Crocus combinations

Contemporary plant combination

Burnished orange, deep red and earthy terracotta tones create a warm, autumnal palette in this relaxed perennial collection, softened by fine foliage and the airy movement of quaking grass.

Designed for sunny borders, this combination works particularly well in naturalistic planting and prairie-style schemes, where it can be planted in loose drifts among other grasses and late-season perennials. Flowering progresses through summer into autumn, with many of the seedheads remaining attractive as the display fades, while the stems can also be gathered for a cut flower garden or dried arrangements.



In this collection you will receive one of each of the following plants. They are all supplied in 9cm nursery pots:


• Helenium 'Waltraut': Sprays of bronze-orange daisy-like flowers up to 8cm across look wonderful planted in bold drifts in a sunny moist but well-drained spot. Providing a splash of colour when many other perennials are starting to fade, it makes a wonderful companion for ornamental grasses and bees and butterflies will love it. Grows to 1m.
  
  
• Sanguisorba officinalis 'Red Thunder': One of Piet Oudolph's favourites. In spring, the deciduous, feathery green foliage emerges and forms attractive groundcover, but it is in summer when the unusual red flowers top the slender, upright stems that it really becomes a head-turner. Perfect for prairie style planting schemes, as it looks right at home in a swaying sea of grasses. Grows to 1.2m.
  
  
• Briza media: A mat-forming evergreen grass with purplish-tinted green leaves. In summer locket-shaped, green-purple flowers, which fade to buff, hang from wiry branches. Lovely in wildflower meadows, their flowers are excellent for drying. Grows to 90cm.
  
  
• Achillea 'Terracotta': Masses of rich terracotta flowers on flattened heads fade to soft yellow as they age into autumn. This is a long flowering and drought-tolerant perennial that will flourish in a sunny spot towards the back of a herbaceous border, particularly amongst hot colours or ornamental grasses. Grows to 80cm.



• Planting tips:
  Prepare the bed well by digging in lots of well-rotted or bagged compost before you plant.
  
  Where possible, plant in odd numbers, and cluster them together to give impact. Multiples of 3 work really well set out in irregular triangles for an organic feel, while larger numbers can be planted in multiple clusters or drifts. In bigger gardens, try to repeat your clusters through the border to create a sense of rhythm and cohesion.
  
  Also, when setting your plants out, check their eventual spread and make sure they’ve enough space to fill out. After planting, keep plants well watered for their first year, particularly during warmer weather, and feed them with a good, general purpose fertiliser through the growing season.
  
  For more information, please see the individual plant webpages.