Summer Colour in the Garden

Lynn Hill, award-winning garden designer, shares her expertise in choosing the best plants for your East Lothian garden.

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to colour in our gardens. The star of the show has to be purple. Purple is a firm favourite of bees and butterflies, so it is perfect for creating a garden rich in wildlife and biodiversity.

For a sunny, well-drained spot, Erigeron karvinskianus (Mexican Fleabane), with its profusion of delectable daisy flowerheads, will flower away merrily all summer long. Try pairing this with the soft tactile grass, Stipa tenuissima (pony tails) and the vibrant Verbena bonariensis (purple top) for a winning combination. Jazz it up further by adding some fabulous orange Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ (avens) for a fantastic contrasting effect – perfect for a coastal garden.

For moister soils located further inland, the cheery yellow of Rhudbeckia (coneflower) is hard to beat. Plant en masse for a magnificent display and add some Cirsium rivulare atropurpureum (brook thistle), which will provide an early summer zing of purple before the yellow makes an appearance to take us through towards the autumn.

There is plenty of colour for a shadier spot, too. Enjoy the vibrant pink and purple tones of Fuchsia ‘Riccartonii’ (hardy fuchsia) and the stylish flower heads of Lamprocamnos spectabilis (bleeding heart), which look like the hands of an artist have crafted them.

If your favourite colour is the warm Peach Fuzz which is the Pantone 2024 colour of the year, then the shrub rose ‘Dame Judy Dench’ will be right up your street.

Whatever colour palette you choose, now that the long days of summer are with us, I hope you find time to relax and enjoy your garden. I look forward to welcoming you back with more expert advice in the next issue of Local Life. Buona estate!