Growing
8 Wholesome Vegetables To Plant In September According To Horticulturists
IN THIS GUIDE Improving Soil Fertility 1) Broad Beans 2) Garlic 3) Kale 4) Onion 5) Radish 6) Spinach 7) Turnip 8) Winter Lettuce References Planting a selection of overwintering vegetables in September will reward you with a bountiful harvest come springtime. As soon as the cold snap sets in from November onwards, you can kiss goodbye to any growth in your vegetable patch. That doesn’t mean you should shut up shop after summer, however; taking the time to seed overwintering vegetables in September will give them a good window to establish themselves before winter begins, meaning they’re well-placed to flourish when the temperature starts to rise once more. Ironically, many vegetables that are considered “winter” varieties – like brussels sprouts, leeks and parsnips – require planting earlier in the calendar, which catches out a clutch of novice gardeners every year.1 If that sounds familiar, don’t worry – there are still plenty more overwintering options to choose from that will reward your autumn diligence with a delicious bounty come the following spring. Indeed, September is not too late to reap the benefits of a late harvest in the same year if you opt for faster-growing varieties among your selection. Improving Soil Fertility As well as salvaging the last growth of the current year and getting a jump on the coming one, planting winter vegetables is also a great way to provide protection and nutritional benefits to the soil in December, January and February.2 Even if you don’t end up opting for vegetables, it’s an idea to cover bare areas with green manures like crimson clover or Italian ryegrass, which will improve the soil’s texture and enrich its nitrogen content. However, the same job can be done by vegetables while simultaneously providing a supply of food for your household, so we’d personally favour going the latter route every time. Here’s a handful of suggestions to get your autumn planting odyssey underway, along with a few pointers on how to handle them in order to produce the best results possible. 1) Broad Beans BOTANICAL NAME: Vicia faba RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ HARDINESS RATING: H5 WHEN TO PLANT: SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER Depending upon the variety of bean you go for, you can either plant Broad Beans in the autumn or the following spring. However, we prefer opting for an overwintering strain such as Aquadulce Claudia and getting your hands dirty in September (or even as late as November). This will help to provide coverage and protection to a soil that would otherwise be at the mercy of the elements through the most extreme parts of the year. Broad bean seeds should be sown at a depth of around 5cm, with spacing of approximately 15cm between plants and 45cm between rows. You should also provide support for your beans in the shape of stakes and twine, since the buffeting blasts of wintry winds can overwhelm them. 2) Garlic BOTANICAL NAME: Allium sativum RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Cristo’, ‘Germidour’ HARDINESS RATING: H4 WHEN TO PLANT: LATE SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER Since garlic cloves require around six weeks of cold (below 10°C) temperatures to multiply into a bulb, they’re the perfect vegetable to plant in autumn. In fact, it’s possible to plant them at any point between September and spring, though you’re likely to receive a better yield if you get them in the ground sooner rather than later. Resilient and resourceful, garlic is among the easiest overwintering vegetables you’ll come across. Simply stick a clove in the soil and a bulb will take its place with minimal input from your side. Child’s play! The biggest potential obstacle to a hearty harvest come springtime is waterlogged soil, so if your home is in a particularly wet part of the UK, it might be an idea to plant the garlic in raised beds so as to allow plenty of opportunity for the moisture to run off. 3) Kale BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea var. sabellica RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Black Magic’, ‘Starbor’ HARDINESS RATING: H7 WHEN TO PLANT: AUGUST – SEPTEMBER Kale is one of the more under-appreciated members of the vegetable kingdom. Its extreme hardiness makes it incredibly simple to grow, requiring next to no maintenance and brushing off the inclemency of the British winter with ease. Larger varieties of kale will even produce edible yields all the way through the calendar year, with a single plant providing enough weekly sustenance for one person. However, it’s when springtime rolls around that this leafy green vegetable really comes into its own, with leaves the size of sheaves and vibrant foliage that’s really quite aesthetically pleasing. 4) Onion BOTANICAL NAME: Allium cepa RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Radar’, ‘Electric’ HARDINESS RATING: H4 WHEN TO PLANT: SEPTEMBER – MARCH Onions are such versatile ever-presents in the kitchen that esteemed Chilean poet Pablo Neruda famously penned a poem about them.3 While most onion sets are normally planted in springtime, there are many varieties (like Radar or Senshyu Yellow) which lend themselves well to seeding later in the year. For best results, plant them in modules with up to 10 seeds per module, spacing them at a distance of 25cm between each other and 30cm between rows. When it comes to harvesting in May, simply rip the whole lot up by their foliage and trim their ends to roughly the same length. Hey presto! Homegrown onions made easy. 5) Radish BOTANICAL NAME: Raphanus sativus RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Daikon’ HARDINESS RATING: H3 WHEN TO PLANT: JUNE – SEPTEMBER For those gardeners who want to squeeze one last harvest from the year before winter begins in earnest, a September seeding will see you feasting on radishes before October is over. Most varieties of this rapid-growing little specimen will go from seedling to sprouting to finished article in under a month, meaning it’s a great option if you prioritise a quick turnaround time on your produce. Radishes are also very versatile and can be incorporated into salads, roasts or even solo as a standalone snack. Their peppery punch and crispy crunch make them a favourite among culinary enthusiasts, while their laid-back, low-maintenance growing demands ensure they’re equally popular among the horticultural community. Plant them at 2.5cm intervals and with 1cm depth of soil and you’ll be snacking on these tasty autumn vegetables in next to no time. 6) Spinach BOTANICAL NAME: Spinacia oleracea RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Giant Winter’ HARDINESS RATING: H4 WHEN TO PLANT: MARCH – SEPTEMBER Spinach is a slightly more delicate plant than its cousin kale. That’s because the plant is susceptible to germination issues whichever season its planted in, but opting for an autumn seeding could enhance your chances. When planting in September, you should expect one mini-harvest at the end of October or beginning of November, before the plant goes into virtual hibernation for the colder months. When the temperatures do plummet, spinach will also require a little more in the way of protection than some other options on this list. Ensure it’s not ravaged by the worst of the frost by using fleecing from October onwards or, better yet, use a polytunnel to protect it from the elements. But with a little bit of TLC and some good-quality soil, your spinach plant will produce impressive yields when spring rolls around once more. 7) Turnip BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa subsp. rapa RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Oasis’, ‘Atlantic’, ‘Tokyo Cross’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 WHEN TO PLANT: JULY – SEPTEMBER First thing’s first: it’s important to clarify that when we talk about planting turnips in September, we’re referring to the white variety (as opposed to swedes). Pick a fast-growing Japanese strain like ‘Tokyo Cross’ and get it in the ground early enough in the month and you’ll be able to take advantage of a final bumper yield before the nights draw in and the temperatures drop too low. As a quick and easy crop to cultivate, turnips are the ideal option to replace a spring or summer plant that has recently been harvested. Create 2cm-deep well and drop a single seed in each, leaving a 10cm interval between them. Alternatively, you can sow them in seed trays and transplant them into the Earth once they’ve begun to take root – but just ensure you leave more space for them to develop if taking this route. 8) Winter Lettuce BOTANICAL NAME: Lactuca sativa RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Winter Density’ HARDINESS RATING: H2 WHEN TO PLANT: AUGUST – NOVEMBER Lettuce has always been a favourite in British gardening circles, but what newbies might not realise is that this leafy salad crop can be cultivated right through the winter, as well. In fact, growing certain strains of lettuce is even easier later in the year, since the worst of the summer heat and drought will have passed. To take advantage, plant winter varieties of lettuce all the way up until October, then reap the rewards even in the depths of winter. “Winter lettuces will stand longer than summer lettuces, which tend to bolt if left too long unharvested,” says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “‘Winter Density’ is a great choice and I use mini cloches in the coldest months to keep them harvestable.” Seeds should be dropped into drills with a depth of just 1cm, while spacing should be between 15cm and 30cm depending upon the particular strain you settle upon. The job will become even easier if you use a polytunnel or something similar to provide some insulation through the colder months, but it’s not necessary if you don’t have one to hand. Cloches and fleeces will do the same job just as well. References 1. Vegetables: growing for winter. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/growing-for-winter 2. 5 Ways To Protect Soil this winter. (n.d.). Soil Association. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/save-our-soil/5-ways-to-protect-soil-in-the-winter/ 3. Giardino, A. (2018, October 9). Ode to an Onion: Pablo Neruda and His Muse. GoodReads. Retrieved March 27, 2023, from https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/38748272-ode-to-an-onion
