The best flowers to grow in Scotland are an extensive list of herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs, and annuals and biennials. The country has three growing zones, so you must know the ideal growing conditions of the flowers you want to plant. Ensure to check your site’s exposure, air, and elevation if they would be suitable for your flowers.
If you are on the northern slope of Scotland, expect a colder environment. The cooler air in the valleys makes your garden more prone to frost, so using a polytunnel might be a better environment for your flowers. Refer to Krostrade.com to know more about indoor gardening in challenging locations.
List Of The Best Flowers To Grow In Scotland
According to Aberdeen Gardening, there are many flowering plants suitable for the country. They include herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs, and annuals and biennials. However, the extension emphasises the influence of your area when choosing flowers to plant.
Herbaceous perennials
At the arrival of spring in Scotland, you can expect grape hyacinths to still bloom and daffodils to start finishing. Peonies will also begin to bloom, but this flower is suitable in colder regions. On the contrary, butterfly weed and Liatris are ideal if you are in a dry area.
Some other herbaceous perennials that will thrive in Scotland include crocus, tulips, iris, and daylilies. Iris and daylilies are natural plants to grow, and they have different varieties to choose from. They can also bloom more than once, and the latter has a long blooming season.
Flowering shrubs
Lilacs, forsythia, and February jasmine are excellent flowering shrubs if you want spring blooms. If you wish to have a beautiful summer garden, roses, vitex, althea, and crepe myrtle are your flowers. However, some shrubs can freeze back, depending on your location.
Annuals and biennials
Pansies, sunflowers, shasta daisy, and rudbeckias are ideal for the Scotland climate. Some flowers can even tolerate the winter. If you live in a dry area, desert marigold and Rocky Mountain zinnia will do well.
What Is The Best Flower To Plant Right Now?
Right now, thistle and gorse are the best flowers to plant. June is a fantastic time to plant flowers in Scotland because the temperatures are more forgiving, and the rains can encourage them to establish. However, because Scotland is generally a high country, gardeners will be more successful in choosing native flowers.
Thistle
Thistle is a native in Scotland, and it thrives well in rocky slopes, hillsides, and roadsides. This flower develops from April to June, and it is a member of the Asteraceae family. It’s the best flower to plant right now because it has low water consumption and can even serve as a cover by being a natural hedge.
Gorse
Gorse, also known as Whin, is another plant for August planting because it thrives in hot and dry conditions. It is also a hardy shrub that is native to Scotland. A benefit Gorse gives to your garden is that its fragrant flowers attract pollinators like butterflies.
Can You Sprinkle Flower Seeds?
You can sprinkle flower seeds if what you’re planting are wildflowers. This is because you’ll be mimicking their natural way of reproduction in the wild. However, keep in mind the conditions in Scotland, ranging from zones 4b to 9a, as this can affect the success of your sprinkled seeds.
What Month Is The Best For Plant Flowers In Scotland?
The best month to plant flowers in Scotland is June because of the weather conditions and higher temperatures. Still, some shrubs will thrive better in autumn because it is less windy. And while spring can have unpredictable temperatures and winds, you can use a polytunnel to plant flowers that will only thrive in spring.
What Plants Grow Well In Edinburgh?
Bog Myrtle
Native to Scotland, Bog Myrtle or Sweet Gale often found in wet and boggy areas growing no more than a metre in height. Due to our wet and windy weather, the Bog Myrtle shrub thrives both wild and in the garden, bulking out flower beds with pretty, sweet-smelling yellow flowers.
Heather
Growing wild in Highland fields, heather has become linked with the heritage of Scotland. Robust and resilient, heather grows particularly well in damp conditions, and soil dosed with acid compost should help it grow beautifully in your garden, year after year.
Bluebell
The delicate bluebell – or Campanula rotundifolia if we are to get technical – is a welcome addition to a well-rounded garden, as it attracts bees and butterflies. Plant bulbs in the spring or autumn, making sure to provide the saplings with plenty of moist, organic compost to help them grow.
Conclusion
Scotland has three main growing zones, which gives gardeners an extensive list of plants to cultivate. The herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs, and annuals and biennials are the best flowers to grow in Scotland. The best month to plant flowers in Scotland is June because the temperatures are milder, and the weather encourages growth.
However, do take note that some plants thrive better in autumn conditions. If you have flowers that require cultivation in spring, you can use a polytunnel to protect them from Scotland’s unpredictable temperatures.