Flower show planting ideas – July
We pick five dazzling plant combinations for July, spotted at top summer flower shows.
Spring and summer flower shows such as the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show are bursting with inspirational ideas to take home.
We’ve combed through plant combinations from shows around the country to find some of the best planting ideas for July, including elegant pairings of plants like kniphofia, ornamental alliums and cosmos to create rich, gorgeous colour.
Get planting now with our flower show planting ideas for July, for a medal-worthy garden in no time.
Lysimachia and melica
Movement brings a garden alive and the delicate flowers of melica and lysimachia paired together will dance in the slightest breeze. Golden Alexanders add a shot of yellow to the background.
The plants:
Melica altissima ‘Alba’. H x S 140cm x 40cm. Care: cut back in early spring.
Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’. H x S 60cm x 50cm. Care: enjoys rich, moist but free-draining soil.
Cosmos and calendulas
Bold combinations of easy-care annuals in electric hot colours like these magenta pink cosmos and vibrant orange marigolds will turn heads.
The plants:
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’. H x S 100cm x 60cm. Care: sow direct April-May.
Calendula. H x S 50cm x 30cm. Care: deadhead to prolong flowering.
Kniphofias and eryngiums
The cool silvers of drought tolerant plants like this sea-holly can be subdued, but drop in a splash of orange red hot poker and the display comes to life.
The plants
Kniphofia ‘Elvira'. H x S 100cm x 60cm. Care: needs sharply-drained soil and sunshine.
Eryngium ‘Jos Eijking’. H x S 70cm x 40cm. Care: leave flowerheads intact for winter interest.
Alliums and pennisetum
The ‘new perennial’ planting style, championed by Piet Oudolf, is a show favourite and this is a classic easy-care blend – plus bees will love the drumstick alliums.
The plants
Allium sphaerocephalon. H x S 90cm x 8cm. Care: best in dry soil and full sun.
Pennisetum advena ‘Rubrum’. H x S 100cm x 60cm. Care: not reliably hardy, but it does self-seed.
Daylilies and geums
This combination pulls off a subtle but effective trick as the buttery centres of this orange geum echo the bright yellow petals of the delicate daylily ‘Corky’.
The plants
Hemerocallis ‘Corky’. H x S 50cm x 40cm. Care: remove fading flowers to encourage more blooms.
Geum ‘Borisii’. H x S 30cm x 30cm. Care: likes sun and moist, free-draining soil.
For more flower show planting ideas, take a look at our features on flower show planting ideas for May and our flower show planting ideas for June.
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