Potentilla ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ 

🌿 Potentilla ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ 

Potentilla ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ brings dramatic deep crimson blooms edged with black to early summer borders, offering vibrant, velvety colour over a long flowering season. Low-growing, yet attention-grabbing, this hardy perennial forms a neat, spreading mound of soft green foliage and is ideal for the front of sunny beds, gravel gardens, or wildlife planting schemes.

Specifications:

• Height: 30–40cm

• Spread: 45cm

• Flowering: May to August 🌸☀️

• Position: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained; suitable for sandy, gravelly, or chalky soils

🌿 Note for Isle of Wight planting:
This variety thrives in the island’s bright, open conditions, where its drought tolerance makes it ideal for low-input gardens and south-facing beds. Excellent for exposed sites and borders prone to dryness, Potentilla 'Monarch’s Velvet' is a strong performer in coastal and inland gardens alike.

🌿 Ideal Companion Plants for Potentilla ‘Monarch’s Velvet’ 

1. Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’
The hot red tones of Achillea complement the richness of Potentilla’s blooms and offer bold, heat-loving contrast.

2. Salvia ‘Caradonna’
Dark purple flower spires stand tall behind Potentilla’s low mounds, enhancing both structure and colour depth.

3. Erigeron speciosus ‘Pink Jewel’
The soft pink daisies of Erigeron provide a light contrast and extend flowering interest alongside Potentilla.

4. Gaura lindheimeri ‘The Bride’
Airy white Gaura blooms add movement and a soft foil to the saturated tones of ‘Monarch’s Velvet’.

5. Pennisetum orientale ‘Flamingo’
The delicate, arching plumes of ornamental grass bring contrast in both texture and height, tying the scheme together.

🌟 The Green Standard Tip:
Use Potentilla 'Monarch’s Velvet' in informal groupings along garden paths or gravel borders to create low, jewel-toned colour highlights. It also pairs beautifully with silver-leaved or drought-tolerant Mediterranean-style plants.