To boldly glow...

Let’s inject some vibrancy with the a few fabulous perennials that are guaranteed to brighten up the dullest of English summer days.

Start with Astilbe, commonly known as False Goat’s Beard or False Spirea. They are relatively easy to grow and will reward you year after year with a reliable show of ornamental plume-like flowers in delicate hues of white, pink and red.

The blooms are held high on erect stalks above clouds of foliage. Bonus benefits are the length of time they bloom and the fact that they are generally pest-free. They grow well in shady areas and add interest and texture wherever they are planted.

If you have the chance to grow just one variety, seek out the intriguing Astilbe Perkeo which produces pyramidal spires of pink flowers.

Next on the list is Astrantia, not a particularly common plant in UK gardens – although it should be.

Its unusual looks are characterised by densely-packed flowers on oval bracts. This configuration give the plant a star-like quality – which seems to have influenced the name: Astrantia is said to originate from Astron, the Greek word for star. Look out for Astrantia Sunningdale Variegated, with its wonderful foliage, or the pretty Astrantia major, which produces green, pink or sometimes deep purple-red flowers.

And last but by no means the least… Geum. It’s a name which doesn’t really do justice to what is a versatile garden plant which loves the sun but which can also thrive in partial shade.

The flowers are most common in flame shades of fiery red, burnt orange and molten amber. The dark green foliage is covered in stiff hairs and the plants are very effective as bedding plants or when used in borders.

Geum chiloense Fire Opal is a stunning plant, producing reddish-orange flowers on purple stems. For rock gardens, consider Geum montanum with its deep yellow flowers produced on short stems.

Forget about the grey days; any garden will be a brighter, more beautiful place to be with these wonderful plants as part of the backdrop.