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Salvia greggii 'Royal Bumble' at Hopleys Garden Plants

Salvias are such obliging plants, putting a jolly good colourful display from mid-summer through to late autumn. Hopleys Plants at FM32 have salvias dotted around like sparkling jewels in their display and I particularly like the charmingly named Salvia greggii 'Royal Bumble' whose vibrant red flowers add a real buzz to planting schemes whilst Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' looks fab next to Helenium 'Mardi Gras' on at FM73.

Hardys Cottage Garden Plants show how to use white in planting schemes to blend hot colours

Hot colours are in full flow from July (it's one of my favourite plant times of the year) and there is an abundance of clashing red, orange and pink flowers around. If you are unsure about having all this shimmering heat in your borders, use Gertrude Jekyll's tip of adding white to diffuse colours and blend things together.

Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants at FM48 show you how to do this by adding a fluffy white Leucanthemum between flame-red Crocosmia 'Lucifer' and the rather nice orange Gailardia 'Naomi Sunshine'. Rosy Hardy has also used another of Jekyll's gardening tricks, annuals, adding Cleome spinosa amongst the perennial planting display.

Sanguisorba obtusa at Daisy Roots

at FM87 has also incorporated pink Cleome spinosa (I love the way the colour changes as the flowers mature) and alongside Cosmos bipinnatus 'Purity', both look feisty alongside other choice perennials including Sanguisorba obtusa. These are great see-through plants as the flowers, albeit looking like fluffy pink caterpillars, are carried on tall stems so you can dot them amongst other perennials for a splash of colour.

Based on the sunny banks of the Tamar Valley in Cornwall, grow over 250 different types of Crocosmia and have 20 on their stand at FM76. It is here that I have a toe-tingly plant moment of the day when I spot a new introduction, Crocosmia 'Cornish Copper', amongst the display. Flowers are a stunning coppery orange with a burgundy blush and the long narrow petals reflex back like an elegant ballerina doing a Swan Lake solo. Divine. I also like their huge tin planters filled with Crocosmia 'Prince of Orange', another new introduction, such a good idea to try at home.

Allium-'Dready' from Warmenhoven

Roger Harvey at , FM80, explained that the warm spring and summer has meant he is showing plants at Hampton that are usually restricted to show. One of these is Potentilla thurbei 'Monarch's Velvet' whose rich maroon-red flowers held on long stems resemble regal velvet robes. Echinaceas are pretty tricky to get in flower for Hampton as I have found when doing show gardens here, but the aforementioned warm weather has brought them on perfectly. Roger has placed three together on his display: the bright yellow reflexed petalled Echinacea paradoxa , pink Echinacea purpurea and a rather glamorous new introduction, Echinacea 'Hot Papaya'.

Finally, if you thought that all alliums look like the purple lollipops seen at Chelsea, check out Allium 'Dready' on at FM8. Just how cool is this plant!

is a garden writer and plantswoman known for the use of interesting colour in her garden design.