Can’t lie, the Growbags WhatsApp chat has got a bit testy; if Caroline chirps up with any more ‘we had another half inch of rain in the Highlands last night’, the other two Growbags might blow a gasket. So our August superheroes are going to crystallise the sisterly divide this week – wily desert rats from two of us and cheerful dabbling ducks from the third……
Despite the overall post-apocalyptic appearance of my so-called summer
Take my two pot-grown pomegranate bushes. I’ve waited eight years for them to flower and evidently they’ve been waiting for four consecutive heat waves before deigning to do so. So glad am I to see their sturdy bright orange-red blooms that I’m overlooking the now self-evident fact that I must have accidentally chosen decorative cultivars over ones that actually produce fruit.
Another welcome sight is Clerodendrum bungei, with its huge pink buds popping open like fireworks. Again I am overlooking its downsides – the rather coarse foliage, that smells frankly disgusting, and the tendency to spread via rootstock once it gets established.
Now for a climber that is loving life at 35 degrees centigrade – Campsis radicans, the trumpet vine. The image below is not from my
Laura’s spot on the money this week (doesn’t happen often, obvs) – we have had such an exceptionally long dry spell this season, that, like her, my August stars just HAVE to be the plants that have shrugged off the wretched drought with a careless toss of the head and a ‘So what?’ look on their flowery faces.
First and foremost, Rose ‘Westerland’ AGM has been a belter – continuously in exuberant flower from the beginning of June and still joyfully strutting her stuff at the start of August. She has a spicy citrussy scent which wafts around on still sunny days, and very pretty semi-double bronze/apricot flowers which sit beautifully among healthy foliage and maroon new growth. She is quite a big girl – I grow her as a hefty shrub, but she could certainly be trained as a climber. She is the one rose in my whole collection that I have to dead head every day of the summer – now come on, that’s not a bad recommendation, is it!
Agapanthus don’t worry too much about dry weather. Their native home is South Africa, and they revel in the sun, so while other perennials wilted and gave up in the heatwave, they stood their ground and bloomed happily. A. ‘Poppin’ Purple’ still draws plenty of admirers with its dramatically-coloured flowers, but I’m especially pleased with a mixed bag of bare-root A. ‘Queen of the Ocean’ and ‘Polar Ice’ that I bought early last year. Many of them are already in flower this summer despite having to put up with washing-up water for weeks. Respect is due.
Ice plants (Hyelotelephium formerly Sedum) are great in hot summers too. Their fleshy leaves will store the water they need – their own private water butt – and intense sun will just make them flower more. And boy, do the butterflies and bees love them! I have a special fondness for the varieties with richly-coloured foliage like H. ‘Chocolate Drop’ whose fat scalloped leaves are the colour of luscious dessert plums. Something to admire before the rose-pink flowers appear.
Yes, I feel terrible about sharing news of our frequent bouts of heavy rain here in the Scottish Highlands (which have also helpfully fallen mainly at night), while my sisters watch their gardens fry to a crisp 🙄.
And following a terse response to my complaint of sodden roses I’ve learned to keep my weather reports to myself, but suffice to say my hydrangeas, eupatoriums and ligularias – damp-lovers all, are looking in great shape for a super August show.
Even more unforgivable in the gruesome twosome’s eyes, we’ve also had warm daytime sunshine so I ask, as I have before (sigh), why would you extend yourself to pomegranates when stalwarts like Rudbeckia or Helenium make the very best August choices? Dependable, hardy, colourful, able to stand up on their own and can be propagated by division as easily as 1,2,3, so also affordable.
You might want to include Sanguisorba in this group but, hmm. They produce a lot of boring foliage for quite small buttony flowers IMO (in my opinion). And in my windy bed the buttons are a good foot to the right of the bushy foliage, reminding me of a good night out but not encapsulating the lazy, hazy days of high summer.