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15 Plants To Grow An Alpine Rock Garden With Inspiration From RHS Harlow Carr
IN THIS GUIDE Expert Chosen Varieties 1) Aubretia 2) Campanula 3) Dianthus 4) Gentiana verna 5) Geraniums (Alpine Varieties) 6) Lithodora 7) Penstemon 8) Pulsatilla vulgaris 9) Phlox 10) Primula 11) Saxifraga 12) Sedums 13) Sempervivums 14) Thyme 15) Veronica Final Considerations References There are plenty of great plants to consider for an alpine rock garden. But when you are getting started with growing alpines, it can be great to have a list of some of the favourites that you can use as a starting point for making your selections. A rock garden is a great feature for a garden – typically in a sunny and open spot. Creating this type of habitat will allow you to grow a range of relatively low-maintenance plants which come from rocky and mountainous regions, and make the most of areas that may have nutrient-poor and/or shallow soils. Expert Chosen Varieties We consulted with a specialist grower to find out their favourite alpines that could be suitable for growth in a rock garden. “Alpines incorporate so many different varieties,” says Hayley Willerton, Owner of The Alpine and Grass Nursery. “Ventilation is also essential and as all the alpines we grow are hardy, they do not need covering up in winter.” Some of Hayley’s favourite varieties include: Erodium x kolbianum ‘Natasha’ “This is a very pretty alpine with fern-like, silver-green leaves bearing darkly veined pink flowers with two maroon eyes,” shares Hayley. “These alpines love basking in full sun.” Armeria maritima ‘Dusseldorf Pride’ “‘Dusseldorf Pride’ bears many clusters of deep pink flowers from spring through to autumn. “It is loved by pollinators and thrives in either full sun or partial shade.” Silene acaulis “This is a compact, slow-growing alpine, studded with tiny pink flowers and is a true delight,” says Hayley. “This alpine always makes me smile.” So – if you have made an alpine rock garden, or are thinking about making one, here are fifteen further plants to consider: 1) Aubretia SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL-DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H6 Aubretia, also known as purple rock cress or purple chickweed, is a hardy (H6) mat-forming perennial. It is evergreen and has copious, lovely little pink or purplish flowers in the spring. It will thrive in full sun and well-drained soil that is alkaline or neutral in pH, but can also tolerate a little partial shade. 2) Campanula SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE SOIL: MOIST BUT WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H5 There is a wide range of diminutive bellflowers, Campanula, which are perfect for rock gardens. There are literally hundreds of varied options within this genus. One type of bellflower which I would recommend for a rock garden is Campanula portenschlagiana – wall bellflower. This low growing perennial is a great alpine plant, which is evergreen, forming dense mats of small rounded leaves. They have pretty violet-blue flowers in the summer. H5 hardy, these are ideal for rock gardens or sunny borders where conditions don’t get too wet in winter. 3) Dianthus SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H6 Alpine varieties of Dianthus, also known as ‘Pinks’ are also ideal for many alpine rock gardens. D. alpinus is another mat-forming perennial which bears pretty pink or cerise flowers in the summer months. It is H6 hardy, and will thrive in a well-drained position in full sun, with alkaline or neutral pH. Their flowers are vibrant additions to an alpine rockery. 4) Gentiana verna SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: MOIST BUT WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 Spring gentian is another lovely alpine for a rockery, which is another small evergreen mat-forming perennial. But in spite of its small size, it can really make a big impact with its stunning sky-blue flowers with white centres, which bloom in late spring and early summer. It is H5 hardy, and prefers moist but well-drained soil that is alkaline or neutral, in full sun. 5) Geraniums (Alpine Varieties) SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE SOIL: MOIST BUT WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H5 Alpine geraniums are another notable group of plants to consider for an alpine rock garden. One great example is G. ‘Ballerina‘ (Cinereum Group), a great ground cover plant and great for wildlife.1 It is an H5 hardy herbaceous perennial which forms small clumps of foliage and flowers with pinkish purple-hued blooms in late spring and summer. The evergreen perennial G. dalmaticum is another great option to consider for your rock garden. 6) Lithodora SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ACIDIC OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 Lithodora diffusa is a great training plant for the rock garden. H5 hardy, it has deep green foliage that spreads well, and deep gentian blue flowers which bloom over a long period from May through the summer months. It will do best in full sun; in acidic or neutral soil. 7) Penstemon SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H4 Pine-leaved Penstemon, P. pinifolius, is another interesting plant to consider. This bushy dwarf shrub is evergreen, with short, needle leaves – and it bears bright scarlet tubular flowers in the summer months. It will thrive in very well-drained, sheltered, spots in full sun. Another Penstemon to consider is P. laetus subsp. roezlii, a perennial which bears purple flowers from late spring to mid-summer. 8) Pulsatilla vulgaris SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: VERY WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H5 Also known as pasqueflower or meadow anemone, this clump-forming perennial wows with its large nodding purple flowers, followed by silky fruiting heads. It is H5 hardy and will thrive in any very well-drained soil in full sun. Though it can be hard to establish, once it beds in it is wonderful for an impressive alpine rock garden. 9) Phlox SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE SOIL: MOIST BUT WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H6 Phlox is a genus which offers a number of different mat-forming evergreen perennials that work very well in sunny, well-drained rock gardens. They have small pinkish flowers which emerge from late spring. Phlox douglasii and P. subulata are both great examples, which are H6 hardy and fairly resilient in the right conditions. 10) Primula SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 For a moist but well-drained rock garden in full sun, ideally in loam, Primula auricula is another reliable choice. This evergreen perennial has lovely bright flowers which emerge in the spring. H5 hardy, these are relatively well known and popular primulas for a rock garden. Note: these are not the same as true show auriculas. Primula marginata, P. allionii and their many hybrids are also excellent options for an alpine rock garden. 11) Saxifraga SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN OR PARTIAL SHADE SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 Saxifraga are yet more mat-forming perennials which are great for adding lush greenery to alpine spaces. There are a number of examples with flowers of various different hues. S. ‘Silver Cushion’ and S. paniculata ‘Lavagreana’, ‘Rosea’ and ‘Venetia’ are all top options to consider. If you are new to alpine rock gardening then this genus should be one of the go-to choices. 12) Sedums SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 Like saxifrages, Sedums are also an obvious go-to choice, whether you are a complete novice or a far more experienced gardener of alpine plants. Many stonecrops, with their pretty little star-shaped flowers, are ideal for nestling among rocks in a rockery, or even planting into the top of a stone wall. S. cauticola, for example, is one such Sedum to consider. 13) Sempervivums SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H7 For free-draining, sunny sites, succulents like Sempervivum are often a great choice. Houseleeks, as they are sometimes called, are very easy to please alpine succulents. There is a reason why they are so well known and widely recognised – with attractive and intricate rosettes, they can grace your garden for many years as long as they don’t have ‘wet feet’ and are protected from excessive rain in winter. 14) Thyme SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ALKALINE OR NEUTRAL HARDINESS RATING: H5 Thyme is a plant that you might be more likely to consider placing in a herb garden rather than in an alpine rock garden, but Thymus vulgaris will be right at home in this location. Well known as a culinary herb, thyme can also be a great decorative plant – producing little purple flowers in addition to aromatic leaves. A creeping thyme variety will be ideal for spreading through your rock garden. 15) Veronica SUNLIGHT: FULL SUN SOIL: WELL DRAINED; ANY PH HARDINESS RATING: H5 Veronica prostrata, or rock speedwell, is my final pick – another of my favourites for an alpine rock garden. This mat-forming semi-evergreen perennial thrives in well-drained locations in full sun. It is H5 hardy and has really pretty blue flowers that bloom during the summer months. This is another relatively easy and low-maintenance plant. Final Considerations A rock garden can represent a big investment in rock, and in time and energy – even where the rocks are already available on site. So it is important to make sure that you make the right plant choices for your particular rock garden. Remember that “rock gardens should have a growing media that is relatively low in nutrients and organic matter and high in gravels, grits and sands to reflect the habitats that alpines come from,” according to Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “Choosing the right plants means that they should thrive in the conditions that you have created for them, a ‘home from home’. “However, plants that like fertile conditions will suffer, whilst drought-tolerant non-alpines might take over your rockery. “A little homework on planting goes a long way to successful planting!” References 1. Geranium (Cinereum Group). (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/194563/geranium-(cinereum-group)-ballerina/details
