A SURE-FIRE way of ensuring you have a long-lasting show of flowers right through the summer is to use annuals, and if you sow nicotianas this spring they are the perfect plants for mixing and matching in borders and containers.
Nicotianas are versatile and beautiful, and are great for filling gaps and providing colour and scent. They bring contrast, with flowers ranging in shades of elegant whites and greens to brilliant pinks, purples and crimson. They also add texture both subtle and bold – with airy stems and delicate flowers or larger leaved varieties. And of course, there is the lovely jasmine-like fragrance in the evenings.
Nicotianas in borders
Use nicotianas to meander in groups through borders, in containers or as part of a wildlife planting scheme. They combine well with many other summer favourites, such as verbena, cosmos, eryngiums, salvias, dahlias and grasses. Although sometimes, being good self-seeders, they might surprise you by bursting out ofpaving – just go with the flow and enjoy the random effect!
