DISCOVER COLOUR
Pennisetum villosum
GENTLY DOES IT: Magenta penstemon ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’, with purple ‘Caradonna’, frothy lime green and pink rose ‘Ballerina’. isabellinus ‘Pinokkio’ and geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ add exciting pops of orange
SULTRY MIX: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’, Ophiopogon planiscapus
‘Nigrescens’ and Foeniculum
‘Purpureum’ are lifted by luminescent dahlia ‘Dark Side of the Sun’
Hot borders always have a rich drama and an edgy, jungly appeal, with plenty of dark bronze and purple foliage. If this style appeals to you, well, you’re probably a risk taker, a self-styled colour adventurer, like the late, great plantsman Christopher Lloyd. You won’t be told what works and what doesn’t – you need to see it for yourself. (So you’ve probably stopped reading already!)
Your main colour choice here is whether to err towards either the cooler blacks, purples and pinks (think: Sambucus nigra ‘Eva’ in flower) or the warmer oranges, reds and browns (such as orange dahlia ‘David Howard’). The warm and cool colour tones don’t mix together all that well.
To get this dark and brooding look, go for a few statement architectural plants such as purple-black phormium ‘Black Adder’ or purple-brown Ricinus communis ‘Carmencita’ to set the scene. The sensuous fronds of bronze fennel make a lovely contrast.
Canna ‘Phasion’ adds a fiery flourish and, at the front of borders, vibrant heuchera foliage in your choice of reds, oranges, purples and greens looks very much at home.
Against this opulent backdrop, choose f lowers in sumptuous colours – regal purple, hot pink, chocolate brown, berry red or fiery orange.
Many of these sumptuous ‘sizzling hot’ plants prefer a border in full sun, and won’t bloom until late summer. Add in a few annuals (poppies, cleome, zinnias and cosmos) and lupins in zingy cocktail colours to tide you over. ➤
Pink sedums shine between phormium ‘Black Adder’ plants, surrounded by a swirling sea of villosa ‘Palace Purple’
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
Centranthus ruber
Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’b’.
Sambucus ‘Eva’ palette
Fiery orange palette