Top 5 Easy Flowers to Grow in UK Gardens (Beginner’s Guide)…
Discover 5 easy flowers for UK gardens. Beginner-friendly, low-maintenance blooms like marigolds & cosmos—plus tips, FAQs & planting advice.
Planting flowers is one of the easiest ways to bring instant colour, fragrance, and joy to your outdoor space. When I started gardening, I wanted instant blooms, so I looked for flowers that grow easily and keep coming back with little fuss. Picking the right varieties makes a huge difference, whether you’re a total beginner or just want fuss-free colour in your UK garden. I’ll walk you through my top five easy flowers to plant, plus tips and real answers to the questions gardeners ask most often.
Author Bio: My Journey Into Gardening
I grew up surrounded by the rural beauty of the Hampshire countryside, where my earliest dream was to work with animals. After finishing school, I studied at Sparsholt College and earned a National Diploma in Animal Management.
Life, as it often does, took me in a different direction. I built and ran another business, got married, and became a proud mum to three wonderful boys. After the birth of my youngest in 2020, I found myself at a crossroads, ready for a new career. Gardening—something that had always been a passion—was the natural choice.
I’ve now been working as a self-employed gardener in Hampshire for over five years, but my love for gardening began long before that. Growing up, I spent countless hours outside helping my parents, both keen gardeners (with three allotments!). Being outdoors, nurturing plants, and watching gardens transform with the seasons has always brought me joy.
While much of my knowledge has come through hands-on gardening experience, trial and error, and plenty of research, I’ve also relied heavily on trusted resources like the Royal Horticultural Society, which has guided me in becoming a confident, self-taught gardener.
I created Garden Nest Living to share everything I’ve learned and to help others discover the same satisfaction in creating and enjoying beautiful outdoor spaces. Whether you’re looking for UK gardening advice, self-taught gardening tips, or inspiration for your own garden, my goal is to inspire and guide you on your gardening journey.
Garden Nest Living grew from a simple idea: to share my love of gardens and creating calm, beautiful spaces, both inside and out. When you buy through my affiliate links, you are allowing me to keep sharing inspiration, ideas and products… at no extra cost to you. Thank you for being a part of my journey!
Why Choose Easy Flowers for UK Gardens?
Starting with easy-to-grow flowers means less stress and more chances for success, especially if you’re new to gardening. I’ve noticed that when things bloom soon after planting, it’s a real confidence boost. Easy flowers forgive a missed watering or a cloudy week, and many bounce back quickly even after a slow start. If your soil isn’t perfect, your time is tight, or you want to enjoy the garden rather than constantly work in it, these flowers have you covered.
Many of these easy flowers also welcome pollinators—like bees and butterflies—and work well across different planting styles, from neat beds to wild borders or even containers. That’s super useful when you want things to look good without constant tweaking.
Top 5 Easy Flowers to Grow in UK Gardens
I’ve found that some flowers just take off in almost any garden, especially in the UK climate. Here are my go-to options, plus a little info on why they work so well for beginners and busy gardeners.
1. Marigolds (Tagetes)
Marigolds are the definition of easy. They grow fast and flower reliably all summer long. You can start from seed directly in the soil or use bedding plants from the garden centre. Either way, you’ll have bright yellow and orange blooms in no time. Marigolds also help deter pests, so I often plant them around veg patches.
- Germinates quickly and tolerates most soils.
- Can keep blooming until the first frost with light deadheading.
- One of the lowest maintenance options for new gardeners.
2. Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) (One of my favourites!)
For fragrance and cottage garden charm, sweet peas are hard to beat. They’re easy to grow from seed, especially if soaked overnight before sowing. Sweet peas climb with a little support, and regular picking encourages more flowers. I always plant them where I’ll pass by often; nothing beats their scent first thing in the morning.
- Start in pots or direct sow in spring.
- Enjoy months of fragrant, colourful flowers.
- Just give them something to climb, and they’ll reward you all season.
3. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
Nasturtiums are practically indestructible and look amazing with their bold, round leaves and fiery coloured flowers. They grow fast from seed and will fill up any gaps in your borders or even spill beautifully from pots and window boxes. Bonus: their flowers are edible and add a peppery kick to salads!
- Grows well in poor soils and needs little feeding.
- Tolerant of drought and neglect.
- Both leaves and flowers can be harvested for food.
4. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Cosmos are a dream for anyone who wants maximum flowers with little effort. The feathery leaves and pink, white, or magenta daisy-like blooms create a soft, cottagey look. I just scatter the seeds in spring, and the plants do the rest. With a little deadheading, cosmos continually throws out new flowers right through to autumn.
- Thrives in full sun and doesn’t need rich soil.
- Flowers for months with minimal work.
- Perfect choice for wildflower borders or open spaces.
5. Pansies and Violas
If you want flowers nearly year-round, pansies and their smaller cousins, violas, are the way to go. Plant them in autumn for winter and early spring blooms, or pop them in during spring for instant colour. These guys cope well with the UK’s unpredictable weather and bounce back fast after frosts. Their cheerful faces always make me smile on gloomy days.
- Great for borders, containers, or window boxes.
- Long flowering season; can bloom from autumn to late spring.
- Tolerates part shade as well as sunny spots.
Beginner’s Guide: How to Plant Easy Flowers in the UK
Even the lowest fuss flowers appreciate a good start. I’ve pulled together the easiest steps so you can get your garden looking great, even if it’s your very first try.
- Pick the right spot. Most easy flowers prefer a sunny location, though pansies and violas handle some shade.
- Prepare the soil. Loosen the soil with a fork and work in some compost if you have it. Don’t worry about perfection; these flowers don’t need much.
- Sow or plant. For seeds, follow the spacing on the packet, sprinkle them, and cover lightly. For bedding plants, just dig a hole, set the plant in, and fill the hole back up.
- Water well after planting. Keep the soil moist, especially while seeds germinate or new plants settle in.
- Mulch to keep weeds down. A thin layer of bark or compost helps the soil stay cool and blocks weeds.
These steps jumpstart almost any classic bedding flower, but feel free to experiment a bit. Gardening should feel enjoyable, not like following a strict recipe.
If you need any further help or advice, check out Hilliers website as it has a useful Plant Care Guide which makes much easier.
Common Problems Growing Easy Flowers (and Solutions)
I’ve had my fair share of garden problems, and some are more common than you’d think. Here’s how I work around a few typical issues:
- Pests: Marigolds can actually reduce common pests. With nasturtiums, I just pick off any caterpillars I see (or leave them for the butterflies if I’m feeling kind).
- Slugs and snails: They love pansies and sweet peas. A copper tape barrier in pots or crushed eggshells can help. Water in the morning so the soil isn’t wet overnight.
- Check Hilliers ‘Guide To Common Garden Pests’ to help identify which pests you have & how to deal with them.
- Patchy growth: If seedlings don’t come up evenly, I just resow gaps. Most easy flowers germinate fast, so it’s not a big deal.
- Flowering stops: Deadheading is the secret to more blooms. Pinch or snip off the flowers as they’re fading; new buds appear much faster.
My Sweet Pea Story: Beating the Slugs
Sweet peas are without doubt my all-time favourite flower — the scent is just heavenly. Last summer, I grew a pot of them on my roof garden, and at first they were thriving. Then I started noticing something worrying: little bite marks appearing on the leaves.
I checked carefully but couldn’t spot the culprit. A few days later, the problem had only got worse, with more leaves disappearing each morning. Finally, I caught the offenders red-handed — two tiny slugs making a feast of my precious sweet peas!
After a bit of research (and turning to the Hillier’s Guide to Common Garden Pests), I discovered that copper can act as a natural barrier to slugs and snails. I placed a few copper coins around the base of the pot, and to my relief, it worked perfectly. Once I removed the slugs, there were no more visitors — and my sweet peas quickly bounced back to full health.
