Vibrant £5 plant flourishes in dry conditions and even has a second bloom – now is the time to add it to your garden
AS Britain is set to be hit by 29 degrees weather next week, your garden plants might suffer in the heat.
With the summer arriving, the high temperatures will leave many Brits in high spirits.
2
2
And if you want your garden to look its best as you soak up the sun or enjoy a barbecue with family, you might want a flower that will bloom even in drought.
Even with plenty of water, many flowers will droop and wither in hot weather.
But if you want your garden to remain blooming despite the heat, Suttons has the ideal, affordable answer.
The retailer sells vibrant blue Anchusa azurea 'Dropmore' for only £5 per potted plant.
The beautiful and bright flowers are in bloom from late spring to early summer.
Azurea deals well with the dry conditions, which makes it the perfect choice for hot weather.
The rich blue colour adds vibrancy to your garden, and complements other flowers.
But Azurea isn't only ideal for a garden or a bouquet, but it can also be added to food.
These edible flowers can be used in ice cubes as a stunning decoration and a final touch to a summery cocktail or a refreshing lemonade.
The blue petals could also elevate your dishes or salads from a homemade to a restaurant level.
'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants'
You could trim it back after flowering for a second flush of smaller blooms.
Anchusa azurea is a short-lived perennial that will easily self-seed in the areas of the garden that are most suitable for it.
Meanwhile, Aldi has launched a £4.99 French Lavender plant, which can withstand drought and is set to arrive in stores on Thursday, June 19.
Other examples of flowers that bloom even during droughts are geraniums, daisies and coneflowers.
The bargain superstore is also stocking large perennials for just £4.99, and Hibiscus plants for only £6.99, which will add colour and height to any patio or garden display.
Lidl customers can add a "whimsical" touch to their flowerbeds for just £3.
And for those looking for flowers that bloom all year round, Ikea s selling trays of 10 pansies for just £3.50 - that's 35p a plant!
Pansies start petite in size but can spread, so they make the perfect plant to add to your garden borders, pots and hanging baskets.
8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden
Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots.
Tricyrtis
A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'.
Penstemon
I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes.
Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata'
With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it
will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade.
Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue'
A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your
garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period.
Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'
If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers.
Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange'
A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days.
Rosa 'Noisette Carnee'
A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November.
Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel'
I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Britain set to bask in sizzling heatwave with temperatures set to soar as high as Barbados and Malibu
Britain is poised to bask in a heatwave dubbed the 'Mediterranean melt' – but the sizzling conditions could see temperatures as hot as Malibu or Barbados. Sunny weather is set to take hold for the coming week and into next weekend, with temperatures gradually increasing from a high of 26C (79F) today. By the weekend, the Met Office predicts highs of 29C (84F) in the South East. Apple devices, which use forecasting data from US provider The Weather Channel, predict by next Monday or Tuesday the heat could have reached 32C or 90F, on a par with Malibu, California, or Barbados. The term 'Mediterranean melt' has been used by commentators because of the plume of southerly air bringing the conditions. The top temperatures in northern and western parts of England and Wales are due to rise from 20C at the start of the week to 24C-25C into the weekend. Next weekend, there is a 'low risk' thunder could return in the West. Forecasters said warm and sunny conditions are then set to continue in the South East 'although some rain will probably spread from the West or North West at times' and 'there is also the risk that isolated heavy showers and thunderstorms could develop' after drought conditions were declared in some parts of England and Wales. It comes as an investigation by consumer magazine Which? found a third of children's sunglasses bought from popular online marketplaces are unsafe and do not provide the required UV protection. Experts have warned these could be 'dangerous' for youngsters to wear and could even lead to cataracts.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
Burst sewer main close to protected site in Warsash
