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Suggestions for a tall perennial/biennial to compliment white foxgloves
I pulled out a load of old of tatty shrubs a couple of years ago and am re-planting this west-facing border.
I'm thrilled with the white foxgloves that I sowed July last year, but I'd like something tall, similar (but not a foxglove) to compliment/contrast with the white foxgloves at this time of year.
The colour theme is pastel shades of blue, white, pink and silver.
I had masses of hesperis which worked well, but they pretty much took over the whole border, and broke in strong winds, so I 'oiked them out.
Ideally something I can grow from seed
Thanks
I'm thrilled with the white foxgloves that I sowed July last year, but I'd like something tall, similar (but not a foxglove) to compliment/contrast with the white foxgloves at this time of year.
The colour theme is pastel shades of blue, white, pink and silver.
I had masses of hesperis which worked well, but they pretty much took over the whole border, and broke in strong winds, so I 'oiked them out.
Ideally something I can grow from seed
Thanks
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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Verbena bonariensis?
Tall pink opium poppies?
I love delphiniums and they would be my 1st choice. I've tried over and over, but the slugs/snails get there first every time!
Climbers are a good idea, but I love my cotoneaster hedge behind - it hums with bees for weeks on end and lots of berries for the birds. It's really struggling now as 30yrs ago the neighbours planted laurel right up to the boundary all along and the cotoneaster hedge is getting thinner by the year.
Alliums are a good idea - I was considering them last year, I think I'll go for some tall pink/blue ones for next spring - any recommendations?
Some like v. bonariensis won't flower until the foxgloves have gone over - but I've got masses of self-seeded ones in other borders, so will move some for later in the season. Good idea!
Nicotiana sylvestris will be going in there too, but they're only about 12" atm.
I love the idea of umbels too @Fire - but the border does look quite stark in the sun with so much white, I need to soften it a bit. I sowed some dill a few weeks back and will plant some of them just to see if it works.
You suggestion of Canon Went made me smile. I sowed them last summer and left them in the cold frame - and they're still there! I've potted them up and will plant out for next year. I've got loads of the purple one and they're just coming into flower now in other parts of the garden, so I can move some of them too. I think they're an excellent plant and have a patch of double white feverfew and linaria - looks lovely
I've got boxes of cosmos purity and sensation pinkie to go in when the 'gloves are over.
And 2 dozen agastache still to squeeze in somewhere..
Thanks again for all your helpful suggestions
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've got loosestrife in another part of the garden - it appeared growing through the middle of a 10ft shell conifer and I've left it there - the plant has such thin leaves it looks like the conifer has produced sprays of purple flowers up to about 5ft. So I can chop a bit of that off to propagate.
Camassias are on the list for next year. I grew them years ago - the flowers were electric.
Never heard of Amberboa, but I grew a load of catanache from seed last year and they're just coming into flower - really pleased with them - and the flower stems have stayed upright through the strong winds.
I grew Eryngium Jos Eijking a few years ago. Stunning as it was, it only lasted a season and cost £8. But a packet of Miss Wilmott's Ghost seed is £2.45 - well worth it
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
The 'gloves are very static, whereas the cow parsley will move with the breeze.
Bronze is not allowed
I've got a row of 8 Karl Foerester elsewhere in the garden, I may split some and pop a few in. Just coming into flower now, but I'll see a bit later in the season if the colour is allowed. They're purplish atm - so far so good
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.