Next year, I’ll be using copper tape right from the start. That way, the slugs won’t stand a chance — and I’ll get to enjoy the blooms and fragrance of my sweet peas without having to share them.
Weather
The UK’s unpredictable weather isn’t a major problem for most of these flowers. Cosmos and nasturtiums love sunshine, but even a cloudy spell doesn’t bother them too much. Pansies and violas handle rain or frost like champs. If a late cold snap happens, a bit of garden fleece keeps seedlings safe.
Soil & Water
Most of these flowers grow well in average garden soil. I only add extra feeding if plants look pale or growth seems really slow. During dry spells, a deep soak every week is plenty for established plants. Overwatering can be worse than underwatering, since more roots rot when soggy than when a little dry.
Easy Gardening Tips for Beginners in the UK
I’ve picked up a few shortcuts that make flower gardening more relaxed and rewarding:
- Grow in containers or raised beds if your ground is heavy clay or you want flexibility. Hanging baskets stuffed with pansies or nasturtiums make bright displays with almost no effort.
- Mix and match fast-starting and long-flowering options. I often plant pansies with sweet peas or throw some cosmos seeds into an empty corner mid-spring to keep colour going all season.
- Cut and come again flowers like sweet peas and cosmos keep producing when you pick them often for vases. Double win: your garden looks good and you get bouquets for indoors.
- Let a few flowers go to seed in autumn. Nasturtiums, cosmos, and marigolds often self-seed, so new plants pop up next year with no extra effort.
- Get kids involved with sowing and deadheading. Easy flowers bounce back if they get over-watered or picked a little rough, making them great for beginners of all ages.
Beginner Checklist: Choosing the Right Easy Flowers
If you’re staring at a wall of seed packets or bedding plants and feel overwhelmed, here are some simple things to check for flowers that really are easy:
- Annual or bedding type – These bloom in the year you plant them, giving fast results.
- Tolerant of UK weather – Check for mentions of “cold hardy,” “drought tolerant,” or “suitable for exposed sites.”
- Fast from sowing to blooming – Many seed packets give time from sowing to first blooms; 10 to 12 weeks is common for fast annuals.
- Not too fussy about soil – “Will grow in any well-drained soil” is usually a sign of an easy plant.
- Compact or trailing growth – Good for borders and containers that don’t need constant staking or tying in.
When you see these traits, you’re pretty much set up for a good experience in the UK garden.
FAQs: Easy Flowers for UK Gardens (Beginner Tips)
Here’s where I talk about some big questions, using my own experience and research from trusted sources like the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
What are the easiest flowers to grow in the garden, UK?
Marigolds, sweet peas, nasturtiums, cosmos, and pansies or violas are all excellent choices. They all build confidence for new gardeners because they grow quickly with little fuss, look great in typical UK weather, and are available almost everywhere. Calendula (pot marigold), sunflowers, foxgloves, and cornflowers are a few more options worth checking out if you want extra variety.
What is the easiest flower to grow for beginners?
Marigolds are usually the easiest because they germinate quickly from seed, don’t fuss about weather or soil, and bloom almost nonstop once they get going. You can plant them in beds, containers, or veg patches, and they’ll still flourish.
What is the longest flowering plant in the UK?
Cosmos and pansies both have impressively long flowering periods. Cosmos bloom from early summer all the way into autumn, while pansies can give colour from autumn through spring if you pick the right varieties. For perennial options, hardy geraniums (cranesbills) are famous for flowering throughout the season with hardly any care.
Which flowering plant is easy to grow?
Nasturtiums are super simple and handle neglect or poor soil better than most. They only need watering in long dry spells. Their trailing habit suits both borders and hanging baskets, and they add loads of colour for very little effort.
How soon after planting do these flowers bloom?
If you start most of these from seed in spring, you’ll see marigolds, nasturtiums, and cosmos blooming by early to mid summer. With pansies, bedding plants used in autumn or spring can flower in a week or two after planting.
