Value Pyrethrum Duo

This affordable duo of Pyrethrum will delight gardeners looking for easy perennial plants that bring a beautiful touch of colour to flower beds for several weeks. It combines two varieties of Tanacetum coccineum, 'Robinson's Rose' and 'Robinson's Red'. These two plants, with their rustic appearance, are attractive for their long spring to summer flowering and finely cut aromatic foliage. Formerly classified as chrysanthemums, they are ideal for gardeners who have little time to devote to maintaining their flower beds. Their above-ground vegetation is deciduous and their stump can withstand temperatures as low as -29 °C (-20.2°F).

The duo consists of:

1 x Tanacetum coccineum 'Robinson's Rose': this variety produces flowers in shades of pink at the top of strong stems, reaching a height of 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30in). The foliage is dark green and finely cut, adding an interesting texture to the garden.

1 x Tanacetum coccineum 'Robinson's Red': brighter, this variety offers intensely red flowers. Its height is similar to that of 'Robinson's Rose', with stems that can reach up to 90 cm (35in). The foliage is also dark green and finely cut, absent in winter.

These two varieties of pyrethrum thrive particularly well in a well-drained, rather moist soil in a sunny to semi-shaded area of the garden. For planting in a flower bed, place 'Robinson's Rose', slightly smaller, in the foreground and 'Robinson's Red' in the background. Allow for three to four plants per square metre and maintain a distance of at least 45 cm (18in) between each plant.

To create a cohesive ensemble, combine the varieties of Tanacetum coccineum Robinson's with plants that have similar needs. The Penstemon 'Husker Red', with its purple foliage and white flowers, offers an interesting contrast. Phlox paniculata 'David' with its white flowers will enhance the colors of the Tanacetum without overshadowing them. Add Bergenia 'Winterglut' with its reddish leaves in winter and pink flowers in spring, this perennial will keep the scene attractive all year round.