Me being me (my sisters’ dual nightmare), I prefer something with a bit more balls and zing, so I’m going to suggest a Persicaria, specifically ‘Fat Domino’ which I bought from the Ballyrobert Nursery in N. Ireland, and grow here in the Scottish Highlands. The bright red flowerheads are certainly wonderfully fat. I don’t know about the domino aspect but this great perennial is, without doubt, a double six for high summer I guarantee you!
Have you got some brilliant August zingers that we haven’t mentioned? We’d love to hear about them……
Louise has found an August superhero of her own is the shape of a South American species that is revelling in the heat. Shiny deep green leaves, scented white flowers and attractive bark combine to make this little tree her Great Plant this Month :
There’s been a lot of talk about TEMPERATURE recently!! One of the handiest things you can have for your
You may be interested in a long list of drought-tolerant plants that we compiled a while ago along with help from our readers. It may help with plant choices if, as seems quite likely, we get more summers like this one in the near future.
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10 replies on “August Superheros”
Interesting that your agapanthus are doing well; ours have put up far fewer flowers than is usual this time and a couple of neighbours have said the same. Last year they were fantastic for us.
The real stars of our decorative garden are the 4 o’clock plants grown from seed, absolutely covered in fragrant flowers; one has orange petals flecked with yellow, similar to fruit salad sweets 😁
When I lived in France orange campsis grew everywhere but I have failed again and again to get a plant to live happily in North Yorkshire, interesting to see that the plants are becoming easier to source though. I do think the orange version is the prettiest.
Thanks for another enjoyable read.
Hello Diana, your 4 o’clock plant sounded so desirable that I had to look it up- Mirabilis jalapa, and it’s definitely going on my list for next year. It appears to come from Peru so no wonder it’s happy in this overheated summer we’re having! I’m trying a new campsis this year called ‘Tropical Summer’ which is said to be less rampant than others. It hasn’t flowered for me yet but will have pale orange flowers when it does so maybe one for you to look out for … Glad you’re enjoying the blog ☺️ best wishes Laura
We’re “next door” to you in E.Lancs – I almost lost my Agapanthus during the winter but it’s recovering nicely now – it’s not been that hot up here aside for a few days weeks ago so (like myself) the South African in her hasn’t had its fill of hot ‘n dry ❤️ Not had flowers yet as I only got it about a year ago as a bare root.
Chris, it’s Caroline here in Scotland so I can definitely sympathise. We haven’t had the same boiling temperatures as folk in the south this summer. I’m not complaining, it’s been very comfortable but my agapanthus are just coming into flower now. I grow mine in pots, take them into the greenhouse in winter and put a bit of fleece over them. Even then they must endure the odd minus 10 so Im sure yours will be flowering soon – such brilliant plants. It must be wonderful to see them growing in such profusion in S. Africa!
I have an Abutilon which is loving the heat. I had it as a cutting from a friend and it’s name us unknown! My Agapanthus are flowering much better than usual too. So interesting to hear of your experiences.
Hello Janet, yes we’re all have slightly different hits and misses this year aren’t we! I love abutilons too but my garden is too cold for them to survive the winter outside so they are in pots that will come in. They seem to flower well into the autumn and don’t mind shade. Thanks for reminding us all what great plants they are. Best wishes Laura
…and then there’s lavender. Mine has gone mad and the bees and other buzzy things just love it. I have to apologise to them every time I walk past for disturbing them!
Hello Janie yes lavender is very happy this summer isn’t it – love that you are talking to the bees as well! My oregano is much the same story – smothered in pollinators. Not surprising really as they are both Mediterranean herbs which I guess we should all be planting more of nowadays …best wishes Laura
The star in my similarly drought affected garden has been the large patch of echinops that my young nephew grew from seed a couple of years ago. I potted them on and loved them, planted them out last year when they put on a small show but his year they look glorious and the bees love them. They seem to love the hot, dry conditions!
Thanks, another enjoyable read!
Hi Charlie, Echinops is definitely a superhero in this weather isn’t it! It’s a great plant in any summer but it sounds like yours has moved up a notch in this heat. Lovely that it has the family connection too – it’s always nice when a plant in your garden reminds you of the person who gave it to – especially as this one was grown from seed. Very best wishes Laura x