Boma's Perennial Picks for a Stunning Spring & Summer

Spring has finally sprung in London. The never-ending rain has at least slightly relented, gardens are waking up, window boxes are brightening. Basically, it’s the perfect moment to plan your next floral showstopper. 

Whether you’re working with a classic townhouse garden, a compact balcony, or a shared London courtyard, one type of plant is the secret to beauty and easy upkeep in the warming and hotter months: the humble perennial.

In this guide, we’ll answer your most common questions about choosing, planting, and caring for spring and summer perennials. We’ve got you covered with the best, the what, the how and the when; meaning you’ve got all the info you need to create a gorgeous perennial display throughout spring and summer. 

Drop by Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town to explore our full collection of perennials bursting into bloom this season. It’s a true North London sanctuary for plant lovers!

Quick Tips For Spring and Summer Perennials

If you’ve only got five minutes, here are the quickest tips we can provide for blooming spring and summer perennials:

	Spring Perennials	Summer Perennials
What	Hardy plants that shoot back from the roots as the weather warms, often flowering from late winter throughout spring.	Hardy plants that peak from late spring through summer and may continue into autumn.
Examples	Primula, Pulmonaria, Ajuga, Brunnera and hardy geraniums, with extra early colour from bulbs and shrubs like daffodils, tulips and azaleas.	Salvia, Nepeta, Echinacea, Verbena bonariensis and Lavender, alongside other long-season do‑ers like rudbeckia, helenium and coreopsis.
When	Plant pot-grown spring perennials from March–April once soil is workable, and plant them straight out from the garden centre into warming, moist soil. Plant spring‑flowering bulbs in the previous autumn, so they can root over winter and bloom the following spring.	Plant pot-grown summer perennials in mid‑late spring after frosts, so they can root before it gets too hot and provide their main display through summer into early autumn.
How	Clear dead stems, weed, mulch, then plant container-grown perennials and water regularly while they establish.	Mix long-flowering perennials, deadhead spent blooms, mulch and water in dry spells to keep colour going.

The Best Spring and Summer Perennials? Our 10 Top Picks

Ready to refresh your garden for the warmer months? Here are Boma’s 10 top perennial picks for spring and summer:

Plant	Why grow it	Blooms (UK / London)	Image
Ajuga	Dense, evergreen groundcover with rich spring flower spikes; ideal for edging paths and filling shady gaps.	Spring
Brunnera	Heart-shaped, often variegated leaves and forget-me-not-style spring flowers; one of the best perennials for brightening shade.	Early to mid-spring
Geranium (Cranesbill)	Reliable, low-maintenance groundcover with long-season flowers from late spring; a core UK garden perennial.	Late spring to autumn
Primula	Cheerful, early colour for beds and pots; perfect for starting the season in cooler, damp conditions.	Late winter to mid-spring
Pulmonaria	Spotted or silver foliage and early nectar-rich flowers; outstanding in shade and under shrubs.	Early spring
Salvia	Long-season flower spikes in vivid colours from late spring to autumn; top-choice pollinator plant.	Late spring to autumn
Nepeta	Hazy lavender-blue flowers and aromatic foliage; flowers for months and works brilliantly with roses and lavender.	Late spring to early autumn
Echinacea	Bold daisy-like blooms and strong seedheads; excellent late-summer colour and wildlife value.	Mid to late summer into early autumn
Verbena bonariensis	Tall, airy stems with purple flowers that run from mid-summer to frosts; a favourite in contemporary border design.	Mid-summer to first frosts
Lavender	Classic UK summer perennial with fragrance, long bloom and drought tolerance; ideal for edging and containers.	Early to late summer

What are Spring and Summer Perennials? Your FAQs Answered

Spring and summer perennials are plants that live for several years and reliably return each year, producing their main flush of flowers between early spring and late summer. They typically die back over winter (or semi-rest) and then regrow from the same roots as temperatures rise.

What perennials bloom in spring to fall?

Many long-flowering perennials bloom from late spring right through to autumn, including hardy geraniums, Geum, Nepeta and Echinacea, often joined by stalwarts like Achillea, Scabiosa, coreopsis and rudbeckia. With good deadheading and care, these can give colour from around May to the first frosts.

What perennials can I plant in the spring?

In the UK you can plant most container-grown perennials in spring, after the last frosts, including spring choices such as Primula, Pulmonaria, Ajuga, Brunnera, Dicentra (bleeding heart) and wallflowers (Erysimum). You can also plant summer performers like Echinacea, Geum, Lavender, Nepeta, Lupins and Delphiniums at this time, so roots establish into warming, moist soil and plants are ready to flower later in spring and into summer.

What perennials bloom all summer?

Perennials known for flowering all or most of the summer include Nepeta, hardy geraniums, like the Geranium pratense 'Black Beauty', Geum and Erigeron, which can flower for months from the front or middle of a border. Daylilies, Achillea, Scabiosa and Dahlia then extend strong mid‑ to late‑summer colour, especially if you remove spent blooms and keep plants well watered and mulched.

What perennials bloom in late summer?

Late-summer stars include Echinacea, Achillea and Gaura, which hit their stride from around July onwards, often backed up by plants like rudbeckia, helenium and sedum. Dahlia, Verbena bonariensis and Japanese anemones can also keep the show going into early autumn, especially if earlier-flowering perennials such as Nepeta and hardy geraniums are still ticking along.

What low growing perennials bloom all summer?

