There is a scrubby bit of border at the back of the garden. I want to plant this, this, and this.
I will be able to see it from my office window, and it will be like Mrs Tiggywinkle’s red flannel petticoat.
There is a scrubby bit of border at the back of the garden. I want to plant this, this, and this.
I will be able to see it from my office window, and it will be like Mrs Tiggywinkle’s red flannel petticoat.
I assume you have sun and good drainage.
Crocosmia are funny things. They like a well drained soil but also like a reserve of moisture beneath them. If you want to grow world-beating Crocosmia, dig a deep hole, add compost or manure, then cover it over before planting the plant – you want it to root down and discover the moisture, not be sitting in the moisture, if that makes sense.
The Monarda will be a mildew magnet. Be warned. There is a series of varieties named after signs of the zodiac that are more mildew resistant (sorry, can’t remember which one is the best red), but they all get mildew to some degree.
The Kniphofia isn’t the reddest thing going – a bit orangey.
If you want brilliant reds, try these: - Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff – much more refined than your average Dahlia. The best red for any garden. - Tulips – get your dose of red early in the year. Fantastic when combined with forget-me-nots. - Helenium – rusty reds, but good nonetheless. Named for Helen of Troy, they grew where her tears fell. Fact! - Salvia. The red ones are generally from central America and not winter hardy, but you really should try Salvia rutilans and Salvia elegans (sometimes called pineapple sage and tangerine sage) – you can use the leaves to make a herbal infusion, if you like that sort of thing.
Want inspiration? Visit Pashley Manor in August and September and see Jim Sellick’s red borders. They’re excellent. They serve nice cake there too.
Please, do put piccies on flickr when they do flower, it should be spectacular (I hope you are luckier than me with the crocosmia, mine came up blind for about 3 years in a row and then only produced 1 flower the following 2 years.)