STARS OF THE July Garden

A lax, exotic-looking, slightly tender climber from Brazil, best trained on wires against a sunny wall.

- Conrad McCormick.

ABUTILON MEGAPOTAMICUM

It'll produce a succession of red flowers with yellow petals dangling like Chinese lanterns along its arching stems all summer long. Tie in stems in spring, removing any dead of damaged growth.

• Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

• Full sun to partial shade.

● Height x Spread: 70cm x 80cm

VERBENA BONARIENSIS

A short-lived perennial that will self-seed in drier gardens, producing a haze of purple flowers at head height atop wiry see-through stems from late summer to autumn, it's perfect for planting alongside seating areas to produce a veil of flowers but without blocking the view. Remove spent flower stems in spring, keeping an eye out for the jagged leaves seedling appearing in late spring the following year. Move any that are growing in the wrong position during May.

• Full sun.

• Height x Spread: 150-200cm x 45cm.

ALSTROEMERIA 'APOLLO'