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12 Short And Low Growing Grasses Chosen By Horticulturists To Match Any Garden Scheme
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ 2) Elymus magellanicus 3) Festuca glauca 4) Hakonechloa macra 5) Imperata cylindrica 6) Koeleria glauca 7) Luzula sylvatica 8) Milium effusum 9) Melica uniflora 10) Pennisetum villosum 11) Sesleria caerulea 12) Nassella tenuissima Ornamental grasses can add movement, variation and year-round colour to your borders, raised beds and garden planting schemes. While most of us might associate the term ‘grasses’ with the slender elegances of rushes and reeds, these versatile and diverse plants come in all shapes and sizes. “I think the one group of plants that is essential to my work are ornamental grasses,” shares Designer Wes Shaw. “They are such versatile plants that can be used anywhere. They look great all year, are easy to grow, drought tolerant and have fantastic form and texture. “I love naturalistic planting and they combine so well with other perennials to produce beautiful displays that will also benefit wildlife and diversity.” In fact, the grass genus is one of the biggest in the entire plant kingdom, with strains and species having adapted to every conceivable climate and soil type on the planet. What that means is that in addition to the long, waving stems of taller grasses, there are also a number of small, short and low-growing varieties which are perfect for more economical spaces. “Ornamental grasses are my favourite, purely because of the fact that they add movement to a garden, lots of interest throughout the year if you select the right ones and are great for wildlife,” shares TV Presenter Mark Lane. “They look lovely when they’re frosted in the autumn and winter and are a brilliant plant for putting into a border to divide up colours and blur plants together.” They also work well in stitching the aesthetic of your garden together, providing a subtler background link between more showy blooms. The fact that there are many evergreen varieties available – alongside the multi-toned colours that many varieties offer – makes them an ideal method of brightening up your display throughout the colder months. “Ornamental grasses are successful in our natural world that they obviously work well in our gardens,” says Neil Lucas, an expert on ornamental grasses. “You need to make sure that you’re growing the right plants in the right soil. “When using grasses, the important factors are shade and drainage, and if you can get those factors right, grasses split quite easily into those categories so you can learn where to put them.” Aside from the practical considerations of which grasses will flourish in the conditions available to you, the other major factor in your decision-making process should be a cosmetic one. In this respect, it pays to be bold in your choice of ornamental grasses, opting for colours that will change and transform as the calendar year progresses. This means they can not only complement the existing décor in your display, but provide a focal point all of their own, as well. “In almost all of our schemes, we include grasses,” says Garden Designer Gavin McWilliam. “They catch the light and look great. They also act as a great filter between the different planting groups and are relatively low-maintenance.” For any green-fingered enthusiast for whom space is at a premium, or who simply wishes to use smaller varieties of grass to create a more compact and grounded effect, here is a suggested list of low-growing ornamental grasses that won’t exceed one metre in height – 1) Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ COMMON NAME: SWEET FLAG HARDINESS RATING: H6 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.3M Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ – otherwise known as Sweet Flag – is a semi-evergreen grass which provides vibrant colour for much of the year. Its distinctive sword-shaped leaves are a delicious yellow in colour, complemented by the lush green of the variegated stripes which line them. The plant will remain an attractive component of your display until late autumn when the foliage begins to fade, at which point it should be pruned back to encourage further growth the following year. Unlike many other grasses, A. gramineus actually prefers wetter soil types with poor drainage, so it makes for an excellent addition to the periphery of a pond, fountain or other water feature. Alternatively, you can leverage the vibrancy of its foliage to brighten up shady areas of the garden which don’t receive much in the way of sunlight. 2) Elymus magellanicus COMMON NAME: Magellan Rye Grass HARDINESS RATING: H6 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.6M With its metallic blue leaves that carry an almost silver hue, Elymus magellicanus is perhaps the bluest of all bluegrasses. It’s a native of South America, with the plant found in plentiful supply in the colder climes of southern Chile and Argentina. For that reason, it holds up well against the vagaries of the Great British climate, though it won’t prosper in the extremes of a summer heatwave or a winter frost. Instead, E. magellanicus prefers a milder year-round temperature. In the right conditions, it can provide evergreen colour, though gardeners may notice that it exhibits signs of fading and fatigue in winter. If that happens, it should be cut back severely in spring, after which it will rebound slowly but reliably, requiring very little in the way of maintenance. It shouldn’t require dividing for several years, but spring is the best time to do so when the opportunity does arise. 3) Festuca glauca COMMON NAME: Blue Fescue ‘Blaufuchs’ HARDINESS RATING: H5 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.35M Sometimes called ‘Blaufuchs’ or Blue Fox, Festuca glauca is another compact grass defined by the steely blue of its leaves. Unlike Elymus magellanicus, however, F. glauca is a deciduous plant which dies away during the colder months. Its foliage is also narrower and more needle-like than the sword-shaped fronds of its South American counterpart, while the green buds of flowers which appear in summer are similarly slender and unglamorous in their nature. The striking colour of its leaves makes it an ideal addition to a rock garden, where the metallic hues will complement the greys and whites of pebbles and stones beneath. Growing to just 35cm in height, it’s easily manageable and will thrive in most soil types with little in the way of support. 4) Hakonechloa macra COMMON NAME: Japanese Forest Grass HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M Hailing from the rocky cliffs of the Japanese island of Honshu, this attractively shaped perennial grass is great for bringing a touch of the Orient into your garden. Its long, curving green leaves spring from a tufted mound and shoot upwards, before draping over themselves in an eye-catching manner. Meanwhile, the red and brown hues that the foliage takes on in autumn and winter make it a crowd-pleaser right through the calendar. The cascading nature of the plant’s growth makes it ideal as an edging element to a pathway, an understated backdrop to taller and showier shrubs or flowers or as a standalone focal point in a minimalist gravel forecourt. It’s fully hardy and slow growing, meaning it doesn’t require much in the way of garden care, though it will appreciate being pruned in winter and mulched in sprung to encourage an encore of growth in the following year. 5) Imperata cylindrica COMMON NAME: Red Baron HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M Characterised by the brilliance of its scarlet spikes, Imperata cylindrica – or Red Baron, to give it one of its common names – is perhaps one of the more eye-catching inclusions on this list. The redness of the foliage fades into a mellow green at its roots and the entire leaf turns slightly translucent as it matures. This interesting visual effect makes it perfect for livening up borders and pairing with similarly ostentatious grasses and shrubs. It’s a hardy little critter which will handle most soil types with ease, but for the most vivid colours which really pop, it’s advisable to grow I. cylindrica in moist soil with a high humus count in full view of the sun’s rays. It also works equally well in a pot or container and when set alongside three or four other plants of the same genus, it will produce a particularly impressive aesthetic. 6) Koeleria glauca COMMON NAME: Blue Hair Grass HARDINESS RATING: H5 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M The blue-green tufted hummocks of Koeleria glauca (common name: Blue hair grass) are most popular in rock gardens and gravel forecourts. The foliage is at its most stunning earlier in the year, while the blooming of silver-green flowers come summertime adds another layer of intrigue. As the shadows begin to lengthen and autumn sets in, the leaves and flowers both fade to a rustic straw-yellow. Hardy, low-maintenance and unassuming, K. glauca is a fantastic choice for those looking for a more reserved accompaniment to brighter flowering plants. Indeed, perhaps the only drawback of this resilient and versatile species is that it generally doesn’t last as long as some others on this list, so may require replacement within a couple of years. 7) Luzula sylvatica COMMON NAME: Great Woodrush HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.8M This evergreen perennial is often planted en masse, forming a handsomely hummocked carpet for your garden floor. Although Luzula sylvatica does bear small clusters of brown flowers in late spring and early summer, the floral blooms are not considered its finest attribute. “Like many plants sold as grasses, Luzula is not technically a grass but a perennial in the Rush family,” explains Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly. “From the ornamental rather than botanical standpoint, the effect is the same, and Luzula is a fantastic plant for damp shade where it will cover the ground and look fantastic and associate well with other damp and shade-loving perennials.” Instead, it’s the glossy greenery of its foliage, which spills out of loose clumps in an overflowing effect, which steal the show. Native to both Europe and southwest Asia, this hardy little plant knows a thing or two about colder temperatures. It doesn’t enjoy the full heat of the sun if the soil beneath it is allowed to dry out, but will otherwise cope with pretty much anything the elements can throw at it. For best results, plant it in grouped clumps and divide to propagate further come springtime. 