Lavatera trimestris 'Silver Cup' or any of the other varieties - common name Annual Mallow, gets about 50 cm high, though some are shorter, sow outdoors where they are to grow in March, thin out as necessary. Taller varieties will need staking - bees like it, does well in light shade or part sun part shade, flowers July onwards.

Nemophila for a low growing, earlier flowering annual, doesn't mind sun or shade, sow outdoors early April, flowers June through to September, only about 6 inches high. I'd sow both, the nemophila in front of the lavatera... don't forget to sow a few in pots so you can recognise the seedlings in the ground...

Sounds good Bamboo although I've never heard of Nemophila so will look it up. Thankyou.

There is another hardy annual called Malope which is very pretty with red flowers, similar height and spread to the Lavatera - but it doesn't sound as if there'll be enough sun there for it to do well - it prefers more sun than shade in a day.

I'll have a look at Malope though. It might be a doer for my little patch.

Bees adore Borage and its very easy to grow from seed sown directly. Grows lovely and tall with beautiful blue 'starflowers' or white if you prefer the white form. And makes a lovely addition to salads and cocktails (the flowers).

..and along the lavatera lines..how about Malva sylvestris mauritanica 'Windsor Castle' it has gorgeous dark purple flowers and the bees love it too.

Thanks CottageKaren, I'll consider Borage and the Malva.
Lots of suggestions here.

You're welcome. I'm not a great grower of annuals, but these two are easy peasy. I am trying a few more things myself this year...some californian poppies, Cerinthe and Salvias as well as my usual sweet peas! Enjoy your sowing anyway. :)

Me too! Not grown many annuals and many I've tried weren't successful. For example, californian poppies which I love but cannot grow. Cerinthe were very successful however. Last year I'd grown some Vipers Bugloss seedlings and gave some away. My neighbour's grew massive and beautiful but had loads of sun and light and room to spread. Mine were not so good.

Bamboo, what a good tip to sow some in pots for ID.

Yea, a lesson learned the hard way from when I first started growing stuff back when god was a boy - I couldn't tell what was a weed and what a seedling the first time I did it and spent nearly 3 months nurturing them. Turned out they were all weeds, so I did the pot thing next time round...