As spring unfolds, it’s the perfect opportunity to shop for plants. While enhancing or establishing a garden is inherently eco-friendly, it’s important to recognize that not all plants are created equal in terms of sustainability.
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When selecting plants, be mindful of factors such as hidden peat, disposable plants, excessive water and energy consumption, transportation emissions, and non-recyclable plastic pots. Identifying what to avoid and what to choose can significantly contribute to a sustainable garden.
Choosing the right plant for its environment is key to ensuring its survival and growth. Before making a purchase, consider the light levels, humidity, and temperature conditions, whether indoors or outdoors, to minimize waste and avoid unnecessary purchases. For sunny, south-facing gardens, recommended plants include dianthus (Dianthus carthusianorum), tulbaghia (Tulbaghia violacea), and various salvias (Salvia “Nachtvlinder”). For shadier, north-facing areas, ferns, Solomon’s seal, and ornamental grasses like Luzula nivea are excellent selections.
Standard black plastic pots that accompany many plants are not recyclable. However, since March, non-black pots made from recyclable materials like PP, PET, and PE (often grey) can be placed in kerbside recycling, depending on local regulations. A sustainable alternative is to opt for biodegradable coir pots, made from renewable materials that can be planted directly into the ground, allowing the roots to grow through as the pot decomposes.
The Hairy Plant Pot Company provides a variety of plants in coir pots, including Polemonium “Bressingham Purple,” Salvia “Caradonna,” and Nepeta “Six Hill’s Giant,” along with an assortment of herbs available at garden centers across the country.
Traditionally, perennials were sold without pots. Some retailers continue this practice by offering bare-root perennial plants packaged in paper, as highlighted by Ben Preston of Cliff Bank Nursery, which focuses on perennials and grasses.
It’s advisable to avoid “bedding” plants, which tend to consume a lot of resources and are designed for short-term use. Instead, consider investing in perennials, shrubs, and trees that will return season after season. Beautiful and sustainable options include Agastache, heleniums, anemones, astrantia, gaura, sanguisorba, and achilleas, along with shrubs and smaller trees such as correa and Amelanchier (snowy mespilus). If you prefer annuals like cosmos, calendulas, petunias, and sunflowers, consider cultivating them from seeds.
Smaller plants in 9cm pots are more likely to establish themselves successfully in the garden compared to larger specimens of the same variety, requiring less water in the process. According to award-winning garden designer Pollyanna Wilkinson, smaller plants face less transplant stress and establish roots more easily in the soil, needing just one thorough watering when first planted.
The extraction of peat is detrimental to peatland ecosystems and contributes to carbon emissions. Thankfully, many garden centers, DIY stores, and online retailers ceased selling peat compost a few years ago. However, approximately 60% of plants sold in the UK still originate from peat-based plug plants. To find nurseries that are completely peat-free, refer to the RHS website, which lists both physical and online shops. Alternatively, consider independent nurseries like Great Dixter or Special Plants, which cultivate all their plants on-site.
For more guidance, see our comprehensive tips for creating a nature-friendly garden.
Purchasing plants online is an eco-friendly option, especially if you can consolidate orders into fewer deliveries. Look for minimal packaging that is compostable or recyclable, including tape and labels. Crocus offers a wide range of trendy plants packaged in cardboard, while Beth Chatto Nursery wraps plants in newspaper.
If you’re looking to buy annuals or edible plants like tomatoes, choosing seeds is the most sustainable route. As noted by Sally Redhead of Chiltern Seeds, seeds are lightweight, require minimal packaging, and a single packet can yield many plants. Additionally, seeds adapt to their soil from the moment they germinate, resulting in healthier plants and a wider variety of options. Consider trying the Costoluto Fiorentino tomato, a flavorful Italian variety well-suited for British climates, or the Scabiosa atropurpurea “Snowmaiden,” known for its stunning white flowers.
For sowing seeds, wool pots are a great choice as they are natural, compostable, and made from waste wool, benefiting British farmers.
If you missed the chance to plant bulbs in autumn and are purchasing container bulbs for vibrant late spring blooms, opt for perennial varieties that will flower in subsequent years. While most tulips are annuals, varieties like Spring Green, Green Mile, and Artist tulips, which feature green stripes on their petals, are reliably perennial. Alliums and fritillarias also make excellent choices.