8) Milium effusum COMMON NAME: Bowles’ Golden Grass HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M With sprouting foliage that appears bright yellow in spring before turning a rich green later in the year, Milium effusum is a favourite among gardeners searching for a bright grass to add some energy to a dark or jaded part of their display. It’s semi-evergreen in nature, meaning the foliage is prone to losing some or all of its lustre in the colder months, but it invariably grows back again the following year. The delicate yellow flowerheads of summertime only add to its appeal. It’ll work best in soil with good drainage, while it doesn’t overly enjoy too much UV radiation, so keep it in a shady spot to coax the best performance out of it. Dead foliage and flowerheads can be pruned in spring and they can be propagated by division at that time of the year, too. Other than that, M. effusum will thrive when left to its own devices. 9) Melica uniflora COMMON NAME: Wood Melick HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M As the Latin name of this elegant grass suggests, Melica uniflora flowers bloom singly come summertime. Their spiky panicles are apt to sway pleasingly in a gentle breeze, while the dense, pointed foliage beneath provide depth and colour to their backdrop. For that reason, they’re a popular choice for blending the edges of a garden with the surrounding environment, blurring the lines between nature and nurture. As a native of Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia, Melica uniflora is a highly adaptable grass which will fare well in almost all conditions, from the high altitude of the Alps to the low plains of the prairie. As such, it should perform well wherever you place it in your garden and will grow in slowly spreading clumps that are easy to manage should they become too big for their horticultural boots. 10) Pennisetum villosum COMMON NAME: Feathertop HARDINESS RATING: H3 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M Pennisetum villosum – or feathertop – is one of the most desirable ornamental grasses going, especially in sensory gardens where touch is just as important as aesthetics. That’s due to the bobbing masses of rabbit tail-like blooms, which spring up each summer and sit proudly atop the fine-leaved foliage like clouds. As well as being incredibly easy on the eye, they’re also the kind of grass that begs to be touched. As natives of tropical regions of Africa, P. villosum is unlikely to survive the harsher extremes of a British winter. There’s no need to worry, however, since they are experts at self-seeding and will, in all likelihood, come back the following year even stronger with little in the way of help from your end. 11) Sesleria caerulea COMMON NAME: Blue Moor Grass HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5M Although not the first grass on this list to carry a bluish tinge to its green, Sesleria caerulea is perhaps unique in its combination of those two colours. That’s because the topside of its leaves features a dull blue that’s almost grey in hue, while the underside is painted in a rich dark green. Together, those shades make for quite the head-turning specimen, while the purple flowers which proliferate during summer are just the icing on the cake. Ideal for use as ground cover, Sesleria caerulea prefers well-draining soil that receives full or partial sun. It’ll reach a maximum of 50cm in height, meaning it can work well at the front of a border with taller plants behind, while the only maintenance it will require is a quick raking in spring to separate the dead leaves from the live ones. 12) Nassella tenuissima COMMON NAME: Mexican Feather Grass HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.6M Nassella tenuissima goes by many names: Mexican Feather Grass, Pony’s Tail or Angel Hair to name but a few. One look at the soft feathery flowerheads which proliferate in summer will reassure you that each of them is an apt moniker for this attractive deciduous, clump-forming grass. It’s particularly effective when placed alongside other grasses or as part of a herbaceous border, adding understated charm to its surroundings. The long, slender stems of N. tenuissima grow to a maximum of 60cm in length, while the plant will perform most impressively in full view of the sun and in sandy soil that enjoys good drainage. Its flowerheads make for attractive cut-and-dried floral displays, but alternatively, the seeds within them can provide a solid source of sustenance for finches and other birds in autumn and winter.
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10 Perfect Ornamental Grasses For Containers With Tips From RHS Gold-Medalist Neil Lucas
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Anemanthele lessoniana 2) Carex 3) Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’ 4) Festuca glauca 5) Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ 6) Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ 7) Pennisetum setaceum 8) Stipa gigantea ‘Pixie’ 9) Stipa ichu 10) Stipa tenuissima Notes When Growing Ornamental Grasses In Containers Many ornamental grasses that can be grown in garden beds can also work well in containers. Ornamental grasses can work very well as container plants – adding drama, height and/or visual interest to a container garden on a patio, balcony, or in another outside space. “A lot of ornamental grasses do well because they have a fibrous root system that is easy to please,” shares Ornamental Grass Expert Neil Lucas. “The bigger the container, the better the grass will perform.” As long as you care for them correctly – watering, fertilising, cutting back and repotting as required – you should find that it is relatively easy to enjoy these grasses without having to grow them in the ground. “I love grasses, because they give 10 months of interest throughout the year and when you cut them down you can have bulbs coming up through them,” shares Garden Designer Amanda Patton. “They bring such a lot of movement and light into the garden, so always sneak a few into gardens.” Here are the best 10 for including in gardens: 1) Anemanthele lessoniana COMMON NAME(S): Pheasant’s Grass, Pheasant’s Tail, New Zealand Wind Grass PLANT TYPE: CLUMP-FORMING; SEMI-EVERGREEN HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.6 – 0.9M Hailing from New Zealand, this grass is known as pheasant’s grass – a name which reflects its drooping foliage. It naturally grows in windy environments, and does not enjoy having wet feet. So growing it in a container can be a great idea, especially if the soil is not very free-draining where you live. It grows quickly, to 60-90cm in height, and lives for 3-5 years. It has foliage that is green when it emerges, but which turns yellow-tan, orange and reddish, becoming more intense during the winter months. Sprays of airy flower heads emerge in late summer – tease out dead foliage from the clump in the container each spring. 2) Carex COMMON NAME(S): Sedges PLANT TYPE: EVERGREEN PERENNIAL HARDINESS RATING: TYPICALLY H5 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5 – 1M Though Carex are technically sedges rather than grasses, there are a great many that work extremely well instead of or alongside ornamental grasses in containers. “The fact they are sedges gives them fairly broad leaves in a variety of exciting and sometimes variegated tones,” says Master Horticulturist Peter Lickorish. Some examples of Carex that work very well in containers include: C. buchananii C. comans C. elata C. flagellifera C. morrowii C. oshimensis C. testacea “Smaller grasses like Carex can be mixed with perennials or bedding plants to create short-term displays, with plants potted on or planted out once they outgrow their pot,” adds Peter. 3) Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’ COMMON NAME(S): Pampas Grass PLANT TYPE: EVERGREEN PERENNIAL HARDINESS RATING: H6 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5 – 1.2M Pampas grasses are often too large to consider growing in containers. But you can consider some options within this genus when you have a container garden and are looking for something to add drama. Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’ has foliage that reaches just 50cm or so in height, and sends up plumes on stems around 1.2m high in late summer. This works for larger containers and is more manageable than most C. selloana, which reach up to 2.5-3m in height. 4) Festuca glauca COMMON NAME(S): Blue Fescue PLANT TYPE: EVERGREEN HARDINESS RATING: H5 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.3M If you are looking for smaller grasses for containers, then Festuca glauca (blue fescue) offers a number of excellent options. Try: ‘Blaufuchs’ ‘Casblue’ ‘Elijah Blue’ ‘Golden Toupee’ All of the above can work very well in containers. 5) Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ COMMON NAME(S): Hakone Grass PLANT TYPE: CLUMP-FORMING; DECIDUOUS HARDINESS RATING: H7 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.3M Hakonechloa is a perennial deciduous grass that can work just as well in containers as it can in garden beds or borders. “The Hakonechloa is my number one choice for container growing and you can use either the green or variegated forms,” says Neil. “They are really easy to please, slow-growing (so they are happy in pots) and they look stunning in containers in the summer months.” There are a range of different cultivars to choose from. ‘Aureola’ is just one that is a great pick for container gardens, and containers can be placed in shade as well as in sunnier spots. These grasses will live for 10 years or more, and since they are relatively slow-growing, will need repotting only every couple of years or so. “I love the combination of the zestful hues of Hakone grasses with dark or slate-coloured containers,” says Peter. 6) Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ COMMON NAME(S): Eulalia PLANT TYPE: DECIDUOUS PERENNIAL HARDINESS RATING: H6 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 1 – 1.5M Miscanthus are common ornamental grasses in the UK. More compact varieties often work very well in containers, as well as in borders. ‘Morning Light’ is one cultivar that can grow well in a container, as long as it is medium-large in size. In pots, it will grow to around 1.2m in height, creating a strong and dramatic statement for your outside space. M. sinensis ‘Kleine Fontane’ is one somewhat smaller Miscanthus, compared to others in the genus, to consider. 7) Pennisetum setaceum COMMON NAME(S): Fountain Grass PLANT TYPE: CLUMP-FORMING; DECIDUOUS HARDINESS RATING: H3 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 1 – 1.5M Many Pennisetum also work very well when grown in containers. Fountain grasses make a great architectural and visual statement. Their fountain-like arching habit means that they are natural for container growing. There are also many other interesting Pennisetum to consider, with a variety of textures, and hues. Try ‘Fireworks’ for example, with its brilliant red colours. P. thunbergii ‘Red Buttons’ and P. villosum are two other types of grass in this genus to consider growing in containers. 8) Stipa gigantea ‘Pixie’ COMMON NAME(S): Golden Oats ‘Pixie’ PLANT TYPE: TUFTED EVERGREEN HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 1 – 1.2M Stipa is another genus that offers a range of interesting options for ornamental grasses which can be grown in containers. Stipa gigantea is one species within this genus which offers a range of dramatic architectural grasses for container gardens, as well as for other parts of a garden. Golden oats ‘Pixie’ is one option to consider. It forms dense mounds of foliage, and open-branched panicles of oat-like flowers during the summer, to a height of around 1m. 9) Stipa ichu COMMON NAME(S): Peruvian Feather Grass PLANT TYPE: DECIDUOUS PERENNIAL HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.9 – 1M Stipa is such a useful genus of grasses that these last two options on our top ten container grasses list are also Stipa. S. ichu, also known as Jarava ichu or Peruvian feather grass, is another of our top picks. The feathery plumes with silvery-white flowers grow to around 90cm in height during the summer months and look beautiful spilling out of a container. 10) Stipa tenuissima COMMON NAME(S): Mexican Feather Grass PLANT TYPE: DECIDUOUS; MOSTLY PERENNIAL HARDINESS RATING: H4 TYPICAL HEIGHT: 0.5 – 0.6M S. tenuissima, Mexican feather grass, is another beautiful Stipa grass that also works very well in containers. Forming tufts of up to around 60cm in height, this is another very manageable choice in a container garden. The graceful shape of the plant and the texture it creates also means that it is known as ‘ponytails’. “It is also sold under the name Nassella tenuissima too – a recent reclassification,” adds Peter. Notes When Growing Ornamental Grasses In Containers When growing ornamental grasses in containers, it is important to understand whether the grasses you are growing are perennials, and whether they die back in winter or will remain standing throughout the winter months. You need to know for each particular species and cultivar what care is required, and when you should cut back and when you should leave the grass in place. You will of course also need to know how long your grass can remain in its container for – and how, as well as how often – it will need to be repotted over time.
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20 Robust Patio Fruit Trees And Plants Recommended By Garden Designers
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Apple 2) Pear 3) Plum 4) Cherry 5) Quince 6) Mulberry 7) Apricots 8) Peaches 9) Figs 10) Citrus Trees 11) Raspberries 12) Grapes 13) Kiwi Fruit 14) Gooseberries 15) Blackcurrants 16) Redcurrants 17) Blueberries 18) Cranberries 19) Honeyberries 20) Strawberries Bare-Root Vs Pot Grown Choosing Patio Fruit Trees Patio fruit trees, fruiting canes, fruiting vines and fruit bushes can provide abundant yields for a small space gardener. If you want to grow at least some of your own food this year, dwarf fruit trees or other fruiting plants that can be grown in containers on a patio are a great place to start. Growing these perennial options often involves a lot less work than tending an annual vegetable garden – and once the trees are established, you should get a reliable yield not just for one season but over a number of years. “Every garden patio needs a tree and you can grow it in a pot if you need to because it gives you the possibility of moving things around.,” shares Flo Headlam, Garden Designer and Presenter. “If it is a fruit tree, you’ll get blossom in the spring, fruit that follows, and autumn colour. “Alternatively, a seasonal deciduous tree keeps you in touch with the seasons which is great.” Many fruit trees are easy and relatively trouble-free to grow in the UK. And when they are grown on dwarfing rootstocks, they can take up a lot less space than you might imagine. When you plan and make the right choices, you can grow an abundant fruit-producing garden in a surprisingly small amount of space. “I’ve got lots of soft fruit trees and plants growing in my garden,” shares Designer Ann-Marie Powell. “Even though my children hate gardening, they like eating straight from the fruit trees!” Below, you will find a list of fruit trees that can potentially make great patio fruit trees in the UK. But remember, the type of fruit is just one of the things to think about. You also need to think about the variety, and the rootstock on which it is grown, in order to make the right decision for you. 1) Apple BOTANICAL NAME: Malus domestica HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Apples are definitely one of the most popular choices for temperate climate gardens. They need fertile soil or growing media which is neither prone to waterlogging nor particularly free draining. Dessert apples need full sun, ideally, while cooking/cider or crab apples can cope with less sun and can often cope well in a more shaded spot. Apple trees (depending on variety) fruit within a few years, provided they don’t encounter any growing issues. When growing apples as patio fruit trees, often, extreme dwarfing rootstocks are used. One example in the UK is called M27, while dwarfing rootstocks called M9 and M26 are also commonly utilised – so these are the ones to look out for. “My recommendation for a robust rewarding small patio tree would be an M26 Cox orange pippin self-fertile apple,” shares Dan Ori. “It should survive if you forget to water it for one week, it can deal with the cold, it doesn’t need pollinators and the fruit tastes good.” 2) Pear BOTANICAL NAME: Pyrus communis HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Pear trees can be great trees to plant in many regions of the UK. Pear trees will do well in sheltered and sunny spots that are not prone to frost and do well as individual specimen trees or as part of a larger garden system. Depending on the variety, the tree you plant as a sapling in the dormant season will fruit within a few years and can continue to fruit reliably, in the right conditions, for many years. One interesting thing to note about patio pear trees is that they often come on rootstocks that are not even from a pear. They are frequently grafted onto quince rootstocks (such as Quince C) to keep them small. Sometimes an additional third section of a pear variety that works well with the rootstock from the quince is spliced in. Quince C is also used for a number of other fruit trees to be grown in containers. 3) Plum BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus domestica HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Plum trees are also an excellent and popular choice for UK gardens. They will tend to fruit prolifically in fertile and moist yet free-draining growing conditions. Some varieties can be grown in containers, while others will grow much larger. You must check whether the plum you buy is self-fertile as sometimes you will need more than one plum tree to get fruits. Related damsons and gages are also worth considering. You should note that there are no extreme dwarfing rootstocks for plum as there are for apples. But semi-dwarfing rootstocks (‘Plumina’, ‘Pixy’ and ‘VVA-1’ for example) are available. These help to limit the size of the trees where this is required and their growth will be further restricted when they are grown in containers. 4) Cherry BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus avium HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO With beautiful blossoms and lovely fruits, cherry trees are also popular and good choices for UK gardeners. There are two main types – sweet cherries and sour cherries. Sweet cherries sometimes require a companion for fertilisation, while sour cherries are typically self-fertile. Sweet cherries require a sunny spot, while sour cherries are more tolerant of shade. Cherry trees can be kept smaller through the use of the ‘Gisela 5’ rootstock. And again, their growth can be restricted by growing them in containers, and through careful summer pruning. 5) Quince BOTANICAL NAME: Cydonia oblonga HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Quinces are a more unusual option to consider. They have a high level of pectin which makes them ideal for making a range of jams and jellies and other preserves. Quince can be grown in many UK gardens, even in northern areas when placed in a sheltered and sunny position – against a south-facing wall for example. As mentioned above, you can get dwarfing rootstock for quince, which is used not only on these trees but on pears and other patio fruit trees too. 6) Mulberry BOTANICAL NAME: Morus nigra HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Mulberries are already small trees, and you can restrict their growth further by growing them in containers. Growing these fruits can be a great option because the fruits are difficult to source in stores, and also because mulberry leaves are also an additional edible yield. 