A sewage pipe has burst in "close proximity" to a protected wildlife Water said the leak was near Passage Lane car park in Warsash, Hampshire, which is near a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).The burst pipe is also close to a designated bathing spot - although the Environment Agency (EA) said there was currently "no indication" bathing water had been leak was reported on Saturday, and on Sunday the company said it had been stopped and they were taking "mitigation actions to protect the environment". One local resident told the BBC the smell was "horrible".The spokesperson for Southern Water said the leak was also close to shellfish waters linked to the River Hamble, and that they had notified Natural England and the Environment Agency as soon as they became aware of it."We are taking a number of mitigation actions to protect the environment," the spokesperson said."These include having environmental specialists taking samples and using a fleet of tankers to remove sewage from the system and the use of barriers to stop further overland flows." Investigation 'ongoing' An EA spokesperson said they were liaising with Southern Water "to ensure a repair is carried out as soon as possible"."Our investigation is ongoing," the spokesperson added."At present, there is no indication that designated bathing water has been affected."Hamble Valley MP Paul Holmes said he would be "chasing to see what environmental steps are being taken urgently and what the cause was". You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
Warm temperatures mean more migrants on the way, Government told
Warm temperatures and calm weather conditions could result in an increase in Channel crossings, the Government has been told. Good weather predicted in the South East of England has prompted warnings that next week could see a particularly high number of small boats crossing the Channel. Independent modelling has forecast that 2025 is on course to become a record year for illegal crossings. Temperatures across Britain are set to be above average for the second half of June, with highs of 84F (29C) around London, according to the Met Office. Sir Keir Starmer has urged Emmanuel Macron, the French president, to do more to tackle the crossings from northern France. If the weather remains favourable, Dr Richard Wood, data expert, has predicted arrivals will hit nearly 46,000 this year, which would be on a par with the record in 2022 and 20 per cent higher than last year. Along the south-east coast, the wind speed is expected to remain between a light and a moderate breeze, at points as low as 4mph, this week. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: 'The Labour Government has lost control of our borders. This year so far has been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. This coming week promises more of the same. 'The Government must urgently get the French to prevent these crossings completely. We've paid them nearly half-a-billion pounds to do this, yet they are failing.' He added that the UK should suspend the 12-year fishing deal with the European Union, which allows French fishermen continued access to British waters, until the boats stop. The Prime Minister told reporters that he will be discussing illegal Channel crossings with Mr Macron and other leaders at the G7 summit this week in Canada. Asked if France was doing enough to tackle the issue, Sir Keir said: 'One of the things we've worked hard at is improving the relations with the French in relation to the work we both need to do to stop these boat crossings, which I'm determined we will absolutely bear down on. Nobody should be making that journey. 'As a result of that we are seeing a much greater co-operation in northern France – I want to see more co-operation in northern France, and it's an issue that I have raised and will raise again with president Macron.' 'We have good relations between the Home Secretary and the [French] interior minister now that we're working jointly.' The Home Office released figures earlier this month that showed the number of 'red days', when conditions are thought favourable for Channel crossings, in the year 2024-25. They showed that the proportion of red days in the year reached a new peak, with 190 days in the 12 months to April 2025, an 80 per cent rise on last year. Dr Wood's research shows the weather is so critical that the odds of an unviable day, when there will be no crossings, increase by 11 per cent for every centimetre of wave height, reduce by 6 per cent for every degree of sea temperature and rise by 10 per cent for each hour of eight to 12 knot westerly winds. 'Temperatures above average' Nicola Maxey from the Met Office said: 'Our long-range outlook does suggest that temperatures during the second half of June are likely to be above average, with the possibility of some hot spells, particularly in the South East.' According to the Met's forecast, mist and fog is likely to clear for most of the country on Monday to leave a 'fine day' with warm sunny spells. From Tuesday to Thursday, high pressure will bring drier and sunnier weather from the south. Temperatures are expected to be near normal in the North, with very warm conditions returning to the South East. Throughout the rest of June, most of the UK is expected to experience good weather with a low risk of thundery showers in the west, according to the Met Office's long-term forecast. During the first weeks of July temperatures are expected again to be at or above normal levels with some hot spells in the South East.
