Hemerocallis fulva – daylily in full bloom

Horticulture & Ornamental Plants

Growing ornamental plants in the Czech Republic

Practical notes on perennials, flowering bulbs, and species selection for the Bohemian and Moravian climate.

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What is growing in Czech gardens this season

Three in-depth pieces on choosing and managing ornamental species across different garden types and regions.

Perennials

Perennials for Czech Gardens

Which long-lived species hold up through Central European winters and still put on a show from April to October.

Updated 1 May 2026

Bulbs

Ornamental Bulbs – Spring Planting Guide

When and how to plant spring-flowering bulbs so they naturalise reliably in clay-heavy or sandy Czech soils.

Updated 1 May 2026

Summer Bloomers

Summer-Flowering Perennials

Rudbeckia, echinacea, dahlia, and other heat-tolerant ornamentals that perform well through the warm months in Bohemia.

Updated 1 May 2026

Selecting the right species starts with understanding Czech climate zones

Bohemia and Moravia differ significantly in precipitation and frost duration. The articles below break down which plants fit which conditions.

Browse guides

Growing tips

Three things that affect ornamental plant success

Soil

Czech soil types and what grows in them

Heavy Bohemian clay suits moisture-tolerant irises and astilbes, while the sandier soils around Třeboň allow lavender and ornamental grasses to thrive without intervention.

Climate

Frost hardiness zones across the country

Most of Bohemia sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b–7a. Southern Moravia reaches 7b in sheltered valleys, opening options for slightly less hardy ornamentals like agapanthus in pots.

Timing

Planting windows by region

Prague and Brno typically see the last ground frost around mid-April. Mountain regions like Šumava and Jeseníky often wait until late May — a six-week difference that matters for tender bulbs.

Reference plants

Ornamentals commonly grown in Czech gardens

Herb & Ornamental

Lavandula angustifolia

Drought-tolerant once established. Grows well on south-facing slopes with alkaline soil. In Czech conditions it needs good drainage above all else — clay-heavy ground causes root rot after the first hard winter.

Tender Perennial

Dahlia × hybrida

Dahlias are frost-sensitive and must be dug up each autumn in Czech gardens. Tubers stored dry and frost-free over winter and replanted in late May reward with colour from July through the first October frosts.

Hardy Perennial

Rudbeckia hirta

One of the most reliable late-summer performers across all Czech regions. Black-eyed Susan tolerates both clay and sandy soils, self-seeds freely, and bridges the gap between the June flush and autumn asters.