadheading) bloom through to September.
Phlox grows best in sun, though it can also cope with a bit of shade, and likes moist soil. Although some varieties can suffer from powdery mildew, Phlox paniculata 'Famous White' is a mildew-resistant cultivar. Plant it with other sun-loving perennials in a mixed herbaceous border or in a large pot as part of a patio display.
Plant it with…
Campanula 'Takion Blue': This short bellflower will happily grow in front of Phlox 'Famous White', and its pale violet-blue flowers are a lovely complement to the white blooms.
Scabiosa columbaria 'Pink Mist': A compact perennial with pretty pink flowers that resemble pincushions. Scabiosa flowers over a long period and is loved by pollinators.
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Black Beard': Pair Phlox 'Famous White' with an evergreen black mondo grass for a modern, achromatic look. To get a year-round bed, plant Tulip 'White Emperor' and Tulip 'Queen of Night' for spring interest.
Verbena bonariensis
A deservedly popular perennial and one of my personal favourites, Verbena bonariensis is a unique, versatile plant that complements many planting schemes. It flowers from midsummer all the way through to autumn (I still had flowers in my garden in November last year), producing clusters of dainty purple flowers on top of slender stems that can grow to around two metres in height.
Verbena bonariensis offers height and structure without bulk. It adds movement with even a light breeze, but its sturdy stems and light flowerheads mean it's less susceptible to wind damage than other tall plants. It's a must-have addition to prairie-style beds, sunny cottage garden borders and wildlife gardens, but also adds height and elegance to contemporary garden designs. If that's not enough, it's low-maintenance, attractive to pollinators and drought tolerant.
Plant it with…
Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff': This much-loved paeony dahlia produces masses of scarlet flowers atop wiry bronze stems. Pair it with Verbena bonariensis for an airy, whimsical planting scheme.
Deschampsia cespitosa 'Goldtau': Dainty verbena flowers floating above waving golden grasses evoke memories of grassy meadows and long, hot summer days. This tufted hair grass is evergreen and prefers slightly moist soil. Stipa tenuissima is a more drought tolerant alternative.
Echinacea 'Summer Cocktail': Echinacea and verbena are a wonderful pairing in a sunny late-season border. The daisy-like flowers of Echinacea 'Summer Cocktail' bloom in shades of yellow and orange, but turn salmon pink as they mature.
Astilbe 'Wonderful Day'
Astilbes brighten up shady borders with their dramatic plumes of colourful flowers, and July is when they're at their best. Astilbe x arendsii 'Wonderful Day' is a mid-height cultivar, growing to around 60 centimetres, with frothy pale pink flowers that bloom above the deep green foliage. The flowers look wonderful in a vase, whether fresh or dried.
Astilbe 'Wonderful Day' thrives in partial shade, though it also grows well in full shade and can tolerate sunnier spots, as long as the soil doesn't dry out. It will happily grow in a bog garden or a damp area bordering a pond. Plant it with ferns, hostas and other shade-tolerant flowering perennials. If you want to grow astilbes in pots, I'd recommend choosing a dwarf variety, such as Astilbe 'Short 'n' Sweet Sugarberry'.
Plant it with…
Hosta 'Wide Brim': Hostas and astilbes are classic companions, with the smooth, wide leaves of the hosta contrasting with the smaller, serrated leaves of the astilbe. Hosta 'Wide Brim' has decorative blue-green leaves with cream margins.
Polemonium 'Bressingham Purple': Polemoniums flower a little earlier than astilbes, from late spring. This cultivar has deep purple foliage and clusters of lavender-blue flowers that are a lovely contrast to the astilbe's green foliage and feathery blooms.
Azalea 'Geisha Pink': Evergreen azaleas add structure and colour when astilbes die back over winter, and as they flower in spring, the two plants don't compete for attention.
Lavatera 'Rosea'
Lavatera 'Rosea' is a sun-loving shrub grown for its brilliant pink flowers, which bloom abundantly from June to September. The grey-green foliage is also attractive and contrasts with its preferred companion plants. Don't be afraid to cut this Lavatera back hard in late spring, as this stimulates new flowering shoots, which grow rapidly.
My mother-in-law has many of these shrubs, which she refers to as "the butterfly plants", as they attract so many pollinators. She gave me a cutting in a pot many years ago, which has survived house moves and neglect and still flowers, as long as I remember to water it. That said, Lavatera x clementii 'Rosea' should really be planted in the ground, ideally at the back of a sunny border, where it can grow to around two metres in height.
Plant it with…
Salvia 'Caradonna': This popular perennial produces masses of violet flower spikes throughout the summer, which are a wonderful contrast to the hollyhock-like flowers of Lavatera 'Rosea'.
Agapanthus 'Mi Casa': A lovely African lily with clusters of white flowers on top of tall, sturdy stems. Plant it in front of Lavatera 'Rosea' as part of a mixed border.
Escallonia 'Peach Blossom': Lavatera is a useful plant to grow in coastal gardens as it doesn't mind the salty air. Escallonia thrives in similar conditions, with the added bonus of evergreen foliage. Escallonia 'Peach Blossom' produces clusters of small, pale pink flowers that are a wonderful complement to the larger Lavatera flowers.
FAQ
What is July's birth flower?
Larkspurs and water lilies are the birth flowers for July, though it's unclear whether the larkspurs referred to are the annual flower (Consolida) or the more dramatic delphiniums. Both are worthy additions to your garden, but as delphiniums are perennial plants, they'll come back year after year.
What flowers can I plant in the UK in July?
July is the perfect time to sow biennials, such as foxgloves, honesty, sweet William and wallflowers. These plants need time at the end of this growing season to establish strong roots in order to flower next year. You can also plant summer bedding plants, including zinnias, dahlias and pelargoniums, to brighten up pots and plug any gaps in your beds.
