Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'
sage
- Position: full sun
- Soil: light, moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well- drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June to October
- Flower colour: violet-blue
- Other features: attractive to butterflies and bees
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A superb cultivar with glowing purple stems loaded with violet-blue flowers from June to October. The grey-green, aromatic foliage also makes an attractive accent in the summer border. A compact variety that is perfect for adding a splash of colour at the front of a well- drained herbaceous border or gravel garden. It thrives in a sunny spot and will become drought tolerant once established. The blooms 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.
Euphorbia palustris
spurge
Ideal for a woodland edge or sunny border
Eryngium giganteum 'Silver Ghost'
giant sea holly
Stunning silvery white bracts
Artemisia ludoviciana 'Silver Queen'
western mugwort
Ideal for a Mediterranean garden
Dianthus carthusianorum
carthusian pink
Vibrant magenta flowers
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Sensational deep-purple flowers borne on black stems - a must among silvers - and a new star of the sunny border
Val Bourne - Garden Writer