Lupinus 'The Governor' (Band of Nobles Series)
lupin
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, slightly acid, sandy soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to July
- Flower colour: blue and white
- Other features: the seeds can cause severe discomfort if ingested
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Blue, pea-like flowers with white standards that are sometimes streaked with purple, open from the base of the flower spike over several weeks from early summer and create a handsome, yet elegant effect. The fresh, green foliage forms a neat mound that maintains a good shape through summer. - Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes in spring before the flowers appear and deadhead the faded blooms to encourage a second flush of flowers.
- Harmful if eaten
Pulsatilla vulgaris
pasque flower
Showy spring flowers
Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum'
mayflower
A double-flowered form
Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve'
wallflower
Stunning mauve flowers
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...
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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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