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Suggestions for a tall perennial/biennial to compliment white foxgloves

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  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    edited June 2018
    I think you should consider Anchusa 'Loddon Royalist' and Thalictrum rochebrunianum or 'Hewitt's Double'...  may need staking...


    you might also like Verbascum 'Rosella'... or tall Aquilegias from the Mckana giant hybrid series..

    Verbascum..

    East Anglia, England
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Thanks Malorena
    Anchusa 'Loddon Royalist' now I like the look of that - a proper blue.

    I've got several Thalictrum delavayi elsewhere in the garden, there is one right at the end of the border already just forming buds - they seem to do quite well here and I think they are beautiful plants even without the flowers. I'll have to split some clumps in the spring

    Verbascum's too are lovely. I'm planning on getting some seed to grow V. antique rose.
    I like vale for money ;)

    I think I may have to plan to widen the border a bit with all these ideas :)


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    I suppose you meant to write complement. ;)
    See https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2011/04/13/compliment-or-complement/
    Nice border you've got there!
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited June 2018
    There are also various light pink achillea to go with your pastel garden.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Tall purple alliums that look stunning and would contrast well with the shapes of the foxgloves are Allium "Christophii" and Allium "Schubertii (?) the firework allium. 
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited June 2018
    Tall summer-flowering alliums are a good idea. Some go to August.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited June 2018
    Pink achillea are in there already Fire :) Don't know the variety but starts off deep rose pink and fades to antique pink - should be out in 2-3 weeks.
    The plan is to begin in spring with pastels in the same palette but strong colours are good for summer

    Both of those Alliums will look great as focal points - thanks Lizzie, but I'll have to decide on one. I think the Schubertii will look interesting even after flowering

    Thanks also PJ - something I'd forgotten for many years - there are many more :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It seems we think alike Pete.

    I was wondering about some tall, small-flowered, perennial herbaceous clems up obelisks / wigwams for height. You have to tie them in, which might be a bit of a faff, but could look lovely. Most flower all summer long.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    yup - Great Minds etc Fire :) Thanks for all your suggestions

    It's a lovely idea, but I'm trying to restrict that border to just a few different plants that repeat to create a flow with some focal points like the alliums and Miss Wilmott.
    There's already lots of plants in there.
    This is the first year and so far I'm very pleased.
    I grew 30ish Veronica Rose Tones last year which are dotted about - they all have very different habits but I've no idea what the flowers will be like yet.
    There's a few Cosmos, and N sylvestris waiting to go in to replace the foxgloves
    I bought 7 roses - 4 Gentle Hermione and 3 William & Catherine... (despite the latter name), it is a very pure white smallish rose which is what I wanted. The Gentle Hermione is a bit disappointing, the flowers open to a clear pink, but have faded to almost white within a day and falling the following day - maybe it'll be better next year.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Surprised no-one has mentioned lupins. Agree with you that hesperis tends to take over. I have hoiked out a lot of it this year as well. 
    Some tall white daisies? 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
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