Verbascum 'Blue Lagoon'
mullein
- Position: full sun
- Soil: poor, well-drained, alkaline soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: May to August
- Hardiness: fully hardy (but short-lived)
Only recently introduced, and creating quite a stir at the Chelsea Flower Show this year, 'Blue Lagoon' is the first true-blue mullein. The colour of its disc-like flowers, which appear on upright stems throughout the summer, are an intense shade that will add a dynamic twist to the planting scheme. Happy in poor, dry soils, it is one of those plants that will become invaluable, not just for the flower colour, but for thriving in inhospitable positions. - Garden care:Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch around the base of the plant in autumn to protect from winter extremes, taking care not to cover the crown. Stake in spring with bamboo canes or twiggy prunings before the flowers appear. If you cut back the flowerspike as soon as the flowers have faded it will usually encourage a second flush in late summer. These should be left uncut as they can create interesting winter silhouettes.
It is worth keeping in mind that Verbascums are mainly biennial, however this cultivar will often act as a short-lived perennial.
Knautia macedonica
knautia
Crimson, pincushion-like flowers
Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Firetail'
red bistort
Bright red spikes in late summer. This plant loves wet soil!
Papaver orientale 'Patty's Plum'
oriental poppy
Deep reddish-purple, pleated flowers
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'
masterwort
Sultry, dark red flowers
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