This story was first told Sage Vol. 1: Life among plants
A garden is made memorable by its unordinary bits. Some plants bring unusual texture, long seasons or a surprising sense of joy. Here, we’ve gathered a handful of the most interesting plants that appear throughout the pages of Sage Vol. 1 – ones you might like to try in your own patch…
1 Agastache spp. (hyssop)
A hardy herbaceous perennial with upright floral spikes in purple, pink or orange. Blooms through summer – a magnet for bees and butterflies! Prefers hot, sunny, well-drained positions and handles neglect once established.
2 Calamagrostis × acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ (feather reed grass)
An upright, clump-forming grass with feathery plumes that fade to biscuit-coloured tones in winter. Low-maintenance and hardy, it does best in full sun, and moist but well-drained soil. Provides height and movement, holding its shape beautifully into winter when it catches frost and low light.
3 Matricaria recutita
Cheerful, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow centres. Best in full sun with well-drained soil. Treated as a short-lived perennial in mild winters or annual in cooler areas. Excellent for cutting and interplanting.
4 Miscanthus sinensis
A tall ornamental grass loved for its elegant form and fine foliage. Thrives in full sun and copes well with a range of soils. Adds height, texture and year-round interest. Try ‘Morning Light’ or ‘Gracillimus’ varieties.
5 Amaranthus spp. (amaranth)
A striking annual with dramatic tasselled flower heads in shades of red, green or bronze. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Beautiful in a border or as a cut flower. Easy to grow from seed and will self-seed freely.
6 Verbena bonariensis
Tall, airy stems, topped with violet flower clusters, float above other plantings without crowding them, adding height all summer long. Loved by pollinators and often self-seeds, if happy. Best in full sun.
Related reading – How to grow Verbena bonariensis
