For non-stop red, you can't beat Coleus. For constant purple, you can't beat purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) and Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus.)

I used to grow Batface cuphea when a local nursery used to carry it. It combines red and purple within one bloom, and it really does look like a tiny bat face with big ears. It's drought tolerant. I don't know if it's a perennial or an annual. I grew it as an annual.

Red salvia coccinea is pretty.

Negritjanka clematis with Traviata rose

I have never considered hybridising because of the need for decent record keeping but I totally get the thrill of seeing something unique and special.

Coleus - one of those I sometimes do and sometimes don't - I don't find many so called mixtures to be very mixed at all so would be inclined to go for it if I come across a decent single seed strain. Always worthwhile if you have the right ones though so although I have some red orache on the go, I really should make an effort for the lushness they can give. As I tend to grow quite leggy annuals, that space at the front is often overlooked by me - thanx for the reminder, Tiff

I have never done cuphea before - I do sometimes see them as small plants but they have not really made me sit up and think 'hmmm'. A bit like angelonia, mimulus and antirrhinums... also perennially absent from my summer flower lists.

Which is making me wonder - do any of you know perfectly good plants which you are unlikely to bother growing...just because they don't float your boat, rock your world, etc?

(Not those sensible, rational exclusions because of climate or conditions...just those you could grow...but don't).

erasmus_gw: What a sultry combination!

Yep, isn't it. I rarely manage the classic rose clematis combo (invariably wrong roses AND wrong clem) so I have to enjoy other peoples efforts.