Is there anything I can stick in the garden for instant colour at this time of year?

[franch]

Having a party in 2 weeks and garden looking a bit dull. Back in July I stuck a load of busy lizzies in for the same reason - what is there now?

[flipflopper]

pansies/ violas might be in the garden centres by now.
Or cyclamens?

[franch]

Thanks flip - will look for those

[Pannacotta]

Penstemon are great, easy to grow and will flower till October.
Also look out for Gaura, Kaffir Lily, Cosmos (white and hot pink flowers).
However these all like the sun, is it a sunny spot you have in mind?

[ShellingPeas]

Definitely try penstemon - I plonked two in today to cover up some gaps and they will go on until the first frosts. Asters (michaelmas daisies) are good too and just coming into flower.

[Pannacotta]

Japanese anemones are also good as they flower from August till November and will grow in dry-ish soil in part to full shade and come in white or pale and rich pink.
Echinacea and Rudbeckia are also late flowering, they need sun and moist soil.

Chocolate Cosmos is a favourite of mine, it has lovely dark flowers and smells of vanilla/chocolate!
Needs sun and fairly moist soil
www.bloomingdirect.com/products/Garden-Plants/Cosmos-Choca-Mocha.html

[franch]

Thanks so much for these suggestions. I need colour in both sun and shade. Will see what I can find.

[Katisha]

Pansies are back in homebase!

[franklymydear]

a slide?

[Naetha]

I did exactly the same thing last week.

Got myself a couple of Coreopsis plants (nice yellow daisy-like flowers), a load of winter violas and dianthus, some double daisies (bellis daisies), a phlox, and two asters.

All of these are in flower, except for the Asters, and they're about to come through.

If you can get to a nursery (rather than B&Q or a garden centre) then you should be able to get a good idea of what's available right now. Also much MUCH cheaper than the chain stores.

The only problem is you spend a fortune anyway - I went in to get a couple of plants to brighten the place up, and ended up spending over £100 on all sorts of lovely plants. I spent about £20 on bulbs for the spring, I just have a bit of a race on now to get them planted before I give birth!

[franch]

ooh good luck naetha!