Gardening in the South West

The mild, moist South West — especially Cornwall and the coast — is the UK's banana belt, with near-frost-free pockets that grow subtropical and exotic plants found nowhere else in Britain. Inland and on higher ground it is cooler and wetter.

❄️ Frost dates

Last spring frost: mid April
First autumn frost: November

Approximate — always check your local forecast.

🌱 Soil & growing conditions

Mild and moisture-retentive near the coast, and often acidic in the far west — perfect for camellias, rhododendrons and tree ferns. Famous for exotic and woodland gardens.

🌴 Tender & exotic plants you can grow in the South West

The mild climate here lets you grow these half-hardy and exotic plants that struggle in colder parts of the UK.

🌿 Hardy plants for the South West

Reliable, hardy plants well suited to the South West gardens (200 plants).

🌱 What to sow in the South West, month by month

Sowing windows timed to the South West's frost dates (mid April last frost, November first frost) — not the UK average.

Sow in April Sow in May Sow in June Sow in July Sow in August Sow in September

← All UK regions · Planting calendar

Gardening in the South West

🌴 Tender & exotic plants you can grow in the South West

Barbados Aloe (Aloe vera)

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Chenille Plant (Acalypha hispida)

Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Great Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Leaf-Ring Begonia (Begonia annulata)

Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)

Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)

Palm-Leaf Begonia (Begonia carolineifolia)

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii)

Pilea (Pilea peperomioides)

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Acanthocalycium spiniflorum

American Century Plant (Agave americana)

Baum's Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria baumii)

Brilliant Fuchsia (Fuchsia fulgens)

Bulb-Bearing Leopard Lily (Lachenalia bulbifera)

Cape Cowslip (Lachenalia contaminata)

Cardinal Sage (Salvia fulgens)

Chenille Plant (Echeveria leucotricha)

Chihuahua Echeveria (Echeveria chihuahuaensis)

Courgette (Cucurbita pepo)

Echeveria

Fairy Primrose (Primula malacoides)

Lachenalia corymbosa

Leopold Agave (Agave leopoldii)

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Lithops dorotheae

Marigolds (Tagetes)

Melon Spurge (Euphorbia meloformis)

Old Lady Cactus (Mammillaria hahniana)

Pea (Pisum sativum)

Pelargonium (Pelargonium x hortorum)

Pincushion Cactus (Mammillaria lauii)

Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

Powderpuff Cactus (Mammillaria bocasana)

Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)

Sabra Spike Sage (Salvia confertiflora)

Sea Milkball (Euphorbia flanaganii)

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

String Of Pearls (Curio rowleyanus)

Thread Agave (Agave filifera)

Twin-Spined Cactus (Mammillaria geminispina)

Two-Lobed Cone Plant (Conophytum bilobum)

Anise-Scented Sage (Salvia guaranitica)

Candelabra Sage (Salvia candelabrum)

Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)

Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana)

Corrugated Sage (Salvia corrugata)

Edgeworth's Rhododendron (Rhododendron edgeworthii)

Garden Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

Garden Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata)

Giant Herb Robert (Geranium maderense)

Hairy Grey Heather (Erica canaliculata)

Kew Primrose (Primula kewensis)

🌿 Hardy plants for the South West

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)