The real stars of the show

They’re the unsung heroes – peerless perennials that lift spirits in spring and still turn heads when rivals have faded

MOST gardens feature a plethora of gems that make a brief appearance, whether it’s peonies turning heads for a few weeks in spring or nerines popping up in autumn. There’s no doubt these fleeting wonders bewitch gardeners but don’t overlook those less sexy, hard-working plants that provide months of interest and colour.

In my opinion, long-flowering plants are equally important to the overall mix of a well-planted garden. Sometimes performing for two or more seasons, they will often lift spirits when there’s little else in bloom and take on a supporting role at peak times. As a bonus, their floriferous nature helps give displays a look of abundance.

One of the hardest- working plants around is Erigeron karvinskianus, a low-growing, spreading perennial that goes by the common name of Mexican fleabane. From late spring until the first frosts of autumn, it produces a torrent of ½ in-wide, yellowcentred white daisies that turn shades of pink and red as they mature.

A few years ago I introduced this tireless daisy to my front garden, setting some young specimens around a trio of Agapanthus ‘Fireworks’ in a small rectangular bed. They start to impress in April,

They can lift spirits when little else blooms or play a support role at peak times

form a spectacular underskirt for the agapanthus flowers in July, and continue to make an impression into October.

It’s not the only workhorse in my garden. When we came out of lockdown last summer, I snapped up a Salvia ‘Amistad’ at my local DIY store. Preferring a sunny, sheltered spot this perennial sage grows to 4ft high by 2ft wide, and delivers a nonstop supply of dark, dramatic purple flowers from May until November.

Challenging this relative newcomer for the prize of longest-flowering sage are ‘Dyson’s Joy’ with its 1ft-high spikes of maroon and white blooms, and ‘Krystle Pink’, whose baby pink flowers appear on 2ft stems. ‘Love and Wishes’ forms a waist-high clump with red-purple flowers displayed on deep burgundy stems.

Perhaps the most industrious plant of all is Erysimum ‘ Bowles’s Mauve’, a short- lived perennial wallflower that made its debut in 1982.

Named in honour of author and plantsman E. A. Bowles, this cracking variety was selected by the RHS to be one of its Plants of the Centenary at the 100th Chelsea Flower Show in 2013.

A magnet to bees and butterflies, this woody- stemmed evergreen makes a 2½ft-tall clump of narrow, grey-green leaves and is topped with spires of lilac-purple flowers. It generally puts on a show between March and August but in mild regions it’s capable of blooming almost all year round, even in the depths of winter.

No other perennial wallflower can match it for flower power, but a few come close. Erysimum ‘Rysi Moon’ launches a succession of 2ft-tall spikes clothed with white and cream flowers between February and August, while ‘Red Jep’ will make a splash from spring until autumn with its fragrant, crimson and purple blooms.

Several other plants will put in a remarkable shift. Among them are geums, especially ‘ Totally Tangerine’, t hat flowers from April to November, along with a host of hardy geraniums, including ‘ Rozanne’ and ‘ Dilys’. Alstroemerias are also invaluable in my garden, providing a shot of colour from late spring until November.

Apart from watering during dry spells and acting decisively to control pests and diseases, the way to ensure most long-flowering plants fulfil their potential is to remove fading flowers. Snip off either individual blooms or entire spikes, depending on variety. Keep alstroemerias going by cutting off entire stalks at the base.