Many of us have favourite plants that aren’t celebrated or grown as widely as they deserve to be. The gardeners in our July 2026 Facebook shout-out listed a huge range of plants from heucheras to carnivorous plants to ferns, hellebores and cosmos, but these five plants stood out above all the rest.
Our top 5 underrated plants:
5: Mexican fleabane (Erigeron karvinskianus)
The easy-going Mexican daisy, Erigeron karvenskianus, is a winner in a sunny, well-drained spot. It flowers for months on end, providing copious amounts of nectar for pollinating insects. Although it’s an enthusiastic self-seeder, it doesn’t cause problems around the garden, as unwanted seedlings can be easily pulled up. With trailing stems covered in pink and white flowers, Mexican fleabane is an ideal trailing plant for pots, hanging baskets and the edge of informal borders. Its ability to cope with dry conditions and its long-flowering period make this lovely daisy a favourite of many gardeners.
Type: Semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial
Planting conditions: Full sun, any well-drained soil
Our gardeners said: Erigeron grows practically anywhere and flowers all summer long.
4: Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Mexican fleabane’s wild counterpart, the humble common daisy, is next on our underrated plant list. Many gardeners recall sitting on the grass as children, making daisy chains, which lends Bellis perennis a nostalgic air. Others like the ‘day’s eye’ best because it always makes them smile. These iconic plants are low-maintenance as they grow naturally in many of our lawns. Reducing the frequency of mowing during the summer gives daisies the chance to grow and flower. And we get to enjoy their white flowers, along with the bees and butterflies.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Planting conditions: Full sun/partial shade, any well-drained soil
Our gardeners said: We have lots in our lawn and they look so lovely, but many people just ignore them, or tread on them.
3: London pride (Saxifraga x urbium)
London pride is loved because for many it brings back memories of childhood gardens. This evergreen saxifrage is low-maintenance, slug-resistant and drought-proof. Our gardeners appreciated how simple it is to propagate, while also being easy to remove if it’s in wrong place. Its bright foliage creates a carpet of green in shadier spots, and the pretty white flowers in late spring and summer are airy and attractive. Saxifraga x urbium ‘Primuloides’ is a compact variety and another favourite with gardeners.
Type: Evergreen herbaceous perennial
Planting conditions: Partial/full shade, moist, well-drained soil
Our gardeners said: In the Netherlands, they are called Schildersverdriet (painter’s sorrow). They are so cute and delicate!
2: Hardy geranium (Geranium)
There are so many wonderful hardy geraniums that it can be hard to choose which ones to grow. They are great underplanted with roses and deciduous shrubs in a sunny spot in the garden. Many are ideal for mixed herbaceous borders, some cope well with shade and there are compact varieties that work perfectly in rock gardens and containers. Our gardeners loved their versatility, their ability to suppress weeds and the way they attract pollinators into the garden. Try a vivid magenta variety like Geranium ‘Anne Folkard’ or the white flowers with lilac veins of Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir White’.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Planting conditions: Full sun/partial shade, some tolerate full shade, well-drained soil
Our gardeners said: You only have to buy one and in three years you can split it and have loads of free plants to share with your neighbours and friends.
1: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale agg.)
The undisputed winners – dandelions – are beloved by many gardeners for their importance as a food source for pollinators in early spring, their beautiful flowers and their uplifting colour when growing in fields en masse. The genus has 250 microspecies, all with cheerful yellow flowers from spring to early summer and the seedhead “clocks” that children love to blow to tell the time.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Planting conditions: Full sun/partial shade, any soil
Our gardeners said: Dandelions. I love them!
