Five-star plant selection

Part 8: Herbaceous perennials

FEW plants have undergone a greater change in conventional use in the past 25 years than herbaceous perennials. These plants, which were traditionally grown in herbaceous borders, are now rarely used in this way except in public parks. As gardens have become progressively smaller, it has become increasingly difficult to allocate sufficient space for borders devoted exclusively to herbaceous plants. These plants have had to take their place along with other types of plant in a partnership designed to create the greatest possible effect with the last expenditure of labour.

11 Kniphofia

These are the red-hot pokers or torch lilies that usually have stout flower stems terminated by poker-like spikes of red and