A mass planting of Bergamot can’t fail to impress. They bear curious, striking flowers in strong colours and have fragrant foliage. The leaves, when crushed, produce a wonderful aromatic perfume unlike anything else.

Although the most popular flower colour is scarlet, Bergamot comes in a wide range of colours, including pink, purple, mauve and white. The flowers are hook-shaped and appear in whorls around a dome shaped head while the leaves are oval shaped. It is quite difficult to weed around the plants, as the roots grow close to the surface.

Bergamot looks best in a herbaceous border and goes well with other plants. ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ is one of the most popular varieties and has, unsurprisingly, scarlet flowers. A similar pink-flowered plant is ‘Croftway Pink’. There is a also pure white form known as ‘Snow Maiden’.

In the winter, Monarda will be just present above the soil as a mass of small leaves. They are to be immune to frosts and require no special care. In exposed areas, the plants may need to be supported by stakes. The plants should be cut down to the ground after flowering, and mulched with manure each winter.

The leaves can be simmered in water to make a refreshing bergamot tea. The flowers have a similar scent to that of the bergamot orange (which is used to flavour Earl Grey tea), hence the plant’s common name.

Growing Requirements

Soil
These plants like full sun or very light shade and will thrive in most types of soil, except in clay or where the soil is very dry. They will need to be kept well-watered over the summer.

Size
Bergamot can range in height from 3ft to 5ft (90cm to 1.5m) with a spread of around 18in (45cm).

Propagation
Monarda can be divided in the spring, as they start growing. This will rejuvinate old clumps and provide new, vigorous plants. Cuttings can also be taken when the plant is producing fresh and vigorous growth.

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Monarda

Agapanthus plants are native to South Africa and were introduced into Europe in the seventeenth century. The most commonly grown varieties are the Headbourne hybrids, which are available in an array of blue shades. White varieties can also be grown but don’t have the same impact as the deep blues.

The round balls of the agapanthus blooms provide a late summer spectacle. The intense, blue flowers can provide a focal point in a border or a tub, or they will mix well with a range of other plants. Deciduous Agapanthus are generally hardier than the evergreen ones but both will tolerate a light frost.

Agapanthus love full sun but they have been successfully grown in light shade. Headbourne hybrids are hardy, but some of the other species and hybrids will also come through most winters. The problem is winter wet as much as cold. Covering the plants with a sheet of glass to keep them reasonably dry, while allowing air to circulate to prevent condensation, will help.

These plants require little attention other than to tidy up the rotting leaves and flower stems during the early winter. They will rarely need staking. If you don’t mind sacrificing a few stems, they make good cut flowers from the house.

Growing Requirements

Soil
These plants like a moist, free-draining soil, but will grow well in a dry soil that has had organic material added. They thrive in deep, fertile soils but will tolerate quite poor soil.

Size
Agapanthus can reach a height of 3ft (90cm) with a spread of around 2ft (60cm).

Propagation
Dividing existing plants in spring is the easiest way to increase them. This must be done carefully, as the roots are brittle and resent being disturbed. They are best planted out in spring and should be placed about 18in (45cm) apart.

Family: Agapanthaceae
Genus: Agapanthus

Salvia splendens is really a perennial from Brazil, but it is most often used as an annual bedding plant in northern Europe. It is fast growing and flowers in the first season after sowing. They can be used in all sorts of areas as they are happy in tubs, window boxes and other containers, and can be more formally planted in bedding displays.

The most common cultivar used is the brilliantly scarlet ‘blaze of fire’ but other varieties are available in pink and purple shades and in sizes between 8in and 24in (20cm to 60cm) tall. The flower colour of salvia is a combination of flowers and bracts. Plant well grown plants outside only when all risk of frost has passed. Salvias are very frost tender, and a frost can decimate a newly planted scheme overnight. Always select sturdy and multi-stemmed plants and deadhead the plants to keep them tidy and to encourage continuous flower production.

Plants grown in the open ground will usually need no additional watering after planting. Container plants are more vulnerable to drying out and the compost needs to be kept moist. In cooler climates, they can be planted in full sun but in areas that get very hot summers, partial shade will be required.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Salvia splendens prefers a fertile, free-draining garden soil, but pot-grown plants will grow well in a good quality compost. Container grown plants will need feeding every 7 to 10 days, from planting out to the end of the season, with a proprietary liquid plant food.

Size
Height around 12in (30 cm) with a similar sized spread.

Propagation
Propagation is by seed. Sow the seed under glass between January and March, where a temperature of 20 to 27° C. is required for germination to occur. Grow on at around 13° C. and plant out after the danger of frost has passed.

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia

Yucca Gloriosa delights in having several descriptive common names - Spanish dagger, Adam’s needle, palm lily and Roman candle. It is an evergreen shrub, but is often considered to be a hardy perennial by gardeners. In colder districts, they will need be grown in tubs and over wintered under cool glass.