7) Apricots BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus armeniaca HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO (MAY NEED FROST PROTECTION) Apricots thrive in moist and fertile soil, though it must be well-drained and ideally slightly alkaline. They will not tend to thrive in colder regions or in locations where the soil is shallow or lacking in nutrients. In the right conditions, however, they can be grown in the ground or in containers, which, as with peaches, can allow them to be grown where the season in shorter and temperatures lower. Hand pollination may be necessary for successful fruit formation. Wavit, a plum rootstock, is sometimes also used for apricots. 8) Peaches BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus persica HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO (MAY NEED FROST PROTECTION) Peach trees will need protection from frost in cooler climes but will do well in a sunny, sheltered spot and can be grown in containers which would allow them to be brought inside in the winter. Make sure containers are of sufficient size – at least 45cm across, and you must choose a dwarfing variety. In more southerly, sunny and sheltered gardens, peaches can thrive when trained against a wall. Hand pollination may be necessary for fruit to form. Peach patio fruit trees are also sometimes also grown on ‘Wavit’ rootstock. 9) Figs BOTANICAL NAME: Ficus carica HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO (MAY NEED FROST PROTECTION) Fig trees also need warmth and plenty of sunlight. In more northerly and chillier climes, certain hardy fig varieties can be grown outdoors in a suitable spot. In some colder areas, even less hardy figs can be grown in containers, as long as they are brought inside or given protection in the winter months. Figs will actually fruit better if grown in containers, since this will help to restrict foliage and root growth and encourage the trees to focus on fruit production. 10) Citrus Trees BOTANICAL NAME: Various HARDINESS RATING: Various PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: YES Citrus fruit is mostly grown in warmer climes. However, fruits like oranges, limes and lemons can be grown in containers in the UK as long as they are brought into a heated greenhouse or indoors over the winter months. No matter what type of citrus tree you would like to grow, it is possible to find examples of almost all varieties suitable for container growing. In addition to considering the trees mentioned above, there are other fruiting perennial shrubs and canes to consider growing on your patio. These might not be technically classified as ‘trees’, but can be grown just as effectively. These include: 11) Raspberries BOTANICAL NAME: Rubus idaeus HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO The best way to grow raspberries and other cane fruits in containers is to choose (or make) a container of at least 75-litre capacity. Then create a wigwam with 3-5 supports and plant one bare root plant per support in winter. Be sure to tie in the canes as they grow, and prune over time to maintain fertility. 12) Grapes BOTANICAL NAME: Vitis vinifera HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Choose a container of at least 60-litre capacity and you should also be able to successfully grow a grape wine in a small garden or on a patio. Just remember that the vine will need support and something to climb as it grows – so place the container against a trellis or fence. 13) Kiwi Fruit BOTANICAL NAME: Actinidia deliciosa HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO (MAY NEED FROST PROTECTION) Kiwi fruits need a sheltered sunny position, ideally against a south- or west-facing wall or fence. They can be grown in containers of at least 60-litre capacity. Note that you will need a male and a female unless you choose a self-fertile variety. 14) Gooseberries BOTANICAL NAME: Ribes uva-crispa HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Gooseberries are an excellent choice for growing in pots, and will do well even on a more shaded patio, as these are one of the more shade-tolerant fruits. Unlike many other fruiting plants, they will usually fruit well even without full sun. 15) Blackcurrants BOTANICAL NAME: Ribes nigrum HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Blackcurrants are also a little more tolerant of light shade than other fruits, and can also do very well in containers. Choose a container at least 45-50cm in diameter and repot in late winter every 2-3 years. 16) Redcurrants BOTANICAL NAME: Ribes rubrum HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO A similar container can also be used to grow redcurrants. These too will tolerate some shade, but will fruit better, with sweeter currants, if planted in the sun. 17) Blueberries BOTANICAL NAME: Vaccinium corymbosum HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Blueberries are another great choice for pots. Since blueberries need acidic conditions, growing in containers is the best way to grow them if you do not have acidic soil where you live. Remember to use ericaceous compost to fill your containers. 18) Cranberries BOTANICAL NAME: Vaccinium subgen. oxycoccus HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Grow cranberries in pots that are at least 35cm in diameter. Though since they have shallow roots, that extend typically no more than 15cm into the growing medium, depth is not as important. Remember, however, that these are bog plants, so the growing medium must be kept moist. A self-watering container could therefore work well. 19) Honeyberries BOTANICAL NAME: Lonicera caerulea HARDINESS RATING: H7 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Honeyberries are another more unusual fruit to grow on your patio. This is an edible member of the honeysuckle family and taste like a mix between a blueberry, a grape and a plum. Simply plant up in a container 4cm in diameter wider than the pot it came in, then pot up as required. 20) Strawberries BOTANICAL NAME: Fragaria HARDINESS RATING: H6 PREFERRED POSITION: FULL SUN; SHELTERED SPOT OVERWINTER INDOORS: NO Of course, last but not least, you could go for this tried and trusted favourite. Strawberries are, of course, another fruit that is very easy to grow on your patio in pots or other containers. These are not the only choices, of course, but they should give you a place to start when trying to choose the right, fruitful options for you, your family, and where you live. Bare-Root Vs Pot Grown Fruit trees are typically bought as either bare-root or pot-grown examples. As you can no doubt guess from the name, pot grown examples come in containers. Bare-root trees are, as the name suggests, delivered out of pots, with their roots bare. Patio fruit trees (along with many fruit trees commonly purchased for gardens) are usually grafted trees. This means that they are ‘Frankenstein’ trees, made up of a rootstock (the base section with root system) and a scion (the top section). The rootstock typically determines the size, vigour, disease resistance and hardiness of the tree, while the scion determines the abundance, characteristics and taste of the fruit. Understanding this can help you to make the best choices when it comes to choosing patio fruit trees for you. Rootstocks are typically categorised in reference to the size of tree they make. You can find: Standard (full size) Semi-dwarfing (somewhat smaller, often ideal for mid-sized gardens) Dwarfing (suitable for step-overs and trees grown in pots, for example). Of course, it is the last of these three, the dwarfing rootstocks that are usually used on trees marketed and sold as ‘patio trees’. When choosing a fruit tree, try not to just go for the varieties that are commercially grown in your area. Consider also the wider range of interesting heritage varieties that will do well where you live. Heritage varieties can taste a lot better than ordinary store-bought fruits. They may just have not been suitable for large-scale commercial use due to their being bruised easy, or not storing well, for example. It is very important that we retain as much diversity as possible in our food, and keeping heritage fruit tree varieties alive is one great way to play your part in your garden. “I am keen on planting fruit trees because we need to plant more of them, they give us fruit and they are great for pollinators,” shares Sara Venn, the Founder of Edible Bristol. “There’s really nothing to be scared of, but lots of people are afraid of planting trees, especially in pots.” Choosing Patio Fruit Trees Before you decide which patio fruit trees and other fruiting plants to buy, there are a number of things to consider. You need to consider: The climate in your area and general weather conditions. Whether your patio area is sunny or rather shaded throughout each day and throughout the year. How much rain it receives, and how windy or sheltered the location is. (The micro-climate in your particular garden.) How much care and attention you are willing/able to give your new trees/ plants. Which fruits you and your family actually enjoy eating. Whether the fruit trees you are considering need a pollination partner. (Some trees can self-pollinate while others will need to be purchased along with another tree in order to produce fruit.) The eventual size of the patio fruit tree or other fruiting plant you are growing. It is also worth thinking about whether or not growing in containers is the right thing for your space. In certain cases, in-ground growing may be a better option – in some small gardens, fruit trees can be grown in the ground and trained against a wall or fence to make the most of the space, for example. Step-over apple trees, pleached trees and other small fruiting plants can also be squeezed in as bed or path edging, as a type of fencing, or between other elements in your garden – this could be another way to make the most of your space. Remember, trees and other plants grown in containers will typically need more watering than those grown in the ground. The most common reason why these trees are lost is due to issues in this regard. Fertility is also something that will have to be more closely monitored when plants are being grown in pots or containers. So if you are looking for a low-maintenance scheme, then container growing may not always be the best option for you.
