Summer Bedding Plants

Fill your garden with colour that lasts all summer long. This collection of bedding plants is packed with vibrant, UK-grown favourites like fuchsias, marigolds, petunias, snapdragons, and dianthus - chosen for their ability to thrive in warmer months.

Whether you're planting up hanging baskets, refreshing pots, or lining garden borders, summer bedding plants are the easiest way to add instant, summery impact. 

Not sure what to pair? Go for mixed packs to make it simple, or explore by plant type for a more tailored display.

If you are planning ahead or planting for another season, browse our full Bedding Plants collection for year-round ideas.

Plant Highlights

  • A wide range of summer bedding plants suited to UK gardens, balconies, and outdoor spaces
  • Ideal for pots, containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and beds and borders
  • A mix of annual bedding plants and short lived perennials for instant colour
  • Options available as plug plants or garden ready plants for flexible planting
  • Selected for strong blooms, healthy foliage, and reliable flowering throughout summer

Our Top Picks for Summer Bedding

If you're new to gardening or not sure what bedding plants to grow this summer, here are some of our favourites:

  • Marigold 'French Red' – bright and bold, great for borders
  • Fuchsia Bella Bush Plants – long-lasting blooms, ideal for containers
  • Dianthus 'Pink Kisses' – compact and scented, loved by pollinators
  • Lobelia Trailing Mix – cascades beautifully from hanging baskets
  • Viola Flower Plants Mix – colourful and compact, perfect for the front of beds
  • 3 x Petunia Night Sky – unique starry pattern that adds instant drama

Look for mixed packs if you want beautiful combinations that are already designed to work together.

French Marigolds Plants Geranium Flower Plant Lobelia Plants Bedding Plants Plants for Pollinators

What to choose for summer bedding

our top picks

If you’re new to gardening or not sure what bedding plants to grow this summer, here are some of our favourites:

  • Marigold 'French Red' – bright and bold, great for borders
  • Fuchsia Bella Bush Plants – long-lasting blooms, ideal for containers
  • Dianthus 'Pink Kisses' – compact and scented, loved by pollinators
  • Lobelia Trailing Mix – cascades beautifully from hanging baskets
  • Viola Flower Plants Mix – colourful and compact, perfect for the front of beds
  • 3 x Petunia Night Sky – unique starry pattern that adds instant drama

Look for mixed packs if you want beautiful combinations that are already designed to work together.

How to Build a Colourful Summer Display

3 combos that really work

Use a mix of heights, textures, and tones to build a display that really pops this summer. Here are some combos we love:

  • Petunia Surfinia Hot Pink + Lobelia Trailing Mix – bold colour meets trailing texture
  • Dianthus 'I Love You' + Silver Dust Cineraria – pinks & silvers for gorgeous contrast
  • French Marigolds + Viola Mix – sunny colours that do well in beds and pots

Tip: Keep one dominant colour and just repeat it through your space to help everything feel pulled together.

Tips to Keep Your Bedding Plants at Their Best

to keep the flowers blooming

To get the absolute most from your summer bedding plants you can give them a little extra care:

  • Feed them every 1–2 weeks with liquid plant food.
  • Deadhead spent blooms regularly. Just snip off faded flowers to encourage fresh ones.
  • Water in the morning or evening, when it’s cooler, to avoid evaporation and leaf scorch.

Plants like fuchsias, snapdragons, and daisies respond quickly and a bit of care goes a long way.

Why Choose Summer Bedding Plants from Carbeth Plants

Choosing the right bedding plants makes all the difference, especially when planting for a full season of colour. At Carbeth Plants, we focus on supplying summer bedding plants that perform well in real UK conditions and arrive ready to grow.

  • Carefully selected plants grown by trusted UK growers
  • Clear information on pot size, plant size, and seasonal interest
  • Options for beginners and experienced gardeners alike
  • Plants packed securely to protect roots, foliage, and blooms
  • A reliable online garden centre experience with delivery to your door

Tips to Keep Your Bedding Plants at Their Best

To get the absolute most from your summer bedding plants you can give them a little extra care:

  • Feed them every 1–2 weeks with liquid plant food.
  • Deadhead spent blooms regularly. Just snip off faded flowers to encourage fresh ones.
  • Water in the morning or evening, when it’s cooler, to avoid evaporation and leaf scorch.

Plants like fuchsias, snapdragons, and daisies respond quickly and a bit of care goes a long way.

Seasonal Interest and Summer Long Colour

Summer bedding plants are chosen because they keep going when gardens are at their busiest, filling gaps and holding colour through the warmest part of the year.

  • Most varieties start flowering from late spring and continue well into summer
  • They cope best in sunny spots but many are happy with a bit of shelter too
  • One round of planting is usually enough to refresh pots, borders, and baskets
  • They sit comfortably alongside spring bedding and make the change into autumn planting feel easier

Our Quality Promise and UK Delivery

Before any plants leave us, they’re checked by hand to make sure they’re healthy, well rooted, and ready to plant when they arrive.

  • Plants are chosen specifically for how well they grow in UK conditions
  • Packaging is designed to keep roots and stems protected during the journey
  • Orders are dispatched quickly so plants arrive fresh, not stressed
  • If you’re unsure what to choose or how to plant, help is always available

Buy summer bedding plants online knowing they’ve been handled carefully and sent out ready to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Petunias, marigolds, lobelia, begonias, and dianthus are among the best summer bedding plants UK gardeners rely on. They offer long flowering, vibrant colour, and cope well with warm conditions. Many are easy to grow and suitable for pots and borders.
Plants such as marigolds, geraniums, and some dianthus varieties are less attractive to slugs. While no bedding plant is completely slug proof, choosing tougher foliage plants and keeping the area tidy helps reduce damage.
Some bedding plants are short lived perennials, including dianthus and certain geraniums. These can return each year if conditions are right, though many summer bedding plants are grown as annuals for reliable colour.
Most people wait until the cold snaps are properly behind us before planting summer bedding. Late spring is usually the safest time. Once the nights warm up, plants settle in faster and you won’t be constantly worrying about frost undoing your hard work.
They can, and for a lot of gardeners that’s how they’re used most. Pots, containers, and hanging baskets suit summer bedding really well. Trailing plants soften the edges, and compact ones are easy to keep looking neat in smaller spaces.
Yes, they are, as long as you don’t forget about them in the early weeks. Plug plants just need regular watering and a bit of feeding while they grow on. After that, they’re straightforward to plant out and fill spaces quickly.