EIGHT KEY PLANTS
1 Astrantia ‘Superstar’ Living up to its name, this is tall, long-flowering and happy in pretty much any situation. It even looks good in death. 45cm. USDA 4a-7b†. 2 Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ James seldom uses this because it tends to run away, but it flowers early and is good for a damp corner, giving a nice pop of orange to this garden just as Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ starts to look less exciting. 1m. RHS H7. 3 Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ Good for climbing over and crawling through things. Works well with peonies and ornamental poppies, which look dreadful when they go over. 60cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b.
4 Knautia macedonica
Good colour, good for bees and good with grasses. Can be prone to mildew, but cutting it back will give it a second burst of flowering. 80cm. RHS H7, USDA 5a-9b.
5 Allium nigrum
A mid-sized allium with a frog-green centre to its flowers. Not too heavy, the flowers form a flattened dome rather than a globe. 75cm. RHS H5. 6 Rosa ‘Penelope’ A beautiful musk rose with a medium-strong fragrance. Will repeat flower if you deadhead, or give hips if you don’t. 1m. AGM. RHS H5.
7 Eschscholzia californica
Flowers all summer long, pushing off its rather wonderful flower cases as the petals emerge. In most gardens this will self-seed wherever it is happy. 30cm. RHS H3, USDA 6a-10b. 8 Geum ‘Mrs J Bradshaw’ James is fond of all geums, particularly this one, even though it’s not as grand as ‘Lady Stratheden’ or ‘Prinses Juliana’. Goes well with Stipa tenuissima. 60cm. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 5a-7b.