RHS

Dahlia ‘Arthur Hambley’ is a classic Giant Decorative variety, boasting enormous lavender-pink blooms that command attention in any garden border or floral display.

Standing tall at around 120cm, this robust variety produces huge, fully double flowers that can exceed 25cm in diameter. The petals are broad and slightly curved, creating a lush, full shape with a soft, silvery sheen that glows in the evening light.

Plant in full sun to maximise flowering potential, ensuring the soil is free-draining and enriched with organic matter. Due to the sheer weight of the blooms, robust staking is required from the moment of planting to prevent wind damage.

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and pinch out the growing tips in early summer to promote bushier growth and more flowering stems. Feed regularly with tomato fertiliser to fuel the production of its giant blooms.

Perfect for the back of the border, ‘Arthur Hambley’ creates a stunning backdrop for lower-growing perennials. Its long, strong stems make it an exceptional cut flower, where just a single stem can make a dramatic statement in a vase.

Hosta ‘Patriot’ is a reliable shade perennial with bold, white-edged leaves that bring instant brightness to woodland borders, shady patios and large containers, adding texture and structure from spring to autumn.

Forming a clump to around 55cm tall, it produces spikes of funnel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers in summer. The leaves are puckered and sturdy, creating a handsome mound that works as groundcover or a focal point.

Plant in partial shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Hostas prefer cool roots, so they benefit from mulch and from protection from hot afternoon sun in exposed gardens.

Water regularly in dry spells, especially in pots, and mulch in spring to conserve moisture. Protect new shoots from slugs and snails, and remove spent flower stems after flowering for a tidy finish.

Ideal for shady borders, underplanting, and container displays, ‘Patriot’ pairs beautifully with ferns, brunnera and hellebores, and provides strong foliage contrast alongside finer-textured plants.

Anemone × hybrida ‘Königin Charlotte’ (Queen Charlotte) is an award‑winning Japanese anemone with rich rose‑pink, semi‑double flowers carried on tall stems from late summer into autumn. The large blooms add colour and movement when many borders are fading. Overlapping petals give a fuller look, with a warm yellow centre.

Grow it in full sun or partial shade in moderately fertile, moist but well‑drained soil. It’s excellent at the back of a mixed border, where its stems can weave naturally through neighbouring plants and grasses. A little afternoon shade can be helpful in hotter gardens.

Over time it forms a substantial clump and can spread, so allow space and try not to move it once established. Pair it with asters, salvias and ornamental grasses for a long season of interest. It’s particularly effective in drifts, where repeated clumps create rhythm through the border.

Mulch in spring, water in dry spells, and avoid excessive winter wet. Stems usually hold well, but a light support can help in exposed gardens. Adding organic matter helps sandy soils hold moisture and supports better flowering.

Cut back after flowering, or leave stems standing over winter and tidy in spring. A dependable perennial for late‑summer colour with a soft, romantic feel. As an RHS AGM cultivar, it’s a dependable choice for late‑season colour.

Gladiolus 'Robinetta' produces delicate red flowers on compact spikes on elegant flower spikes that add height and movement to summer borders. The blooms open gradually from the base upwards, giving a long display and plenty of stems for cutting.

Growing to around 50–60 cm, this gladiolus forms upright, sword-like foliage and neat clumps that suit mixed planting schemes. It’s ideal for weaving through perennials or planting in small groups for a natural, airy look.

Plant corms in spring once the soil has warmed, choosing a sunny, sheltered position in well-drained soil. Work in compost and avoid waterlogged ground, which can rot corms before they establish.

Water during dry spells and keep the area weed-free while shoots emerge. In exposed sites, a simple support helps keep flower spikes upright. Deadhead spent blooms, but leave the foliage to feed the corm for next year.

Excellent as cut flowers and perfect for summer colour, gladioli also attract pollinators when grown in mixed borders. Lift and store corms after foliage dies back in colder areas, or mulch well where varieties are hardy.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a standout hardy perennial, celebrated for its unique glowing violet-blue flowers held on striking, dark purple-black stems that create a dramatic vertical accent in sunny borders and gravel gardens.

Rising from a neat, basal rosette of aromatic, grey-green foliage, the slender spikes bloom profusely from early summer. The contrast between the dark stems and the vibrant petals makes this variety architecturally superior to other salvias, maintaining its form well without flopping.

Plant in a fully sunny position in light, moderately fertile, and free-draining soil. ‘Caradonna’ is drought-tolerant once established and hates winter wet, so ensure the ground does not become waterlogged during the colder months.

Water well during its first season to establish the root system. To encourage a second flush of flowers later in the season, cut back the faded flower spikes in mid-summer. The clumps can be divided in spring every few years to maintain vigour.

A brilliant choice for pollinators, ‘Caradonna’ is a magnet for bees and butterflies. Its vertical habit makes it an excellent partner for planting alongside roses, silver-leaved artemisias, or swaying ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima.

Anemone nemorosa 'Robinsoniana' is a woodland classic, bringing soft lavender-blue spring flowers to shady corners in early spring. The starry blooms appear in a fresh carpet above finely cut foliage, brightening banks, underplanting and the front of borders when little else is flowering, and they look especially beautiful planted in repeating groups.

Reaching about 15–25cm in flower, wood anemones spread steadily to form natural-looking colonies. They are ideal for planting beneath deciduous trees and shrubs, where they enjoy spring light before the canopy closes, and they naturalise beautifully in woodland-style gardens.

Plant rootstocks in autumn or early spring in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. A position in partial shade is ideal, though they will tolerate sun in cool, damp ground. Water after planting and keep soil just moist while new growth establishes.

Once settled, wood anemones are low maintenance. Leave foliage to die back naturally after flowering so plants can recharge for next year. A light mulch of leaf mould or compost in autumn supports healthy colonies and helps retain soil moisture.

Use wood anemones to create spring drifts under shrubs, along pathways and on woodland edges. The flowers are pollinator-friendly and provide early nectar, while the spreading habit helps knit planting together for a soft, natural finish.