Garden Design Brighton – summer is just around the corner, and this is when your outdoor space truly comes alive. In our garden design Brighton projects, we always focus on creating gardens that continue to look full, vibrant and inspiring across the entire season, not just in short bursts. A huge part of this success comes down to plant selection, which is why we consistently recommend long-flowering perennials that bring lasting colour, texture and movement from spring through to autumn.

When approaching any garden design Brighton scheme, we look for plants that offer reliability, pollinator-friendly flowers, and the ability to blend with different planting styles. From modern townhouse courtyards to lush cottage gardens by the sea, Brighton’s coastal climate lends itself beautifully to perennials that thrive in sunny, well-drained conditions — and these varieties never disappoint.

Choosing the right plants can transform your garden into a space that feels alive and uplifting all summer long. Whether you’re planning a fresh planting scheme, refreshing borders, or working with a garden designer to rethink your layout, these choices will give you a strong foundation for a healthy, high-impact garden that looks good with minimal fuss. Whatever style you prefer, contemporary, cottage, coastal, or relaxed wild garden, these plants are firm favourites in our garden design Brighton studio.

Remember: these are all sun-loving, low-maintenance perennials, so be sure to place them in warm, sunny spots with free-draining soil where they will thrive and reward you year after year..

1) Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
A must in professional planting schemes and popular in garden design Brighton, salvias offer vertical structure, soft movement, and rich colour. Salvia ‘Caradonna’ is especially striking, with deep violet stems and long flowering spikes that attract bees and butterflies all summer. With regular deadheading, it blooms from late spring to early autumn — ideal for gardens that need reliable, season-long interest.

2) Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’
Geums are underrated gems that bridge the gap between spring bulbs and bolder summer perennials. In many garden design Brighton projects, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ adds an uplifting glow with its soft, warm orange blooms. Light, airy, and long-flowering, it brings energy and contrast without overwhelming other plants and will re-bloom beautifully when spent flowers are removed.

3) Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’
Perfect for pollinator-friendly garden design Brighton schemes, Agastache offers fragrant foliage and long-lasting purple-blue flower spikes from midsummer into autumn. It thrives in warm, sunny areas with good drainage — a brilliant low-maintenance choice for adding height, colour, and movement.

4) Erigeron karvinskianus

We include Erigeron in almost every garden design Brighton project because it works brilliantly in both contemporary and classic schemes. This low-growing daisy spreads beautifully between paving and steps, softens hard edges, and spills gracefully from raised beds and pots. Flowering for months in shades of white and blush pink, it brings a relaxed, romantic feel — making it ideal for Brighton courtyards, coastal gardens, and townhouse terraces.

Tip: In small garden design Brighton spaces, use Erigeron to soften hard landscaping and encourage a lived-in, natural charm.

5) Achillea millefolium

Achillea is a standout perennial for sunny borders in garden design Brighton thanks to its feathery foliage, flat flower heads and incredible colour range — from blush pinks to golden yellows and fiery reds. Its structure gives borders height and rhythm, while its drought tolerance suits Brighton’s free-draining soils beautifully. Achillea offers a meadow-inspired aesthetic and looks stunning with grasses or mixed with perennials in naturalistic schemes.

For all types of Garden Design Brighton you want to select your plants that thrive on the coast but also provide you with interest that gives you the wow factor!

At Ivy & Whyte we like to use Palmstead for all of our plant supplies.