🌞 Bring the Bloom: Summer Bedding Plants That’ll Steal the Show!

Ah, summer. The time when your garden finally struts its stuff, shedding the greys of winter and putting on a show, would you like a garden to make Chelsea Flower Show blush? If your borders and baskets are looking more "meh" than "marvellous," then friends, it’s time to rally the troops—and by troops, I mean begonias, senetti, calibrachoa and surfinia. These are just some of my favourites which I think are the stars of the summer stage, and oh boy, do they perform.

🌸 Upright Begonias – The Queens of the Border

Let’s start with upright begonias—big, bold, and totally unapologetic. These beauties bring rich colour and velvety texture to your borders and containers, standing proud and flowering their socks off well into autumn. They don’t fuss about full sun or part shade—they’re not divas, just dramatic. From sizzling scarlets to creamy whites, there's a shade for every taste.

Perfect for customers who want impact with minimal faff. Just give them some regular deadheading and a bit of feed and they’ll reward you with nonstop colour. It’s like fireworks, but longer lasting and much better for the environment.

🌸 Trailing Begonias – Let It Flow, Let It Grow

Now, if upright begonias are the headliners, their trailing cousins are the graceful backing dancers. Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, or tumbling over the edges of containers, these cascading charmers add a soft, romantic touch to any space.

Mix reds, oranges and yellows for a Mediterranean feel or go for blush pinks and whites for that cottage garden charm. Customers love them because they don’t just hang around—they flourish.

💜 Senetti – The Spring-to-Summer Showoff

Senetti deserves a standing ovation all of its own. These are technicolour dream plants that kick off early in the season with eye-popping purples, blues and magentas. And guess what? With a good haircut after their first show, they’ll come back for round two. Resilient, reliable and ridiculously vibrant—your plant benches need these.

Ideal for customers who want a head start on summer. Pop them in pots near the door and watch passers-by gasp in admiration (and possibly jealousy).

🌈 Calibrachoa – The Million Bells of Joy

Think of calibrachoa as mini petunias with turbo-charged energy- one of our absolute favourites at Threaplands. Often known as “Million Bells,” they come in more colours than a sweet shop and bloom with such enthusiasm you’ll wonder if they’re stealing a morning coffee before you wake up. But don’t worry—they’re not high maintenance.

These are perfect for baskets and planters with our trixis (mixed colour calibrachoa) filling a pot all by themselves if you let them. Whether you’re going classy in monochrome or mixing it up like a botanical piñata, calibrachoa will never let you down.

💦 Surfinia – The Cascade That Never Quits

And last, but by no means least, the unstoppable Surfinia. This is the plant equivalent of a rock star—bold, loud and everywhere. It’s a trailing petunia on steroids, spilling out of baskets with flowers so vibrant they practically hum.

Their cascading habit and sheer volume of blooms make them the go-to for customers who want impact without constant babysitting. Just keep them fed and watered, and they'll do the rest.

 

Whether you are a seasoned green thumb or just dipping your toes into the world of summer planting, these stars will turn any patch, pot or basket into a riot of colour and joy. Stock up, get planting, and let these summer favourites brighten your day.

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