You might try doing some variety trials including several varieties. I trialed 4 varieties several years ago when the wife decided she wanted carrots and learned that 1 did the best, slightly better than #2 and one variety did fine except that there were a very high % that were forked. All of the other varieties had very few to no forks at all. All the same soil, beds, spacing, irrigation, tillage, etc.. I've always been a strong believer in trialing any variety for at least 3 years, discovered this year that Premium Crop broccoli does exceptionally here when we get an unusually long, cool Spring, the previous 4 Springs were warmer and shorter, Premium crop fared so so under those conditions. Packman has always done very well regardless of our Spring conditions.

I particularly like the idea of the dramatic color combination, like the dark violet/deep red/orange combo that was suggested. The french lavender + artichoke already have pastel purple flowers and the silvery leaves there, and with the white rose in the back I'm worried the colors will be too "pastelly". I saw some California poppies "Mikado" seeds in the store today, so I'm thinking that dark flame orange color will do well if I place it in front of the light orange rose (there should be enough contrast between the two colors right?). Or does Echinacea have similar shades of dark orange/red? I like Agastaches as well, but would the scent conflict with the scents of the 2 David Austin roses I'll be planting? or do they have separate bloom seasons so it wouldn't matter? So many wonderful ideas, thank you! I'm going to have to compile a list of the plants everyone suggested and their respective pictures because I'm not familiar with a lot of the plants that were suggested (relatively newbie gardener here). Really excited to see what all the suggested plants might look like! :) This post was edited by technoduckling on Mon, Mar 4, 13 at 2:53

Jean is correct, not wise to plant anything under a citrus tree. It will compete with the tree for water and nutrients. You're better off mulching under your tree to preserve water, keeping the mulch away from the trunk, so the trunk stays dry. Nothing under the tree from trunk to dripline or a bit beyond (edge of canopy). That's where the feeder roots reside - at the drip line and a bit beyond. Patty S.

OK, I finally took pics of my "UT Wallflower"! It was very beautiful in April when it was shorter - as time has gone on the stems have gotten longer and longer, leading to it getting "gangly", but that plant is STILL blooming. Amazing. I imagine if I'd cut the stems back it would have stayed nicer longer, but I really want seed this year so I'm leaving it alone. If you're interested in seed from this plant let me know. It appears to have LOVED getting planted in great soil. Its siblings were raised in unimproved clay, and they were sad, scrawny things in comparison, long since finished blooming. I did my best to adjust the color on these pics to be more accurate, but it still is TOO orange. It's much paler, true UT orange. Erysimum in April: Eryisimum in May: