Nigel Colborn - Plant Solutions

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Autumn

Height and spread:15cm × 5cm (6in × 2in)

Companion plants:A conversation piece rather than a garden essential, but fun to grow with the yellow, crocus-like Sternbergia lutea to create an out-of-season spring effect.

Muscari neglectum

Common Grape Hyacinth Hardy bulb

The commonest species, with grassy foliage and short stems crowded with small, dusky blue flowers shaped like tiny, rounded jars with restricted openings. Multiplies invasively from small offshoots, as well as seeds, so not a plant to let loose where it could become troublesome.

Soil preference:Any

Aspect:Any except deep shade

Season of interest:Spring

Height and spread:15cm × 5cm (6in × 2in), spreading

Companion plants:Natural-looking among pebbles, especially when blended with the white Muscari botryoides ‘Alba’ or with crocuses.

Muscari comosum

Hardy bulb

Heather Angel

A curious species, tall for a grape hyacinth. The lower spike carries fertile flowers, which are brownish and jar-shaped, but above these are bright mauve plumes or tufts of sterile florets. The garden form M. c . ‘Plumosum’ bears only dense masses of the beautiful mauve sterile florets.

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun or partial shade

Season of interest:Spring

Height and spread:30cm × 10cm (1ft × 4in)

Companion plants:Interesting addition to a mix of drought-tolerant bulbs which might also include Tulipa batalinii, Bellevalia dubia and Scilla peruviana .

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Chincherinchee Marginally hardy bulb

A South African native with narrow, pointed leaves which tend to wither before the erect, naked flower stems appear. These bear spikes of closely packed, white, cup-shaped flowers. An excellent cut flower, but not very long lived in the garden.

Soil preference:Free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:60cm × 15cm (2ft × 6in)

Companion plants:The cool, white flowers are refreshing among gravel scree plants, particularly, dark leaved Carex species such as C. buchananii and with grasses such as Stipa tenuissima .

Anthericum liliago

Hardy bulb

Grassy foliage and in early summer, tall stems bearing widely spaced, lily-like flowers in startling white. The selection A. l. major has larger flowers with wider petals. A graceful meadow plant from southern Europe, which seeds freely in gravel when happily established.

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Early summer

Height and spread:60cm × 15cm (2ft × 6in), spreading

Companion plants:At home with sun-loving shrubs such as rosemary and lavender, and with such annuals as Cerinthe major or wild poppies.

Dierama dracomontanum

Marginally hardy, corm-bearing perennial

Clumps of tough, narrow, branched, arching, sword-like stems; flowers appear in summer, bearing papery calyces which enwrap the deep madder pink buds. These open to form clusters of small flowers shaped like lampshades, which dance and sway in the slightest breeze.

Soil preference:Free-draining, but not too dry

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Summer

Height and spread:45cm × 30cm (1ft 6in × 1ft)

Companion plants:At home among rocks or in gravel, either with grassy companions, or Verbena bonariensis , or in mild areas alongside South African restios.

Bulbs for bedding

Allium karataviense

Turkestan Onion Hardy bulb

Broad, bold, curved leaves with attractive pleating and in purple-suffused blue green tints develop in pairs, curving outwards as the drumstick flowerheads swell. The flowers themselves are densely packed on short stems and are greyish white.

Soil preference:Any

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Spring, early summer

Height and spread:To 30cm × 20cm (1ft × 6in)

Companion plants:A striking spring foliage plant, perfect to set off against colourful bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Hawera’, N . ‘Jack Snipe’ or to distribute among low growing tulips.

Tulipa praestans

Tulip Hardy bulb

Pale green, broad, pointed leaves are arranged along the stems. These are divided at their ends and bear several vivid scarlet blooms, which are goblet-shaped when closed, but open wide to form six-pointed stars. The variety ‘Fusilier’ has slightly larger flowers than the wild species which comes from western Asia.

Soil preference:Any free-draining

Aspect:Sun

Season of interest:Spring

Height and spread:25cm × 20cm (10in × 8in)

Companion plants:Small enough to include among alpines such as aubrieta and arabis, or to distribute among smaller spring perennials such as Primula auricula . Startling with the yellow-flowered Aurina saxatilis , forget-me-nots or Allium karataviense .

Muscari latifolium

Grape Hyacinth Hardy bulb

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