Plant partners
The fading days of summer stir up all sorts of emotions, with unusual pairings on a last-gasp romance
Late-season floral flirtations
Eupatorium purpureum and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Red Meister’
I’ve spoken before about contrasting flower shapes and here we are again: the soft mounds of eupatorium flirt becomingly with the perky tassels of the miscanthus. A robust combination that will fill a good space at the back of a border and characteristic of the last days of summer.
Eupatorium purpureum
Care Divide in spring or sow seed in autumn. Tough and disease free. Ideally needs moist soil.
HxS 2m x 80cm
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Red Meister’
Care Red flowers fading to beige followed by autumn colour. Open, sunny spot. Cut hard in March.
HxS 1.6m x 50cm
For more miscanthus varieties, turn to page 10
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ and Penstemon barbatus ‘Blackbird’
This combination will flower for weeks. It’s the floral equivalent of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn’s long relationship (34 years). In fact, I think that simile can go a bit further. The gaura is floaty and a bit ditsy (Goldie) while the penstemon is darkly handsome and very reliable (Kurt).
Gaura lindheimeri ’Whirling Butterflies’
Care May not make it through a cold winter, so take cuttings in spring or summer. Lift and divide in spring. Good in pots and borders.
HxS 75cm x 45cm
Penstemon barbatus ‘Blackbird’
Care Deadhead after flowering and cut back in spring. Protect from frost with mulch.
HxS 70cm x 40cm
Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ and Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
We usually associate catmint with June, when it froths around the ankles of roses. What, you may ask, is it doing here flowering with heleniums? Good question. The secret is to cut it back hard after flowering and it will flower again a few weeks later. Double bubble.
Helenium ’Moerheim Beauty’
Care Needs full sun and staking, as it gets tall and tends to flop. Divide in autumn or spring.
HxS 1m x 50cm
Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
Care A big, sprawling plant, so not right for small borders. Best in sunshine. Cut back after flowering.
HxS 90cm x 70cm