Marigolds

Cabbage for colour!

Looks great with Dusty Miller

Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria

Has yellow flowers if planted in full sun

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'.

Average Moisture

Salvia Empire mix

Okra

Okra is from the Mallow family, along with hollyhock, hibiscus, and cotton.

Can grow 2 feet tall

Grows quickly in warm soil

Yellow flowers

Harvest the bean pods while young or else they will get hard and woody

Honeywort, Cerinthe major purpurescens

2-3 foot annual

Native of Mediterranean areas

Full sun

Average water

Blooms June to Sept.

Deadhead to promote more blooms, reseeds.

Purple solanum

Pennisetum, Fountain Grass

Sun to partial shade
Normal watering
Bloom time summer and fall
Annual except in zones 9 - 10
Hardy Temp. -7°C
Flower ColorPink
Foliage ColorBlack/Purple
Height36-48" (Tall)
Spacing18-24"
HabitUpright

Moonflower

Moonflower plants are like the oppostie of the Morning Glory, they bloom at night. They like full to partial sun during the daylight hours. You will like the fact that Moonflower thrive in poor, dry soils. That makes them useful in areas where many other popular plants just won't grow. It also makes them easy to grow with little care or attention.

Alstromeria

Alstromeria is mostly seen as a floral cutting but is really nice planted in the garden. They love sun and a good well drained soil. Do not let them go dry, the blooms wilt and brown easily. If you dead head the spent blooms the plant should flower for the whole summer. When deadheading, pull the stalk right out of the soil and a new shoot will develop from there. Fertalize once a month to every two weeks in the summer.
The Princess variety has been developed as a dwarf variety and is good for container planting. You will need to bring these in for the winter if you want to keep them for next year.

Spider Flower- Cleome

Although this tall leafy specimen fits in with the perennials it is never destined to be.

Cleome tolerates heat and dry weather, and continue to look good well into the summer. They grow 90-120 cm tall but staking is usually not necessary. Protection from strong winds is advisable. Plant in full sun and water regularily. Some find they give off a pugent perfume so it might be adviseable not to plant near doors or windows if they will be open in the summer. Hummingbirds are also fans of this lovely plant.

Bachelor Button, Cornflower- Centaurea

Centaurea, commonly named Bachelor Button or Cornflower, is good for cuttings, teas or for colour in the garden all summer long. It is famous in the Lady Grey blend of Twinings. It comes in a variety of colours but is best known for it's stricking blue variety.

Most Centaurea are annuals but can self seed themselves for the next year. A relative, Centaurea Montana, is a perennial plant.
Cornflowers germinate quickly after planting and have been known in it's native lands in Europe as a weed in the cornfields.
Light requirements are full sun with regular watering.
If you have the annual species, leave some of the last flowers to die naturally on the plant. This will give them a chance to drop seeds.
Height 24-36 inches
Width 6-12 inches

Persian Buttercup- Ranunculus

This plant has a bulb and should be treated like other bulb plants or can be treated as an annual. It blooms in early summer and has a tuberous quality about it. They look similar to rose blooms but come in very electric colours. Plenty of sun but not too dry.

Ornamental Tobacco- Nicotiana

Tolerant plant of all soil types and heat. Blooms all summer long and can be very fragrant. Water regularily. Plant in full sun or partial shade in really hot areas. All parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.

Ivy Geranium- Pelargonium Peltatum

Ivy Geraniums are easy to take care of and versatile in sun or partial shade. It can be used as a ground cover or in hanging baskets. Moderate watering

Gaura- Lindheimeri

Gaura is a Native of North America growing as far south as Mexico. It will bloom all summer long and grow 30 inches high and 24 inches wide. It is drought tolerant but should be watered when dry. There are white varieties as well and some grow as perennials.

Verbena

Used in hanging baskets, rock gardens or borders, and low maintenance. This trailing flower blooms from spring to fall but should be deadheaded for more blooms. Water well when first planted and thereafter water when dry.

Swan River Daisy- Brachycome

Swan River daisy's flowers bloom atop sprawling 8 inch high mounds of finely textured, needlelike foliage. They prefer full sun to partial shade and do well in cooler climates. Keep moist especially in hot weather. Continuous bloom throughout the summer. Deadhead if you want more blooms. Looks good in rock gardens, planters, and borders.

Copper Leaf- Acalypha Wilkesiana

This plant is a native evergreen to Fiji and nearby islands in the South Pacific. In such conditions it can grow to heights of 3 metres but in North American gardens the likelihood of this happening is slim. The bright coloured foliage is good for accents in the garden in sun or shade. It is not frost tolerant so it will not last over winter unless brought indoors. It can be used in containers and give gardens a tropical touch from early spring to late fall. Make sure that you periodically pinch stems to encourage a uniform size and shape. Thrives in humidity so keep moderate moisture.