Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra

This lovely cottage garden plant has spikes of purple-eyed white flowers that shoot up from glossy dark evergreen foliage. Flowers emerge from early summer and bloom right the way until early autumn. This plant is a biennial, so avoid cutting back spent flowers to allow them to self-seed.

Eryngiums are very robust plants that grow well in full sun and can be tolerant to drought. The plants bear spikey cone-shaped flowerheads in blue and silver-grey tones. Spent flowerheads give winter interest to your border, so don’t cut them back straight away.

Low-growing perennial variety with hairy dark green leaves and delicate blue bell-shaped flowers from early summer to late autumn. Just like annual Borage, the flowers of this perennial veriety are very useful for all pollinators as they refill with nectar within only two mintues after a bee has visited. Ideal for difficult areas in the garden like dry shady spots. The flowers are edible and can be added to salads or frozen in ice cubes to decorate delicious summer drinks.