3 flaming combos...
TOTALLY TROPICAL
Canna ‘Wyoming’ AGM
A star of the Exotic Garden at Great Dixter, East Sussex, from June to October, this stunning canna has apricot-orange flowers that stand tall above enormous darkburgundy leaves. Grow in full sun. H: 1½m
Dahlia ‘Bishop of Canterbury’
Keep picking or deadheading and the glowing deep-magenta flowers will continue to sizzle above black-green foliage from July to November. One for welldrained but moist pots in full sun. H: 1m
Begonia ‘Glowing Embers’ AGM
An essential plant that will add a touch of style to a container from July to November. Single flowers in tangerine-orange contrast sharply with dark foliage. Grow in sun or semi-shade. H: 30cm
POLLINATOR PICK
Antirrhinum majus
‘Liberty Classic Crimson’
Bees will be lured by the velvet-crimson blooms, which work beautifully with shades of red, orange, maroon or blue. Sow this now for late-summer interest. H: 60cm
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’
Those carmine-pink daisies will be irresistible to butterflies and hoverflies. Sow under cover now or direct sow in May. Pinch out tips once seedlings reach 15cm (6in) to create bushy plants. H: 1m
Tropaeolum majus ‘Empress of India’
This nasturtium delivers maximum impact thanks to flaming flowers that blaze ruby-red in sunlight, against a backdrop of dark-green leaves. Sow direct now in well-drained, moist pots in full sun. H: 40cm
GOING FOR GOLD
Helianthus annuus ‘Teddy Bear’ AGM
No staking required for this lion-gold sunflower, which averages around 60cm tall and is ideal for containers. The pompon flowers look like tiny suns blazing amid the green foliage. Sow now.
H: 50cm-1m
Carex testacea
An evergreen grass that’s green in the summer and copper in the winter, the orange New Zealand sedge is perfect in containers. Use as a foil for fiery flowers – it tempers the heat of bold yellows beautifully. H: 50cm - 1m
Calendula officinalis ‘Indian Prince’
This edible English marigold is adorned with daisy-like flowers in Sienna-orange. Pick for the vase (or for salads) and you’ll encourage it to reflower. Attracts aphid predators, so grow among vegetables, too. H: 45cm