Beautiful BIENNIALS

When spring bulbs start to fade, fill the flowering gap with these plants

- CHRIS MORLEY

Timely treasures

Having a two-year life cycle, these plants develop roots and leaves in the first year, and flower and set seed in the second. They're incredibly useful for late spring and early summer colour, as they flower from March onwards - when spring bulbs are starting to bow out and before hardy annuals get started. As well as being easy to grow from seed, many will self-seed freely, so you'll get new plants next year for zero effort.

Super cover ups

Pretty spreading biennials, like forget-me-nots (Myosotis), are handy, crowding out weeds with a froth of baby-blue flowers. Choose a non-invasive variety, like 'Blue Ball', and team with honey-scented wallflowers (Erysimum cheiri) in colour-saturated hues. A block of beloved classics, like 'Scarlet Bedder' and 'Cloth of Gold' (both H. 45cm), or a newbie, like compact 'Colour Vibe Red' (H. 30cm), will wake up beds and patio planters from April to the early summer months.