Compact, long-flowering options include hardy geraniums and Nepeta, which sit beautifully at the front of borders or along paths and can flower for many weeks. You can mix these with low-growing daisies like Erigeron and pincushion flowers such as Scabiosa, or groundcover like Vinca, for a soft, wildlife-friendly carpet of colour from late spring through summer.

What tall perennials bloom all summer?

Taller choices for repeated summer colour include Echinacea and Achillea, which bring strong daisy-like flowers to the mid‑border, and Lupins and Delphiniums, which give dramatic flower spikes earlier in the season. You can weave in Digitalis, Agapanthus and Verbena bonariensis for extra height and movement, planting them towards the back or middle of a border so their stems rise above lower spring and summer perennials without blocking views.

Which plants do well in full sun with limited watering?

Look for drought tolerant species that thrive in full sun yet still offer attractive foliage. Many of these low-maintenance plants perform beautifully in well drained soil throughout the hotter months.

Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' (Spring Perennial)

How To Prepare and Plant Perennials For a Spring and Summer Garden

How do I prepare perennials for spring?

From late winter into early spring, clear away old, dead stems and tidy evergreen foliage without damaging new shoots emerging at the base. Then weed, mulch with compost and check for congested clumps that may need dividing to reinvigorate flowering.

How do I use spring and summer perennials in my planting schemes?

But what can you do with all these beautiful plants once you have them? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Create a border: Use a mix of Primula and Ajuga for spring at the front, then layer in Geum, Salvia and Nepeta for summer colour along the edge of your garden.
• Plant in pots: Start spring pots with Primula and Pulmonaria, then swap or underplant with Lavender, Geum and Hosta for a long-season summer display on your balcony or patio.
• Create a wildflower meadow: Mix Lupins, Achillea and Gaura with wildflower seeds to create a soft, meadow-style area that attracts bees and other pollinators.
• Add height: Use Digitalis, Delphiniums and Agapanthus to add height to your garden, planting them towards the back so they create a dramatic backdrop for lower plants like hardy geraniums and Erigeron.
• Mix and match: Feel free to mix and match different plants to create a unique garden that reflects your personality, combining spring texture from Brunnera or Pulmonaria with summer pops from Echinacea, Dahlia or Verbena bonariensis.

Not sure where to start, or simply want a professional touch? Boma’s London planting services can design and install your ideal scheme (from colourful mixed borders to statement pots and wildlife-friendly spaces) so you can enjoy a thriving garden without the hassle.

Get in touch

How do I make sure my spring and summer perennials thrive?

But before you start planting, here are a few tips to ensure your plants thrive:

• Choose the right location: Most of these plants prefer full sun, but some, like Hosta, prefer partial shade. Make sure you choose the right location for each plant to ensure it gets the sunlight it needs.
• Prepare the soil: Good soil is crucial in ensuring your plants thrive. Add compost or organic matter to improve soil fertility and drainage.
• Water regularly: Most of these plants prefer moist soil, so make sure you water them regularly. But be careful not to overwater – too much water can be as damaging as too little.
• Mulch: Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature. Use organic mulch, like wood chips or leaves, to improve soil quality.
• Prune: Regular pruning can help keep your plants healthy and looking their best. Cut back dead or damaged growth, and pinch tips to encourage bushier growth.

How can I prepare soil for spring and summer perennial flowers?

For strong perennial growth, enrich the area with garden compost or well rotted manure to boost nutrients. Make sure the bed has well drained soil so roots don’t become waterlogged over time.

Primula Rosebud White (Summer Perennial)

When To Plant, Prune and Move Perennials in Spring and Summer

When to cut back perennials in spring?

Most herbaceous perennials left standing for winter can be cut back from around March, once new growth is just visible at the base. Use secateurs to remove old stems close to the crown, taking care not to damage fresh shoots.

When to start watering perennials in spring?

Begin checking and watering established perennials as growth starts in spring, increasing frequency during dry spells when the top few centimetres of soil feel dry. Newly planted spring perennials need particularly regular watering until their roots are well established in warmer weather.

When to plant perennials in spring?

You can usually start planting hardy, container-grown perennials once the soil is workable and not waterlogged, typically from March or April in much of the UK. Avoid planting into frozen or very cold, saturated ground so roots can establish quickly.

When to plant summer flowering perennials?

Plant summer-flowering perennials in mid to late spring, after the worst frosts have passed, to give them time to root in before their main flowering season. Tender or borderline-hardy types are best planted a little later, once nights are reliably mild.

When to move perennials in spring?

The best time to lift and move most herbaceous perennials is in early to mid spring, just as new growth appears but before the weather turns hot and dry. Replant promptly into prepared soil, water well and keep an eye on moisture while the roots re-establish.

Creating a Blooming Garden Through Spring and Summer with Boma

With these tips under your belt, you’re all set to bring your garden to life this spring and summer. It’s the perfect time to play with colour combinations, textures, and plant heights to craft something truly personal; from a vibrant border bursting with blooms or a peaceful corner of attractive foliage and scent.

If you’d rather skip the hard work, Boma’s expert planting services can take all the stress out of choosing and planting, so you can simply enjoy the results. Our team can help you choose the right perennials for your soil, light and London microclimate, just shoot us a message or call.

And if you need a little more inspiration or advice, pop into Boma Garden Centre in Kentish Town. You’ll find stunning seasonal displays and a full range of spring and summer perennials ready to transform any London garden into a little slice of paradise.