Crocus combinations

Bruised burgundy plant combination

Deep, brooding colour and finely textured foliage give this pairing a sophisticated, naturalistic look. The rich ruby blooms of Astrantia major 'Claret' sit beautifully beneath the airy bronze-purple foliage of Foeniculum vulgare 'Giant Bronze', while its soft yellow flowerheads introduce a subtle lift that stops the palette becoming too dark.

The combination brings both structure and movement to a sunny border, with the fennel creating a light, hazy backdrop and the astrantia providing denser detail towards the front.

Well suited to contemporary and cottage garden planting alike, it also works particularly well when woven through a wider perennial scheme.



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


Astrantia major 'Claret': This is one of the darkest-flowered astrantias, with deep, ruby red pincushion-like flowers with a ruff of longer bracts than many other varieties. The leaves are pretty too; deeply lobed and dark green. Although it is an old cottage garden favourite, this astrantia works equally well in contemporary-style plantings. Use towards the front of a sunny, yet moist border, where the flower colour can be fully appreciated. Grows to 90cm.


Foeniculum vulgare 'Giant Bronze': Fine clouds of feathery, bronze-purple leaves and flat-topped, sulphur-yellow flowerheads in mid- to late summer, followed by aromatic seeds. Fennel is the perfect centre-piece for a sunny herb garden. An invaluable border plant, the foliage provides a delicate foil against which the flower heads of herbaceous plants and bulbs can be seen. Grows to 1.8m.



• 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.