24/07/2026
🌿 Remember the project we posted about last week? Let’s take a closer look at some of the plants.
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla / paniculata types)
Big, blowsy flower heads in mophead and lacecap forms. As they age they fade to soft, papery tones that still look good well into autumn.
Osteospermum
Daisy-like flowers that open in sunshine and close up on grey days. Comes in a good range of colours and flowers for a long stretch.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Flat clusters of small flowers on ferny leaves. Tough, low maintenance, and good for pollinators.
Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena)
Pale blue flowers surrounded by wispy foliage. Leaves behind unusual, balloon-shaped seed pods once the flowers are done.
Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’)
Tall, feathery foliage with a bronze tint and flat yellow flower heads. Smells of aniseed, good in the kitchen, and popular with hoverflies.
Verbena bonariensis (Verbena bonariensis)
Tall and thin with small purple flower clusters on top. Because you can see through it, it works planted almost anywhere in a border.
Salvia, various (Salvia spp.)
A few different salvia varieties here, including the red-and-white ‘Hot Lips’. It’s a sage, and one of the best plants going right now for pollinators.
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Bright orange and yellow flowers with thin, tissue-like petals. Self-seeds easily once it’s settled in.
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)
Bold leaves with long, trailing flower spikes. A strong, eye-catching plant that adds real presence to the border.
There were so many bees when I visited yesterday! 🐝 Good planting just keeps on giving.
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