The plants have an exotic appearance, a tall, conical flowering spike, erupting from a base of sword-like grayish, green leaves, which immediately catches the eye. They make excellent plants where a focal point is needed or they can be used as an accent plant in a border. The flower spike appears in late summer, and carries an abundance of creamy-white, cup-shaped flowers, sometimes edged with crimson.

Apart from cutting off any dead foliage, or fading flower stems, Yucca Gloriosa needs little attention. Young plants, or offsets, should be planted out in spring, so that they have a full growing season before facing a cold winter. The ends of the leaves have very sharp spines so this needs to be considered if children play in the garden.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Well-drained soil is required but it does not need to be rich, as palm lilies will grow in quite poor conditions. They can withstand drought, so there should be no need to water after the plant is established.

Size
Yucca Gloriosa will grow to a height of around 6.5ft (2m) with a spread of 4ft (1.2m). The leaves are around 2.5ft (75cm) long and 2in to 3in (5cm to 8cm) wide.

Propagation
Sow seed in spring under gentle heat. Root cuttings can also be taken in winter, by cutting one or more of the thick roots into 2in (5cm) sections and placing them in compost. Another method is to remove some of the offsets from around the edge of the plant and pot them up.

Family: Agavaceae
Genus: Yucca

Cornus kousa var. chinensis was introduced from China in 1907 and differs from typical Cornus kousa in its taller, more open habit, usually forming a small tree. Despite having long-lasting pretty flowers, good autumn colour, an ability to blend well with other plants and a comparatively small size, the Chinese dogwood is not seen too often, even though it is easy to find in garden centres and nurseries.

The flowers are the most intriguing feature of this tree. They are very small and would be inconspicuous if it were not for the four white bracts (leaf-like attachments) that surround them. Because they are bracts, and not petals, they remain in flower for a very long time. They start white, but become flushed with pink as they age.

The leaves are a bright, fresh green colour, which sets off the flowers well. In autumn, they turn a wonderful range of oranges and reds. This tree is quite hardy and should survive most winters easily. Apart from removing any dead or damaged, wood, no pruning is required.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Cornus kousa var. chinensis is best grown as a specimen tree. It will grow well in a fertile, humus-rich, soil, located in full sun or partial shade. It is not recommended for growing in poor, shallow, chalk soils. It prefers an acid to neutral soil but can be grown in slightly alkaline conditions.

Size
The Chinese dogwood can grow to a height of 20ft (6m) and spread to around 15ft (4.5m), though in the average garden, 12ft to 15ft (3.5m to 4.5m) is the more likely ultimate height.

Propagation
It propagates well from seed, which should be cold stratified when ripe and then sown the following spring. It can also be propagated by taking cuttings in the summer.

Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus

Michaelmas daisies are beautiful, tough, herbaceous perennial plants that are easy to grow and look after. The daisy flowers are bright and cheerful, which provide a useful splash of colour at the end of the year. Their colours are mainly restricted to pinks and purples, though the range of shades seems almost infinite - they vary from soft pink to nearly red or blue. There are also white forms.

These plants will grow in a wide range of soils, even poor ones, but they do best where there is humus in the soil to retain moisture. Michaelmas daisies can be planted at any time of the year as long as they are watered well before lifting and again after planting.

Aster amellus do not like damp areas, but they also dislike soil that dries out and are likely to suffer mildew in such conditions. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. The stems of these plants don’t normally need support, except in windy areas where they may require staking. The cold shouldn’t present any problems during the winter.

Growing Requirements

Position
While they will grow in light shade, Michaelmas daisies will always do best in full sun. If they are planted under trees or against a north wall, they become drawn and often suffer from mildew. They are best in an open site, where air can circulate freely which will help to avoid mildew problems

Size
Michaelmas daisies vary in size and can reach a height of 1ft to 4ft (30cm to 1.2m) and spread about 2ft (60cm).

Propagation
Propagation is easily achieved by division in the spring. They can also be grown from seed. Sow the seed in spring. Germination can be improved by chilling.

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Aster

Virginia creeper is a North American plant, grown for its stunning autumn colour. It is one of the most vigorous growing of the Parthenocissus genus. It climbs by means of tiny adhesive pads and such is the weight of a mature plant, it is not recommended for use on rendered walls. It is an excellent plant for covering outbuildings or large pergolas and can even be used as a ground cover plant.

It has leaves with five oval, toothed leaflets that turn to crimson, orange and red in autumn. The tiny, yellowish blooms appear in spring and may be followed by small blue-black fruits. For the best autumn colour, plant against an east or west-facing wall, where the plant will appreciate the partial shade.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia will grow well in most free-draining soils. Incorporate extra organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, to help with moisture retention enabling the plant to survive in drier conditions.

Growing Requirements

Position
Virginia creeper is tolerant of all weather, but the autumn foliage falls easily, so keeping the plant out of strong winds will give a longer autumn display. If planted on a windy site, young plants may need wall ties until they are established and fully adhered to the wall.

Size
It can reach 50ft (15m) and will cover a wall or outbuilding or climb into the tops of trees.

