Plant Solutions. Nigel Colborn
and white flowers, as well as those in various shades of blue. The large, inflated, lantern-like seed capsules are almost as decorative as the flowers and last until autumn.
Soil preference: Any
Aspect: Sun or part shade
Season of interest: Summer, autumn
Height and spread: 30–45cm (1ft–1ft 6in) tall
Companion plants: A lovely annual to naturalize among roses, especially the older varieties. Also effective for gap-filling, in a mixed border or for lining a lavender hedge.
Lagurus ovatus
Hare’s Tail Grass Annual grass
Mediterranean species with grassy foliage and silvery grey flowers which are broadly oval and furry to the touch, resembling the tail of a hare or rabbit. This grass grows taller on rich soil but thrives as a smaller plant in harsh conditions. A dwarf form, ‘Nanus’, may be more suitable for gardens with rich soil.
Soil preference: Any free-draining
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer, autumn
Height and spread: 15–50cm (6in–1ft 8in) × 30cm (12in)
Companion plants: A worthy addition to a grass border, especially if planted with other annual grasses such as Briza maxima, but also lovely among flowering annuals. Scatter seed among pot marigolds, cornflowers or tagetes.
Anagallis monellii
Shrubby Pimpernel Perennial grown as a tender annual
A low, straggly plant with semi-trailing stems and small, triangular leaves grouped in threes along the stem. At each leaf joint, buds form which open as conspicuous, five-petalled flowers in the deepest, most intense blue. Similar, but larger in all its parts, to the wild blue pimpernel, Anagallis foemina.
Soil preference: Fertile, well-drained
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 20cm × 30cm (8in × 12in)
Companion plants: An excellent hanging basket or container plant which is especially effective when contrasted with bright yellow Bidens ferulifolia or harmonized with variegated trailing Plectranthus or with red pelargoniums.
Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’
Honeywort Annual
Cornfield annual from the Mediterranean with curious, glaucous foliage and, in early summer, metallic purple bracts which are remarkably luminous and which half conceal the strange brownish purple and yellow tubular flowers. The seeds are large and stone-hard. Although when established it will self-sow, the species is not hardy in sustained frost.
Soil preference: Any well-drained
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 50cm × 30cm (1ft 8in × 12in)
Companion plants: A distinctive plant for a Mediterranean garden among grey and silver-leaved herbs such as lavenders, Teucrium and sages. Excellent in gravel, too, among brown sedges such as Carex buchananii and also with Californian poppies.
Brachyscome hybrids
Swan River Daisy Annuals
The narrow, fresh, often lacy green leaves on these Australian native plants are almost hidden behind a generous covering of bright daisy flowers, in mauve, pink or white. A neat, but semi-trailing habit, coupled with summer-long flowering makes them ideal for container use. Good varieties include ‘Blue Haze’, the lilac coloured ‘City Lights’ and the purple-blue ‘Toucan Tango’. Tender.
Soil preference: Any, reasonably fertile
Aspect: Best in full sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 45cm × 45cm (18in × 18in)
Companion plants: Yellow-flowered Bidens ferulifolia makes a good contrast, but the silver filigree leaves of Artemisia ‘Lambrook Silver’ or ‘Powis Castle’ also blend pleasingly.
Convolvulus tricolor
Annual
A non-climbing, but somewhat lax plant with small, oval leaves and saucer shaped flowers, similar to those of morning glories, but 5cm (2in) wide. The typical species has dark, royal blue petals, fading white or creamy yellow at the throat. Selected varieties include ‘Ensign Mixed’, with pink, maroon, blue and white shades, and the pale ‘Light Blue Flash’.
Soil preference: Any
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 50cm × 30cm (1ft 8in × 1ft)
Companion plants: Great for a mixed annual border or to dot in among such perennials as Mexican salvias, osteospermums or grasses.
Lavatera trimestris
Annual
Tall, bold, with thick, rigid stems and large, slightly hoary leaves, this native of the Mediterranean regions has large, saucer shaped flowers whose stamens and stigma fuse to form a central spike. Colours range from rich pink, in ‘Silver Cup’ and ‘Ruby Regis’, to a startling white in ‘Mont Blanc’. Each petal is veined with darker lines.
Soil preference: Well-drained, fertile
Aspect: Sun
Season of interest: Summer
Height and spread: 60–90cm × 45cm (2–3ft × 18in)
Companion plants: Careful siting is necessary, with so conspicuous a plant. Excellent in bold groups on its own or among such large perennials as Galega, leucanthemums and Phlox paniculata, with perennial asters to follow.
Galactites tomentosa
Annual
A thistle with spiky, divided white and green foliage, which emerges in autumn or early spring, forming an attractive rosette. In summer, the stem lengthens and branches, eventually bearing lilac-mauve, tufted thistle flowers. Seed is borne on thistledown. This native of the Canary islands and Mediterranean self-seeds freely, but young seedlings will not survive prolonged