Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nicotiana alata 'Lime Green'

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Jasmine Tobacco.  South America.  Leaves spathulate-ovate and downy.  Petals of a fresh lime green colour form a beautiful and vibrant, five-pointed star that brightens up the garden and complements everything.  Nicely scented at night and fabulous on your evening stroll around the garden.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Salvia coccinea 'Brenthurst'

Family: Lamiaceae

(A/TP) to 2.5′.  A cool-coloured cousin of the red bedding Salvia with numerous spikes of bicoloured,  lipped blooms.  The pale whitish pink upper hoods and three lobed, deeper pink lower lips contrast nicely against the dark tinted calyces and stems.  Blooms late summer and lasts until frost.  Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ipomopsis rubra

Family: Polemoniaceae

(A) to 2′.  Standing Cypress.  California.  Striking upright spikes of brilliant red, fragrant flowers.  Flowers are 1½ inches long, trumpet-like, with a flared open mouth and prominent stamens.  Finely cut, ferny, basal foliage.  A hummingbird favourite.  Blooms June to September.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Papaver triniifolium

Family: (Papaveraceae)

(A/B) to 3′.  Armenian Poppy.  An uncommon poppy from eastern Turkey.  Foliage is grey-green, glabrous, and wonderfully filigreed.  From the many pendulous, pale green buds with bristly outgrowths, emerge papery, four-petalled, pale apricot-orange blooms on wiry stems.  In the centre, numerous, slender stamens surround an orb-shaped pistil with a prominent purple, seven-lobed, flattened stigma.  The orb-shaped pistil develops into an attractive “pepper-pot” fruit capsule.  Flowers midsummer in the second year.  Sun. 4 & T2, cover and keep dark

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Orlaya grandiflora

Family: (Apiaceae)

(A) to 18″.  A beautiful native of Greece with umbels of cream-coloured flowers comprised of many starry florets, each with two large outer petals.  The whole effect is reminiscent of a lace doily.  Feathery, apple-green foliage and the distinct, rough, spiny seeds are a bonus.  We love it in our spring displays.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Monarda punctata

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Horse Mint.  Native to the Great Plains of the United States.  Dense whorls of pale yellow, hooded flowers spotted with purple-brown.  Each whorl is surrounded by large, pink-tipped, green bracts.  The narrow, toothed leaves have a grey cast.  A very showy plant.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Monarda citriodora

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 3′.  Lemon Bee Balm.  Central United States to northern Mexico.  Like the name describes, the flowers are lemon-scented.  The showy, leaf-like, pinkish bracts surround the inner, pink dotted, two-lipped, purple hooded flowers.  A bonus, the mature seedheads are attractive when dried.  Sun.  4 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Consolida regalis

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(A) to 2′.  Forked Larkspur.  Mediterranean.  Panicles of delicate, long-spurred, violet-blue flowers are produced in profusion forming an airy cloud of blue.  Finely divided foliage is an added attraction.  An easy charmer.  Sun. 3 & T1, cover and keep dark.

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Ceratotheca triloba

Family: (Pedaliaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Zimbabwe Foxglove.  Pretty South African native with pale pink-lavender, ruffle-edged, tubular flowers.  Deep purple stripes decorate the upper and lower lip of the interior of the petals.  Anthers are white and black striped.  Attractive ornamental, horned seedpods appear in late summer.  Sun.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amaranthus caudatus

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 3.5′.  Love-lies-bleeding.  Andes.  Long, drooping, tassel-like flower spikes of crimson to wine red, from late summer into autumn. Lush green foliage and red-tinted stems add to the ornamental value.  A classic.  Sun.  3 & T3