Late-flowering perennials for late summer colour in the planteria are the HTA’s ‘Plant of the Moment’ for September.

Several hardy perennials have been patiently growing all year, waiting for their turn to take centre stage. And now their time has come to burst into bloom and fill the garden with vibrant colour.

Japanese anemones (pictured right) are always a favourite. Tall and bold, their simple flowers in shades from pink to white really celebrate the season. They’re adaptable too, growing in sites from full sun to partial shade.

The thick fleshy foliage of sedum varieties – commonly known as Ice Plants – add interest throughout the year. Foliage colours vary from green to grey and deep purple, and some with variegated green and white leaves look particularly impressive grown individually in small terracotta pots. Their flowers come in eye-catching colours from pure white to pink and red, proving as attractive to us as they are bees and butterflies.

Michaelmas Day, celebrated on 29 September, and lends its name to one of the most valuable hardy perennials to flower through September and October, the Michaelmas Daisies. Many are varieties of the New York aster, Aster novi-belgii, but several other types are available. A succession of blooms gives them long-lasting appeal. They make great cut flowers. 

Planning and planting tips to pass on to customers

* When planning borders, choose a selection of plants that flower at different times through the year so there’s always something colourful to enjoy.

* Plant taller growing autumn flowering varieties behind low growing summer ones so they’ll grow up above them once summer displays fade away.

* A small group of, say, three plants of one variety often looks more impressive than choosing three different things.

* Leave old flowers on Verbena bonariensis to set seed and release this over the surrounding border to develop into new plants that will flower in following years.