Not quite what I'd planned - lack of colour

Hi all

I'm really pleased with how my garden is coming together. It actually looks like a garden for the first time ever, but it is not quite what I was going for. I'm not put off though, I have room for more plants and we should still have about 3 months of good flower season left yet.

Basically, in my main flower bed, I was aiming for sort of fire colours. I wanted a riot of bright reds, oranges and yellows, with a few whites mixed in just to prevent it looking too over the top. I've got Golden Rod at the back, as it gives good height. These are well established, having been in the garden for about 3 years (but moved to quarantine in Autumn before the blitz, then moved to their current position a couple or so months back). Then I've got various yellow and orange flowers, in front of them all of various heights. Some red Lobelias (the uproot tall ones) and various other bits and pieces.

The trouble is they are all perennials probably in their first year, so the Lobelias are making no attempt to flower, and those that are having a bash at it are only putting on a few flowers. My riot of fire colours is not a riot, although to be fair, some of the plants aren't due to flower yet but even when they do, I doubt if they will meet my objective.

So, any suggestions as to what I can get in there that will give a profusion of flowers in the red, orange, yellow sort of range? I that about Gladiolis and Lillies, but I reckon it is too late to grow anything from bulb/corm this year.

 

Sounds like a trip to the garden centre is called for Clueless.

 

Clueless, the lobelia will flower, but a lot later in the year. For some more interest, how about Asters - some great shades if white and pink (if you want that!) or Helenium, Moerheim Beauty, which is a fiery red/orange/yellow and blooms for ages?

 

I've just googled Helenium. Good suggestion. It looks ideal but for one detail that I forgot to mention in my original post. The main flower bed only gets direct sunshine for about half the day, as there is a sizeable tree behind it whose canopy slightly overhangs it. I guess the light conditions could be described as dappled shade for half the day, full sun from midday onwards. I guess that limits my choices a bit.

 

Clueless - if you want colour for this year I would get some Cosmos. They are only annuals - but if you like them you can always collect their seed and grow them again next year. Cosmos is in your colour range, has lovely foliage, will flower from very soon (mine have just started to flower) till the frosts, and in a good year it grows to a good size.

For the longer term you want some perennials that flower for a long time. I love Red Valerian (Centranthus rubra) - red flowers for anything up to 20 weeks. Cut it back after its first flush of flowers and within three weeks its in flower again. Salvia microphylla or S. greggii (they are essentially the same thing) - its more of a small bush, red flowers from now (mine is already in flower) till the frosts. I would agree with SussexG's Helenium. There is also Echinacea (Red cone flower) and Rudbeckia (Yellow cone flower). Astrantia is also very long flowering in pink to deep red - but may not be bold enough for you - mind you there are white forms.

Don't worry about the reduced sunlight. Most plants grow under a wide range of conditions.

 

I am pinning great hopes on a Eupatorium I bought last year. It has lovely purple foliage, topped by white flowers in late summer and grows to 5 foot tall. I also have Rudbeckia and if there is one plant that can give a great display in late summer, that's it! Mine is 3 years old now and gets better every year.

Yes Peter, my white Astrantia has been blooming for over a month now and not showing any sign of fading. Definitely one to get more of next year. I must start making a list!

 

Hi Clueless, Some great Suggestions Above, Have you thought about leaf colour for your reds and yellows, you dont have to have just flowers for colour..
PS. Purple looks great with red, orange and yellow..

A Pic of My New border just starting to come to life, there,s a Lovely orange Daliah, Purple Verbina, Red Crocosmia, A deep purple Passion flower starting to climb the Trellis, Red Begonias (fantastic Leave's) all still to flower, Also Dogwood is Great for Winter, Bright Red, orange and yelow Stems..





And Acer's, Fantastic Plants, This part of the garden gets Sun untill about 12.30. 1oclock..

 

And there's always Heuchera. Great foliage and pretty little sprays of flowers, plus they look good throughout winter. I have a corner dedicated to them and they are fine in dappled shade.

 

Just been out in the garden to see what's about to bloom - can recommend both Lady's Mantle (sprays of yellow flowers for ages) and Monarda (Bergamot, fiery red blooms).

 

Dee,

the second pic, bottom left-what's that plant called, I have some poking it's head through at the front from next doors. I am going to take as much cutting material off it as I can, I can see myself putting it in front of white campanulas.

 

Its a Brunnera Lolli, You could ask your neighbour to split hers for you just a clump from the side wont harm it hehe. Dont know about cuttings, i havent tried that method, go for it you have nothing to loose, if it doesent work next time i split mine ill send you a clump.. Is clump actually a word

 

For a Riot of Colour maybe some Red Hot Pokers? (I'm not mad about them ... but ...)

For colour this year I agree you will need to resort to Annuals. Sweet peas and some sort of frame will give you height, and colour until the Autumn, if you can find plants that are single-colour (and the right colour). Mostly they are mixed colours in the Garden Centres, and pastel shades at that.

 

marvelous warm colours from Dahlias,they flower till the frosts cut them down

 

Thanks for the suggestions all. I've googled some of the suggestions and am working through them all. You've given me plenty to sink my teeth into, cheers.