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Joe Harrison's 20 Hardy Annuals That Can Be Direct Sown Outside
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Ammi majus 2) Agrostemma githago 3) Calendula officinalis 4) Centaurea cyanus 5) Clarkia amoena 6) Echium vulgare 7) Gypsophila elegans 8) Helianthus annuus 9) Lavatera trimestris 10) Limnanthes douglasii 11) Lunaria annua 12) Molluccella laevis 13) Nigella damascena 14) Orlaya grandiflora 15) Papaver 16) Phacelia tanacetifolia 17) Phlox drummondii 18) Salvia viridis 19) Scabiosa atropurpurea 20) Tropaeolum majus Hardy annual plants that will survive low temperatures are handy as they help you avoid stresses with late or early frosts. Hardy annuals are those which can usually be grown outdoors in most parts of the UK from spring through to autumn without any form of protection. Some are sown in autumn, while others are sown in spring. Remember: it is important to note that hardiness is a range, not an absolute. So while there are many plants commonly described as ‘hardy annuals’, the degree to which they can cope with cold temperatures can differ dramatically. The temperatures they can survive at will depend on a range of factors to do with the specific local conditions in your garden. Which hardy annual plants you should choose will depend on where exactly you live, and the conditions to be found there. Also consider when you plan to sow, and why you wish to grow the plants in question. “Seed companies are extremely helpful and include lots of useful growing advice and tips on the back of the seed packet which will give you lots of key information to help you get started,” shares Joe Harrison, a Garden Writer & Blogger. “The seed packet will usually advise the depth at which to sow the seeds, how many days it should take the seeds to germinate, the height and size of the mature plants and where the best location is to grow them.” Here’s a list of 20 hardy annual plants upon which UK gardeners may usually depend: 1) Ammi majus COMMON NAME: COMMON BISHOP’S WEED HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -20 to -15°C Ammi majus, bullwort, or common Bishop’s weed has a hardiness rating of H6. This is a great plant for pollinators and other beneficial insects, with delicate umbels of lacy white flowers which bloom from June to August. It can be a great choice for many gardens, working in most soil types as long as they are well-drained. These plants are happy in full sun, partial or dappled shade and are particularly easy to grow from seed. 2) Agrostemma githago COMMON NAME: CORNCOCKLE HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C Agrostemma githago, also known as corncockle, is a pretty annual with funnel-shaped purple flowers 5cm across in summer. It will work well in well-drained sand or loam in a sunny spot, and has a hardiness rating of H5. These flowers are also attractive to bees, and like the above, work well for cut flowers. 3) Calendula officinalis COMMON NAME: COMMON MARIGOLD HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C This tried and tested favourite is a great hardy annual, which works equally well in a mixed flower border, or as a companion plant in your vegetable garden. These flowers will grow best in full sun, but can also cope with partial shade, as long as the medium/soil is well-drained. These also have a hardiness rating of H5. 4) Centaurea cyanus COMMON NAME: ANNUAL CORNFLOWER HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -20 to -15°C The annual cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, has a hardiness rating of H6. This meadow flower is wonderful for a well-drained south or west-facing position in full sun. If you have sandy or loamy soil where you live, this could be an excellent hardy annual to consider. The pretty deep blue flowers are a delight in late spring and summer. 5) Clarkia amoena COMMON NAME: GODETIA HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -20 to -15°C Also known as Godetia, or ‘farewell to spring’, this is another hardy (H6) annual worth considering. Flowers in summer are lilac or pink, sometimes with white centres. They will thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist but well-drained loam or sandy soil with an acid pH. 6) Echium vulgare COMMON NAME: VIPER’S BUGLOSS HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C OR COLDER This is one of my top picks for a wildlife-friendly garden. “Echium vulgare and its cultivars, such as E. ‘Blue Bedder’, are fantastic choices for pollinators and are a great option for sandy, free-draining soils where they will thrive,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “Like its taller cousins from the Canary Islands, this plant will hum with pollinators in early to mid-summer.” Echium vulgare is also known as ‘Viper’s bugloss’ and it is one of the hardiest of hardy annuals out there, with a hardiness rating of H7. It will thrive in chalk, sand or loam that is well-drained, in a full sun position. It has an upright growing habit, growing to around 75cm tall, and bears beautiful blue or lilac flowers in early summer. 7) Gypsophila elegans COMMON NAME: BABY’S BREATH HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C Also known as annual baby’s breath, this is also a pretty hardy annual flowering plant – it has a hardiness rating of H5. The plant grows to a height of around 60cm and produces elegant sprays of delicate star-shaped, white or pinkish flowers in the summer months. It will thrive in well-drained soil in full sun and is great for cut flowers as well as visual and wildlife appeal in your garden. 8) Helianthus annuus COMMON NAME: SUNFLOWER HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C Typically with a hardiness rating of H5, the common annual sunflower, Helianthus annuus, is another go-to hardy annual for UK gardens – and with good reason. No doubt you will already be familiar with the large and dramatic flowers. These are also easy to grow, and provide edible yields for you and potentially for local birds and other wildlife. The sunflower does not just work well in an ornamental border in full sun, with alkaline or neutral, moist yet well-drained soil. It can also be interesting to consider as a companion plant for a vegetable garden. 9) Lavatera trimestris COMMON NAME: TREE MALLOW HARDINESS RATING: H4 HARDY TO: -10 to -5°C Hardy throughout most of the UK, Lavatera trimestris is another interesting hardy annual to consider. It is also sometimes known as annual lavatera or royal mallow. This upright plant grows up to 1.2m in height, and bears open funnel flowers in summer that can be up to 10cm across. Usually, blooms are in shades of pink, or white. 10) Limnanthes douglasii COMMON NAME: POACHED EGG PLANT HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C Better known to some as a poached egg plant, Limnanthes douglasii has a hardiness rating of H5. It will do well in most soils, as long as they are moist but well-drained, and will prefer a full sun location. This bush-shaped annual takes its name from the appearance of its flowers, which are open to a bowl shape, with yellow in the middle, and white towards the outside. 11) Lunaria annua COMMON NAME: HONESTY PLANT HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -20 to -15°C Annual honesty, Lunaria annua, is H6 hardy. It bears purple flowers in late spring and early summer followed by attractive silvery seed pods. Though it can sometimes be biennial, it is usually treated as an annual in the UK. It is a good choice for a chalk, sand, or loamy soil that is moist but well drained, and it can cope in either full sun or partial shade. This is another great choice for a wildlife garden. 12) Molluccella laevis COMMON NAME: BELLS OF IRELAND HARDINESS RATING: H4 HARDY TO: -10 to -5°C Molluccella laevis, also known as bells of Ireland, is highly prized for flower arranging – it has a hardiness rating of H4. These hardy annuals can grow well in most soils, as long as they are moist but free draining. A sheltered spot in full sun will be ideal. These plants can grow up to almost a metre tall, and bear small white or pale pink flowers in bell-shaped calyx in late summer. 13) Nigella damascena COMMON NAME: LOVE-IN-A-MIST HARDINESS RATING: H3 HARDY TO: -5 to -1°C Nigella damascena, also known as ‘love in a mist’ has a hardiness rating of H3, so is fully hardy in coastal and milder parts of the country. While not quite as hardy as the options mentioned above, it is still classed as a hardy annual, and is a great choice where well-drained, full sun and sheltered conditions can be provided. It is another plant that is good for bees and other pollinators, and is a well-known stalwart of many cottage gardens. It has pretty blue flowers between July and September. 14) Orlaya grandiflora COMMON NAME: WHITE LACEFLOWER HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C OR COLDER This plant, also known as white laceflower, is another option that is great for insects. It bears white flowers in graceful umbels in summer and into autumn. This is another of the hardiest annuals out there, with a hardiness rating of H7. It likes well-drained soil in full sun. 15) Papaver COMMON NAME: POPPY HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C OR COLDER There are a number of different poppies that are great hardy annual plants. Papaver rhoeas, the common poppy, has a hardiness rating of H7. Its fleeting bright red flowers are instantly recognisable, and are found in many wildflower meadows. It will grow in any free draining fertile soil in full sun. 16) Phacelia tanacetifolia COMMON NAME: FIDDLENECK HARDINESS RATING: H4 HARDY TO: -10 to -5°C Another top pick for wildlife gardens, and also useful as a cover crop for cultivation areas, Phacelia tanacetifolia (Fiddleneck) is H4 hardy, and is beloved of bees and other beneficial insects. It does well in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Like Echium vulgare, it is in the Boraginaceae plant family. 17) Phlox drummondii COMMON NAME: PHLOX HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -20 to -15°C Annual phlox, P. drummondii, has a hardiness rating of H6. It will grow well in full sun or part shade in well-drained and fertile soil. Phlox have pretty little flowers, in a range of hues, often with prominent eyes, which bloom in spring. 18) Salvia viridis COMMON NAME: PAINTED SAGE HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15 to -10°C Painted sage, Salvia viridis, is grown not for its flowers but for its colourful bracts, modified leaves, which are born on upright stems in summer. They come in a range of pink and purplish shades. This plant is rated with a hardiness of H5. It will do best in a sunny and free-draining position out of strong winds and can look great below rose bushes. 19) Scabiosa atropurpurea COMMON NAME: ANNUAL SWEET SCABIOUS HARDINESS RATING: H4 HARDY TO: -10 to -5°C Scabiosa atropurpurea, annual sweet scabious, is another great hardy annual to consider for your garden. It is an annual (or sometimes short-lived perennial) with a hardiness rating of H4. It will grow well in a fertile, well-drained alkaline or neutral soil in full sun, and bears beautiful purple flowers followed by bristly seed heads. 20) Tropaeolum majus COMMON NAME: NASTURTIUM HARDINESS RATING: H3 HARDY TO: -5 to -1°C The nasturtium is an incredibly useful garden plant. In addition to producing plenty of pretty flowers, it can also be useful as a companion plant in a vegetable garden, and even provides a number of edible yields itself. It has a hardiness rating of H3, but though not quite as capable of surviving low temperatures as most other hardy annuals on this list, it is still well worth considering in many UK gardens. These are just some of the many interesting hardy annuals to consider for your garden – but should give you an interesting place to start when making annual plant choices for your location.
