Next spring and every spring

There’s a lot of value in short-lived perennials, says Peter

- Peter Seabrook

A POUND or two spent on a packets of seed at this time can fill your garden with colour and, in some cases, sweet perfumes next spring/early summer, and many springs to come. If you want fragrance then sweet William, sweet rocket (Hesperis), wallflowers, and East Lothian and Brompton stocks should be on your shopping list.

Usually listed under the biennial heading, being sown now to flower next year, quite a number are short-lived perennials, and if prevented from setting seeds will often grow on to flower on larger plants in their second season of blooming. Foxgloves, sweet William, the stocks and even wallflowers come into this short-lived perennial category.