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Where can I see what flowers / plants flower at different times of the year?

I am planning my new garden but want flowers and plants in bloom all year round. I want the garden to look pretty whatever the time of year.

Public Comments

1. Almost all perennial plants have tags on them that tells you what month/months they bloom. Also, all perennials, with the exception of a few, do bloom at different times. May I suggest that you get a few annuals to place in your garden as those bloom the whole growing season.
2. You need to use a decent plant search that will allow you to specify when you want your flowers. Some will also let you select flower colour and the type of plants your after. A decent site for this sort of thing is www.findmeplants.co.uk, that's a good one.
3. Local libraries usually have a big selection of books on garden planning, often with photos and plans showing borders at different times of the year. I think for this question you'd get more help there than on line. You can also get garden design software that you could play about with for different effects. Its a good idea not to be in a hurry but to spend a lot of time looking at other peoples gardens, especially those near you, as not all plants are happy everywhere and you can see what does well in your area. A couple of tips: Plan your winter garden first - you need a framework of attractive shrubs to show off the smaller plants. Remember trees are bare for five or six months of the year, so include evergreens and shrubs with an attractive winter shape. Plant to allow room for them to reach their mature size - a common mistake is to plant too close because it looks attractive now - but in five or six years it is overcrowded. Put bulbs behind herbaceous plants so that the new growth hides the dying leaves. Once you have your framework you can buy other plants as you see them!