Choice plants in August

It’s still all go on the nursery. Nick and his team have been ‘potting up’ the last of this year’s young plants; ready for the Catalogue that comes out in September. Mark has started to ‘grow on’ the plants that he hopes will steal the show in our 2 gardens at Chelsea next year. And Sue and her team
are cutting back the earlier season plants to encourage them to grow bushier, stronger and encorage a second flush of flower.

Plant of the week

Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’

his reliable and easy-to-grow perennial for a sunny border, bears large, golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers up to 12cm (5in) across with cone-shaped, blackish-brown centres from August to October. Very, very long-flowering and compact enough not to need staking, it is deservedly popular with experienced and beginner gardeners alike. Given the Award of Garden Merit by the RHS in 1993.

Origin:Part of a varied genus of annuals, biennials and perennials that hail from moist prairies and meadows as well as woodland margins from Ontario to Florida and Texas in North America. The genus is named after the Swedish botanist Olof Rudbeck.

Grow with: This award-winning black-eyed Susan looks great planted in bold drifts with other late summer-flowering perennials and ornamental grasses. Coping well in sun or partial shade, it's ideal for the middle of a border that doesn't dry out over summer. Attractive to butterflies and excellent as cut flowers.