Gardening in South East England
The South East is the UK's warmest and driest region, with long, hot summers — though inland winters can still bring sharp frosts. Drought-tolerant and chalk-loving plants do especially well; mulch generously to hold moisture through dry spells.
❄️ Frost dates
Last spring frost: late April
First autumn frost: late October
🌱 Soil & growing conditions
Free-draining chalk and gravel in many areas, heavy 'London clay' in others. As the driest region, prioritise drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants and add organic matter to sandy ground.
🌿 Hardy plants for South East England
Reliable, hardy plants well suited to South East England gardens (200 plants).
Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula)
Allium (Allium hollandicum)
Apothecary's Rose (Rosa gallica)
Aspen (Populus tremula)
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
Beet (Beta vulgaris)
Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Blue Allium (Allium cyaneum)
Bristle-Pointed Iris (Iris setosa)
Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Bulley's Primrose (Primula bulleyana)
Buttonhead Primrose (Primula capitata)
Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Common Bent (Agrostis capillaris)
Common Bird's-Foot-Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Common Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana)
Common Mint (Mentha spicata)
Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Dense-Needled Japanese Pine (Pinus densithunbergii)
Dippel's Hawthorn (Crataegus × dippeliana)
Druce's Cranesbill (Geranium × oxonianum)
English Elm (Ulmus minor)
European Larch (Larix decidua)
Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
Field Birch (Betula pubescens)
Flaky Juniper (Juniperus squamata)
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Grass-Leaved Flag (Iris graminea)
Hardy Geranium (Geranium)
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus)
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Korean Fir (Abies koreana)
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Mint (Mentha)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana)
Oaks (Quercus)
Plantain Lily (Hosta)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Primroses (Primula)
Purple Cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Rock Crane's-Bill (Geranium macrorrhizum)
Rosebay Willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium)
Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Tibetan Cowslip (Primula florindae)
Water Iris (Iris laevigata)
Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana)
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
White Dead-Nettle (Lamium album)
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)
Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)
Willow (Salix viminalis)
Woodrush (Luzula sylvatica)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Yew (Taxus baccata)
Alpine Primrose (Primula alpicola)
Altai Tulip (Tulipa altaica)
Apple (Malus domestica)
Bearded Iris (Iris germanica)
Bear's Breech (Acanthus mollis)
Bees' Primrose (Primula beesiana)
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
Black Iris (Iris chrysographes)
Blood Iris (Iris sanguinea)
Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)
Bodnant Viburnum (Viburnum bodnantense)
Bosnian Pine (Pinus heldreichii)
Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Butterfly-Bush (Buddleja davidii)
Byzantine Crocus (Crocus banaticus)
Cappadocian Maple (Acer cappadocicum)
Cherry Blossom (Prunus serrulata)
Chinese Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Chinese Primrose (Primula chionantha)
Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Cockburn's Primrose (Primula cockburniana)
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Common Hazel (Corylus avellana)
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)
Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris)
Crocus (Crocus vernus)
Daurian Rhododendron (Rhododendron dauricum)
Daylily (Hemerocallis)
Dog Rose (Rosa rugosa)
Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea)
Drumstick Primula (Primula denticulata)
Elder (Sambucus nigra)
English Oak (Quercus robur)
Fall Crocus (Crocus goulimyi)
Farges Willow (Salix fargesii)
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Florentine Iris (Iris florentina)
Fragrant Snowball (Viburnum × carlcephalum)
Freeman Maple (Acer freemanii)
Garden Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Goat Willow (Salix caprea)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Great White Rhododendron (Rhododendron decorum)
Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
Gum Rock Rhododendron (Rhododendron calostrotum)
Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
Hippophae-Like Rhododendron (Rhododendron hippophaeoides)
Holly (Ilex aquifolium)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Hybrid Squill (Scilla × allenii)
Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Japanese Primrose (Primula japonica)
Japanese Rowan (Sorbus commixta)
Japanese Spiraea (Spiraea japonica)
Komine Maple (Acer micranthum)
Korean Rhododendron (Rhododendron mucronulatum)
Kotschy's Crocus (Crocus kotschyanus)
Laburnum (Laburnum anagyroides)
Lady Tulip (Tulipa clusiana)
Leek (Allium porrum)
Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta)
Long-Scape Iris (Iris delavayi)
Magnolia denudata (QA: Magnolia denudata)
Michaelmas Daisy (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii)
Narrow-Leaved Crocus (Crocus angustifolius)
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum)
Notable Rhododendron (Rhododendron insigne)
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Pear (Pyrus communis)
Pink Lily Leek (Allium oreophilum)
Pontic Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum)
Poppy (Papaver)
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
Purplish-Blue Rhododendron (Rhododendron russatum)
Racemose Rhododendron (Rhododendron racemosum)
Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
Red Currant (Ribes rubrum)
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
Rose (Rosa)
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Royal Azalea (Rhododendron schlippenbachii)
Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Small-Leaved Lime (Tilia cordata)
Smooth Azalea (Rhododendron arborescens)
Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima)
St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)
Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa)
Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Traveller's Joy (Clematis vitalba)
Two-Flowered Tulip (Tulipa bifloriformis)
Upright Rhododendron (Rhododendron fastigiatum)
Violet Willow (Salix acutifolia)
Violet Willow (Salix daphnoides)
Weigela (Weigela florida)
Whitebeam (Sorbus aria)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
Wild Plum (Prunus domestica subsp. insititia)
Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
Winter Heath (Erica carnea)
Wood Spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides)
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)
Yellow Crocus (Crocus flavus)
Yellow Crocus Iris (Iris crocea)
Yunnan Iris (Iris forrestii)
Ash-Coloured Speedwell (Veronica cinerea)
Autumn Crocus (Colchicum autumnale)
Azalea (Rhododendron)
Banksia Rose (Rosa banksiae)
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Bear's Ear (Primula auricula)
Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Big-Leaf Rhododendron (Rhododendron calophytum)
Blue Garlic (Allium caesium)
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Cemetery Iris (Iris albicans)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Common Camellia (Camellia japonica)
Common Primrose (Primula husky)
Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Copper Iris (Iris fulva)
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Cypripedium hank
🌱 What to sow in South East England, month by month
Sowing windows timed to South East England's frost dates (late April last frost, late October first frost) — not the UK average.