Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nicotiana sylvestris

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 6′. Flowering Tobacco. This tobacco plant adds boldness to the flower border. Slender, pendulous, scented trumpets make this another indispensable Nicotiana. The heavenly evening fragrance invites you back into the garden. Self-sows. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Nicandra physalodes ‘Black Pod’

Family: (Solanaceae)

(A) to 4′. Shoo-fly Plant, Apple of Peru. A sturdy, free-flowering, wide-spreading annual with pale blue, bell-shaped flowers with a white central ring and a deep purple, five-pointed star at the very centre. Blooms throughout the summer. Decorative, papery, five-winged, green with black pods are great for drying. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis jalapa White

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 2.5’. Four o’Clock, Marvel of Peru. Gardeners delight at the time-conscious way these flowers open at 4 p.m. Delicate trumpets of mottled white rest in calyx-like fused bracts, above fresh green, ovate leaves. Later, one can discover the black, artichoke-shaped seeds resting in place of the blooms. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis dichotoma

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(TP) to 3.5′. Mexico. An old-fashioned favourite, in cultivation since at least 1640, but now rarely seen. Forms bushy clumps of dark green, heart-shaped leaves with many yellow, trumpet-shaped blooms all summer long. We dig up the tuber and store like Dahlias. Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Impatiens glandulifera ‘Alba’

Family: (Balsaminaceae)

(A) to 7′. A Himalayan native with cool white flowers with short spurs on a many-branched, succulent plant. Long, spear-shaped leaves are sharply serrate. Tall, choice and beautiful. Moist soil. Self-sower. Partial shade. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Impatiens balfourii

Family: (Balsaminaceae)

(A) to 5′. A lovely Himalayan Touch-Me-Not. Hooded, white flowers are flushed pink and display an inflated, elongated, incurving honey spur. The spurred sepal and connate anthers capping the stigma are unique. Seed capsules explode at a touch and self-sow readily. Carefree. Flowers all summer. Sun/partial shade. 3 & T1

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Hibiscus trionum

Family: (Malvaceae)

(A) to 2′.  Flower-of-an-Hour.  East Mediterranean.  Cup-like, two-inch, creamy yellow, five-petalled flowers with dark burgundy centres and orange stamens.  Inflated, translucent, five-sectioned seed pods with purple veins persist.  Simply beautiful.  Sun.  3 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Leonurus sibiricus

Family: (Lamiaceae)

(B) to 6′. Chinese Motherwort. Native to Northeast China and Korea. A huge, imposing presence, each of the branching stems is heavy with small, pale pink, tubular blooms in dense, axillary whorls. Pinnately divided, dark green leaves are deeply veined. An ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Summer bloom. Small black nutlets follow. Bizarre and beautiful. Sun. 4 & T2

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Amaranthus hybridus var. erythrostachys

Family: (Amaranthaceae)

(A) to 5′.  Peruvian Tassel Flower.  Many branched panicles of crimson, tassel-like flowers accentuated by the deep maroon foliage of this plant, creates drama in the border.  Sun.  3 & T3

Scientific Name (Genus/Species): Mirabilis jalapa ‘Limelight’

Family: (Nyctaginaceae)

(A/TP) to 3′.  Four o’Clock, Marvel of Peru.  Delicate trumpets of shocking pink are accentuated by the astonishing, bright chartreuse foliage.  A show-stopper.  Sunglasses de rigueur!  Sun/partial shade. 4 & T3