Summer at Powis

Herbaceous borders full of colourful blooms at Powis Castle and Garden, Wales

As the long, warm days of summer arrive, there’s lots to excite the senses in the garden at Powis. From the first flush of roses in June to the colourful herbaceous borders blooming in profusion in high summer, there’s plenty waiting to be discovered.

With beautiful colours, amazing scents and picturesque spaces to relax or enjoy a picnic, summer is one of the best times of the year to explore Powis’ garden.

Early summer

What would an English – or indeed a Welsh – garden be without roses? From June they flower in abundance throughout the garden. Climbers and bushes, species and hybrids, pedigrees ancient and modern; there are hundreds of varieties waiting to be discovered.

The Edwardian Formal Garden in full summer bloom
A border in the Edwardian Formal Garden in full summer bloom at Powis Castle and Garden, Powys, Wales.
The Edwardian Formal Garden in full summer bloom

Elsewhere in the garden, take a stroll on the Croquet Lawn and see ranks of two-meter high delphiniums with colourful spikes varying from vibrant aquamarine to a deep navy. Later in the summer they’ll give way to a display of impossibly tall hollyhocks that must surely outdo those in any other garden.

High summer

On the Top Terrace, the tropical showpiece border with Chusan palms, outsized foliage of bananas and the fat suckering stems of the rice-paper tree goes from strength to strength as tender warmth-loving plants put on a display of vibrant colour. 

Either side of the Orangery run long pairs of parallel herbaceous borders. In the ‘cool border’ on east, perennials bloom in tranquil blues, lilacs, pinks and whites. In the ‘hot border’ on the west you’ll discover rich reds, vivid yellows and hot pinks.

Explore the 'hot border' with its vibrant summer colour
Visitors walking along the Orangery terrace surrounded by summer blooms at Powis Castle, Wales.
Explore the 'hot border' with its vibrant summer colour

With dozens of borders to explore, there’s endless summer colour waiting to wow visitors throughout the garden

Powis’ containers

As well as in opulent borders, you’ll find colour in dozens of planted containers across the garden ranging from stone troughs, lead sinks and urns, to intricate terracotta pots.

Some are ‘permanent’ such as the potted oranges placed outside the Orangery during the warmer months, and others are filled annually to further embellish the richly planted borders and terrace walls.

Explore vibrant summer planting and exceptional views at Powis.
Summer planting at Powis Castle, with a view over the Severn Valley in the background. NAtional Trust, Mid-Wales.
Explore vibrant summer planting and exceptional views at Powis.

Pick up a container trail or a rose trail from the Garden Kiosk to discover more about what's blooming this summer.

Our garden is open from 10am, 364 days a year (closed 25 December).