What does the work of a Dahlia?

[goldenshoe]

...but isn't a dahlia!

Can anyone recommend a hardy perennial that would fill the space of a large dahlia and look good in a cottage style garden?

I'm thinking possibly Echinops and/or Geranium, but I'd prefer something that will take up the space in the first year which I'm not sure they would.

The border is mostly made up of tall 'floaty things' with some roses and peonies. It's south facing and currently baking hot, but we have harsh winters and I've made a pact with myself that I won't buy any more plants that aren't hardy enough to survive.

Help?!

Delphiniums?

Why not plant your geranium and fill up the gap in the first year with annuals? Like nigella or cosmos.

Iris would provide the height but not last so long. I do like them, maybe you could find a mix of early and late flowering iris.

Advise against Echinops, thistley, prickly and seedy. How about an unfashionable chrysanthemum? Flowering time similar and lots of different shapes and colours to choose from.

Helenium, heliopsis, rudbeckia or echinacea?

Salvia, verbena bonariensis, perennial poppy

Salvia amistad or similar “large” salvias

Thank you thank you!

I have most of these plants in this bit of the garden already so maybe I shall spread them about a bit more and get some geranium in preparation for next summer as suggested.

Another excuse to go to a garden centre this weekend 😊

I would get a nice pot and fill it with something a bit tender like an aenoium or a tender succulent that you could just have out for the summer then keep under cover for the winter. They look rather nice in amongst all the soft summer border plants

That would give you some time to find something you like or bring on a geranium.

A pot of white Arum Lily always looks good.

If you're after long-flowering I'd go for echinacea. I've even got spare if you're in Hertfordshire :)