Best Way to Build a Simple Summer-Flowering Bed

Half-hardy annuals create a wealth of color throughout summer and until the onset of frost in autumn. In the past, they were planted in massed and intricate designs, sometimes to form floral clocks or advertisements. Today, in small gardens they have many other uses.

Half-hardy annuals are ideal for:

• Creating attractive edgings to borders, paths and patios.
• As ‘fillers’ in borders that are a medley of herbaceous and bulbous plants, shrubs and small trees.

• In pots, tubs, hanging-baskets and window boxes.
• As ‘fillers’ in newly-constructed rock gardens, where alpine plants are not yet established.
• As annual climbers to drench trellises in color throughout summer.

Edging combinations

Colorful edgings to borders and patios create an immediate impact. Try the following ‘edging’ combinations.

White and blue: Plant Lobularia maritima ‘Carpet of Snow’ (previously known as Alyssum maritimum, and popularly as sweet alyssum) and Lobelia erinus ‘Mrs Clibran Improved’.

Color medley: Impatiens – choose individual flowers with several colors, as well as varieties with ‘mixed’ colors.

Bright, mixed colors: Tagetes patula ‘Favourite Mixed’ (French marigold).

Half-hardy annual climbers

Some of these are short-lived perennials, but in temperate climates are grown as half-hardy annuals. They are ideal for introducing quick, summer color to trellises:

Cobaea scandens (cup-and-saucer vine): Purple, bell-shaped flowers. Height: 2.4-3m Plant: 45cm apart

Eccremocarpus scaber (Chilean glory flower): Tubular, orange-scarlet flowers. Height: 1.8-3m Plant: 45cm apart

Ipomoea tricolor ‘Heavenly Blue’ (sometimes known as I. rubro-caerulea, and popularly as morning glory): Large, blue, bell-shaped flowers. Height: 2.4m Plant: 30cm apart

Maurandya scandens ‘Jewel Mixed’ (previously known as Asarina scandens, and popularly as climbing snapdragon): Violet, white, pink and deep blue flowers. Height: 1.2-2.4m Plant: 10cm apart

Tropaeolum peregrinum (canary creeper): Irregular-shaped, yellow flowers. Can also be grown as a hardy annual. Height: 1.8-3m Plant: 75cm apart

Colorful leaves

Several half-hardy annuals have colorful or variegated leaves, and when planted in borders produce a dramatic display.

Amaranthus tricolor (Joseph’s coat): Green leaves variegated crimson or scarlet and overlaid with yellow and bronze. Height: 60-90cm Plant: 30-45cm apart

Bassia scoparia ‘Trichophylla’ (previously known as Kochia scoparia ‘Trichophylla’, and popularly as summer cypress): Profusion of narrow, pale green leaves that turn coppery-crimson in autumn. Height: 60-90cm Plant: 30-45cm apart

Brassica ‘Northern Lights’ (ornamental cabbage): White, pink, and purple forms. Height: 23~30cm Plant: 38-45cm apart

Perilla frutescens ‘Nankinensis’ (often known as P.f. crispa): Bronze-purple, deeply toothed leaves. Height: 45-60cm Plant: 30cm apart

Zeamays (ornamental sweet corn): Use a form with variegated leaves. Height: 90cm-1.5m Plant: 75cm apart