Plant a bit of Passion

Profile with some bright ideas for colour

TURN up the heat this summer and inject some passion into the garden with a riot of fiery coloured plants. Forget the gentle pastels of early summer and go for strong reds, yellows, purples, oranges and pink.

For a hint of the Caribbean you just have to include exotic Cannas with large banana shaped leaves that come in a variety of colours including green, bronze and variegated with gladioli shaped flowers in hot pinks, purples and reds. Canna Indica has dark purple leaves and either vibrant orange or bright scarlet flowers.

The combination of deep bronze and red adds a sense of drama and the perfect plant with both qualities is Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ either grown in a container or planted in the border. Similarly the deep purple strap like leaves of Phormium ‘Platt’s Black’ are an excellent foil to bronze Osteospernums.
For height in the border plant Crocosmias, particularly C. Lucifer with its tall, slender foliage and arching spikes of scarlet flowers, Kniphofias, more commonly known as red hot pokers and Daylilies (Hemerocallis) which come in a range of hot colours.

An evergreen hedge can come to life with the Flame Nasturtium (Tropaeolum speciosum), scrambling up it. Yellow is an invigorating contrast to reds and oranges and at this time of the year there is an excellent choice. The strong, rich yellow petals and contrasting black central cone of Rudbeckias are arresting or in contrast try Achillea ‘Moonshine’ with soft silvery grey foliage and clear golden flowers.

For sheer drama include Verbascum olympicum, with its towering, white felted branching spires of bright yellow flowers - a giant rising to 2m. The large, deep purple hooded flowers of Aconitum ‘Spark’s Variety’ and the acid green leaves of Alchemilla mollis work incredibly well with these burning colours. Finally, use pots and hanging baskets crammed with Pelargoniums, vivid orange Tiger Lilies, and annual climbers including the scarlet Chilean glory flower (Eccremocarpus scaber) and Thunbergia alata with its distinctive black-eyed yellow, cream and orange flowers to create a warm Mediterranean atmosphere.

TOPICAL TIPS FOR JULY

•Cut back the spent flower heads of Delphiniums, Lupins and Geraniums to encourage a second flush of flowers

•Prune Philadelphus, Weigela and Ceonothus after flowering to keep in shape

•Keep deadheading Roses

•It is hard to believe but this is the time to order catalogues for next years spring bulbs.

•Pots of Cyclamen corms saved from last Christmas can now be brought back into growth. Water the corms and place on a warm windowsill or in the greenhouse. Once they produce a new cluster of leaves re-pot in fresh compost.

•Shrubs such as Lavender, Rosemary and Hydrangea can now be propagated from cuttings.