Summer flowers: hot colours

A real summer sizzler - all you need is some sunshine! These plants are chosen to have flowers from the 'hot' side of the colour spectrum: yellow, orange and red, with hints of rust and ochre in the foliage. It is a fairly tall scheme, with plants ranging in height from 60 - 150 cms, and most of it peaking later in the summer, from July to October. An added benefit of this scheme is that most of the plants attract butterflies, bees and even birds if the seedheads are left on the plants into the winter. Most of these plants, such as Crocosmia 'Lucifer' are classics from the 'hot' range, while others such as Euphorbia 'Fireglow' are more subtle, but act as a good foil to the more vibrant plants. For year-round structure and a touch of formality, consider adding either a number of regularly spaced bay or box cones or balls. The Red hot poker is stunning at the end of the summer. For added height and to continue the 'hot' spectrum theme higher up, consider adding one or two small trees such as Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' or Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst'. For milder climates, shrubs with bright flowers such as Fuchsia, Callistemon or Grevillia would make a good backdrop. See suggested layout......