Purse-friendly perennials

Create perennial border with plenty of bang for your buck

Kniphofia thomsonii ‘Stern’s Trip’ AGM

A red-hot poker that flowers during summer and autumn, producing flaming torches of coral-apricot. Needs very well-drained, deep soil in sun. H: 50cm-1m

Salvia greggii ‘Salmon Dance’

This beautiful bloom just keeps on giving. The pink salvia flowers during summer and autumn. The dainty flowers seem to float among other border perennials, creating a breezy effect. Needs full sun. H: 70cm

Geranium ‘Anne Thomson’ AGM

Reliable, spreading (to 90cm) and coated in black-eyed magenta flowers from June into November. The young foliage emerges lime green. Cut back after flowering. Equally happy in sun or semi-shade. H: 40cm

Verbena bonariensis AGM

Butterflies love this airy vervain, which flowers from mid-summer to late autumn. A short-lived perennial that is usually grown as a hardy annual, it will self-sow. Best in well-drained soil, in sun. H: 1-2m

Knautia macedonica

A scabious with wonderful pincushion flowers in a raspberry-crimson shade – they float airily amid other perennials and lure bees during summer and early autumn. One for well-drained soil and full sun. H: 80cm

Alchemilla mollis AGM

A great path edger, lady’s mantle is a froth of chartreuse yellow flowers from June to September. The downy leaves catch drops of morning dew that shine like silver teardrops. Sun or part shade. H: 45cm

Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ AGM

Perhaps the longest-flowering sneezeweed; plant in well-drained soil and in full sun, and it will produce lovely daisy blooms that flush shades of yellow, bronze and ochre, from June right through to October. H: 1m

Lychnis coronaria ‘Alba’ AGM

The white strain of the rose campion flowers all summer long, producing a succession of silky, snowy blooms above downy silver foliage. Will self-seed and likes well-drained soil in full sun. H: 75cm

Erigeron karvinskianus AGM

Plant sun-loving Mexican fleabane for an adorable cloud of white and pink daisies during summer and autumn. It will self-seed around the garden, often taking root in paving cracks or sun-baked walls. H: 130cm