Planting in Devon & the South West

Devon and the wider South West is one of the best places in the UK to garden. The climate is generous, the growing season is long, and there's a huge range of plants that thrive here that would simply give up further north. Once you understand a few of the local quirks though, you can do far better than just throwing in whatever is on sale at the garden centre.

This is a quick local-gardener's-eye view of what to think about when you're planting in Devon - from coastal Torbay, through the South Hams, up onto the edge of Dartmoor and across the wider South West.

The Devon Climate: Mild, Damp, Windy

The big things that shape what grows well here are:

• Mild winters. Frosts are usually short and shallow, especially close to the coast. Tender perennials like agapanthus, phormiums, salvias and even the odd palm or banana can get through winter outside in sheltered spots.
• Wet, mild springs and autumns. Plants establish well, and the season at both ends is longer than most of the country.
• Coastal wind & salt. If you're anywhere near the sea, salt-laden wind is the single biggest filter on what will and won't last.
• Heavy, sometimes acidic soil. Lots of Devon gardens sit on red, clay-rich loam. Drainage is the bigger problem in winter than drought is in summer.

Hot, dry summers do happen now - and droughts are getting more common - so it's worth choosing plants that can ride out a few weeks without rain rather than only ones that love perpetual damp.

Plants That Love It Here

The South West is genuinely spoiled for plants that flourish locally. A few categories we lean on again and again:

Evergreen structure

Griselinia littoralis for hedging - it loves Devon's mild, salty air and forms a bright green wall that needs little fuss. Pittosporum, Choisya and Olearia earn their place too. For something tougher inland, Portuguese laurel and yew always behave themselves.

Mediterranean-leaning shrubs

Lavender, rosemary, cistus, phlomis and santolina all thrive on a sunny, well-drained bank. Drainage is the key - sit them in waterlogged clay over winter and they'll sulk and rot.

Subtropical accents

South-facing, sheltered gardens in Torbay and along the South Devon coast can get away with cordylines, phormiums, tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica), echiums, and even hardy bananas (Musa basjoo) if you're prepared to wrap them in winter. They give that "you're on holiday" feel that the South West does so well.

Cottage classics

Foxgloves, hollyhocks, lupins, geraniums, salvias, achilleas, hardy geraniums and roses all do beautifully here. The mild climate keeps them flowering for longer than they would further east. We've written separately about our favourite cottage-style plants if you want to dig further into that.

Wildlife & pollinator favourites

Verbena bonariensis, Erigeron karvinskianus, Echinacea, Knautia, Nepeta, Monarda and a good chunk of native wildflowers will all pull in bees, butterflies and hoverflies through summer.

What To Watch Out For

A few things to keep in mind when you're choosing plants in this part of the world:

• Wet feet kill more plants here than cold ever does. If your soil is heavy clay, raise beds, work in grit, or pick plants that don't mind it.
• Salt and wind. Within a few miles of the coast, anything described as "tender" or "delicate-leaved" will get scorched. Stick to known coastal performers.
• Slugs and snails love it here. The mild damp is a slug's paradise. Hostas, dahlias and young perennials need protecting in spring.
• Vigorous growth. Hedges, climbers and shrubs grow faster here than the labels suggest. Plant with that in mind, or you'll be cutting back a wall of foliage in three years.

Right Plant, Right Place

The best gardens we work in across South Devon all have one thing in common - they pay attention to the conditions in each spot. A south-facing dry bank, a damp shady corner, a windy seaside boundary and a sheltered courtyard might all sit within ten metres of each other but they're four completely different growing environments.

Match the plants to those conditions rather than to the look of a magazine border, and Devon will reward you with one of the longest, most generous growing seasons in the country. Fight the conditions and even the toughest plants will look miserable.

Need a Hand?

We design, plant and maintain gardens right across Torbay, the South Hams and Teignbridge. If you're not sure what will work in your garden - whether that's a coastal plot in Brixham, a town garden in Newton Abbot or a country property near Totnes - we're happy to come and have a look and talk it through. We pick plants that will actually thrive, not just survive their first season.