September

Veronica longifolia prefers a position in sun or part shade in moist well-drained soil. The sophisticated blue spires bloom in midsummer and last for several months. They make a strong vertical statement and are an excellent contrast to more traditional flowers shapes when positioned at the front of the border.

Gardeners are often looking for good solid perennials that will have attractive flowers, be easy to take care of, grow nicely but not take over the garden. One group of plants that should be considered is the Veronicas. They provide some of the clearest, truest blues in the perennial border.

To garden with an Oudolf-esque plant like Veronicastrum, it is not necessary to turn your outdoor space into a prairie: you are allowed to keep your flower beds. Naturalistic planting travels well, and Veronicastrum holds its own in a formal border as well as in the middle of a lawn which has turned into a meadow.

Viola cornuta 'Arkwright Ruby' is an antique variety that is a favourite among gardeners for both its historical charm and ornamental beauty. Incredibly versatile, they are perfect for almost anywhere in the garden and even for the vase. With its long stems and long flowering season, it will deliver a vibrant splash of colour in any garden.

Viola cornuta ‘Back to Black’ is a striking cultivar of the horned violet, admired for its exceptionally dark, velvety flowers. The blooms are an intense black-purple, so deep that they often appear pure black. If you want to achieve long stems for the vase, plant them close, 5 to 10cm apart.

Renowned for its unique, hand painted, Viola 'Brush Strokes' is a captivating variety that has been carefully chosen from a cherished collection of historic strains. A harmonious blend of soft apricot, honey, plum, cream and lavender tones, often accented by intricate flecks and fine veining.

Viola 'Chantreyland' is a compact, cool-season charmer. Soft apricot petals with hints of cream, washed with a blush of sunset pink. She’s made for edging, containers, or nestling into cracks in old stone. Quite unforgettable once you’ve met her. no wonder she has been in cultivation since 1923.

A real gem from the mountains of Italy, Viola corsica 'Bertolonii' is a rare but easy-to-grow viola that deserves a spot in any sunny garden. It forms tidy clumps of dark green, lance-shaped leaves and puts on a gorgeous display of large, azure-blue flowers from April through June.

Viola 'Sorbet F1 Honeybee' is a real heartbreaker in a six-petal suit. They bloom with rich mahogany and warm golden yellow petals - rather like sunlit honey. Near the centre there's a soft black whisker pattern. Perfect for use in beds or containers and for attracting pollinators to the garden.

A delicate lavender kissed with rosy pink undertones, the top petals of Viola 'Sorbet F1 Lavender Pink' lean a little more to lavender, the lower ones more pink, giving it a subtle watercolor fade. Refined, elegant and easy on the eye, they flower abundantly and are ideally suited for both spring and autumn use.

Well-regarded in horticultural circles, Viola Sorbet XP Neptune F1 is a premium cultivar, for its consistent performance across a wide range of climates and seasons. 'Neptune', displays striking blooms characterised by a soothing blend of soft blue and cream petals, often with a delicate yellow center and a faint blue picotee edge.

Early-blooming and reliable, Viola Sorbet remains compact in both heat and cold, making it a standout performer in spring and autumn. One of the most striking colour combinations of the series, 'Orchid Rose Beacon' has a rose and purple-pink face, dark whiskers and a golden eye. Absolutely gorgeous, it can be slipped into almost any gaps where you need a little brightness.

The Sorbet series is the premier series of Violas. Bred to have more blooms and less stretching, it is a standout performer in both spring and autumn. Sorbet F1 ‘Pink Halo’ have petals that are a crisp white. At the centre there's a raspberry-pink halo that fades outward and dark whiskers that radiate from the centre.

Sorbet 'F1 Raspberry' has tricolour patterns with cap, face, whiskers and eye colours, with luscious deep raspberry red upper and lower petals with dark whiskers and a golden eye. It is a stunning new colour pattern, with a bright face that seems to be basking in the spring or autumn sunshine

Introduced in Germany in 1900, 'Konigin Charlotte' are famously grown for their perfume. The violet coloured flowers are extremely fragrant, This cultivar is unique in that its flowers turn upward making them viewer friendly. It is also one of the longest flowering violets with scented flowers.

Cultivated in Switzerland in 2004 from the famous 'Queen Charlotte', One would think that 'Reine de Neiges', or 'Snow Queen' would be a white bloomer. The flowers are almost white, a clear crisp ice-blue. Long blooming and upward facing, their fragrance is intense.

Known for their vigorous growth and cascading blooms, Viola pansy 'Freefall F1' is perfect for spring and autumn baskets. It is day-length neutral, so will bloom well into winter and early spring. Super floriferous with a tidy habit, it attracts pollinators and adds charm to any outdoor space.

Viola ‘F1 Frizzle Sizzle Blue’ brings an air of cool elegance to the garden. The large blooms ripple and curl with the same extravagant ruffling as the rest of the series, but here the petals are a rich, velvety blue, shifting in tone from deep indigo at the centre to softer violet at the edges.

With petals that are richly ruffled and edges frilled, the blooms of Viola ‘F1 Frizzle Sizzle Burgundy’ resemble plush velvet, a deep burgundy that glows with warmth. An excellent choice for cool season blooms, few plants are as accommodating, and fewer still manage to be so dramatic about it.

Viola x wittrockiana 'Frizzle Sizzle F1' has a unique flower, and is possibly quite unlike any pansy that you have seen before. Large flowers, completely ruffled along the edges. 'Frizzle Sizzle Lemonberry' produces ruffled lemon-yellow flowers with dark blotches and berry purple edges.

Viola 'Frizzle Sizzle' F1 has a unique flower, and is possibly quite unlike any pansy that you have seen before. It produces large 2-3 inch wide flowers, each of which is completely ruffled along the edges. This mix from the series includes the most popular shades, each with the central dark blotch.