Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'
cranesbill
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May - August
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Deep lavender-blue, saucer-shaped flowers appear in early summer among deeply divided, mid-green leaves. The loose clusters of lavender-blue flowers, become paler at the centre, look lovely weaving in and out of the front of a mixed border or at the base of flowering shrubs. This geranium rapidly forms a dense carpet of foliage, valuable for suppressing weeds, and if cut back after flowering, will usually produce a second flush of flowers later in the summer. - Garden care: In midsummer rejuvenate plants that are beginning to look jaded, by removing old flowered stems and leaves. Lift and divide large colonies in spring.
Iris sibirica 'Tropic Night'
Siberian iris
Velvety, violet flowers with veined yellow throats
Delphinium 'Black Knight Group'
delphinium
Spikes of dark purple flowers with black centres
Phlox divaricata 'Blue Perfume'
perennial phlox
Masses of lilac-blue fragrant blooms
Alchemilla mollis
lady's mantle
Scalloped leaves and frothy flowers
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
sevenbark
Huge globes of tiny white flowerheads
How to get more flowers
Many flowering plants can be encouraged to produce better and longer-lasting displays with the minimum of effort. A plant produces flowers in order to reproduce and ensure the survival of the species. Once a plant has flowered and fertilisation has...
Read full articleMediterranean
Mediterranean gardens can take on various guises from the rustic and rambling to the formal elegance of an Italian courtyard. However, they all have key features in common, including the use of exotic, sometimes tender, drought-tolerant plants in pots and...
Read full articleGet more flowers
Deadheading will prevent them setting seed and so use their energy producing a further flush of blooms later on. Plants that respond well to deadheading include annuals such as Ageratum, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Centaurea, Cosmos, Dahlia, foxglove, Californian poppy, sweet...
Read full articleChelsea Chop and other methods of extending the flowering season
Many gardeners who are happy, even gung-ho, with the secateurs when pruning shrubs and climbers are surprisingly reluctant to take the shears to herbaceous perennials. Maybe this is because it just doesn’t seem quite right to be cutting back all...
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The violet-blue flowers studded with golden stamens precede most other blues, so it still holds its own - shear it back after flowering and you may get some more indigo-washed flowers
Val Bourne - Garden Writer