Seek out more unusual bedding plants
Why not seek out the more unusual and outstanding plants for a bedding display that's par excellence!
Have you noticed how forgiving some plants are? They do their best to please despite far from ideal treatment. I’ve had a large-flowered Abutilon hybridum for years and never taken cuttings to invigorate it, until lockdown focused my attention on making the best of what I’ve got. It’s a choice plant and deserves better, and here it is now – full of blossom, bushy and with healthy green foliage. I expect you’ve brought back neglected plants in a similar way and been delighted with the results. It’s also made me choosier. I’m looking for the best of the best. Here are some more bobby dazzlers you may have overlooked.
Make a bee line
If you find yellow bidens a little boring you'll jump at the chance to grow one of the new, more compact and exotically coloured varieties. I grew the nectar-rich, honeyscented ‘Beedance Painted Red’ in a tall pot with petunia ‘NightSky’ for company and let them trail down into yellow Cosmos sulphureus growing up in the border below. It was quite a sight, possibly a unique trio and a step up from single-flowered yellow bidens, Surfinia petunias and pink cosmos.
Keener verbena
Verbenas are also worthy of more attention. The cuttings raised, pink trailing ‘Sissinghurst’ is a gem and lovely with dark plum-coloured fuchsias. Both flower until the frosts. For a mixture of colours add verbena ‘Quartz Waterfall Mixed’ to next year's seed list. It looks best in a neutral, grey container rather than raw terracotta.