Nigel Colborn - Plant Solutions

Papaver somniferum

Opium Poppy Hardy annual

The leaves of opium poppies are bold, ruffled, blue-green and hairless. Many-branched stems produce large conspicuous flowers that are single or double and vary in hue from mauve, purple and pink to crimson or white. Shapely pepperpot seed capsules follow the flowers and persist into autumn. See also pages ref 1and ref 2for more poppies.

Soil preference:Free-draining, well worked

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Summer, autumn

Height and spread:Variable to 1.5m × 45cm (5ft × 1ft 6in)

Companion plants:Surprisingly pretty among shrub roses, particularly when the leaves contrast, but also popular in cottage schemes with early perennials such as lupins, campanulas or cranesbills.

Lobelia erinus

Lobelia Half hardy perennial usually grown as an annual

A low allergen bedder with predominantly cool blue or white flowers – although some series come in mauve hues. ‘Cambridge Blue’ is an excellent, compact and long-flowering variety in pale blue. ‘Crystal Palace’ has bronze-tinted foliage and deep blue flowers. The old variety, ‘Mrs Clibran Improved’, is extremely neat with white-eyed blue flowers. (For other lobelias, see pages ref 1and ref 2.)

Soil preference:Fertile, not too dry

Aspect:Sun or part shade

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:Variable to 20cm × 20cm (8in × 8in)

Companion plants:Traditionally used in pots or as border edging but also handsome when used informally amongst low growing border plants such as Euphorbia myrsinites or with purple-leaved heucheras.

Begonia semperflorens

Begonia Tender perennial grown as an annual

Ubiquitous but invaluable bedding plant, tolerating drought and shade, which produces fleshy stems and leaves and a constant run of small pink, white or red blooms on low, bushy plants. The ‘Alfa’ series have bronze-suffused foliage; the ‘Inferno’ series are remarkably vigorous; ‘Prelude’ series begin flowering very early.

Soil preference:Fertile, not too dry but free-draining

Aspect:Sun or part shade

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:Variable to 30cm × 20cm (12in × 8in)

Companion plants:Often used in large floral bedding schemes because of their uniformity, they are useful edgers for the patio or lawn and single colours work well in pots or to fill in spaces in box parterres.

Other good annuals

Omphalodes linifolia

Venus’ Navelwort Hardy annual

R. Coates

A rather fetching European member of the forget-me-not family with pale, grey-green, simple, narrow leaves and a long display of opalescent white flowers with navel-like centres. Though shortlived as an annual, this is a free-seeding species which, if happy, will form self-sustaining colonies.

Soil preference:Any free-draining, but not too dry

Aspect:Sun, part shade

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:30cm × 20cm (1ft × 8in)

Companion plants:Best if allowed to spread in drifts among low-growing summer flowers such as violas and Mimulus, or to front low-growing shrubs. The foliage also harmonizes well with garden pinks, whereas the flowers make a pretty contrast in both colour and shape.

Orlaya grandiflora

Tender annual

A Mediterranean member of the carrot family whose finely divided foliage is crowned, from late spring to midsummer, by a succession of shallow, dome shaped umbels. The outer, sterile flowers on each umbel carry large, creamy white asymmetrical petals, creating a beautiful lace-cap effect. Can be directly sown in warm regions, where it will also self-sow.

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:30cm × 15cm (12in × 6in)

Companion plants:An exquisite, lacy companion to annuals with more solid-looking flowers, such as godetias, red poppies or Calendula. With deep blue larkspurs, the cream white lace caps make a cool contrast.

Cleome hassleriana

Spider Flower Near hardy annual

A tall, rangy annual with decorative, seven-lobed palmate leaves held on short stalks along the tall, erect spike which terminates in a series of fragrant, distinctive white or pink flowers whose narrow petals and elongated stamens and stigma give the impression of colourful, long-legged spiders. Native of South America.

Soil preference:Any fertile, free-draining, not too dry

Aspect:Sun, part shade

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:1.2m × 30cm (4ft × 1ft)

Companion plants:Ideal for the border back or to grow among tall perennials such as perennial asters since it brings earlier colour. The exotic appearance makes it a good companion to broad-leaved plants such as banana, canna or hedychiums (ginger lilies.)

Atriplex hortensis

Red Orache Hardy annual

An easy annual, distinguished – especially when young – by its conspicuous slightly downy-textured, rich purple leaves which are oval, pointed and borne on flexible stems. Some of the early colour intensity is lost as the plant matures to produce, in summer, foxtail flowers which are brownish green. Self-seeds freely but is easy to control.

Soil preference:Any

Aspect:Sun, part shade, shade

Season of interest:Spring, summer

Height and spread:1m × 30cm (3ft × 1ft)

Companion plants:Prettiest when allowed to dot itself among other plants in mixed borders or among shrubs. The foliage contrasts dramatically with the silver grey of young artemisias or with the gentle gold of Milium effusum ‘Aureum’.

Silene coeli-rosa (Viscaria oculata)

Hardy annual

A hairless, reasonably erect annual with slender stems and narrow, oblong leaves. The small but showy, pale pink or two-tone pink and white flowers are produced in profusion on longish stems for much of the summer. Tolerant of hot, dry conditions and usually trouble-free.

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:30cm × 15cm (1ft × 6in)

Companion plants:Prettiest with other annuals such as nigellas, poppies or Anagallis, but also handy to blend with other low growing perennials such as pinks and carnations, sedums, Origanum rotundifolium and Euphorbia myrsinites .

Rhinanthus minor

Hay Rattle, Yellow Rattle Hardy, semi-parasitic Annual