My favourites are C.Emberglow and C.Carmine Brilliant.
The first is a little shorter than Lucifer, with dark red flowers and stronger stems, it doesn't flop even in my exposed garden. Carmine Brilliant is shorter, I grow it at the front and the flowers are really pretty, a pinky red with yellow centres.
'Fugue' is very sturdy. Might be too tall - depends what you your limit is. Lovely fresh orange and quite early. 'Coleton Fishacre' is also very sturdy, shorter and the foliage is an interesting olive green, with golden yellow flowers
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
My favourite is Emily McKensie, large flowers but shorter than most, doesn’t flop. I don’t find them invasive either, but if they do spread a little farther than you want, easy just to pull up the outer ones by yanking at the base of the leaves.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
Posts
'Coleton Fishacre' is also very sturdy, shorter and the foliage is an interesting olive green, with golden yellow flowers
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”