Plant selection.

Am starting to shop around for a few new Perennials - any colour to go in a sort of 'country garden area which is partly planted with Delphinium/Achillea/Monarda/Helenium and others.
Any suggestions please for plants up to a metre high with little/no need for staking.
One of the problems I find is when I read the books and talk to Nursery staff and then buy what I get is not what I am told e.g many plants said not to need staking need a lot...plants which are said to be hardy are not so hardy ... why do numbers of plants produce lots of foliage but few flowers? etc....Does anyone else have these problems?

 

Must admit, I tend to play it cautious, and put stakes in anyway! Usually canes with those handy rings..... this type http://www.ferndale-lodge.co.uk/pd_541.htm

With this in mind, I'd add to your list:-

Alcea, Aconitum (if you don't mind poisonous plants), Helianthus annus (of course!)Verbascum,

They probably all need some support, unless they're all so crammed together they help each other :rolleyes:

I reckon eryngium would fit the bill without support, acanthus, and solidago. And how about some of the perennial poppies? Some of them grow to about a metre.

 

Thanks Dendy - I do have Poppies and Aconitum which I quite like but having recently been lectured about poisonous plants at the local gardening not sure about the latter. Acanthus I have and do not like the amount of space it takes up nor its deep rooting which makes it difficult to move.Alcea I have never tried so that goes on the list and I would like to look for a decen Michaelmas Daisy which does not get mildew.
The easiest things tend to be plants with 'sword' like leaves (Cannas/hedychium/cordyline) but not much colour.

 

Chobart, you ask why a number of plants produce more foliage than leaves. One possible explanation - not the only one - is that the soil in which they are planted is too rich. Some flowering plants perform much better in a poor soil where the lack of nourishment encourages them to flower rather than to produce foliage. I'm afraid it's a matter of researching each individual type that you consider planting to find out what its requirements are if you want to get the best out of them.

 

I got Aster pixie red-eye - and haven't had a mildew problem, CHobart - might be worth a shot? I got it from here...
http://www.postalplants.co.uk/showsearch.asp?name=latinname

 

Thanks again for the responses especially the Aster which looks great.
Jack by... this is the sort of problem I do not understand ! Dahlias fine - Delphiniums - great Penstemmons - not very good and etc. Now I'm not sure whether or not to give them their annual 'mulch treat'.

 

How about Francoa, very unusual perennials with stiff wiry stems that put up with our gale force winds here no probs. Foxgloves do very well too.

 

oh and valerian, they grow all along the coast here.

 

the Francoa looks interesting, Blackthorn - hadn't come across it, so looked it up. For anyone else who didn't know of it, here are some nice piccies! :D

http://images.google.com/images?q=francoa&hl=en-GB&sourceid=gd&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2006-49,GGLD:en-GB&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

 

Nice pics Dendy.
I have had them for years from a 'Lottery Mixture' from Chiltern Seeds. They are supposed to be slightly tender but have put up with very low temperatures here (I'm 850ft up on the edge of Bodmin Moor). They quickly make nice big clumps and self seed as well. Happy to send out seed in the Autumn - if reminded.

 

Good thought there, Blackthorn! :D Which reminds me - must pack up those seeds for you and LoL! Keep forgetting .....

 

Thanks Dendy - no rush

 

The Francoa looks great in the pics sent by Dendy thank you Blackthorn - I'll also have another look at Valerian although I think that I've tried it before.
When we moved here from Edinburgh (wet clay) what we got was Sand - most of my Scottish garden was given to shrubs woth Hostas, Sidalcea and lots of 'bog' loving plants - mostly died off now.......

 

Hi Chobart. If you want an Aster I would recommend A. fricartii 'Monch' (or 'Wunder von Staffa' - virtually the same) It's generally recognised as the most long flowering aster (13 weeks in full flower for me last year) and doesn't get mildew, it is said not to flop, but mine does a bit. http://www.autumnasters.co.uk/results.asp?sectionid=2 The link is to Paul Picton at Old Court - the national collection holder of asters.

Aster amellus is smaller and does not need staking and does not get mildew. 'Violet Queen' is a deep violet blue and is probably the best amellus. In full flower for 5 weeks for me. http://www.cgf.net/plants.php?genus=ASTER Link is to Bob Brown at Cotswald Garden Flowers. Bob was a schoolmaster (as well as a Chelsea gold medal winner) and ranks plants from 1 to 10. He gives this one 9.5. I find his ranking VERY useful.

Aster 'Little Carlow' is larger and bushier and is brilliant. Bob Brown gives this a score of 9.0.

Asters can be grown in a pot in a secluded part of the garden and planted in the border just before it flowers. It doesn't mind being moved even when in flower (if watered before and after). You can also do this with perennial Lobelia - a very useful plant that certainly does not need staking. This year I am experimenting with swapping Aster flaccidus (flowers May to July) and Aster 'Violet Queen' (flowers Sept/Oct) - sort of early and late shift.

 

Thanks PeterS - I am definitely going to get a couple of Asters and will look into the Cotswold web site. Also like the idea of keeping in pots in secluded parts it helps keep the garden colourful and for longer - I do it with Snowdrops because I'm for ever digging them up by accident.
Have never heard of the early flowering variety - will look into it.My early stuff is mostly Day Lilies/Aconitum and Paeonies but may give up the latter as their flowering period is a bit on the short side and the foliage not very interesting.