Nothing is prettier than a mass of godetias in flower. Their tissue paper flowers come in beguiling soft colours - lilacs, pinks, apricots - and may be single or double. They have fluted edges and are carried in clusters at the tips of long, leafy shoots throughout summer. A particularly attractive cultivar is Clarkia amoena 'Satin Series' as the plants are bushy and seldom exceed ten inches - perfect for the front of a border. They have single flowers, many with white margins or contrasting centres. Godetias like well drained, slightly acid soil in sun or partial shade. Overly fertile soil produces leaves at the expense of flowers.
Propagation: Sow seed in situ in autumn or early spring. Protect autumn sown seedlings with cloches over winter and avoid transplanting. |
The classic tobacco plant (Nicotiana affinis) with its delicious evening scent has been a firm favourite with generations of British gardeners. Nicotiana langsdorffii, a Brazilian species, is grown much less commonly but deserves to have a bigger fan club as it is a strikingly elegant plant. In common with its Nicotiana affinis relations, it has a basal rosette often inch ovate leaves but its two inch apple green flowers are thin tubes with spreading, five lobed mouths. The flowers open in the evening, but, in shade, will open in daylight, too. Nicotiana langsdorffii grows to about five foot with an 18 inch spread and should be grown in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or part shade.
Propagation: Sow on the surface of the soil at 18°C in-mid spring. |
This Mexican annual is marvellous to fill spaces in herbaceous borders after early flowering items are past their best, as it needs minimum care and flowers reliably all summer until the first frosts of autumn. It has attractive, feathery leaves and saucer shaped flowers in white, pink or crimson with yellow centres. Cosmos bipinnatus may grow to five foot, in which case it may need staking. For those who prefer dwarf varieties, Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sonata Series' makes about a foot and has carmine red, pink and white flowers, while 'Sensation Series' has pink and white flowers, grows to about three foot and flowers happily from late spring onwards. Grow annual cosmos in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Sow seed at 16°C in mid spring or in situ in late spring. |
