Seven of the best midsummer plant combinations

Aeoniums and pelargoniums

This container planted combination is dominated by the dramatic Aeonium 'Zwartkop', a great contrast to the rich red pelargoniums. Both are easy to propagate – follow our advice on taking aeonium cuttings and cuttings from pelargoniums.

Banana and grasses

The red abyssinian or Ethiopian banana is a real showstopper, and is combined here with dramatic grasses, including Stipa gigantea. The banana isn't hardy, so be sure to protect it over winter.

Veronicastrum and salvias

This pairing of Veronicastrum virginicum 'Album' and purple-flowered salvia makes strong use of vertical, linear forms. Both are great plants for attracting wildlife.

Purple hazel, kniphofias and stipa

Using a dark backdrop is a great way to highlight brightly coloured plants. In this scheme, purple hazel (Corylus maxima 'Purpurea') is the perfect foil for fiery kniphofias and golden Stipa tenuissima.

Kniphofias, cosmos, perovskia and eryngium

This combination has an unusual palette of white, yellow and purple. Bright yellow kniphofias draw in the eye and are set off to perfection by a haze of cosmos, eryngiums and perovskia.

Heleniums, echinacea, achillea and deschampsia

This mixture of plants uses prairie-style plants to great effect. Helenium 'Moerheim Beauty' provides vibrant dots of colour, offset by white echinaceas, Achillea 'Fanal' and tufted hair grass (Deschampsia cespitosa).

Echinacea and salvia

This rich mix of Echinacea 'Magnus' and Salvia 'Silke's Dream' will be a big hit with pollinating butterflies and hoverflies. Here are some ways to make your garden bee-friendly in summer.