Plant Solutions. Nigel Colborn

× 6in)

      Companion plants: The cool, white flowers are refreshing among gravel scree plants, particularly, dark leaved Carex species such as C. buchananii and with grasses such as Stipa tenuissima.

       Anthericum liliago

      Hardy bulb

      Grassy foliage and in early summer, tall stems bearing widely spaced, lily-like flowers in startling white. The selection A. l. major has larger flowers with wider petals. A graceful meadow plant from southern Europe, which seeds freely in gravel when happily established.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Early summer

      Height and spread: 60cm × 15cm (2ft × 6in), spreading

      Companion plants: At home with sun-loving shrubs such as rosemary and lavender, and with such annuals as Cerinthe major or wild poppies.

       Dierama dracomontanum

      Marginally hardy, corm-bearing perennial

      Clumps of tough, narrow, branched, arching, sword-like stems; flowers appear in summer, bearing papery calyces which enwrap the deep madder pink buds. These open to form clusters of small flowers shaped like lampshades, which dance and sway in the slightest breeze.

      Soil preference: Free-draining, but not too dry

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Summer

      Height and spread: 45cm × 30cm (1ft 6in × 1ft)

      Companion plants: At home among rocks or in gravel, either with grassy companions, or Verbena bonariensis, or in mild areas alongside South African restios.

       Bulbs for bedding

       Allium karataviense

      Turkestan Onion Hardy bulb

      Broad, bold, curved leaves with attractive pleating and in purple-suffused blue green tints develop in pairs, curving outwards as the drumstick flowerheads swell. The flowers themselves are densely packed on short stems and are greyish white.

      Soil preference: Any

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Spring, early summer

      Height and spread: To 30cm × 20cm (1ft × 6in)

      Companion plants: A striking spring foliage plant, perfect to set off against colourful bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Hawera’, N. ‘Jack Snipe’ or to distribute among low growing tulips.

       Tulipa praestans

      Tulip Hardy bulb

      Pale green, broad, pointed leaves are arranged along the stems. These are divided at their ends and bear several vivid scarlet blooms, which are goblet-shaped when closed, but open wide to form six-pointed stars. The variety ‘Fusilier’ has slightly larger flowers than the wild species which comes from western Asia.

      Soil preference: Any free-draining

      Aspect: Sun

      Season of interest: Spring

      Height and spread: 25cm × 20cm (10in × 8in)

      Companion plants: Small enough to include among alpines such as aubrieta and arabis, or to distribute among smaller spring perennials such as Primula auricula. Startling with the yellow-flowered Aurina saxatilis, forget-me-nots or Allium karataviense.

       Muscari latifolium

      Grape Hyacinth Hardy bulb