Thriving Flowers: Sarah Raven's Floral Selection Prospers Exceptionally Amidst Severe Heat
In the world of horticulture, renowned gardener Sarah Raven continues to captivate with her latest recommendations for late-summer and autumn border fillers. One such plant that has caught her eye is the Rudbeckia, a genus of flowering plants known for their bright, sunny blooms.
Standing at 18 inches tall, 'S. bodcious 'Hummingbird Falls' is a compact and healthy Rudbeckia variety that Sarah Raven recommends for pots. This attractive plant, with its distinctive, cascading habit, makes an excellent alternative to 'Amistad' and S. involucrata 'Hadspen'.
Sarah Raven's preference for Rudbeckias is evident in her colour choices, favouring aubergines, mahoganies, crimsons, and yellow greens among the rudbeckias, particularly the Rudbeckia 'S. bodcious'. She has even trialled 10 new Rudbeckia varieties in her own garden.
Two long-standing Rudbeckia varieties that Sarah Raven has picked until Christmas are 'Cherry Brandy' and 'Sahara'. Meanwhile, Ball Colegrave, a major supplier of bedding annuals and perennials, has introduced a crimson-centred, gingernut-petalled Sunburst 'Radiant' Rudbeckia.
In addition to her love for Rudbeckias, Sarah Raven also appreciates the beauty of Thunbergias. Although there is no specific information about new hybrids introduced by Sarah Raven herself, she has expressed her admiration for new and glorious Thunbergia hybrids, which are continually appearing. One such hybrid she has grown and loved since 2007 is the drought-tolerant, South African Thunbergia 'African Sunset'.
Thunbergias have undergone a major makeover, leaving primary yellow and orange behind in favour of more subtle, sultry beauty. At Ball Colegrave's open days, inspiring combinations of new Thunbergias were mixed with climbing sweet potatoes.
Sarah Raven's farmhouse garden boasts a series of acidanthera and gaura in huge terracotta pots. She suggests using autumn-flowering bulb acidanthera in pots or among gaura. In future, she expects to turn to phlox, persicarias, and hydrangeas for late-season color.
For the latest information on Thunbergia hybrids, one might consider checking recent gardening publications or visiting nurseries like Ball Colegrave or BMR Greenhouses, which also feature a variety of Thunbergia species. As the seasons change, Sarah Raven's recommendations provide a vibrant and colourful outlook for garden enthusiasts eager to embrace the late-summer and autumn gardening season.
Sarah Raven's garden lifestyle incorporates Rudbeckias and Thunbergias, as she recommends the compact 'S. bodcious 'Hummingbird Falls' from the Rudbeckia family for home-and-garden pots. Moreover, she expresses admiration for the drought-tolerant Thunbergia 'African Sunset' and looks forward to exploring phlox, persicarias, and hydrangeas for late-season color in her garden.
