Lychnis chalcedonica AGM, commonly known as the Maltese cross or Jerusalem cross, presents its truly flaming and vibrant star-shaped vermilion flowers at the tips of its stems. This clump forming perennial is a magnificent addition to the back of any border to create that hot Mediterranean look.
Sometimes known as rusty foxglove, Digitalis ferruginea may be an acquired taste - but we love it, and it seems to love Harlow Carr! It’s fairly robust, growing to 1.2m (4ft) with each stem bearing racemes of many golden brown flowers with red-brown veins inside. The leaves are long and slender with slightly hairy undersides.
Situated in the Main Borders at Harlow Carr, Elaeagnus ‘Quick Silver’ AGM provides a centre piece of silver-grey foliage to the herbaceous planting. A fast growing deciduous shrub, it has small fragrant flowers and grows to four metres in height and width.
Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ is a beautiful, clump-forming perennial that stands out from a distance. We use salvias throughout the garden at Harlow Carr and if dead-headed a second flush of flowers will appear from the side shoots.This particular cultivar grows to 80cm, producing racemes of violet flowers from early to mid-summer.