It’s great there’s so much display diversity

How boring our horticultural pastime would be if we all grew the same varieties. In visiting shows and gardens open to the public surely it’s the diversity of displays, hopefully catering for all tastes, that attract.

The tall butterfly bush (buddleja) is a common yet cheerful sight in gardens throughout summer. It`s easily raised from stem cuttings and responds best to hard, early-spring pruning. Even better for those with small gardens or container displays is the development of less vigorous and dwarf varieties. We have ‘Barnsley Baby’ in a mixed border, and ‘Little Ruby’ which is ideal for pot-growing, is now on our wanted list, along with Forsythia x intermedia ‘Discovery’ It has variegated leaves, red stems and yellow flowers.

Border salvias are popular and two made it onto the Chelsea shortlist. We already have the tall blue ‘Amistad,’ and ‘Pink Amistad’ which came third in Plant of the Year, will soon be joining it along with Salvia x sylvestris ‘Little Bit.’ This newcomer has a low compact habit with striking violet-blue flower spikes.

Herbaceous geraniums are long flowering and accommodating. They can illuminate the front of a mixed border but are equally happy growing in pots. Two recently seen varieties are destined to join our modest collection. They are Geranium pratense ‘Storm Cloud’ (deep purple foliage, semi-double blue flowers), and G. x cantabrigiense ‘Intense’ (pink blooms and fragrant semi-evergreen foliage turning red in autumn).

Succulent indoor plants rarely given a second glance by some, are now in vogue again. You’ve probably grown a sempervivum (houseleek) or aeonium and might be interested in x Semponium ‘Destiny’ which is a cross between the two. With deep red leaves, yellow flowers, and drought tolerance, it now bears the title ‘Plant of the Year’ 2022.