Ever found yourself Googling "how not to kill plants" while staring at the crispy remains of a flower? You're in the right place.
The truth is, no one is born with green fingers. (Well, maybe a few people.) Every gardener started somewhere, most with easy plants that built their confidence.
Below we dive into beginner-friendly flowers that are low maintenance, resilient and thrive in UK gardens. They won't mind the occasional missed watering, rarely need much fuss and will reward even the most novice gardener with months of colour.
1. Pot marigold
Few flowers are easier to grow from seed than Pot Marigold. Its large, curved seeds are easy to handle and germinate within 7 to 14 days, producing cheerful yellow and orange blooms. It often self-seeds, so new plants may appear the following spring. Plant it in a sunny spot and deadhead faded blooms to keep the flowers coming. The RHS lists it among the easiest annuals to grow from seed – great for beginners.
Friendly tip: When buying seeds, check the packet says Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis), not French or African marigolds (Tagetes). Although they look similar, Tagetes varieties are generally more attractive to slugs and less beginner-friendly.
2. Cosmos
If you want fast results, sow cosmos. The feathery foliage quickly gives way to pink, white and deep red blooms by midsummer. Better still, it's a true "cut-and-come-again" flower, so picking stems for indoor vases encourages it to produce even more flowers.
"Cosmos are really popular plants in the UK, largely because they’re so easy to grow and give a lot back for very little effort," Chris Bonnet, plant expert and founder of Gardening Express previously told Country Living. "You can grow them from seed, they germinate quickly and they don't need much fuss or special care."
The biggest mistake beginners make is feeding cosmos too much. Rich soil or high-nitrogen fertiliser encourages leafy growth instead of flowers. BBC Gardeners' World notes that cosmos "thrives in average to poor soil and generally does not need feeding". Give it a sunny spot, water during prolonged dry spells and it'll reward you with flowers all summer long.
3. Nasturtiums
Looking for a flower that will happily climb, trail or spread? Try nasturtiums. They scramble up fences, spill from hanging baskets and quickly fill bare patches of soil. Their round leaves and brightly coloured edible flowers also add a peppery kick to salads.
Nasturtiums are happiest with very little attention. Overwatering, rich soil and too much fertiliser encourage leafy growth instead of flowers. Grow them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil and they'll flower for months. The Wildlife Trusts recommend growing nasturtiums among vegetables because they can attract aphids away from nearby crops, while the RHS recognises them as valuable plants for pollinators thanks to their nectar and pollen-rich flowers.
4. Sunflowers
Few flowers are as satisfying to grow as sunflowers. They shoot up in just a few months, developing sturdy stems that cope better than many delicate seedlings with the occasional knock or minor pest damage.
All they need is a sunny spot, regular watering while they're getting established and a stake for taller varieties. Don't cut down the faded seedheads at the end of the season either. The RSPB advises leaving them in place, as birds such as greenfinches and goldfinches will feed on the seeds throughout autumn and winter.
5. Zinnias
When summer temperatures soar, zinnias come into their own. They produce long-lasting blooms in vivid shades of pink, orange, red and yellow throughout summer, while their sturdy stems make them great for cut flower arrangements.
Plant them in a sunny, sheltered spot after the last frost, and water at the base to help keep the foliage healthy. Once established, zinnias are more drought tolerant than many traditional bedding plants, making them well suited to increasingly warm UK summers. With regular deadheading, they'll continue flowering well into autumn.
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