Summer Blooms: Ideal Plants for Enhancing Your Garden in August
August is a month of lush greenery and warm sunshine, and it's the perfect time to add a splash of colour to your garden. Tom Brown, a renowned gardener, has shared his top picks for flowers that will catch in full bloom during this month.
One of the standout choices is the tall Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’. This vibrant, dark-orange flower grows up to 1-2 meters tall and blooms from midsummer to autumn. It thrives in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil [1].
Another eye-catching addition to your August garden is Ipomoea ‘Caprice’, a morning glory with pale-blue flowers. This plant flourishes in sunny positions and is ideal for covering fences or garden structures.
The 'Benary's Giant Wine' zinnia is another strong performer for August gardens. This hardy plant grows up to 50cm-1m and flowers from July until the first frosts with staggered sowing. It's suitable for moist but well-drained, fertile soil and full sun [1].
Another zinnia worth mentioning is the 'Benary's Giant Wine', which is hardy to RHS H2, USDA 9a-11 and flowers from July until the first frosts with staggered sowing.
The multi-branched sunflower, Helianthus debilis 'Vanilla Ice', is another great choice for August. It grows up to 1-2 meters in moist but well-drained soil and full sun, and flowers from July to September. It's also hardy to RHS H2, USDA 9a-11 [1].
The water canna 'Erebus' is a water-loving plant that grows up to 1-2m and is suitable for water margins or water-logged containers. It flowers from July until the first frosts and is hardy to RHS H3, USDA 7a-10b.
Gladiolus 'Bimbo' is an antique-looking gladioli with cream, dusky pink, and apricot hues that grow up to 1.5-2 meters in full sun and fertile, free-draining soil. It flowers in mid to late summer and is hardy to RHS H3, USDA 7a-10b.
'Sylvia' gladioli is a dwarf cultivar that grows up to 1.5m and is suitable for herbaceous borders. It originates from South Africa and is hardy to RHS H3, USDA 7a-10b.
Galtonias are often overlooked in summer-flowering bulbs but are worth considering. They work well when planted in small clumps throughout a planting scheme to give an effortless and natural feel to your plantings.
Vernonia arkansana 'Mammuth' is a tall border plant with dark-purple flowers, reaching heights of 1.5-2m. It's suitable for most garden soils with good moisture retention during summer months and full sun.
Lastly, Vernonia arkansana 'Mammuth' flowers in late summer through to autumn. This plant originates from Northern and Central USA and is hardy to RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b.
These flowers, with their striking colours and extended blooming periods, are sure to bring a burst of life to your August garden.
[1] Source: Tom Brown's top picks, as reported by Gardeners' World Magazine (accessed 2022-08-01)
- Tom Brown's top pick for August gardening is the 'Torch' Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia, a vibrant, dark-orange flower that can reach up to 2 meters tall and adds a splash of color to any garden.
- Another flower that Tom Brown recommends for August gardens is Ipomoea ‘Caprice’, a morning glory with pale-blue flowers, ideal for covering fences or garden structures.
- The 'Benary's Giant Wine' zinnia is another strong performer in August, growing up to 1 meter, flowering from July until the first frosts, and thriving in full sun and fertile soil.
- Incorporating gardening advice from renowned gardeners like Tom Brown can help enhance the landscape, lifestyle, and home-and-garden settings with colorful flowers such as the 'Torch' Mexican sunflower, Ipomoea ‘Caprice’, and 'Benary's Giant Wine' zinnia in August gardens.
