Be inspired by… ruby and rose flowers, rusty ornaments, new plants, diary dates and our tender plants quiz. Plus: win a picnic set!

Plants, books, events & buys for the month ahead

This stylish hot pink border has a relaxed, modern look, ideal for an urban cottage-style border. Designed by Rosemary Coldstream for RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last year, the ruby red and rose pink flowers are contrasted with flashes of white Ammi majus, giving the scheme a brighter accent to stop it looking too dark and heavy. Flower shapes include spires of salvia and umbels of achillea, with wafty Deschampsia cespitosa woven through. We’d add some white echinacea and a few rosy Astrantia major ‘Ruby Cloud’ plants to flesh it out. Penstemon ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’ would make a good substitute for salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’, but with fatter flowers.

VIOLA CORNUTA ‘ANTIQUE SHADES’ F1*

Rather than dismissing them as ‘bedding’ look out for some pretty new colours for these small-flowered pansies. ‘Antique Shades’ offers a mix of copper, purple and more muted hues. Plant in sun or part shade in well-drained soil and treat these easy-to-please but short-lived perennials as hardy annuals. Sow Mar-May or Aug-Oct and plant out after the frosts for flowers Apr-Oct. Or buy as plug plants. ✿ H and S15cm (6in) £3.75 for 30 seeds/£7.50 for 5 jumbo seedlings, Sarah Raven 0345 092 0283; www.sarahraven.com

▼ CALIBRACHOA ‘CHAMELEON PINK PASSION’

With pretty, colour-changing blooms that provide a dazzling show JuneOct, these tiny petunias are perfect for containers and baskets with no deadheading required. Pot them up in a pot of multipurpose compost or plant in well-drained soil in sun or part shade. ✿ H50cm (20in) S25cm (10in). £16 for 3 young plants, Hayloft 01386 562999; www.hayloft.co.uk

THUNBERGIA ALATA ‘AFRICAN SUNSET’*

Half-hardy perennial black-eyed Susan has had a bit of a make-over with this exotic new shade – a blend of blushing red, apricot and buff. Flowering July-Oct, plants prefer a spot in full sun or part shade and any moist but well-drained soil. Sow seed outdoors April-June. H2m (6½ft) S50cm (20in). £2.25 for 15 seeds, Chiltern Seeds ✿ 01491 824675; www.chilternseeds.co.uk

MUSCARI ‘IVOR’S PINK’

Fragrant little muscari with urnshaped blooms resembling bunches of grapes, which open from pale yellow-green buds April-May. Small but robust, they’ll tolerate dry conditions and prefer a well-drained soil in sun or part shade. ✿ H and S15cm (6in). £20 for 5 bulbs, £30 for 15, Hayloft 01386 562999; www.hayloft.co.uk

Boost border colour with these opulent new plants in bruised sunset shades

that are bang on trend

▲ SALVIA ‘ROCKIN DEEP PURPLE’

Sumptuous royal velvet blooms on dramatic black calyces, June-Sept. This tender salvia is more compact than previous forms, making it easier to look after in pots and borders. Plant in sun or part shade in welldrained soil or compost. Salvia ‘Rockin Fuschia’ is a bold pink. ✿ H70cm (28in) S50cm (20in). Price £TBA. For stockists, contact Kernock Plants 01579 350561; www.kernock.co.uk VERBENA BONARIENSIS ‘METEOR SHOWER’

Refined form of Verbena bonariensis,

with a bushy habit, slender, deep green foliage and continuous lilac blooms June-Oct. Full sun/part shade. ✿ H80cm (32in) S60cm (2ft). £7.99 for 9cm potted plants, Crocus 01344 578111; www.crocus.co.uk

RUNNER BEAN ‘AURORA’

With soft coral-pink flowers June-Sep, this runner bean is stylish and productive. Sow Apr-May under cover and plant in enriched compost in a sunny spot when they reach 5cm (2in). Harvest long, tasty bean pods in about 12-14 weeks. ✿ H1.8m (6ft) S30cm (12in). £3.95 for 30 seeds, Sarah Raven 0345 092 0283; www.sarahraven.com

▲ HELICHRYSUM BRACTEATUM ‘SALMON ROSE’

These shiny, papery daisy-like ‘everlasting’ flowers have tall strong stems and dark foliage. They’re ideal for drying; cut them early and hang upside down. Sow indoors Jan-April then plant out after frosts, in full sun. ✿ H90cm (3ft) S30cm (12in). £1.75 for 500 seeds, Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675; www.chilternseeds.co.uk

CLEMATIS ‘KOKONOE’

Sister to the best-selling ‘Taiga’, this new clematis has rich violet-purple petals. Earliest blooms emerge as singles then puff up into fluffy doubles as they mature June-Oct. Fabulous trained up an obelisk in a pot. Just cut back stems to ground level every year and they’ll bounce back in spring. ✿ H2.5m (8ft) S1m (3ft 3in). £29.98 for two 9cm potted plants, Thompson & Morgan 0333 400 0033; www.thompson-morgan.com

▲ PEONY ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’

Flowering early May to mid-June, this show-stopping apricot and pink-flecked peony is an intersectional ‘Itoh’ hybrid between herbaceous and tree peonies – with characteristics from both. Large fragrant flowers are held on sturdy stems like a tree peony, yet it’s easy to grow and compact, falling dormant in summer like a herbaceous peony. Plant in full sun or part shade. ✿ H and S80-100cm (31-39in). £49 bareoot, Primrose Hall Peonies 01525 878924; www.primrosehallpeonies.co.uk