Flowering perennials

Rullah

Hi all I am after some expert garden advice please!

I have a raised bed measuring approx 60cm × 120cm, location is Derbyshire, a full sun position, soil conditions are pure compost (cheap b&q stuff).

I'm looking for 3 or 4 flowering perennials that can flower in succession to give me some colour in the raised bed over as much of the year as possible. Eg, first one flowers April/May, second one June/July, third one August/September. I will then add a few other little short lived bits and bobs to provide more colour / interest, but would like it to have one reliably decent flowering plant for as long as possible.

Currently I have lots of little annual bits and bobs that all seems to flower at the same time then quickly die and it just looks a mess for most of the year! 

Can anyone think of a few nice plants that would compliment each other and fit in that space? It is also about 40cm tall so could have a trailing plant over the edge? If there's too many to choose from, I would prefer a purple / pink / white colour combo, but am open to anything! 

Thanks 

Fairygirl

First of all- compost is no use. You'll need to add some soil, or well rotted manure or a J.Innes mix to that. Compost won't sustain perennials apart from the first few months.

Hardy geranium[s] with spring bulbs, followed by a Salvia, Veronica or Agastache , then Asters will give you some succession. Alliums will also fit in well through the mix.
There are lots more which will fit in to early/mid summer. Centaureas for example

Rullah

@Fairygirl super thank you! This is for next year so I'll get something else added to the compost over the winter? 

Will Google a few things you have mentioned now 😊

Fairygirl

Achillea is another good summer plant - often going until early autumn or so.
It came to mind because of another thread. There are pinks and whites so that should suit you 

Busy-Lizzie

For summer colour you can add Penstemons and Dahlias.

edhelka

Species tulips + crocus - these die back quickly without any problems - early spring.
Tulips in your chosen colours - April, May.
Something that hides the foliage of tulips for summer - a lot of possible choices.
And dahlias for late summer and autumn.
Plus some small trailing plants around the edges.

Or as a super easy combo, you could have just tulips + geranium Anne Thomson - it flowers from May to October. Or other similar geraniums.
There are other plants with a very long flowering season - for example, scabious 'Butterfly Blue' would be in your colour scheme.
If you want to add annuals, trailing lobelias around the edges would be lovely.

Biglad

Horse sh!t!

I mean dig in some horse manure this year  

Rullah

edhelka said:

Species tulips + crocus - these die back quickly without any problems - early spring.
Tulips in your chosen colours - April, May.
Something that hides the foliage of tulips for summer - a lot of possible choices.
And dahlias for late summer and autumn.
Plus some small trailing plants around the edges.

Or as a super easy combo, you could have just tulips + geranium Anne Thomson - it flowers from May to October. Or other similar geraniums.
There are other plants with a very long flowering season - for example, scabious 'Butterfly Blue' would be in your colour scheme.
If you want to add annuals, trailing lobelias around the edges would be lovely.

Super, thanks for the suggestions!

Rullah

Biglad said:

Horse sh!t!

I mean dig in some horse manure this year  

I will definitely (send my husband to) get some horse poo

Rullah

Busy-Lizzie said:

For summer colour you can add Penstemons and Dahlias.

Thank you, I'd never heard of penstemons before!

Busy-Lizzie

Some penstemons survive winter better than others. The slimmer leaved ones, like "Garnet" are hardier.