I haven’t updated what is flowering in the Magenta border for a while. Lots of Asters are bulking up so I’m looking forward to a good show of them later on in summer; now the delicate foliage and interesting flat heads of Achillea is the main feature.
Beyond the Magenta zone begins a predominantly yellow part of the border, I need to think of a biggish plant or maybe a line of grasses to visually separate the colours; maybe I could continue the Nepeta which would look fine with both colours, any thoughts?
Achillea millefolum ‘Cassis
Achillea with visitor
The Oleander was in the garden when we bought the house, I say “garden” it was planted in the rough grass; the poor thing had had its bark damaged by the strimmer on numerous occasions, and then I transplanted it twice; after all this time it has started to really grow; the damage to the bark has led the graft to break down so that most of the shrub is Magenta but there are a few taller stems of pale pink – not pretty.
Oleander
In the background behind the Oleander is a large Salvia, nearly magenta in colour and then in front of the Philadelphus there is a truly Magenta Salvia I took as a cutting from a friend’s plant. Once established the Salvia survive quite well, but they will need some water if it is as hot this year as it was last.
Oleander
Magenta Salvia
A spreading thug, but how can I dislike it?
Achillea millefolium ‘Cassis’
Achillea millefolium ‘Cassis’
Achillea millefolium ‘Cassis’
Achillea millefolium ‘Cassis’
Achillea millefolium ‘Cassis’
Lychnis coronaria
Hemerocallis
Allium Sphaerocephalon, not in the Magenta zone but I’m thinking of adding some for next year, I love this Allium
I hope you will join in with Garden Bloggers’ foliage day on Saturday 22nd, just a coupleof days away. Write or show just one fabulous foliage plant or how foliage works for you in your garden; whatever you like.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Love your thug, but you didn’t tell us what it is! Also love your Achillia Cassis, that looks very good through your border. I’m sure your oleander will be very happy now that it has a permanent home.
Sorry Pauline, I don’t remember the thud’s name, I’ll try to find it and add its name to the post!
looks South African, but I’ve no idea of the name. One of MANY vygies.
It works so well to put all the magentas together. Your oleander needs a haircut, doesn’t it to remove all the undesirable part?
Yes, but it keeps coming back.
Hi Christina! I love that yarrow, I tried it once and it died, so I now stick to the yellow ones that look more reliable to me. I vote absolutely yes for the allium addition but I suggest to re-think the nepeta, seen from the front side one sees yellow, blu and magenta, that could be even more clashing than yellow/magenta. Maybe you can try with a bushy silver leaved artemisia, silver gray makes a kind of a key feature in your garden and it always works well, indeed.
Thanks for the advice, I wasn’t thinking fof looking at it straight on, the path is narrow just there, but I agree with you nepeta could make it worse, it is shady under the Arbutus so silver foliage won’t be happy there, I’m leaning towardsa grass, maybe a bluish panicum, does anything spring to mind. Christina
Well artemisia Powis Castel would grow even in plaster I think but a panicum shall be an even better idea. The most famous bluish one is Heavy Metal, easy to find and very reliable. It rather tall, about 1,80 mt.
I have an A. Powis Castle but I’m not sure it is tall enough to make a division between the two areas; I also already have P. heavy Metal; its on the slope but it doesn’t grow that tall for me on my very free draining soil, so I could even divide and move those I have to see how it works. Thank you Alberto.
Perhaps something white could be used to separate the two sections, although I can’t think of what to suggest. Like the allium–am trying to add more to my garden.
I want to add more white to the garden but mainly near the terrace.
Tall grasses would surely break up the two areas, but I like seeing into the distance as you can now. What about some orange sherbety tones between the yellow and magenta (much as it occurs in the Hemerocallus you show)?
That’s an idea, but adding orange to the mix could become too fussy.
Love this border and am addicted to that allium as I added lots around the garden in the fall.
I love this allium too; because it is lovely but also because it consistantly returns each year and even seeds around.
I really like the magenta salvia, Christina. Is your thug lampranthus? D
Yes David it is, thank you. It does spread everywhere and is considered and invasive species here, but a very cold winter knocks it back a lot.
The flowers are beautiful and make me dream of summer. Do you think you might have a thick-legged flower beetle (Ischnomera cyanea), he looked sort of cute?
If it is an Ischnomera cyanea, mine has much thicker legs that all the ones I looked at on-line. But it might be a related species, thank you for the suggestion. Will you keep your bees? Christina
I am loving all the mass magenta. My vote is for grasses – or something tall and silver…a taller wormwood? Something with no color and tall so you cant see the yellow when looking in that, nor the magenta when looking in the other direction. And when you walk by the tall “separator” you have a nice little shock. Hey maybe even an evergreen shrub?
Yes, I like the idea of a bluey green evergreen shrub, or even deciduous, the yellow is there only in late spring and into summer; something that forms a natural dome shape? thanks, you’ve got me beginning to define what I want.
‘Little ollie’???? I love mine! forms a beautiful natural oval dome….mine are still only 2.5 by 2.5….but suppose to get 6 by 6…..
I’ve no idea what that is! do you have a latin name for it?
I’m sorry! duh! Olea europaea ‘Montra’
Ah!
I really like the idea of colour themed borders, but am never organised enough to plant one. I’m enjoying your photos instead – the salvia flowers are a beautiful colour.
Non sono sicura di aver capito bene, la traduzione è molto confusa… Perché vuoi separare le due zone? Non stanno bene insieme giallo e magenta? Io ad esempio sono riuscita a fare un po’ “barriera” con la gaura per separare quelle rose rosse da quelle rosa. Anche l’idea di un arbusto sempreverde non è male.
Sì, hai capito bene, i due colori non mi piacciono vederli insieme. La Laura è un buon idea, però penso che preferisca l’idea di una graminacea.
Beautiful, Christina. I particularly love the range of tones in the Achillea Cassis – one I keep thinking about adding to our garden.
I quite like the though of something in really dark red between your magenta and yellow… a Knautia macedonica, or Cirsium rivulare perhaps. Though the nepeta would do it too…
Thanks for the suggestion, I hadn’t thought of such a different colour, but I think I’m heading in the direction of something without flowers.
You’re right, of course, a good evergreen shrub or grass would blend better and form a good separator. I think I just have strong colour combinations in my head at the minute! 🙂
I love strong colour combinations too, but there is already a lot of strong colours, I need to create some calm areas.
Your borders look so natural and carefree. 🙂 I like the idea of adding nepeta between the yellow and magenta beds. It will blend well with both.