12 PLANTS FROM THE CUTTING BEDS
1 Monarda Panorama Series Clump-forming perennial with aromatic leaves topped by whorled flowers in shades of pink, magenta, red and white. Also known as bee balm, Monarda is great for pollinators. 90cm. RHS H4, USDA 4a-9b†. 2 Astrantia ‘Roma’ Long-flowering Astrantia, with pin-cushion flowers in soft pink. This is a good, vigorous cultivar with long stems well suited to cutting. Happy in sun or partially shaded spots. 60cm. AGM*. RHS H7, USDA 4a-7b.
3 Dahlia ‘Franz Kafka’ No cutting garden is complete without a selection of dahlias. This is a pompom cultivar with small, tight heads in a pinky mauve around 7.5cm across. 80cm. RHS H3. USDA 8a-10b.
4 Lupinus nanus ‘Snow Pixie’ Although technically a perennial, Gordon Castle grow this lovely little lupin from seed every year. Fast-growing and reliable, it forms compact mounds of delicate, pink-and-white, fragrant flowers spikes, perfect for the front of a border. 45cm. 5 Limonium sinuatum The real value of sea lavender is as a dried flower that retains it colour and form well. Best cut just before flowers fully open. 60cm. USDA 8a-10b. 6 Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais Bonnets’ Strong, long stems make these a good cutting-flower selection. The centres of the flowers are a deep, wine-red colour studded with contrasting white stamens and surrounded by ruffled petals in paler pink. Best grown in full sun. 60cm. USDA 7a-9b.
7 Daucus carota ‘Dara’ Flowering in a range of colours from pure white to pink and dark purple, wild carrot is a great addition to larger flower arrangements, with long stems and large umbel-shaped flowers followed by wonderfully intricate seedheads. 1.2m.
8 Craspedia globosa Also known as billy buttons or drumsticks, this is a real star of the cut-flower garden, the saffron-yellow, drumstick-like flowers will last for weeks when cut fresh, or months if dried. A hardy perennial that can withstand even the harshest Scottish winter. 90cm. USDA 8a-11.
9 Dahlia ' Waterlily Lilac' Resembling a waterlily in size and shape, this is a lovely shade of pinky-lilac. 80cm. RHS H3, USDA 8a-10b.
10 Scorzonera hispanica ‘Long Black Maxima’ Perhaps more typically grown as a vegetable for its root (grown and cooked like salsify), here it is grown for its flower too. A member of the dandelion family, there are similarities in the flowers, but this cultivar is a gorgeous, rich purple. 30cm.
11 Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’ A compact, bushy, hardy annual, that flowers profusely throughout the summer on well-drained soil in full sun. The blooms emerge deep violet-blue and become tinged with mauve as they mature. Great for pollinators. 40cm. AGM. RHS H7. USDA 4a-8b.
12 Dahlia ‘Classic Swanlake’ Semi-double flowers in a creamy white. Both the leaves and stems have a purple tinge to the dark green. 90cm. RHS H3. USDA 8a-10b.