Late summer performers

Come late-summer and the garden seems to shrug and give up. The vitality and lushness of spring has dissipated and been replaced by something altogether more tired and dusty. There are though a few upbeat characters that are willing to tough it out until the late season performers arrive. Here’s a selection of plants that pack a punch while others flag:-

Echinacea purpurea
There are many varieties of this tough North American plant to choose from, with flowers ranging from white and yellow to pinky reds. The coneflower, so called because of the prominent rusty brown cone that sits in the centre of a daisy like flower, sends its stiff stems aloft in July and August. Echinacea, long known as a cold remedy, prefers a hot border and looks great with grasses, either dotted about or in bold swathes. The bees love them and so will you.

Verbena bonariensis
Originally from South America (thus the name which is derived from Buenos Aires), this unusual perennial has no leaves to speak of but fires its purple flowers skywards on tall rigid stems. It is a butterfly magnet that can be used to bring height to the front of a border without blocking views beyond and looks equally good growing through roses or in a gravel garden. If it really feels at home it will gently seed around.

Hydrangea preziosa
Often considered to be an old fashioned plant hydrangea are worthy of a place in most gardens. Hydrangea preziosa is a small to medium sized shrub with mophead flowers that start out mottled pink and slowly turn a rich burgundy. The foliage is a slightly darker green than most hydrangeas and infused with a reddish colour. They are happy in sun or shade but, as the name suggests, do not like to dry out.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
The vibrant red, trumpet-like flowers of this bulbous perennial live up to its name. It is exotic and strident, even a little dangerous looking, and with its upright sword shaped leaves cutting through a planting scheme cannot fail to draw the eye. It is happy in sun or partial shade.

Bronze fennel
Like its common relative, the main attraction of purple fennel is its luminous yellow umbelliferous flowers that inject a bit of acidic sharpness to a planting scheme. Unlike its common relative its fine, almost transparent foliage is tinted purple when young, providing a perfect foil to the green leaves of plants such as daylilies. They prefer sun and once established will tolerate dry conditions