You’d never think lettuce could be so colourful. But down on the trials field at the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley in Surrey, 49 different cos lettuces are being grown side by side and some of them are as colourful as dahlias.

The whole trial makes a very attractive display. Beautifully grown, as ever, by the Wisley trials team the fresh bright green of those varieties in the more familiar style sets off those with red, bronze, copper or speckled leaves beautifully. Many will more than hold their own in the border with summer flowers.

Top choices? Well, at this stage ‘Freckles’, with fresh green leaves speckled in red freckles, looks very pretty while for more vivid colour the rich red ‘Rosemoor’ looks outstanding. It’s just about the same colour as the dahlia in the bouquet a friend brought to our party last week.

You can find out more about this trial here.