Top 5 first-year flowering perennials
Sow them early under glass for a crop of colourful summer blooms to brighten borders
1 Penstemon Multi-stemmed plants sporting tubular, bell-shaped flowers in many colours from mid-summer into autumn. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun. H: 60cm (2ft), S: 30cm (1ft). Tip Protect your plants with a mulch in cold winters. From www.dobies.co.uk; tel: 0844 967 0303.
2 Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Early Sunrise’ Bushy plant producing double, golden-orange blooms over a very long season. Any well-drained soil in sun. H: 45cm (1½ft), S: 30cm (1ft). Tip Good for the front of a border or for growing in pots. From www.suttons.co.uk; tel: 0844 326 2200.
3 Hollyhock Short-lived, stout-stemmed perennial with single or double flowers in a wide range of colours, except pure blue. Any well-drained soil in full sun. H: 1.8m (6ft), S: 90cm (3ft). Tip Replace after two years to prevent buildup of rust disease. From www.thompsonAmorgan.com, la m y tel: 0844 573 1818.
4 Lupins Clump-forming perennials producing spires of pea flowers in an astonishing range of colours. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun. H: 90cm (3ft), S: 30cm (1ft). Tip Protect young plants from slugs and snails. From www.kingsseeds.com; tel: 01376 570000.
5 Campanula lactiflora ‘Prichard’s Variety’
Upright perennial producing clouds of small blue, white or pink flowers through summer. Any well-drained soil, in sun to part shade. H: 90cm (3ft), S: 45cm (1½ft).
Tip Good for cottage gardens and planting among roses.
From www.plant-world-seeds.com; tel: 01803 872939.