Bugbane
At a glance
Far more adaptable than most gardeners realize, A.s. ‘Brunette, (formerly listed as Cimicifuga simplex ‘Brunette’) a classy plant with large leaves of rich purple-black, which in reasonably shady positions hold their colour into autumn, best where not too dry. In early autumn tall purple spikes are topped by poker heads of delicate white, pink tinged, fragrant flowers that continue for weeks, attractive seed heads soon to follow. Associate it with Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ or Hakonechloa macra ‘Alboaurea’, to name but a few.
Period of interest: Spring until winter