Eye-level flowers!

[veggiechicken]

I have this crazy notion of growing tall flowers from seed - not shrubs. Ones that flower at eye-level so that no stooping is required to appreciate their beauty. I'd like to walk along a path, lined both sides with tall flowers, like a tunnel, with a "surprise" feature at the end.
Can you suggest suitable flowers please? So far I'm considering
sunflowers,
hollyhocks,
mallow,
echium pininana,
verbena bonariensis,
lupins........

Foxgloves
Delphiniums


Oh and No rude comments about my height (or lack of) please

[boatsman]

You could try Camelot Cream foxgloves 3-4 ft high or Pacific Giant delphiniums 4-5 ft high. (Taken from the T & M catalogue on line.)

[veggiechicken]

Thanks boatsman! I meant to add foxgloves as I have some that are easily 6'. In a way, they were my inspiration as I can look into the flowers, count the spots in their throat, watch the bees at work and all without any contortions on my part
I'll add delphiniums too.

[Guest]

alstroemerias, some anthirrinhums, larkspur, cosmos can stand around 90-100cm. So shorter than you want but no stooping.

Then your climbers if you have any framework mina lobate, cup and saucer, sweet peas.

Edit: Acanthus mollis

[veggiechicken]

Having a little rummage through my L flower seeds:-

Leonotis "Staircase" - 6'
Lavatera Arborea Variegata - 10' - that's tall

[Bren In Pots]

Himalayan Poppy they're a pretty blue colour and fairly tall.

[mothhawk]

I've had some "dwarf" cosmos this year, and they range in height from 2 feet to well above my head, and I'm 5' 6". And for a half hardy perennial, they are doing very well, still flowering and tall after 3 nights below zero, which blackened the dahlias. Some dahlias can be tall too.

Golden rod (solidago) and Meadowsweet, though once you've got these they are hard to remove
Daucus carota 'Dara' ornamental carrot
Gypsophila paniculata
ornamental angelica with the lovely purple flower heads
verbascum
euphorbia
veronica
kniphofia...have I spelt that right?
rudbeckia
Ammi majus, the flower that looks like cow parsley.

Can't think of any more offhand, but I have a book that sorts all flowering plants by colour, then height, then flower size. I'll have a browse and see what else there is.

[Cadalot]

Grow short ones and put them on something so they are at eye level ...

[WPG]

Thalictrum aquilegifolium - maybe not the most exciting flower, but the delicate foliage is gorgeous and despite their height they never seem to blow down in the wind.
I've several mature plants in my garden which grow to 5 foot, and they self seed all over the place. Only problem about growing from seed is they might take a few years to reach full height.

[rary]

As MH mentioned there are a number of dahlias that grow 4ft. or over and give a lot of colour you could also grow chrysanthemum and I would add lilies to give perfume, but sadly you might have to wait till year three before getting any flowers

[sparrow100]

What about Eryngiums? Alpinum Blue Ice gets to 5'6 in the Wisley beds and is gorgeous.

Again from Wisley, but the trials field this time, the Cosmos Sulphureus were about 5ft tall and very different to the standard varieties.

Any good?

[veggiechicken]

Great suggestions! About 4/5 feet minimum I guess to give the tunnel effect and they must be freestanding!
Not asking much, am I?

[Snadger]

Here are my Chrysanths pictured a couple of weeks ago. At the moment they are about 5 to 6 foot high and have been flowering for a month! Definately worth growing and last for ages when cut as well!

[cheops]

Veggie, I would add clumps of the very tall alliums like Mont Blanc etc. which are approx 1.3m - 1.5m. Long lasting whilst in flower and long lasting after flowering as gorgeous seed heads. A couple of bonuses are - tall large flowers with little foliage and of course absolutely fantastic for the bees which you'll enjoy watching.

[Scarlet]

The variety of globe thistle/eryngium in my garden is 5ft VC...they were one of my saved seeds for the flower circle.