Can I plant easy flowers in containers?
Yes. All five of these do really well in pots, baskets, troughs, and window boxes. Just use a multipurpose compost and check that the container drains freely. Water is a bit more important for pots, especially in dry spells.
Will these flowers come back next year?
Most on this list are annuals, so you’ll need to resow or replant each spring. However, many self-seed (like nasturtiums, cosmos, and some marigolds), giving you new plants with almost no extra effort. You can also save seeds each autumn for next year’s display. Pansies and violas are short-lived perennials or biennials, sometimes lasting more than one season.
What about wildlife and pollinators?
All five draw in bees, butterflies, and other useful bugs. If you want even more pollinator action, let some flowers go to seed so you attract beneficial insects and birds.
Easy Flower Gardening Checklist for UK Beginners
Top 5 Easy Flowers to Grow
- Marigolds – Fast-growing, pest-deterring, long bloom time
- Sweet Peas – Fragrant climbers, great for cutting
- Nasturtiums – Edible, hardy, great for gaps or containers
- Cosmos – Cottage-garden style, blooms all summer
- Pansies & Violas – Year-round colour, cold-tolerant
Planting Basics
- Choose a sunny spot (some tolerate partial shade)
- Loosen soil and mix in compost if available
- Follow spacing on seed packets or plant labels
- Water well after planting and during dry spells
- Deadhead faded flowers to encourage more blooms
- Add a light mulch to suppress weeds and keep moisture in
Quick Tips
- Start with a few containers or one border if you’re new
- Involve kids—they’re great with hardy, forgiving plants
- Let a few flowers go to seed for effortless re-growth next year
- All five attract bees and butterflies—great for pollinators
Easy Flower Planting Calendar (UK Climate)
| Flower | Sow Indoors | Direct Sow Outdoors | Plant Bedding | Flowering Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigolds | March–April | April–May | May onwards | June–October |
| Sweet Peas | Jan–March | March–April | April–May | May–July (with picking) |
| Nasturtiums | March–April | April–May | May onwards | June–September |
| Cosmos | March–April | April–May | May onwards | June–October |
| Pansies/Violas | July–August | August–Sept (for autumn flowers) | Sept–April (varies) | Autumn–Spring or Spring–Summer |
Easy Flowers Comparison Chart (UK Gardening)
| Flower | Flowering Time (UK Climate) | Soil Needs | Effort Level | Extra Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigolds (Tagetes) | June – October | Any well-drained soil | Very Low | Deters pests, bright summer colour |
| Sweet Peas(Lathyrus odoratus) | May – July (longer with picking) | Rich, moist, well-drained | Medium (needs support + deadheading) | Fragrant cut flowers, pollinator-friendly |
| Nasturtiums(Tropaeolum majus) | June – September | Poor to average soil, well-drained | Very Low | Edible leaves & flowers, self-seeds easily |
| Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) | June – October | Light, well-drained soil | Low | Cottage-style look, long flowering season |
| Pansies & Violas | Autumn–Spring or Spring–Summer | Moist, well-drained soil | Low | Year-round colour, frost-tolerant |
Final Thoughts: Growing Easy Flowers in UK Gardens
Over the years working in private gardens, I’ve seen firsthand how even the simplest flowers can completely transform a space. Reliable favourites like marigolds, sweet peas, nasturtiums, cosmos, pansies, and violas are brilliant for bringing instant colour and life to borders, beds, and containers. These are the kinds of plants I often recommend to clients who are just starting out — they’re low-maintenance, fast-growing, and incredibly rewarding.
In my own early gardening days, I learned that success doesn’t have to come from complex planting schemes or hard-to-grow varieties. With a little planning and the right plant choices, anyone can achieve a beautiful, blooming garden from the very first season. These cheerful flowers are ideal for busy lifestyles and a perfect way for new gardeners to build confidence.
