suggestions for colour please??

There are parts of my garden which looked great last month(mainly due to rampant hardy geraniums!) but now I have cut those back its looking a bit , well.... green. Now I know green is a colour but want suggestions on shrubs that have colours other than green. The bit that's really green (although there are some varigated plants in there) has the sun at the moment but it soon goes off it and doesnt get it again until late afternoon. I am on clay soil although its not as bad as some I have seen so does someone have any suggestions on how I can jazz this bit up please? At the moment on that side I have an amelanchier(early summer)mahonia(winter)viburnum (winter) cottinus coggyra(???)ivy, red cornus,euonymus, and rose of sharon i think its called.

 

How about an all white colour scheme? I haven't done this myself but would like to when the opportunity arises.

It's supposed to brighten up a darkish area.

Or another that I think looks good together purple and red.

Personally I am not keen on oranges and yellows, although I do have things like daffodils.

Stingo

 

I seem to favour pinks and purples. I dont really like red but I suppose there are some shrubs/bulbs which would give a good splash.

 

I have underplanted or rather second planted my geraniums with Dahlias and cannas - ammongst other stuff.

Pink blue/purple asters now flowereing and aster X fricartii just starting and will go on to October giving colour.

I have also got some begonias filling gaps. Its difficult after the June flush, but keep thinking one step ahead and you will get there.

 

You really can't beat fuchsias for shrub colouor. Some of them grow quite big - for example my magenallica - gracillis stands about 5 foot by 3 foot.

 

Problem with me and fuchsias is that they are so long in comming out (hardy ones that is) I do have some tender ones which look lovely, but still waiting for my "Perry's Jumbo".

 

why dont you have a flower and berry hedge..which will give you flowers then berrys for the birds..so you will have colour for a long time..i saw one for sale will go and see if i can refind it for you..to see..

 

try here for the berry hedge..

http://www.bakker.co.uk/

 

here is the hedge..

 

Like Waco I use Dahlias and Canna lilies but also have a couple of Monardas which flower alongside the Heliantheum? and Penstemmons which are having a difficult time without water. Other late flowering plants often seem to be in the Yellow/Red spectrum although my Anchusa looks good when it flowers.