Rodgersia pinnata ‘Chocolate Wing’ (rodgersia) £19.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: humus-rich, moist soil Rate of growth: slow-to-establish Flowering period: June and August Flower colour: pinky-red Other features: attractive pink-tinted seed-head Hardiness: fully hardy A big, bold perennial that will really add colour to the border. The leaves emerge in spring a rich chocolate colour, then turn to a greeny-bronze through the summer, before finally changing to chocolate and green in the autumn. Its clusters of tiny flowers appear in summer and also change colour as they mature from pale blush to rich burgundy. To get the best leaf colour you should grow it in a moist, sunny spot, but it is tolerant of some shade. Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould when planting. Protect the young foliage against slug damage using beer traps or environmentally friendly slug pellets. Lift and divide congested colonies in early spring.