Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst'
Balkan clary
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Slender spires of lilac-purple flowers appear from July to September above clumps of aromatic, mid-green leaves. This salvia is perfect for adding a splash of colour and vertical interest at the front of a well-drained herbaceous border or gravel garden and looks equally at home in a cottage garden or Mediterranean scheme. It will cope with some shade, but is happiest in full sun. The flowers are a magnet for butterflies and bees. - Garden care: To prolong flowering remove the flower spikes as soon they start to fade. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant in spring.
Achillea 'Walther Funcke'
yarrow
Bright, terracotta flowers with flat heads
Knautia macedonica 'Mars Midget'
knautia
Dwarf variety with crimson flowers
Stachys byzantina 'Big Ears'
lamb's ears
Purple flowers large Grey-green leaves
Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum'
brook thistle
Deep crimson thistle-like flowers
Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver Queen'
western mugwort
Ideal for a Mediterranean garden
Achillea millefolium 'Cerise Queen'
yarrow ( syn Kirschkönigin )
Flat, magenta flowers on tall stems
Dianthus carthusianorum
carthusian pink
Vibrant magenta flowers
How to encourage beneficial insects
All pests have natural enemies. The trick in an organic garden is to encourage these beneficial insects and other creatures to take up residence in your garden so that they can do the pest management for you. The most effective...
Read full articleCottage garden
The traditional cottage garden was an intensive, yet carefree mixture of fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers all crowded into a tiny space. Today, this informal charm can be recreated using modern varieties that largely take care of themselves around an...
Read full articleTown
Create an ‘outside room’ that overcomes the three challenges of shade, exposure and lack of space using uplifting, shade-tolerant shrubs, perennials and bulbs. A sense of seclusion can be achieved with decorative screens and trellis covered in deciduous, fragrant...
Read full article