Our featured plants this month are at opposite ends of the spectrum. One is bright, showy and sun-loving, the other is dark, ground-hugging and prefers some shade. However they are both wonderful additions to the garden and as good gardeners will tell you, contrast is king.

Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ has its origins on the prairies of America and this accounts for its tolerance of open positions and weather extremes. Gaillardias have long been known for their ability to flower almost non-stop and tolerate heat and dryness once established. Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ shares these characteristics but bears flowers that are much larger and more striking than the old forms. Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ blooms are about 8cm across and resemble exploding firecrackers with their brilliant red, orange and yellow colours.

Gaillardia ‘Fanfare’ is a fast-growing perennial and grows to around 40cm tall and spreads to 50cm wide. The plants relish a hot, sunny position and are tolerant of frost. Flowering begins in spring and continues right through until the end of autumn and even into winter in milder areas. Dead heading will help to increase the number of blooms. This truly is a hot plant!

Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ is also a hot item but for quite different reasons. This ground-hugging plant has tightly crinkled leaves that are almost black. It forms a weed-excluding mat of glossy foliage that looks simply stunning against contrasting foliage especially the greys and silvers of succulents and hairy-leafed perennials and the green leaves of strappy plants. Blue flower spikes are borne in spring and early summer.

Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’ grows to only 10cm high but can spread to 80 cm wide. It does best in a semi-shaded, moist position. Avoid too much shade though, or the plants will lose some of their dark tonings and become greener. Maintenance is minimal. Another great feature of this plant is that it has greater resistance to mildew than other varieties.