Plant Solutions. Nigel Colborn

Full sun

      Season of interest: Summer, autumn.

      Height and spread: 2m × 30cm (6ft 6in × 1ft)

      Companion plants: Most effective when used to create an extra, ephemeral layer of bedding above more moderately sized plants such as bedding dahlias, pelargoniums or petunias.

      Gaillardia hybrids

      Blanket Flower; Fire Wheel Hardy perennials

      Brilliantly coloured, daisy flowers with hot coloured outer rays and raised, furry central ‘cones’ are produced throughout summer. Typical flower colours are red and yellow, as in the old variety ‘Kobold’; ‘Burgunder’ is red and ‘Dazzler’, a shorter-stemmed variety. Divide or propagate from root cuttings frequently, since these perennials are short-lived. Loved by butterflies and bees.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer, autumn

      Height and spread: Variable from dwarf to 60cm × 75cm (2ft × 2ft 6in)

      Companion plants: For a hot effect, gaillardias mix well with annual varieties of Rudbeckia, such as ‘Marmalade’ or ‘Rustic Dwarfs’, whose flowers will continue long into autumn. Besides bedding, they also work well in mixed or herbaceous borders.

      Nicotiana x sanderae

      Tobacco Plant Half hardy annual

      Bold perennial with large, oval, sticky leaves and branched stems bearing narrow-necked, trumpet-shaped flowers. Blooms on scented varieties wilt by day, but perk up at dusk and produce a rich fragrance. Best scented varieties are ‘Fragrant Cloud’ or ‘Evening Fragrance Mixed’. Decorative, non-scented kinds include ‘Domino’ and ‘Nikki’ series in pastel pink hues, and red, pink, cream or white. Particularly attractive to bees and moths.

      Soil preference: Any

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: Variable to 1m × 75cm (3ft 3in × 2ft 6in)

      Companion plants: Coloured varieties call for strong foliage contrasts from silvery plants such as Centaurea cineraria or a filigree-leaved Artemisia. Scented kinds are good with the huge Nicotiana sylvestris.

      Bedding for containers

      Torenia

      Wishbone Flower Tender perennial

      Bushy or slowly spreading perennials with toothed leaves and a long succession of lipped, trumpet flowers with dark petal edges and contrastingly pale throats. Good varieties for containers include ‘Amethyst’, ‘Blue Panda’ (royal blue and pale violet blue) and ‘Duchess Series’, which comes in two-tone blue, white and pink or white and blue.

      Soil preference: Any, not too dry

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 25cm × 30cm (10in × 12in)

      Companion plants: Best co-ordinated with attractive foliage plants, particularly with silvery or grey leaves. Trailing plants such as Sutera, Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ and the very silvery Lotus berthelotii would make fine companions.

      Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells’

      Tender perennial

      Close relative of the petunia, producing masses of long, trailing stems, richly furnished with flattened, flared, trumpet flowers up to about 3cm (1in) across. One of the best trailing plants for hanging baskets or large containers. ‘Million Bells’ series has flowers in pink, mauve, dusky yellow, white and terracotta.

      Soil preference: Any well-drained

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 15cm (6in) high, trailing 1m (3ft 3in) stems

      Companion plants: Teams will with such trailing foliage plants as Lotus berthelotii or Helichrysum petiolare ‘Variegatum’ but also excellent when grown alone.

      Felicia amelloides

      Blue Daisy, African Blue Daisy Tender perennial

      Bushy or slowly trailing perennial with rounded, deep green, slightly pubescent leaves and masses of yellow-centred, bright blue daily flowers held on thin, erect stems. The form ‘Santa Anita’ is the toughest, sometimes surviving a touch of frost, and flowers throughout summer.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer, early autumn

      Height and spread: 40cm × 60cm (1ft 4in × 2ft)

      Companion plants: Magnificent if contrasted with bright yellow or orange flowers. Tagetes, especially clear yellow varieties, blend sweetly as does Bidens ferulifolia.

      Nemesia denticulata and allies

      Tender perennial

      Mound-forming perennial with thin, easily snapped stems, which are quick to regenerate, and generous, long-lasting sprays of sometimes fragrant flowers shaped like small, open snapdragons. Colours range from white to pastel lilac, purple and pink tones.

      Soil preference: Any, not too dry

      Aspect: Sun or part shade

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 30cm × 40cm (1ft × 1ft 4in)

      Companion plants: Best grown on its own, especially in a large pot or hanging basket.

      Bidens ferulifolia

      Bidens, Beggarticks Tender perennial

      Lax perennial, whose much branched stems trail elegantly among other vegetation. The deeply divided foliage makes a pretty foil for the big, golden, honey-scented blooms which are produced constantly through summer. A classic and drought-tolerant basket plant, but also fine in a border, where it can sprawl among other perennials.

      Soil preference: Any

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: Up to 45cm (1ft 6in) trailing

      Companion plants: Lovely with silver