Low and behold
Late-season perennials will keep your borders bright right through to September, writes David Overend.
July is filled with vibrant colours while August also has a lot to offer. But what about September, which brings with it the realisation that winter is creeping ever nearer? So, it’s time to look ahead. You want something to keep the wolf from the door, to maintain some semblance of summer – you want some late-season, low-growing perennials to show some defiance to the onrushing icy months.
There are plenty of low-growing perennials, but the further through the season you go, the fewer you find that are happy to flower.
As the days get shorter and the temperatures begin to fall, most plants have flowered, set seed and are preparing for a well-deserved sleep.
You can take a peep at what’s growing in your neighbour’s garden or you can delve into a book, but if you can’t be bothered, don’t want to or are worried you’ll get the wrong plants, here are a few suggestions.
These low-growing perennials range in height from eight to 60cm and provide some ideas for a low perennial border. Campanula (bellflower): White, blue, purple or yellow bell-shaped flowers give a showy bloom in July and August and even into September on this 15-45cm tall plant. Or you can go for larger delicate flowers of rosy lilac or cornflower blue on stems growing to 60cm tall.
Chrysanthemum coccineum (painted daisy, pyrethrum): In June and July, these 30-60cm plants produce red or pink daisy-like blooms which make good cut flowers. Promote a second bloom by cutting stems to the ground after first flowering. Gaillardia x grandiflora (blanketflower): One of the easiest perennials to grow. It develops handsome red or yellow flower heads and will bloom all season if dead blooms are removed. Sedum spectabile (showy stonecrop): From August to frost, the rosy pink flower clusters of this fleshy leaved 45cm tall plant are visible. Sedum “Indian Chief ” can flower even longer – well into October. Veronica spp (speedwell): From June to early August, the 45-60cm showy royal blue spikes of this plant are visible. And even after the initial rush of blooms, flowers occasionally appear.
There are quite a few more, even some which will flower right up to the first frosts, but some grow a bit tall while others prefer well-drained soil.