Good for cutting

Calla Lily 'White Flirt' (Zantedeschia) is a refined, elegant variety with clean white spathes surrounding a pale yellow spadix, carried above dark green, lightly flecked foliage.

Its neat habit and long-lasting flowers make it a superb choice for patio pots, sheltered borders and cutting, where the crisp white blooms bring a calm, contemporary feel.

Plant in rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, once frost danger has passed. Sheltered positions help the flowers remain at their best for longer.

Water regularly while in growth and feed during the flowering season. In colder gardens, lift and store the rhizomes dry and frost free after the foliage has died back.

Dahlia 'Honka Pink' brings starry orchid-style blooms in clear pink to summer borders and cutting gardens, with bold flowerheads held on sturdy stems. Whether planted in drifts or dotted through mixed beds, the blooms add instant impact and keep coming through the warm months.

Once established, this clump-forming dahlia typically reaches 60–70 cm, producing plenty of long stems for cutting. Regular picking and deadheading encourages a steady succession of flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, or plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and enrich the planting area with compost for best results.

Water during dry spells, especially while buds form, and feed every two to three weeks through the flowering period. Taller plants benefit from discreet staking, and removing faded blooms keeps the plant productive and tidy.

Perfect for borders, patio pots and cutting gardens, dahlias are also pollinator-friendly in single-flowered forms. Lift and store the tubers after the first frosts in colder areas to enjoy an even better display the following year.

Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (best known as ‘Autumn Joy’) is an iconic late-season perennial that brings structure and changing colour to the garden just as other summer flowers begin to fade. It is prized for its succulent foliage and long-lasting flower heads.

The plant forms a sturdy, upright clump of fleshy, glaucous green leaves. Large, flat flower heads emerge in summer like broccoli florets, starting pale green, turning starry pink, and finally maturing to a rich rusty-red and copper in autumn.

Plant in full sun to prevent the stems from becoming leggy, in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. This variety is exceptionally drought-tolerant and performs brilliantly in sandy or rocky soils where other plants might struggle.

Water sparingly once established; this plant resents "wet feet" and over-feeding, which can cause it to flop. Leave the dried flower heads on the plant over winter—they look beautiful frosted and provide shelter for insects before being cut back in early spring.

A brilliant choice for extending the season, ‘Autumn Joy’ provides vital nectar for late-flying butterflies and bees. It looks spectacular planted in groups or alongside ornamental grasses and purple Asters for a classic autumn display.

For a late-summer border with a touch of theatre, Dahlia ‘Grand Prix’ is a superb choice. A robust, bushy variety, it produces bright lemon-yellow, double blooms neatly tipped in white, held above handsome dark green foliage. Flowering from summer until the first frosts, it is equally at home in the border and in a vase.

• Colour: lemon-yellow with crisp white tips
• Flower form: double
• Habit: clump-forming, bushy
• Use: borders and cut flowers

Ismene ‘Sulphur Queen’ is a particularly refined spider lily, valued for its elegant, creamy-yellow blooms and gentle fragrance. Each flower is beautifully poised, with a subtle green-striped throat, bringing a softly exotic note to summer pots and sheltered borders.

Plant where it can enjoy warmth and good drainage, then lift and store the bulbs over winter for best results. An excellent choice for cutting, too—its blooms add poise to a simple vase arrangement.

Anemone coronaria 'Levante Fucsia' lights up the border with vivid fuchsia-pink double blooms, combining the bold colouring of classic coronaria anemones with the fuller, ruffled form of the Levante series.

Its showy flowers are excellent for cutting and add instant colour to pots and front-of-border displays, especially when planted in generous drifts.

Plant in fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or light partial shade. Soak the corms before planting and avoid positions that remain cold and wet for long periods.

Water while the plants are actively growing and remove spent flowers to keep the display going. In heavy soils, lift and store the corms dry once the leaves have died back.