Dawn’s top 10 plants for zingy colour

Tulip ‘Ballerina’

The tangerine flowers of this lily-flowered tulip are produced in April–May and have the added bonus of scent. H55cm (22in) S10cm (4in)

Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’

Loved by bees, these reddishpink flowers with dark orange noses bloom July–September. Good seedheads. H1m (3ft 3in) S45cm (18in)

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’

This dahlia provides a double colour hit with vermillion-red flowers and dark bronze-red leaves. H1.1m (43in) S45cm (18in)

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’

A half-hardy annual with carmine pink flowers appearing from June right until October. Easy from seed. H1m (3ft 3in) S60cm (2ft)

Euphorbia characias wulfenii

A handsome structural plant with glaucous leaves and contrasting acid-green flowers that add zing to spring borders. H1.5m (5ft) S1.2m (4ft)

Calendula officinalis

This easy-to-grow annual with vivid orange edible flowers happily sows itself into gaps around the garden. H50cm (20in) S30cm (12in)

Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’

Grown for its deep purple foliage rather than its small flowers, this is a fantastic foil for brighter colours. H and S60cm (2ft)

Clematis ‘Niobe’

One of the richestcoloured clematis, this compact climber has large, velvety, deep ruby-red flowers July–Sept. H2.5m (8ft) S1m (3ft 3in)

Rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’

Golden-yellow daisy flowers with blackishbrown centres offer cheerful late summer colour. H60cm (2ft) S45cm (18in)

Agapanthus ‘Northern Star’

Perfect for a pot that can be protected in winter, these violet-blue flower clusters appear July– August. H1m (3ft 3in) S40cm (16in)