What would you plant for colour?

[perhapstomorrow]

Our garden is full of mature shrubs and trees but has very few flowers. We had lots of bulbs in spring but I really want to have a garden bursting with flowers. We have a couple of rose bushes and peonies but nothing else. I don't know what the shrubs are either so I may be pleasantly surprised. The garden is South West facing with clay soil. I think the soil is quite acidic as a camelia is growing very well. What would you plant to give some colour?

Here is a photo to help.

We had a similar wooded garden, also facing south. It was quite a challenge as the trees shaded the beds. I found that Hydrangeas, roses, clematis, Japanese Anemone and crainsbill geraniums did well.
Before planting I plotted where the sun was during the day, so I identified sunny spots.
The back of the house was very sunny, so I made the most of that with wall and hanging baskets, also planters and pots.

There are some clematis with big colourful flowers that flower for months at a time. Look on taylors website,
Snap dragons are good perennials, and verbenas and phlox work well too. Look them up on rhs website.

Nice garden!
You can always cheat with annuals in pots, parachuted in and then replaced as they go past their best.

Thanks for the suggestions. Will take a look at them. Would you grow the clematis using existing plants as support?

Clematis will wind round anything. We had Montana growing up through our trees. The good thing is that they like their roots in the shade and then ramble up towards the sun.
The plants in pots, placed amongst the shrubs works well. Especially if the roots of the trees make soil planting difficult.

In some of my shadier but still get some sun areas I have crocosmia, tall Daisy, black eyed Susan, sedum, 'lambs ears' (they have purple flowers, don't know proper name!), Iberis,

Azalea and rhododendron would like your acidic soil

I love geum for colour. Perennial which flowers from April to September. So much value for money

If this is a new garden you should hold off till you know what you have! Take monthly photos, note anything you don't think is pleasing.

Bleeding heart is a lovely shade perennial. Fuchsias too.

Cosmos as an annual? I have inherited some awesome rhododendrons - it's like a daytime firework display out there!

What colour do you want? It always helps to know what colour scheme you want and then decide on what plants you need to fill it.

Watch the Chelsea programmes on iPlayer and see what you like.

For colour you could have cosmos, lupins, azalea, allium (mental plants!), lilies, even lilac.

Thanks for all your ideas. I have no idea about colours. Also think taking some photos during the year may help. Shame I've missed spring! Im just so eager to make my stamp in the garden. We've already taken out 6 large conifers and then planted an acer and magnolia. Just need some flowers now.

Hydrangeas, azaleas, hyacinths
Ooooh and a wisteria would look lovely!

Erisyeum bowles mauve would give pretty much year round colour. Some clematis flower for months. Hydrangeas are good value on the flowering front too, some go from May to October.

Are you looking for long flowering or just flowering? If your camellia did well, what about a winter flowering one too, or a rhododendron or azalea? My weigela flowers for a couple of months at least. Viburnum are good value too.

I would really stick to annuals this year before you go too mad. It looks a beautifully planned garden, so let it show itself to you before changing too much.