Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum dioscoridis

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(B) to 2.5′. Grey foliage remains basal the first year. Discrete, rosy blooms tinged with blue culminate at stem tips. Definitely a plant for the front of the border. Sun. 3 & T2, cover and keep dark.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cynoglossum amabile ‘Mystery Rose’

Family: (Boraginaceae)

(A) to 2.5′. Chinese Forget-me-not. We love this plant. This wonderful selection is smothered in dusty pink blossoms. A joy in the border. Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Cuphea viscosissima

Family: (Lythraceae)

(A) to 20″. Blue Waxweed. A North American native and one of our most revered annuals. This non-stop summer bloomer has six deep, magenta-purple petals with the upper two being the longest and a tubular green calyx covered in fine purple hairs. An easy-care annual that requires no deadheading or staking. Very sticky stems trap unsuspecting insects. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Crepis rubra

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 18″. Cretian Hawk’s Beard. We love this annual. Rosettes of toothed, pale green leaves with delicate flower stalks. Dandelion-esque heads one inch across are pale pink with darker centres. Adorable. Sun. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dysphania botrys (syn. Chenopodium botrys)

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 3.5′. Feather Geranium, Jerusalem Oak. Aromatic, airy green spires of miniature, oak-like, pinnately divided foliage. An adventurous plant that winds its way through neighbours and onto paths in the most delightful way. Perfect for the flower border or herb bed. Sun. 3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Bupleurum rotundifolium

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 18″. A carefree border plant. The Euphorbia-like flower is neon yellow surrounded by green bracts. Glaucous foliage is similar to that of Eucalyptus. Self-sower. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Browallia americana

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 2.5′.  Bush Violet.  Tropical South America.  One of our favourites.  Small, five-lobed, royal blue flowers are like little faces with a touch of white and black in the centre.  A multi-branched plant that blends well or stands alone.  A favourite of ours.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Atriplex hortensis var. rubra

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Red Mountain Orach.  Asia, Central and South Europe, North America.  An ornamental Orach with glowing, blood red to purplish foliage.  We love the striking, lance-shaped foliage almost anywhere in the garden.  Tall, dense racemes of red-purple flowers are followed by decorative, terminal clusters of buff-coloured seeds that are wonderful too.  Gently self-sows.  Sun.  Best sown in situ or 3 & T2.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Asclepias curassavica

Family: (Apocynaceae)

(A/TP) to 4′.  Blood Flower, Bastard Pecacuanha.  A native of tropical America with cymes of 10+ small, cinnabar-red, five-petalled flowers with orange hoods.  Upright foliage has pointed, elliptic, and opposite leaves.  Blooms in late summer.  Easy from seed but we dig ours up to overwinter.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Anethum graveolens

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 4’. Dill. Middle East. Slender, upright, hollow, glaucous stems with fine, feathery, blue-green, scented foliage divided into thread-like segments. Flat-topped, compound umbels of tiny, canary yellow flowers in summer. A “must-have” for the kitchen garden. Well-drained soil. Sun. 4 & T2 or sow in situ.