Alan Titchmarsh has shared a list of perennial flowers and plants that people should be planting in their gardens right now to ensure they have a "glorious year of colour" for seasons to come15:19, 29 Jun 2026Renowned gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh has revealed a selection of flowers you can plant right now to guarantee a "glorious year of colour" in your own outdoor spaces. Countless amateur gardeners and horticultural enthusiasts are eager to get the most out of their homes and gardens, frequently seeking advice and recommendations from seasoned professionals.‌Celebrated gardener, horticulturist and cherished television presenter Alan Titchmarsh consistently shares his expertise and insights with audiences through his television work, as well as in regular videos distributed across social media.‌In a video uploaded to TikTok, Alan outlined which plants and flowers people should be introducing to their gardens and outdoor areas at this time of the year. With scorching heatwave conditions subsiding across certain regions of the country, increasing numbers of people are looking forward to spending time outdoors and appreciating their gardens while the opportunity remains.‌Speaking directly to the camera, Alan explained: "Now is the perfect time of year to be planting perennials. But what goes where?"The term 'perennial' describes any plant with a lifespan exceeding two years. These plants typically return annually, which accounts for their widespread popularity as they can be appreciated indefinitely once planted.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Alan continued: "I'll show you which ones to choose for your particular spot so you have a glorious year of colour. So how do you decide what to plant? Well, you pick things you like the look of."But you also check, 'cause there's lots of information on labels, that they will like your soil and situation. Soil well drained, moisture retentive, dry, whatever - check that they'll be happy with that, and then of course, sun and shade."Regarding which particular plants to go for, the expert advised: "Plants for shade? Few are better than hostas. They can cope with sun as well but they really do well in shade - and you see the colour of those leaves so brilliantly.‌"Lady's mantle, alchemilla mollis; with these leaves that hold water like globules of quicksilver, and then a froth of lime green flowers in summer. A really good doer will cope with almost any kind of soil."He then continued: "This variegated polemonium, Jacob's Ladder - called because of the shape of the leaves - that will do too in dappled shade.Article continues below"The majority of plants though; herbaceous perennials. Herbaceous, meaning they die down to ground level come the winter, but in spring and summer, they're glorious. And most of them love and are very happy in full sun."In the caption accompanying the clip, the gardener added: "Now is the perfect time to plant perennials, but choosing the right plant for the right spot makes all the difference. Always check plant labels for soil type and sun or shade preferences before planting."For shady areas, hostas, lady's mantle, and polemonium are excellent choices, bringing beautiful foliage and seasonal colour. Most herbaceous perennials, however, thrive in full sun, rewarding you with vibrant displays year after year."