68 THE ENGLISH GARDEN SEPTEMBER 2019
TOP 10 PLANTS5 Gladiolus murielae
For late-summer scent and evening luminosity, plant bulbs of
Abyssian gladiolus, more commonly known as acidanthera, in
pots. This tender bulb should be planted in late spring and will
soon produce strappy green leaves and slim flower spikes with
white petals and burgundy centres from August until October.4 Zaluzianskya ovata
Plant table-top pots with night phlox, a compact tender perennial
that’s native to South Africa, whose scented blooms pack a punch.
The deep-pink buds open in early evening to reveal unusual, white,
heart-shaped petals and an intense evening perfume. Overwinter
somewhere frost-free or treat it as an annual.
3 Verbena bonariensis
The tiny clusters of purple flowers on tall, slender, branching stems
of up to 2 metres take on almost neon qualities at dusk to create
a haze of glowing colour. Verbena bonariensis isn’t completely
hardy, but it will survive most winters and will self-seed around
and about. It thrives in full sun and free-draining soil.2 Dianthus ‘Memories’
The spicy clove aroma of garden pinks lingers well into the
evening. ‘Memories’ was bred by Whetman Pinks in Devon and is
similar to classic ‘Mrs Sinkins’, but much improved. It’s compact
with narrow, grey-green, leaves and sparkly white blooms with a
long flowering season (May to October) if you keep deadheading.