WHAT CAN I PLANT NOW FOR LATE SUMMER COLOUR?

[Merlin]

That's it really - garden looking a bit boring, needs an injection of colour!

Anyone got any ideas please?

Thanks

Thanks, but don't like them! Fussy aren't I?!!!! LOL

Autumn crocus?

I love the little teeny violas, all one type together.

Or crocosmia? They're flowering now, not sure if you could plant them now, but they're perennial so at least you'd get the benefit next year

Mmmm autumn crocus sound nice, but would they be in flower now? I love violas too, but am thinking something a bit bigger for more instant impact.

Can you tell I'm impatient?!!

I have the croco thingummys, just not enough of them and would like something else.

I think the autumn crocus would come a bit later, but I think they only take about a month after you plant the bulbs to get going.

I'm not much of an expert, perhaps someone else can help

There are lots of things in the garden centre atm like rudbekias and crocosmias (all the reds and oranges) that flower at the moment - I imagine you could sling some of them in and see what happens (my general approach...) - they're all quite big (relative to little violas, anyway) so would have quite an impact.

Have a look [http://www.crocus.co.uk/august-choice/ here]] for some August ideas.

Sorry here

Echinacea is another option - smialr size to Rudbekia. Can give you pink and white options if you don't want red/yellow/orange

Dahlias, there are some quite funky ones now with dark leaves and even some with softer colour flowers.
As others have said, Crocosmia, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, also Japanese Anenomes which have white or pink flowers which go on for ages.

If you go to a good nursery or garden centre you will see what is flowering now and you can then pick your favourites.

Thanks for all your suggestions

I have some Japanese anemones already - perhaps I should just go for more!

Asters also flower now and are pretty
www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/other-perennials/aster-x-frikartii-monch/ClassID.2571/
The link also shows you some of the other things which were recommended.

there are some late salvias that go on into november if you've got a sunny patch
crocosmia only just coming out in my garden ditto anemones and asters will be good for quite a while
fuchsias seem to go on forever, last year were well into october or first frosts

winter pansies, plenty in the shops now and will last all winter even with several frosts