Gardening really can be simple. Start with easy, dependable plants and you’ll spend more time enjoying the results — not worrying about keeping things alive. For extra guidance or inspiration, I always recommend the RHS Plant Finder, especially their “plants for pollinators” list, which is packed with great options that support wildlife as well.
Whether you’re filling a few pots on a patio, brightening a dull corner, or starting a new flower bed from scratch, the most important step is simply getting started. Once those first blooms appear, you’ll quickly see how rewarding it can be.
Wishing you a garden that’s full of colour, joy, and inspiration.
Pansies in pots on my roof garden. Pansies underplanted under an olive tree.
Thank you for this thoughtful and encouraging post! I’ve never really considered myself someone who’s into gardening or even that connected to nature—but reading this made it feel surprisingly inviting. The way you broke things down, from choosing low-maintenance flowers to the reminder that gardening doesn’t have to be complicated, really spoke to me.
I love the idea that a small patch or even just a few containers can turn into something colourful and rewarding without requiring loads of time or experience. It’s great to know that options like marigolds and cosmos are beginner-friendly. Honestly, I’m now considering giving it a go—something I wouldn’t have thought possible before reading this.
Thanks again for sharing your insight and encouragement. It’s posts like this that make something new feel totally doable.
Hi Linda, Thank you so much for your kind comment — it truly means a lot to hear that the post helped shift your perspective and made gardening feel more approachable.
You’re absolutely right: you don’t need acres of space or years of experience to enjoy the beauty and satisfaction of growing something. Whether it’s a few cheerful containers on a balcony or a small garden patch, it’s about creating a space that feels good to you. Plants like marigolds, cosmos, and nasturtiums are perfect for beginners — they’re hardy, vibrant, and so rewarding to watch grow.
The fact that you’re even considering giving gardening a go is a wonderful first step. Nature has a way of meeting us where we are, and it’s never too late to discover that connection – however big or small.
Wishing you all the joy (and colour!) your new gardening journey brings. And if you ever have questions as you get started, don’t hesitate to reach out!
This post is such a fantastic guide for anyone wanting to brighten up their garden without the hassle! I love how it highlights easy-to-grow flowers like marigolds, sweet peas, and nasturtiums that are perfect for beginners or busy gardeners. The tips on soil prep, watering, and dealing with pests are practical and encouraging. It’s great to know these flowers not only add instant color but also attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making the garden more lively and eco-friendly. Plus, the advice about containers and deadheading to prolong blooms is super helpful. I also appreciate the reminder that gardening should be enjoyable, not stressful, and that even small efforts can yield beautiful results. Definitely bookmarking this for my next planting season — thanks for sharing such clear, friendly advice for UK gardeners!
Thank you so much for your comment! I’m really glad you found the guide helpful and encouraging — that’s exactly what I hoped for. Flowers like marigolds and sweet peas (my favourite) really do bring such joy with minimal fuss, and it’s wonderful to hear you’re planning to use the tips in your own garden. Wishing you a colourful, pollinator-friendly season ahead!
What a wonderfully detailed guide! I love how you break down each flower with practical tips for beginners and busy gardeners alike. Your personal experiences really make it relatable, especially the advice on choosing flowers for continuous blooms and attracting pollinators. I’m curious—have you noticed any particular flower from your list that seems to thrive even in the gloomiest parts of a UK garden, where sunlight is limited? I’d love to hear which ones are your go-to for trickier spots.
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment—I’m really glad you enjoyed the guide! Shadier or gloomier UK garden spots can be tricky, but a few flowers from my top list really do shine there. Pansies and violas are my go-to for dull corners; they’re wonderfully resilient, cope well with our unpredictable weather, and can keep blooming from autumn right through spring. Their cheerful faces always seem to brighten up even the gloomiest spot.
For something taller, foxgloves (which I also love to recommend alongside my top five) do brilliantly in partial shade and attract plenty of bees.
It really comes down to choosing flowers that don’t mind a little less sunlight and that can bounce back after cloudy weeks, which is why I lean on those tried-and-true varieties.