Quick Guide: summer, hardy, sun, height: 90cm/3ft, width: 60cm/24in

Lupins are traditionally a feature of informal cottage gardens, but their tall spires in a range of soft colours make a striking contribution to the border in any garden design. The most reliable types are hybrids of the species L. polyphyllus.

GROWING Set out young plants in early spring or in the autumn, in light, slightly acid soil. Neutral soils will do, but lupins hate lime, and in heavy soils the stems become too soft to support the flowers. Stake with twiggy sticks when plants are 15cm/6in high. Wait until late winter before cutting back, to prevent water lodging in the hollow stems.

PROPAGATION Take 7.5cm/3in cuttings, with a little rootstock attached, in spring. Insert in sandy soil in a cold frame; pot on when rooted or set in nursery rows before planting out in the autumn. Named varieties do not come true from seed.

VARIETIES Choose forms of the Russell lupin strain. Many are bi-coloured. `Blushing Bride', cream and white; `Cherry Pie', crimson and yellow; `Jane Eyre', violet and white; `Lilac Time', rose-lilac and white; `Limelight', butter yellow; `Guardsman', vermilion.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS Crown rot, root rot, honey fungus.