Plant Solutions. Nigel Colborn

      Lobed or divided leaves and thin, branched stems carry, in summer and early autumn, a long succession of pincushion-like flowers in dusky maroon or near black. The form ‘Chile Black’ is dark crimson, ‘Chile Sauce’ is rose red and ‘Salmon Queen’ a deep salmon pink.

      Soil preference: Any fertile soil

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 90cm × 45cm (3ft × 1ft 6in)

      Companion plants: Beautiful grown with summer annuals such as corn cockle or field poppies, and with taller ornamental grasses like Deschampsia.

Biennials for special effects

      Eryngium giganteum ‘Miss Willmott’s Ghost’

      short-lived perennial

      A very large perennial with prickly leaves and stems. The leaves are suffused with silvery white and each dome-shaped, thistle-like flower carries a spiky ruff at its base. The common name arises from the habit of Edwardian garden guru Ellen Willmott who, presumptuously, scattered seeds of it in other people’s gardens.

      Soil preference: Any fertile

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer, autumn

      Height and spread: 1.5m × 80cm (5ft × 2ft 8in)

      Companion plants: Plants of great character, making strong focal points in mixed borders. Useful for lightening up dark evergreen shrubs at the back of borders, or to dot among tall perennials such as Verbena bonariensis and with big grasses.

      Geranium maderense

      Madeiran Cranesbill Tender biennial

      Palmate leaves grow from a stumpy base, forming a large, impressive rosette. When the necessary size has been reached, a big branched flowerhead forms and erupts into a spectacular display of rich cerise to rosy purple flowers, each with a more intense eye. Once seed has formed, the plant dies. Must have winter protection.

      Soil preference: Any not too dry, but well-drained

      Aspect: Part shade

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: Up to 1.3m × 1m (4ft × 3ft 3in)

      Companion plants: Best in a container in cold regions. Perfect in the company of ferns or of broad-leaved, shade-loving plants such as the larger hostas.

      Meconopsis napaulensis

      Technically a perennial but seldom survives flowering

      As valued for the beautiful rosettes of felty lobed leaves, each one covered in rust-coloured hairs, as for the huge flower spikes which will grow well over 2m (6ft) before producing a generous supply of poppy flowers in pinkish red, purple or dusky blue.

      Soil preference: Preferably lime-free, not too dry

      Aspect: Shade or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer.

      Height and spread: 2m × 75cm (6ft 6in × 2ft 6in)

      Companion plants: A plant for the woodland garden, or at least for dappled shade and therefore wonderful with foxgloves or perhaps teamed up with other Himalayan poppies such as Meconopsis grandis.

      Digitalis

      Foxglove Hardy biennial or short-lived perennial

       Heather Angel

      The common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) has several equally dramatic and unusual cousins. One of the finest is D. grandiflora (pictured), which has bold, dark green tooth-edged leaves and early summer flower spikes of large butter yellow blooms. D. ‘Carillon’ is similar but shorter and D. × mertonensis, a cross between D. grandiflora and D. purpurea, has crushed strawberry blooms.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: Up to 1m × 50cm (3ft 3in × 1ft 8in)

      Companion plants: Foxgloves are excellent for adding height and flower power to shady borders. Digitalis grandiflora works particularly well in a cool-colour planting scheme with blue, white and clear yellow flowers.

      Echium russicum

      Red Bugloss Marginally tender to hardy biennial

       R. Coates

      Tidy rosettes of narrow, dark grey-green leaves develop during autumn and winter. During the following spring and early summer, rigid spikes appear, carrying narrow leaves along their lengths and, later, clusters of small, rose-red flowers which are irresistible to bees. The plants must be in a free-draining, sheltered spot to survive winter.

      Soil preference: Any well-drained

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 45cm × 30cm (1ft 6in × 12in)

      Companion plants: Best in bold groups where the spikes can make a contrast with lower growing early summer plants such as helianthemums, Verbascum ‘Letitia’ or Alchemilla.

      Petroselinum crispum

      Parsley, Curled Parsley Hardy biennial or short-lived perennial

      Familiar kitchen herb which also makes a first rate ornamental foliage plant. The leaves are vivid, emerald green, tightly curled and crisped, or flat, ferny and much divided. Sprays of greenish umbels appear in late summer but are not particularly decorative. Will self-seed.

      Soil preference: Any

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Year round

      Height and spread: Foliage 25cm (10in), flower to 60cm (2ft)

      Companion plants: Cooling foil for bright, hot coloured flowers such as tulips in spring, annual poppies, pansies or marigolds in summer.

Biennials beneficial to wildlife

      Lunaria biennis

      Honesty Hardy biennial or annual

      Toothed,