The Height of Summer –Tall Floral Show Stoppers!

It’s mid-summer; annuals are wilting in the heat, foliage is cascading under its own weight, and our ornamental beds are beginning to look past their best. Until, that is, our tall perennials come to the fore, bringing with them colour, grace, and form. They return the garden to life, and see us through until our autumn treasures take over. Let’s take a look at just a few of these ‘tall folk’  – and how easy they are to grow!

Thalictrum

Also known as ‘Meadow Rues,’ Thalictrum is a perennial that comes in a range of heights, with taller members of the family rising to 2 metres. Their delicate foliage supports airy, open clusters of small ‘fluffy’ flowers which make a perfect backdrop to perennial borders offering full or partial shade. Thalictrum delights gardeners with hues of pink, purple, lavender, cream, and a stunning lemon-yellow. The latter (Thalictrum flavum) boasts attractive olive green foliage. Thalictrum is clump-forming, which means it can be divided after 2-3 years growth, and transplanted into other parts of the garden.

Achillea ptarmica

In the same family as its tall cousin, yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Achillea ptarmica  is known commonly as ‘sneezewort.’  With a bloom similar to Baby’s Breath, sneezewort grows up to 60cm and enjoys full sun to part shade. While tolerant of heat, it is grateful for moisture as long as its soil is well-drained. Grow it in a woodland or perennial border setting, and watch its delicate creamy-white flowers float in space above more diminutive plants. An interesting talking point is the origin of this plant’s name – its dried leaves were used to make a type of snuff (a sneezing powder used in the 16^th century and thought to clear the sinuses).

Astilbe

Grown en-masse, Astilbe is a symphony of frothy pastels. Born above a mass of vibrant green foliage, astilbe’s feathery plumes can rise to a height of 1.5m and come in shades of lavender, cream, pink, rose, and purple. Enjoying partial to full shade, and moist, well-drained soils, Astilbe is the perfect fringe to a woodland garden where it will continue to bloom throughout summer. The flowers last well in a vase and are a simple way to bring form to bouquets. What’s more, these flowers hold their colour when dried! Easy-to-grow astilbe forms clumps, and benefits from being divided each year after its first 2-3 years of growth.

Veronicastrum virginicum

With tall spires of white, pale blue, and occasionally pink or purple flowers Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root) rises to 2 meters in height, and is a member of the plantain family. It sports serrated leaves, and its spiky bloom can be up to 23cm long! This statement perennial is very hardy and unfussy, being happy to grow in full sun to part shade and in a moist, well-drained soil. Despite its height, Veronicastrum is undemanding where staking is concerned, with younger plants readily holding themselves upright without assistance. While not a spreader, its clump-like growth can be divided. It may also self-seed.

Sanguisorba ‘pink elephant’

As if its name wasn’t a delight in itself, Sanguisorba ‘pink elephant’ is a billowy perennial growing to 1.5m in height. Its bushy clumps grow happily in full or partial sun, producing candy floss pink, arched wands which open to fuzzy flowers when in full bloom. Hardy, and spreading to 60cm, this is the perfect filler at the back of a perennial border.

Some of these stately flowers are easy to find at garden sales, or can be cadged from friends. Others are best tracked down through boutique suppliers of perennial plants. Secure your tall treasures now, and enjoy them come next summer!