Choice plants in August
At last! The clouds have parted and the sun has come out. I am determined to make the most of what is left of the summer, but unfortunately many of my plants have been left looking a little brow-beaten by all the rain. Therefore I am going to invest in some late summer colour, which will be placed in prominent spots throughout the garden. Once its all planted I will then be investing in some serious rest and relaxation.
Our monthly favourites
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Cracking Combination of the Month
Echinacea purpurea & Perovskia 'Blue Spire'
A great, late summer combination of subtle hues and interesting textures, which should look good well into autumn.
Echinacea purpurea
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
A tall coneflower, it will add a bit of height towards the back of the border, while attracting masses of beneficial insects into your garden. Long-flowering, handsome and tough, it is perfect for prairie and meadow settings, but it is equally at home in the herbaceous border where if dead-headed regularly, it will soldier on until September or October
Perovskia 'Blue Spire'
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
I love tactile plants and the foliage of this one will smell of sage each time you brush past it. It is generally free of pests and diseases and will help attract butterflies to the garden. Originating from rocky soil in the Himalayas and Central Asia, it will cope with drought and poor soils once established, provided it gets loads of sun.
Agapanthus 'Lavender Haze'
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
I like most of the African lilies, but the super-sized flowerheads of this one really makes it stand out. They make excellent specimens in pots (which is where they tend to flower best), and look sublime drifting through a sunny herbaceous border. If cut early, the flowers can last up to a couple of weeks in a vase.
Thalictrum delavayi
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
An elegant perennial, it will provide height, without becoming too overpowering. From mid-summer onwards it produces a copious amount of small lavender and lemon flowers in great airy sprays, which billow out above the fern-like foliage. It often tops the designers wish-lists - and rightly so.
Dahlia 'Chat Noir'
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
Dahlias are one of the best plants for adding late colour to the garden - and ensuring there is a steady supply of cut flowers for the house. This is a magnificent cultivar. It’s tall, it has reasonably big flowers in a delicious shade of chocolate-red, and the more you pick the more you get.
Achillea 'Terracotta'
Goes well with:
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Why I like it and what it’s useful for:
The flowers are a rich but not jarring colour that mixes well with most shades of blue, purple, yellow and red. They form in flattened clusters, so create horizontal interest in mixed planting schemes, particularly when placed beside plants with an ethereal quality. Drought tolerant once established, they will thrive in hot, dry spots.