Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’ (red bistort) was £4.99 now £3.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any moist soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to October Hardiness: fully hardy Long, slender spikes clustered with tiny, fluffy, crimson-red flowers rise from mid summer to early autumn above semi-evergreen, lance- shaped, mid-green leaves. This clump-forming, vigorous perennial has handsome foliage and quickly makes dense groundcover in sun or partial shade. Plant it in bold swathes to add vertical interest in the border right through till mid autumn and give it plenty of space. Persicaria does not like dry soil, so performs best in a bog garden or beside a pond. Bees and other insects love it too! Garden care: Lift and divide congested colonies in spring or autumn.

Phlox paniculata ‘Kirchenfürst’ (phlox) was £5.99 now £4.79
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, moist soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to October Hardiness: fully hardy Phlox have always been country garden favourites for their delicious scent and attraction to butterflies and bees. This variety bears large trusses of flowers from July to October on tall stems with narrow, toothed, mid-green leaves. This long-flowering, vigorous perennial will tolerate full sun or partial shade, but like all phlox, does not like soil that dries out in summer. Try it in the middle of a border as part of a deep blues and purple colour scheme. The stems need supporting in spring before the flowers appear. Garden care: Support with bamboo canes, brushwood or ring stakes before the flowers appear. Phlox are greedy plants, so apply a mulch 5-7cm (2-3 in) deep of well-rotted garden compost or manure in early spring. Shear off the spent flowers to prevent reseeding. If the leaves show signs of powdery mildew , cut down to the ground and dispose of the affected foliage, but do not compost it. Clear away the debris around the plant to reduce the chances of reinfection. Cut down to the ground in autumn. Lift and divide large clumps in autumn and spring.

Verbena bonariensis (purple top) was £6.99 now £5.59
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: June to September Hardiness: borderline hardy (will need protection in winter in colder areas) Tightly packed clusters of lilac-purple flowers on tall, stiff, branching stems from June to September. This stylish perennial has been enjoying a resurgence of interest in recent years. Perfect for a sheltered, sunny, well-drained spot, its open, transparent shape means that it can easily be used at the front or middle of the border despite its height. This plant will help to sustain bees and butterflies into autumn with its tall wiry stems of purple flowers. It makes a good filler, because the upright stems support neighbouring plants. Plant it among the warm-red Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ and it will act as supports, negating the need for staking, whilst providing a dazzling display. Garden care: In cold conditions Verbena bonariensis can suffer dieback if cut back in autumn, so it’s best to leave the plant until spring and cut back the old growth when you see the new shoots emerging at the base. Also it’s a good idea to mulch around the base of the plant with a deep, dry mulch in winter to help protect the plant. Where the plant is grown in partial shade the stems may need to be supported – if this is necessary use natural materials such as brushwood or twiggy pea-sticks.

Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ (brook thistle) was £6.99 now £5.59
Position: full sun Soil: moist, well-draine d Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: July and August Hardin ess: fully hardy Spectacular, deep crimson thistles appear on erect stems in July and August above spiny, dark green leaves. This handsome, towerin g thistle is a valuable addition to a summer garden and looks equally at home in a wildflower meadow, beside water or in groups among other perennials. Although it will tolerate dry conditions and partial shade, it does best in a moist, sun ny border. Garden care: Divide congested plants f rom autumn to spring and cut back to the ground in autumn to prevent self-seedin g.

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ (catnip) was £7.99 now £6.39
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: deep violet to lilac-blue Other features: aromatic foliage, attractive to bees Hardiness: fully hardy Deep violet to lilac-blue summer flowers and aromatic mid-green leaves. This violet-lilac catmint makes excellent, long-flowering, groundcover for a sunny border. Clipped back after the first flush in June, it flowers through to early autumn. Useful as an informal, scented edge for paths as, when trodden on, the foliage releases a pleasant aroma. Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps in spring, replanting divided specimens with lots of well-rotted organic matter. If powdery mildew becomes a problem prune out the affected areas and treat the remaining plant with fungicide.

Sedum (Herbstfreude Group) ‘Herbstfreude’ (stonecrop (syn Autumn Joy)) was £7.99 now £6.39
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: August to September Flower colour: salmon-pink to coppery-red Other features: attractive to butterflies and bees; previously known as Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ Hardiness: fully hardy Succulent, lettuce-green leaves, topped with salmon-pink flower-heads in summer, maturing to pinkish-bronze then coppery-red in autumn. This versatile perennial is a perfect filler plant for a sunny, well-drained spot. A valuable late source of nectar for butterflies and bees, the dried flowerheads provide structure and colour in the winter garden. Garden care: The flowerheads look great left during the winter to add shape and texture to your border. In February and March cut back the old flowerheads and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Once established, sedums can have a tendency to flop leaving an open and unsightly centre, especially in fertile soil. One technique to help prevent this is the ‘Chelsea chop’. During the last week of May (Chelsea Flower Show week), cut one in every three stems back to the ground. This will produce plants that are less lush and flower slightly later.

Buddleja ‘Lochinch’ (butterfly bush) was £8.99 now £7.19
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy Much maligned for its habit of colonising railway sidings, buddleja can be a fabulous addition to a sunny border, with dramatic, fragrant flowers that are attractive to butterflies and other beneficial insects. Pruned hard in spring, this variety produces clusters of sweetly scented, orange- eyed, violet blue flower spikes on arching stems that last for weeks. The grey-green pointed leaves mature to deep green and may be retained during milder winters. Remove faded flower- spikes after flowering and the plant is likely to produce a second flush. Deadheading the buddleja will encourage it to produce more flowers and stop any unwanted seedlings. Garden care: Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year’s growth to three or four buds.

Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Heavenly Blue’ (bluebeard) was £8.99 now £7.19
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, light, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August and September Hardiness: fully hardy Clusters of piercing, slightly fluffy, dark blue flowers appear in August and September at intervals on long stems among pointed, aromatic, grey-green leaves. With its strongly upright habit, this lovely, dark blue form of bluebeard is perfect for the middle of a sunny shrub or mixed border. It is also a magnet for bees and butterflies and is drought-tolerant. Where temperatures fall below -15C it’s best grown against a warm, south or west-facing wall. Garden care: In March prune all of the flowered stems back hard to the permanent framework. After pruning apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost around the base of the plant. <br