Plant Solutions

Season of interest: Summer

Height and spread: 1.2m × 30cm (4ft × 1ft)

Companion plants: Ideal for the border back or to grow among tall perennials such as perennial asters since it brings earlier colour. The exotic appearance makes it a good companion to broad-leaved plants such as banana, canna or hedychiums (ginger lilies.)

Atriplex hortensis

Red Orache Hardy annual

An easy annual, distinguished – especially when young – by its conspicuous slightly downy-textured, rich purple leaves which are oval, pointed and borne on flexible stems. Some of the early colour intensity is lost as the plant matures to produce, in summer, foxtail flowers which are brownish green. Self-seeds freely but is easy to control.

Soil preference: Any

Aspect: Sun, part shade, shade

Season of interest: Spring, summer

Height and spread: 1m × 30cm (3ft × 1ft)

Companion plants: Prettiest when allowed to dot itself among other plants in mixed borders or among shrubs. The foliage contrasts dramatically with the silver grey of young artemisias or with the gentle gold of Milium effusum ‘Aureum’.

Silene coeli-rosa (Viscaria oculata)

Hardy annual

A hairless, reasonably erect annual with slender stems and narrow, oblong leaves. The small but showy, pale pink or two-tone pink and white flowers are produced in profusion on longish stems for much of the summer. Tolerant of hot, dry conditions and usually trouble-free.

Soil preference: Any free-draining

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Summer

Height and spread: 30cm × 15cm (1ft × 6in)

Companion plants: Prettiest with other annuals such as nigellas, poppies or Anagallis, but also handy to blend with other low growing perennials such as pinks and carnations, sedums, Origanum rotundifolium and Euphorbia myrsinites.

Rhinanthus minor

Hay Rattle, Yellow Rattle Hardy, semi-parasitic Annual

An interesting member of the foxglove family which can only germinate in the presence of host plants – grasses – from which it derives much of its sustenance during the early part of its life. The narrow, toothed leaves, bright yellow, lipped flowers and semi-translucent, pale green calyces make this a distinctive grassland species.

Soil preference: Moist, grass sward

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Summer

Height and spread: 30cm × 15cm (1ft × 15cm)

Companion plants: The ‘impoverishing’ effect Rhinanthus has on grass growth is of great benefit because it enables other broad-leaved flowering plants to colonize more easily. Wonderful with Cardamine pratensis, cowslips, cranesbill and knapweeds.

Blue Centaurea cyanus produces an attractive picture when combined with red poppies, corn chamomile and corn marigold.

Planting Naturalistic Schemes

Many annuals which occur in the wild are opportunist plants which grow wherever the ground is disturbed. As fieldcrop weeds, many of them occur worldwide and among the most beautiful are those which colonize the ground among growing cereal crops. This cornfield scene, with its red poppies, blue cornflowers, yellow corn marigold and daisy-like corn chamomile would be simple to reproduce as part of a naturalistic planting scheme in an informal garden. Some wild annuals, however, may be too invasive to risk introducing into a garden – especially a small one.

To avoid creating problems with over-exuberant self-seeding, beds of annuals or ‘arable patches’ imitating cornfields should be contained. Solid pathways around their edges or other non-cultivable ground surfaces can help to prevent seed spread but may compromise the natural appearance. Annuals that are allowed to spill over their boundaries by self-seeding can be far more beautiful than those regimented in strict beds.

biennials (#ulink_35204a26-11f4-5f68-b0c3-f43dee957361)

Biennials for spring (#ulink_bc6df874-0f7d-5496-b558-6c528b3aa73c)

Biennials for summer (#ulink_9761d1b2-f94e-5405-85fc-82efcbc5814a)

Biennials for special effects (#ulink_674f95c1-99d6-5ee9-b496-d1cb2382d751)

Biennials beneficial to wildlife (#ulink_86b819b2-e478-580f-839d-1439506c1373)

Biennials for spring (#ulink_4cf812aa-f1aa-5d92-81c2-a9c68a3c9a5b)

Myosotis sylvatica

Forget-me-not Hardy biennial

Narrow, bright green leaves that form neat clumps over winter are joined from early spring by expanding spikes of tiny, pale centred, blue flowers. The first flowers nestle among the leaves, but as spring advances, the stems extend, creating a soft blue haze. A ready self-seeder. ‘Blue Ball’ is the most widely grown variety, but other seed series include ‘Victoria’ which has blue, white or pink flowers.

Soil preference: Any well-drained

Aspect: Sun or part shade

Season of interest: Spring, early summer

Height and spread: Up to 30cm × 40cm (1ft × 1ft 4in)

Companion plants: One of the finest companions for tulips, since it creates a soft, blue base. Charming when dotted among spring perennials such as Lathyrus vernus, yellow doronicums or polyanthus.

Erysimum cheiri

Bedding Wallflowers Hardy biennial

Shrubby biennial or shortlived perennial with narrow, evergreen leaves and from mid-spring spikes with bold-coloured, four-petalled flowers, which are sweetly fragrant. Dwarf bedding varieties include the mixed ‘Persian Carpet’. ‘Fire King’ is a taller orange red variety and ‘Blood Red’ an old breed with deep blood red flowers.

Soil preference: Any, preferably alkaline

Aspect: Sun