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, D & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Calendula officinalis

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 18″.  The pot marigold of all pot marigolds.  The flowers smother the foliage throughout the growing season.  The blooms are single golden orange and add intense colour to the flower border.  It is one of our (many) favourites.  Self-sows.  Sun.  3, D & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis longiflora

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 3.5′.  Sweet Four o’Clock, Angel’s Trumpets.  Texas, Arizona and Mexico.  Extraordinary, six-inch long, very slender, white trumpets are borne in great profusion on mounds of sticky, bright apple-green foliage.  The flowers release a sweet orange-blossom fragrance in the evening.  These unusually long flowers need a special pollinator with an extended proboscis, such as the Hawkmoth.  The Hawkmoth is similar to the Hummingbird in that they hover in place and unfurl their proboscis and drink the sucrose-rich nectar they require, thus creating a mutually beneficial relationship.  Lift and store the swollen tubers over winter as you would a Dahlia.  Blooms midsummer to fall.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis jalapa Yellow

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 2.5 ‘.  A sunshine yellow version of the Four o’Clock.  Sun/partial shade.  4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Dianthus barbatus – Darkest of All

Family: (Caryophyllaceae)

(B/A) to 18″.  Sweet William.  South Europe.  Long-lasting, dark maroon to almost black, clove-scented flowers bloom in flat-topped cymes.  Attractive dark foliage too.  Sun.  4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Perilla frutescens Red Leaf

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 4′.  Shiso.  Himalayas to East Asia.  A selection of superb, iridescent foliage plants.  Try one, or all of them in the flower border.  Easy to move around the garden to “fill in” when you need a good block of colour.  Self-sows.  Sun.  Best sown in situ or 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Perilla frutescens var. crispa (red-leaved)

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(A) to 4′.  Shiso.  Himalayas to East Asia.  A selection of superb, iridescent foliage plants.  Try one, or all of them in the flower border.  Easy to move around the garden to “fill in” when you need a good block of colour.  Self-sows.  Sun.  Best sown in situ or 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Consolida ajacis 'Giant Imperial Blue Spire'

Family: (Ranunculaceae)

(A) to 4′.  A stately Larkspur that blooms continually all season.  The erect, densely blooming, spike-like racemes of deep electric blue, double, ruffled, Delphinium-like flowers are enhanced by finely cut, delicate foliage.   A real show stopper.  Sun.  3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Coreopsis tinctoria var. atkinsoniana

Family: (Asteraceae)

(A) to 3′.  Atkinson’s Tickseed.  North America.  Masses of bright yellow, daisy-like flowers.  The individual ray florets contrast nicely with the purplish brown central disc florets.  Feathery, elegantly curving, branched stems of finely-cut, bipinnate foliage gently weave through its neighbours.  A long, long bloomer.  Well-drained soil.  Sun.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Verbena bonariensis

Family: (Verbenaceae)

(A/TP) to 5′.  South American Vervain.  A great “see-through” plant for the flower border.  Bristly, dark green, stiff stems have a few, three-inch long, clasping, lanceolate leaves.  Numerous, small, rosy purple, tufted flowers cluster in flat-topped cymes.  Blooms all summer.  Gently self-sows when happy.  Sun.  3, D & T2