Plant Solutions

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Soil preference: Any free-draining

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Early summer

Height and spread: 60cm × 15cm (2ft × 6in), spreading

Companion plants: At home with sun-loving shrubs such as rosemary and lavender, and with such annuals as Cerinthe major or wild poppies.

Dierama dracomontanum

Marginally hardy, corm-bearing perennial

Clumps of tough, narrow, branched, arching, sword-like stems; flowers appear in summer, bearing papery calyces which enwrap the deep madder pink buds. These open to form clusters of small flowers shaped like lampshades, which dance and sway in the slightest breeze.

Soil preference: Free-draining, but not too dry

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Summer

Height and spread: 45cm × 30cm (1ft 6in × 1ft)

Companion plants: At home among rocks or in gravel, either with grassy companions, or Verbena bonariensis, or in mild areas alongside South African restios.

Bulbs for bedding

Allium karataviense

Turkestan Onion Hardy bulb

Broad, bold, curved leaves with attractive pleating and in purple-suffused blue green tints develop in pairs, curving outwards as the drumstick flowerheads swell. The flowers themselves are densely packed on short stems and are greyish white.

Soil preference: Any

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Spring, early summer

Height and spread: To 30cm × 20cm (1ft × 6in)

Companion plants: A striking spring foliage plant, perfect to set off against colourful bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Hawera’, N. ‘Jack Snipe’ or to distribute among low growing tulips.

Tulipa praestans

Tulip Hardy bulb

Pale green, broad, pointed leaves are arranged along the stems. These are divided at their ends and bear several vivid scarlet blooms, which are goblet-shaped when closed, but open wide to form six-pointed stars. The variety ‘Fusilier’ has slightly larger flowers than the wild species which comes from western Asia.

Soil preference: Any free-draining

Aspect: Sun

Season of interest: Spring

Height and spread: 25cm × 20cm (10in × 8in)

Companion plants: Small enough to include among alpines such as aubrieta and arabis, or to distribute among smaller spring perennials such as Primula auricula. Startling with the yellow-flowered Aurina saxatilis, forget-me-nots or Allium karataviense.

Muscari latifolium

Grape Hyacinth Hardy bulb