Propagation
The easiest way to propagate is from stem cuttings. Cut off a 5in (12.5cm) length of new growth, strip the leaves off near the cut end and dip it into hormone rooting powder. Place the cutting in a shallow pot of moistened sand or perlite and, in around 10 days, thin, fibrous roots will appear. When these roots are an inch or so long, plant the cuttings in pots, or outdoors.

Family: Vitaceae
Genus: Parthenocissus

Thrift is a familiar coastal plant and it is found around all of the coasts of Britain. It makes an unusual evergreen perennial for the rock garden. It has spiky, narrow leaves that grow in mounded humps and provide distinctive form and texture, among the numerous loose growing rock plants. It is known by several common names, including thrift, sea thrift and sea pink.

As a seaside perennial, thrift is an excellent choice for maritime gardens. It is fully frost hardy, but may die off if exposed to long periods of wet and cold. With age, the centre of the plant will turn brown and eventually die off. It should then be replaced with new, young plants.

Between April and October, thrift produces a mass of pom-pom flowers on short stalks above the dark green leaves. The colour of the flowers ranges from white through to dark pink. Apart from the removal of dead flower heads, little aftercare or maintenance is required.

Growing Requirements

Position
Armeria Maritima is native to sandy soils but will happily grow in a free-draining clay soil - add plenty of grit to the planting hole. It thrives in full sun and lost be paid by the hot summer sunshine. Moisture is essential to establishment, but excess moisture will lead to rotting and eventual death. When watering in newly planted thrift, avoid wetting the top of the plant by talking the spout of the watering can, under the hum of the foliage.

Size
Thrift will grow to a height of 4in (10cm) and spread about 6in (15cm).

Propagation
Named varieties can be propagated by taking semi-ripe cuttings in summer or early autumn and growing them in sand. Thrift is easy to grow from seed. Sow seed under glass in late spring or outdoors, in June and July.

Family: Plumbaginaceae
Genus: Armeria

The Water Plantain is an upright, airy plant that doesn’t seem to take up as much space as its size would suggest as you can see right through its wiry branches. The flowers are pale, pinkish white when examined up close, but often appear white from a distance. The plant blooms from late spring into summer.

The foliage consists of long, oval, dark green leaves that are held on long stalks so that they stand up tall above the water. The plants form large clumps, and the flowering stems arise from this solid base of foliage. Unless it is grown beside a large natural pond, one plant would probably suffice. If it is grown in the mud rather than directly in the water, it must not be allowed to dry out. Water copiously if the water level of the pond or stream drops to keep the soil moist. These plants are hardy and need no special treatment to survive winter. Like most pond plants, it can be invasive so cut off the flower stems as the flowers fade, before they have chance to scatter seed everywhere. When cut and dried, flower stems are ideal for flower arranging.


Growing Requirements

Position
This is a plant to be grown on the edge of a pond or slow-moving stream. It will grow happily either in the mud at the edge of the water, or in water about 6 inches deep. As with most aquatic plants, the best time to plant out is in the spring, when the pond is warming up. Plug directly into the mud at the side of, or if the pond is lined, into a lattice pot. The water plantain will grow best in full sunlight. It will grow in light shade, but won’t flower so well.

Size
Water Plantains will grow to a height of 3ft (90cm) with a 2ft (60 cm) spread.

Propagation
These plants grow very readily from seed, especially if sown in a cold frame while fresh. Place the pot in about 1in (2.5cm) of water to keep the soil wet. The seedlings can be potted up when large enough to handle and kept in the cold frame for the first winter, planting out in late spring. Larger plants can be divided in the spring or autumn and the divisions planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Family: Alismataceae
Genus: Alisma

Gladiolus Callianthus is a delicate and highly-scented gladioli species that is easy to grow and, when planted in succession, can provide a continuous floral display in the late summer and autumn. It is often know by the name Acidanthera Murielae and the common names peacock flower or Abyssinian gladiolus. It originates from the high mountains of central Africa and consequently is only moderately hardy.

The irregularly-petalled flowers are pure white, with a dark purple patch at the centre. They are highly scented and arch gracefully from a long pollen tube. The leaves are straight and sword-like and emerge from the corms so late in the summer that it is easy to think they are not going to show. In September, the tall flower stalks follow and bear a succession of blooms on a 2.5ft tall spike. After flowering, the leaves should be allowed to go yellow and die down. Gladiolus Callianthus is not hardy enough to be left out all winter, but the corms can be lifted and the best of them stored dry over the winter with the largest being reused the following year.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Gladiolus Callianthus is not really suited to heavy, waterlogged soils. It does well in well-drained, sunny situations planted on a 2in bed of gravel. They can be fed annually in spring with a general fertiliser when planted in a moderately fertile soil.

Size
Plants will grow to about 2 to 3 ft (60 to 90 cm) and spread about 12in (30cm).

Propagation
Plant the dry corms in April to May, either in deep pots or in good soil in a sunny position. Place them 4in apart and 5in deep. A 12in pot will hold about 7-10 bulbs.

Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Gladiolus