Autumn may be around the corner, but all the late summer perennials are in full bloom and the grasses are looking spectacular. The Hot Garden continues to ‘wow’ our visitors and the vegetable garden is still productive with squashes, apples, blackberries, sweet corn and beans.
Clematis 'Jackmanii Superba' is one of the most striking late flowering clematis growing in the Shrub Rose Garden. Its rich, dark purple flowers look wonderful weaving in and out of soft yellow roses such as Rosa ‘Goldfinch’ and Rosa Malvern Hills ‘Auscanary’. Prune in late winter/early spring down to 15-20cm above ground level; removing the growth each spring makes this a useful plant for growing through trees, shrubs and climbing roses as it never becomes too heavy for the supporting plant.
Dahlia 'Chat Noir' is one of the most sumptuous dahlias in our Long Borders, with its dark, garnet-red flowers. Best in a sheltered, sunny border in fertile and humus-rich soil, this dahlia flowers from July until winter starts to bite and can be overwintered in a frost-free place.
As the name Eucomis 'Joy's Purple' suggests, this pineapple flower is a wonderful shade of purple. The large flower spikes make this a spectacular plant for a warm sunny border. We have it growing near to Rosemoor House and on the Croquet Lawn borders where it grabs the attention of any one passing by. Like all Eucomis it needs deep fertile soil and may need protection during the winter.
Our fruit and veg gardeners are rightly proud of the gourd tunnel! It can be found in the walled garden where it is sheltered from wind and catches the sun. A number of varieties climb their way over the metal frame forming a leafy tunnel with large oval fruits hanging from sturdy stems.
Malus 'John Downie' AGM is a lovely little crab apple that catches the eye as soon as you enter the Herb Garden at this time of year. The tree never fails to be full of fruit whatever the vagaries in the climate. It is wonderful for wildlife; the orange and red ovoid fruit provide food for our blackbirds and thrushes in late autumn and the white spring blossom is a magnet for bees.
The wide use of Kirengeshoma palmata AGM is evidence of its value in adding subtle autumn colour to shady spots in the garden. The nodding, pale yellow flowers are a delight and the leaves add an architectural note to sheltered and shaded planting schemes. It is native to woodland in Japan and Korea and likes to grow in a humus rich, acid soil.
In the tapestry of colour that is the Hot Garden, Monarda 'Prärienacht' stands out as broad brush strokes of rich lilac-purple and the shaggy flowers are loved by bees. We combine this bergamot with other hot colours such as bright yellow Coreopsis and fiery red Hemerocallis; the mass of dense colour is lightened by wispy grasses.
Potentillas can always be relied upon to put on a display over a long period, but they are especially useful at this time of year when other plants in the shrub border are beginning to look a little tired. As its name suggests, Potentilla fruticosa 'Primrose Beauty' AGM has pretty yellow flowers that smother the shrub from late spring to mid-autumn, a worthwhile addition to the border.
Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' AGM shines out from the back of the Long Border and in the Spiral Garden, where it mixes well with other tall subjects such as Euphorbia, Eupatorium and Echinops. At Rosemoor we have also combined it with ‘hot’ mid-border plants such as copper-orange Helenium ‘Coppelia’ and the brilliant blue of Salvia guaranitica; contributing to the ‘wow’ factor of the Long Border.