Our pick of the best

BEST FOR SUN GERANIUM ‘ELKE’ Drought tolerant with a succession of deep pink and white flowers on a low mat-forming plant with divided, darkish green foliage. H20cm (8in) S45cm (18in)

BEST BLUE FLOWERS G. ‘ORION’ Large, cobalt-blue saucers appear in May, flowering on until October – much longer than ‘Johnson’s Blue’. H60cm (2ft) S90cm (3ft)

BEST FOR SEMI-SHADE G. CLARKEI ‘KASHMIR WHITE’ White flowers, veined lavenderpink in May above divided foliage. Needs afternoon shade. H45cm (18in) S2m (6½ft)

BEST GROUND COVER G. CANTABRIGIENSE ‘CAMBRIDGE’ This sterile hybrid offers a compact carpet of bright-pink flowers into autumn, with red foliage tints. H25cm (9in) S40cm (16in)