7 tough star plants for midsummer plant community design

Reliable plants that do what you want them to

As we approach midsummer, days are long, the garden is full of birdsong and a hum of insects. By carefully selecting some very reliable tough plants for colour and form you can help carry your garden into the warmest months with the least amount of effort. Allowing you to put your feet up and watch the scene unfold.

1) Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora

When you see an f. in the botanical name of a plant, it means ‘form’, which is a very subtle difference in form to the species, but is otherwise the same. In wild foxgloves’ case, the difference is the lack of pigment in the flower making it white. A common occurrence in most wildflowers around the world. In this shaded corner of a design at the IOU Hostel terrace garden, we planted lots of the white form of foxglove to help lift this duller area. I like how they work with the painted hand rail. I’m hoping these will self sow around to establish an ongoing plant community.

Plant community tip: foxgloves are easy to grow in shade, they just…