9 Bold border colours
Purple
Salvia ‘Amistad’ AGM Glorious purple flowers with black calyces during summer and autumn. Grow in moistureretentive, well-drained soil in sheltered sun. Remove spent stems to encourage repeat flowering. H: 3-5ft (90-150cm).
garnet
Paeonia ‘Buckeye Belle’ A wonderful peony with buxom wine-red flowers above divided foliage in late spring and early summer. Grow in moist, well-drained, fertile soil in sheltered sun or semi-shade. H: 3ft (90cm).
Orange
Geum ‘Prinses Juliana’ Fiery-orange flowers from May. The blooms sit on thin stems, allowing the plants behind to be glimpsed, making this is a good layering perennial. Prefers well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 1ft 6in (50cm).
Black
Iris ‘Before the Storm’ This bearded iris has regal purple-black flowers above grey-green sword leaves. Give it elbow room in well-drained soil in full sun and plant shallowly, allowing the sun to warm its rhizomes. H: 3ft (90cm).
Scarlet
Potentilla ‘Gibson’s Scarlet’ AGM
This reliable cinquefoil has letterbox-red flowers throughout summer. Grow in well-drained soil in full sun and remove spent flower stems to encourage more flowers. H: 1.4ft (45cm).
Lime
Euphorbia ceratocarpa AGM The horned spurge produces airy heads of acid-lime flower bracts for months. Grow in very well-drained, light soil in sheltered sun. Wear gloves to cut stems, as the sap is toxic. H: 3-5.5ft (1-1.7m).
Blue
Delphinium ‘Blue Nile’ AGM Pillars of kingfisher-blue flowers in mid-summer. Grow in sheltered sun, stake to prevent wind damage, and protect from slugs. Remove spent stems to encourage more flowers. H: 5ft (150cm).
Hot pink
Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’ AGM
This Japanese primrose has upright stems with whorls of vivid magenta flowers in early summer. Stunning by a pond or in a damp border. Plant in sun or semi-shade. H: 2ft (60cm).
Yellow
Hemerocallis ‘Cartwheels’ An unfussy daylily with big golden-yellow starry flowers that brighten the border during July and August. Grow in full sun or semi-shade in moisture-retentive, well-drained soil. H: 2.4ft (75cm).