3 of the best...

Bearded iris

Bring a burst of colour into your garden in early summer with these striking blooms

One of the great joys of early summer, growing from a thick, root-like structure called a rhizome, these bright beauties are available in every colour, except red.

Day lily

True to its name the flowers may only last one day but they are produced in succession from May to August. Come in glorious yellows, oranges and reds.

Geranium

These hardy herbaceous perennials almost look after themselves, with saucer-shaped flowers in shades of pink, white and blue from June, and often through summer for some varieties.