Adding height to borders

[RingoFlamingo]

I've grown a few sunflowers this year and they have done really well. I love the height that they add to the border, and that they don't have a big bulky top like you get with a bushy shrub or small tree; they are growing in front of some banking covered in ivy so I don't need the greenery up there. I like that they don't cast too much shade on the bed underneath.

Is there anything I could plant that would give a similar effect that isn't an annual? I don't mind starting small and waiting for something to grow, but ideally I would like year-round interest.

Fully appreciate I might be asking too much! Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Giant scabious, Cephalaria gigantea would be good. All the leaves are at the bottom and it throws up very tall spikes of pale yellow scabious flowers that are about 4cms diameter. After a couple of years it will have spread, but very easily divided.
Another very tall plant with yellow daisy type flowers is Helianthus. They can grow over 2m.
I find that Knautia grows quite tall as does bronze fennel, with his is a lovely combination.

Which is *

Verbena bonariensis? Butterflies love it.

Perennial, but not evergreen.

Salvia guaranitica (black and blue) is lovely and gets nice and tall, over 6 feet. Like the previous poster, we have verbena which is amazing, so tall yet elegant and allows you to see through to other plants in the border.

We have just planted Angelica for next year so will see how that fares. It's certainly a statement plant 😳. Fennel is good for height if you are going for a cottage/mixed border look but it can be pretty invasive!

Oh and I agree with knautia. We grew it for the first time this year and it is amazing 😊

Hollyhocks?

Thanks everyone. I particularly like the look of verbena and knautia, have added them to the list :-)

@catwithflowers I've got some Angelica seeds. Is it a good statement?

I have angelica seeds on order and am very excited about seeing them next year

@RingoFlamingo This is some of the knautia in our cottage garden this year. It was about 5 feet tall and delicate looking yet surprisingly robust!!

@BarrelOfOtters I've only seen angelica in parks and it looks amazing. I also have seeds to plant for next year 😊

Any clumping bamboo variety, either with black stem or yellow stem. Phyllostacus (?) nigra or aureus are very popular

Knautia!

@catwithflowers Thanks for sharing, it looks beautiful!

Delphiniums! Stunning flowers and perennials too