36 womansweekly.com
Pale and interesting
TheJapaneseanemoneorwindflowerisa
trulyusefulplant,bringinglightnessand
elegancetoanyplantingscheme,whether
insunorpartialshade.Itproducesmasses
ofslightlyruffled,saucer-shapedwhiteor
pinkflowersfromAugustonwards,which
arecarriedonstemsupto1.5mhigh,with
darkgreenleaves.Itdoesn’tneedstaking
andonceestablished,itwillforma
generousclump.Forpurewhiteflowers,
chooseAnemonexhybrida‘Honorine
Jobert’,orforbabypink,trythepretty
‘KöniginCharlotte’.Yourgarden
cansparkle
forlonger‘WizardofOz’
ismagicalElegantJapanese
anemonesKeep it hot
For a pop of fiery colour
in your borders,choose
perennialssuch as
crocosmia,heleniumand
rudbeckiain warmshades
of red, orangeand yellow.
You can placethemin
pots to fill gaps,or
plantin beds,but
rememberto
waterin well.
✿Crocosmia
is an elegant
perennialwith
strap-likeleaves
and archingstems
that bear trumpet-shaped
flowers.‘Lucifer’is a tall
(up to 1.2m)flame-red
variety,while‘Buttercup’
(up to 60cm)has apricot-
yellowflowers.✿Heleniumhas open
daisy-likeflowersin hues
of orange,throughto red,
gold and copper,and is a
greatsourceof late-season
nectarand pollenfor
insects.‘MoerheimBeauty’
(pictured)is one of
e loveliest,with
ownward-
cing petals
coppery
d around
chocolate-
own centre.
✿Rudbeckiais
otherplantthat cranks
up the colourfrom August
onwards– try ‘Goldsturm’,
with exuberant,sunshine-
yellowflowersthat’llmake
you smile.Best late
SUMMER
COLOUR
Perk up your patio and boost
your borders with plants that
will bloom until the first frosts
Adorable
dahlias
Once unfashionable,
dahlias are now having
a moment. It’s hardly
surprising, as their
flamboyant flowers are
at their peak when other
plants are flagging.
There are hundreds of
varieties, but to attract
pollinators, go for the
open-flowered varieties,
such as the crimson ‘Bishop
of Auckland’, and orange-
pink ‘Totally Tangerine’.
Other reliable flowerers
include the candy-pink and
cream pompom blooms of
‘Wizard of Oz’, or ‘Crème de
Cassis’, which has pale lilac
petals with crimson backs.
For best results, plant in full
sun and well-drained soil.
They do well in containers,
too, and will provide you
with cut flowers when
summer is on the wane.GARDENING
WORDS: CHRIS MORLEY. PHOTOS: ALAMY, GETTY