Half Hardy Annuals

This ever-popular annual is perhaps more versatile than you might imagine – good in the border, most effective as a cut flower in arrangements, a good pot-plant and, not often appreciated – if carefully dried, the colour of the spikes remains unchanged for a considerable time.

Amaranthus caudatus viridis is the green form of the popular drooping amaranthus. The lime green flowers, which slowly fade to cream as they age, form dramatic tassel-like panicles which can grow to 60cm long and seem to drip from the branches in profusion throughout summer and early autumn.

Amaranthus 'Hot Biscuits' is a rather splendid ornamental addition to the garden and the vase. This gorgeous and graceful amaranth feature bold spikes of coppery-bronze branching plumes. They make an excellent cut flower and make exciting vase material that hold their colour longer than other amaranths.

Amaranthus tricolour is grown for its beautiful foliage. 'Summer Poinsettia Mix' is a colourful mix of tropical splendors. Juicy colour combinations: deep green leaves topped with creamy chartreuse, vivid yellow, purple with red, and a tricolor mix of red, green and gold.

‘Mariska’ is a little known but hardy and compact variety of Dill. With starry bright yellow flower heads, abundant foliage and growing to only 60cm, this well behaved smaller dill is an excellent variety for use as a cut flower filler and is a great variety for the kitchen garden, windowsill or container.

Arctotis was born to play a starring role, they are among the most brilliant of all flowers. 'Harlequin' is a beautiful strain with large, brilliantly coloured flowers with many different combinations, some with contrasting tones and all with a luminescent sheen. You'd be hard-pushed to find better performing plants.

The herb borage is a well known annual. Not so well known is the equally beautiful form 'alba' which boast pure white, perfectly star-shaped flowers. Each flower is centred by five black stamens which heighten the drama. The flowers are edible, garden visitors can be converted to herbal advocates simply by offering a taste of its white flower.

Borage is one of the most reliable sources of blue flowers, often flowering lavishly for weeks after sowing. The beautiful blue star-shaped flowers are edible and very important for bees, providing pollen and nectar in prodigious amounts.

Brachycome is a care-free annual that forms clouds of soft colour. It is one of the most profuse and long-flowering annuals. Cheerful little pinwheels and are held above pale green, feathery foliage. It flowers so heavily that the foliage is often obscured.

This wonderfully intriguing annual makes a great companion plant for showier flowers in the garden or the vase, the blooms of chartreuse green bring out the colours of other flowers, especially bright ones. Easily grown from seed, it is a particularly unique dried or cut flower.

Blooming from late summer to well into autumn, Asters are invaluable for beds and borders, are easy and fast to grow and make an excellent cut flowers. Callistephus chinensis 'Ostrich Feather' produces large voluptuous blooms with re-curved petals in rich boudoir colours.

Callistephus chinensis 'Nova Unicum' is a form that is also known as a Needle or Spider Aster for its unique spider-like flowers. Unicum, meaning 'Unique' produces the largest flower size in this class. Extra large, double quilled blooms in a multitude of firework colours.

Callistephus chinensis 'Tiger Paw Pavlova' Mix has to be a contender for the title of 'The Most Elegant Aster' in the garden or in the vase. It boasts huge blooms with brightly-coloured, fine petals, each arranged in a swirling pattern. These large-flowered Asters with their unusual form, make a spectacular bouquet all by themselves.

This beautiful highly versatile, aristocratic border plant has become very much in vogue in recent years. Oval, fleshy blue-green leaves spiral up the stem with tightly packed, sea blue bracts - and then the finale - small clusters of rich purple-blue tubular, nodding flowers which are adored by bees.

Cleome provide long lasting, big beautiful swathes of colour that makes a dramatic statement in any garden. 'Cherry Queen' series produce open, airy, cherry-red blooms on large flower heads that can measure 20cm in diameter. The have a strong scent and will bloom throughout the summer until first frosts.

Great for adding vertical interest to a perennial border, or use as accent plants in containers for an exotic feel, the Cleome 'Queen Series' are very easy to grow and last well into autumn. Large flower heads in Cherry, Violet, Rose and White, they make attractive cut flowers and the seed heads can be dried and added to bouquets.

With vivid deep-violet flowers, Cleome 'Violet Queen' provide long lasting, big beautiful swathes of colour that makes a dramatic statement in any garden. The spidery flowers and palm-like leaves are great for adding vertical interest to a perennial border, or use as accent plants in large tubs for an exotic feel.

Cleome provide long lasting, big beautiful swathes of colour that makes a dramatic statement in any garden. 'White Queen' series produce open, airy, pure white blooms on large flower heads that can measure 20cm in diameter. The have a strong scent and will bloom throughout the summer until first frosts.

Cosmos ‘Antiquity’ is a completely unique colour of Cosmos in the colours of a beautiful faded tapestry. It is a very dwarf variety, growing to only 15in tall and teeming with 2in flowers. The flowers are rich burgundy on opening and change to an antique bronze-salmon when ageing.

Cosmos "Daydream" is a superb new colour, palest pink with a deep rose pink centre makes this a unique and delicate addition to any garden. The flowers are very early and are freely produced over a long period. Very easy to grow, making it a perfect choice for children or the less experienced gardener.