Bordering on magic

will require is an annual good chopping back, almost to ground level in April. Even this isn’t necessary but it will help to keep its shape and promote more flowering.

‘ Hidcote’, with its daffodil yellow flowers, is the most commonly grown variety. But I’d also recommend ‘Rowallane’, which has deeper more golden flowers.

The hardy fuchsia is also in full bloom now, hedgerows dripping with its jewel-like ruby red and purple flowers.

Another exotic shrub but not so hardy as fuchsia is Callistemon, the bottlebrush shrub. Best planted in coastal areas or perhaps in the protection of a city courtyard garden, this Australian native looks pretty ordinary most of the year, but right now is covered in spikes of crimson red flowers that look just like a bottlebrush.

Because of its unusual appearance, it could jar in a pastel cottage garden scheme of pale blue campanulas and white rambling roses. I think it would be more at home in a tropical colour scheme, paired with orange day lilies, scarlet crocosmia and yellow kniphofias, for example. Lightly prune flowers off after flowering.

Buddlejas divide opinion among gardeners. Some associate all buddlejas with the invasive B. davidii seen across railways and derelict buildings, while others will swear by its wildlife-friendly nature.

Also known as the butterfly bush, there’s no doubt that its nectar is irresistible to moths and butterflies – what nicer sight on a hot summer’s day than watching them flutter around your garden? They’re so easy to grow and will only require a good cutting back in spring. If you have the space, go for strong colours like ‘Royal Red’ (a dark red-purple) or ‘Black Knight’, the darkest flowering buddleja.

But you can also get dwarf versions such as ‘Buzz’ which will be compact enough for a pot on a balcony or patio. Remove flowers when spent as they look messy once they’re finished.

Lavateras are a superb way of filling your empty spaces and providing lots of summer flowers with almost zero maintenance required.

Perfect in a cottage garden, at the back of a border or as a summer hedge, there’s every shade of pink from the palest ‘Barnsley’ (which is also available in dwarf form ‘Barnsley Baby’ for the container garden) through to a deep, rich pink provided by ‘Burgundy Wine’.

Other mid-summer shrubs you could plant for easy- care gardening include lavender for its scent and a haze of purple blue flowers, Caryopteris Heavenly Blue, and some curry- scented Helichrysum.

So if the many tasks of the herbaceous borders such as lifting and dividing, staking and deadheading aren’t for you, consider some of these lovely shrubs instead and put on a bright summer show.