With gardens getting smaller its natural to focus more on compact plants. But don’t write off taller flowering plants. Even in small gardens they add depth and structure, with most doubling as garden cut flowers.
They provide a living backdrop for lower growing plants and flowers and can make a garden feel more spacious by softening and screening the high walls that enclose most gardens.
If it feels as if the walls are closing in, plant tall flowers like hollyhocks, sunflowers and even cosmos that reach almost to the top of the wall. The wall will no longer feel as prominent.
Plants with tall, upright flower spikes, like snapdragons, delphinium, foxgloves and verbascum, all make bold statements and can act as focal points that slow down the eye, creating a visual pause so that the garden can be appreciated.
In a large garden bed, tall flowers add depth and drama, especially those with large bold blooms that can be seen from afar.
The best way to achieve a balanced look in such a bed is to arrange plants by height, with taller plants anchoring the back of a border and stair-stepping the rest of the plants downwards by height. In island beds, the tallest flowers are planted in the centre. The general rule is that each step should be half the height of the preceding plant level.
Tall flowers are also useful to screen ugly fences or unattractive parts of the garden, as well as acting as a natural room divider in larger gardens.
Tall flowers that you can still sow for a summer show are Hollyhocks (Spring Carnival Mixed), Sunflowers (Cutflower mixed), tall Snapdragons (Fancy Show Mixed) , Cosmos (Sensation Mixed), Lavatera (Silver Cup), and tall Marigolds (‘Sunset Giants Mixed).
Hollyhocks are old cottage garden favourites that can grow up to 2.7m in height. They need full sun, fertile soil, and regular watering to be at their best. Although they are short-lived perennials, hollyhock reseed easily. Removing faded flowers also extends their life.
For a fantastic display, mass plant them or sow in groups of five and planted in repeated pockets throughout a long border. The repetition adds to the impact. The vertical thrust of the flowering spikes draws the eye, also making them valuable feature points within a bed. In a smaller garden they can be used to soften the encircling brick walls.
The Sunflower range includes a ‘Cutflower Mixed’ seed packet selection of tall sunflowers in shades of yellow, red, and brown as well as ‘Tall Yellow’ and both can grow up to 1.7m.
Sow directly where they are to grow or germinate in seed trays if you feel that is more manageable.
Water after sowing to settle the seeds and keep the soil moist during germination. Two weeks after germination drench with a plant food like Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger and repeat a month later.
Antirrhinum (Leeubekkies) ‘Fancy Show Mixed’ is a tall variety (75 – 90cm) that comes in a mix of colours, mainly yellow, red, bronze, rose, pink and cream that blend beautifully with most other garden plants.
Seed can be sown directly into the soil or in seedling trays. Select a position that is sheltered from wind and receives morning sun, with afternoon shade. Snapdragons like fertile soil that drains well because their roots don’t like soggy soil. The tall flowering spikes may need staking.
Cosmos always provides a breath-taking show around Easter, so why not plant it in your own garden too? Cosmos tolerates poor soil and hot, humid conditions. Scatter sow the seeds for a natural effect and thin out later. Generally, 1g of seed is needed per m². Cover the seed lightly and keep moist during germination. Cosmos ‘Sensation Mixed’ has large flowers in a mix of white, pink and purple, and the seedheads will attract birds.
Lavatera ‘Silver Cup’ is a modern version of an old cottage garden plant. It is extremely hardy and fast-growing, with deep pink flowers going up the stem. Plants grow 65cm or higher but if you want a bushier plant, cut back regularly. flowers.
Sow in a sunny position where the plants are to grow and space plants 30cm apart. Plants can be sown throughout summer.
Written by Alice Spenser-Higgs
