The world of gardening can feel like a confusing place at times! From the almost overwhelming range of plant varieties to complex sounding terminology, gardening can feel daunting as a long-term gardener, never mind as a beginner. As part of our Make It Bloom campaign, we want to help demystify gardening and show you it isn’t nearly as complicated as it might seem...
Don't know your biennials from your perennials? We're here to help.
We’ve put together this handy guide to explain some of the most common gardening terms you’ll likely see when walking around your local garden centre...
Annual
A plant that completes its entire life cycle within a single year. Annuals grow, flower, set seed, and then finish.
Sweet Peas, Cosmos, and Marigolds are classic examples, and you need to plant fresh ones each spring for a reliable burst of colour throughout summer.
Biennial
This type of plant takes two years to complete its life cycle, growing leaves in year one and flowering in year two.
Foxgloves, Hollyhocks, and Wallflowers all follow this two-year rhythm and are well worth the wait.
Deciduous
Put simply, this is a tree or shrub that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season and grows them back the following year.
Magnolias, Acers, Cherry Blossoms, and Hydrangeas are all deciduous, giving you beautiful seasonal interest as they leaf up, flower, and change through the year.
Ericaceous
A plant that thrives in acidic soil, which has a low pH.
Blueberries, Camellias, Azaleas and Rhododendrons are all ericaceous plants. If you want to grow them, look for bags of ericaceous compost in our sundries section, as it’s specially formulated to give them the conditions they love.
Half Hardy
These plants can tolerate low temperatures, but they need protecting when hard frosts arrive.
Fuchsias, Salvias, and Pelargoniums fall into this group, and you can protect them with a layer of fleece or move to a frost-free spot in November to see them safely through winter.
Hardy
The gardener’s dream: plants that can handle even the coldest British winters without any extra help from you.
Lavender, Hebe, and Japanese Anemones are all reliably hardy and will return each spring.
Herbaceous
A plant that dies back down to the ground over winter but pushes up fresh new growth each spring.
Geraniums, Hostas, and Delphiniums are well-loved herbaceous plants that disappear in autumn only to reappear come April.
Perennial
Comes back year after year, season after season. Unlike annuals, you plant a perennial once and enjoy it for many years.
Daffodils, Peonies, and Hellebores are popular perennials, steadfast, reliable, and always worth buying for yearly colour.
Tender
Plants that will not survive a frost outdoors. Must be brought indoors or into a frost-free greenhouse before the first cold snap.
Dahlias, begonias and bananas are all examples of tender plants. With a little care over winter, most will reward you just as generously the following year.
Shrub
A woody plant that is smaller than a tree and typically branches from the base rather than from a single trunk. Shrubs form the backbone of many gardens, providing year-round structure and seasonal flowers.
Some, like Lavender and Rosemary, are evergreen and hold their leaves all year, whilst others, like Hydrangea and Buddleia, are deciduous. Hardy shrubs need little attention once established, making them one of the best investments you can make in your garden.
Understanding plant labels
So, you’ve found the perfect plant for your garden, but then you look at the label and see more terminology that baffles you. Every plant in a British Garden Centres store carries a label that tells you at a glance what that plant needs to thrive. Here is a straightforward guide to the ones you’ll see most often.
Full Shade
This plant can survive on minimal direct sunlight, making it ideal for shady corner spots, and east or north facing gardens where the sun rarely reaches.
Ferns, Hostas and Heucheras are examples of plants that thrive in full shade.
Partial Sun / Shade
Plants that thrive in early morning or late afternoon sun but need shelter from harsh midday rays. A great choice for east and west facing gardens that enjoy gentle light at either end of the day.
Rhododendron, Viburnum and Campanula are all happiest in a spot that gets partial sun.
Full Sun
Plants that are perfectly at home in dry, hot conditions. These plants love a west or south facing spot and will reward you with their best performance in a sun-drenched border or patio.
Lavender, Salvia, Sedum and Achillea are all sun-worshippers who will be happiest in the brightest spot in your garden.
Bee symbol / 'Pollinator friendly'
Plants carrying this symbol will attract bees and butterflies into your garden, so they are a wonderful choice for pollinators, wildlife, and the wider ecosystem.
Lavender, Foxgloves and wild flowers like poppies and cornflower are all loved by pollinators.
Grown by Us
When you see the British Garden Centres ‘Grown by Us’ badge, those plants were nurtured from the very start in our own nursery.
Thanks for reading.
