The brilliant biennials perfect for scent and versatility - Episode 277

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
The brilliant biennials perfect for scent and versatility - Episode 277
Jun 04, 2026 Episode 277
Sarah Raven

Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they’re among the best plants to sow and grow in any garden.

Sarah makes the case for brilliant biennials in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, exploring how she came to appreciate their beauty, and which varieties are best for all aspects of your space.

In this episode, discover:

  • How the right mix of biennials can fill the awkward May gap with prolific blooms, all for the price of a seed packet
  • The best early-flowering biennials, from fragrant wallflowers to the scented sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalis
  • Moth-pollinated varieties with rich fragrance and velvety textures to create a pollinator paradise

Products mentioned:

Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot

Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba

Malope trifida 'Vulcan'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-vulcan

Lunaria annua

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua

Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-nudicaule-champagne-bubbles-mix-f1

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