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Carol Klein demonstrates how to sow ipomoeas and cannas from seed, germinating them under a heated propagator.springMore advice on growing exotic plantsCaring for cannas video project with Carol Klein.Planting eucomis bulbs in a pot.Planting marsh

Mixing contrasting colours, such as lime-green leaves and wine-coloured flowers, is always eye catching. Ipomoea 'Sweet Caroline' is grown for its unusual bright-green foliage and Calibrachoa 'Million Bells Cherry' gives an extra zing. We also added

and morning glory (Ipomoea)Grow an early crop of dwarf French beans in a large potRepot any top-heavy or pot-bound houseplantsStart feeding young plants about 3-4 weeks after potting up in fresh compostPot up rooted cuttings and seedlings

Each blue or magenta flower of Ipomoea, the morning glory, lasts just one day, but it blooms reliably throughout the summer. The dense mat of heart-shaped leaves provide a perfect backdrop for the cheery flowers.How to grow annual climbers from

The bright, cheery colours of Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata, formerly known as Mina lobata) and Canary creeper, Tropaeolum peregrinum, combine to make a stunning summer pot display.Canary creeper is an easy-to-grow relative of nasturtium. You might

than plant a rose or another wisteria - there might be some unpleasantness hiding in the soil - I decided to stick with annual climbers. We usually have morning glories (Ipomoea species) in pots, so I moved one of them to fill in and it did an admirable

that proves it's a survivor.Man cannot live by flower alone, and several foliage plants are included in my favourites. Coleus have looked stunning this year, and I love the trailing foliage of Ipomoea 'Sweet Caroline' varieties.What would your favourite be

more (that's a topic for another day).So, what are the alternatives? There are quite a few annual climbers to choose from actually. Morning glory (ipomoea) is popular, but their flowers are all too short-lived. The purple bell vine (rhodochiton) is nice

, endlessly flowery) and Nicotiana sylvestris, which looks slightly spectral and smells delicious in the evenings. The third is the irrepressible Nigella that seeds itself in the gravel under my pergola.The other two are climbers. The first is Ipomoea purpurea

varieties of coleus, ipomoea and others. Last summer, in addition to lofos I tried Ptilotus 'Joey' last year, a new drought tolerant variety from Australia producing short well-branched plants carrying fluffy pink plumes at the end of each shoot. It was fun