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Elizabeth Waddington's 15 Alpine Plants That Love Free-Draining Troughs
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Androsace 2) Aquilegia 3) Armeria 4) Campanula 5) Dianthus 6) Draba aizoides 7) Gentiana 8) Globularia 9) Phlox 10) Primula 11) Ramonda myconi 12) Saxifraga 13) Sedum 14) Sempervivum tectorum 15) Veronica prostrata References Growing alpine plants can be a great, relatively low maintenance choice for many gardens. And one of the easiest ways to grow these plants is in troughs. Remember, when positioning a trough, that most alpine plants will prefer a full sun location. Though, as you will discover in this article, there are also plenty of alpine plants that are suitable for a trough in partial shade. When choosing alpine plants for troughs, be sure to think about the growing medium with which you fill your container, and of course, the environmental conditions. “Although not all alpine plants are true alpines, i.e., from mountain slopes, this is a good place to start when thinking about the growing media for alpine plantings,” says expert Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “Mountain slopes are generally free-draining but receive plentiful rainfall, particularly in winter. “Add plenty of sharp drainage to your compost mix, such as horticultural grits, gravels and sharp sand. “This should ensure that water flows quickly through the roots whilst the compost holds on to some moisture.” It is important to think about exactly where the trough is located – how sunny or shaded the location is, how protected from heavy rains, temperatures, humidity and how exposed the area is to strong winds.1 To help you begin to make your plant choices, we will run through fifteen alpine plants that can make fantastic choices for a trough garden. 1) Androsace Androsace sempervivum The first of our top choices for an alpine trough garden is Androsace sempervivum – sempervivum leaved rock jasmine. This dainty flowering plant is in the Primulaceae plant family. It is an evergreen perennial that forms mats, with sprays of little pinkish or mauve flowers around 1cm in diameter which appear in the spring. These are fantastic for a trough in full sun, with a free-draining medium. Other Androsace also work well in troughs, including A. carnea, A. chamaejasme, and A. pyrenaica. 2) Aquilegia Many varieties of Aquilegia also work extremely well in troughs. One great option, for example, is Aquilegia bertolonii, otherwise known as Bertoloni columbine. This deciduous perennial in the Ranunculaceae family is native to South-East France and North-West Italy. It has beautiful violet flowers born in groups of up to four on erect stems. The plants grow to a height of around 30cm, and can thrive in either full sun or partial shade. Aquilegia saximontana is another useful alpine plant for a trough that will be located in partial shade. 3) Armeria Amongst the many thrifts that will work well in an alpine trough, Armeria juniperifolia stands out as an excellent choice. This is a compact perennial. It is evergreen and forms dense mats that spread to around 30cm. In the late spring, pale pink flowers will appear above these mats of foliage on stems that are around 2-5cm in height. Coming from central Spain, this is an alpine suited to a trough in full sun and well-drained conditions. 4) Campanula Campanula of many species and varieties are go-to plants for many alpine gardens. Birch-leaved bellflower, C. betulifolia, Tommasini bellflower, C. tommasiniana and Rainer’s harebell, C. raineri, are all good options to consider, for example. The first of these two can thrive in full sun or partial shade, while the last on this list is best for full sun conditions, and must be protected from winter wet. 5) Dianthus Dianthus alpinus is another go-to for alpine trough gardens. Alpine pinks are hardy, mat-forming perennials with pretty pink flowers up to 4cm wide. Native to the eastern Alps, these flowers tend to be short-lived, but they look good and perform wonderfully when placed in a well-drained trough in full sun. Other Dianthus to consider for a trough include D. freynii, D. microlepsis, and D. subacaulis, for example. 6) Draba aizoides Draba aizoides Draba aizoides, also known as whitlow grass, is another great plant to consider for troughs. It is another mat-forming perennial alpine plant which has bright yellow flowers which bloom in the late spring. It is native to the mountains of south and central Europe, and you may be surprised to learn that it is a member of the Brassicaceae, or ‘cabbage family’. This is another alpine that will enjoy a trough that is free-draining, and placed in full sun. 7) Gentiana Gentiana also work well in troughs, adding plenty of visual interest with their trumpet-shaped flowers. Gentiana acaulis, large-flowered gentian, for example, can be a great choice. It can work well not just for troughs in full sun but also for those in light shade. Like other perennial, evergreen alpines, it is great for forming ground cover (around 30cm across) on a trough or other alpine container. You might also consider other gentians, such as G. saxosa, for example. 8) Globularia Globularia cordifolia is another of the mat-forming, evergreen perennials that we would recommend for growing in troughs. It forms ground cover with tiny, cute little spoon-shaped leaves, and sends up charming little light purple/lavender flowers in the summer months. These plants, like so many other alpine plants, will do best in full sun, and require free-draining conditions. Other Globularia, such as G. repens and G. meridionalis, are also well-worth considering. 9) Phlox Phlox douglasii Phlox is another rewarding plant genus to look into when you are choosing alpine plants for troughs. Mat-forming Phlox douglasii such as ‘Crackerjack’, ‘Rose Cushion’ or ‘Iceberg’ can work extremely well in a trough that is placed in full sun or partial shade. They flower from late spring and through the summer months, with pretty flowers in a range of hues. Phlox bifida – ‘Alba’ for example, can also work very well in similar conditions. 10) Primula Many Primula varieties also work well in troughs. One option that we would recommend that you consider is P. farinosa. P. auricula, P. ‘Beatrice Wooster’ and P. marginata are all also excellent options to think about. Most Primulas will be equally at home in full sun or partial shade, as long as they are provided with suitably well-drained conditions in their trough. 11) Ramonda myconi The Pyrean violet, Ramonda myconi, is another evergreen perennial alpine plant that we would recommend for a moist but well-drained trough that is placed in partial shade. Not just for their pretty flowers which bloom in late spring and summer, but also for their interesting wrinkled and hairy leaves. Grow these on their sides at the edges of a trough to avoid water accumulating in the rosettes, which can cause rotting in winter. 12) Saxifraga Saxifrages in an alpine trough A huge number of saxifrages are ideal for alpine troughs. Just a few examples of the saxifrages to consider are S. hypnoides, S. ‘Silver Cushion’ and S. paniculata. ‘Lavagreana’, ‘Rosea’ and ‘Venetia’ for example, are three S. paniculata cultivars that have gained the RHS’s Award of Garden Merit. Though of course there are many, many more saxifrages to consider for a trough that has very good drainage, with alkaline or neutral soil. 13) Sedum Sedums are also go-to choices, and there are many different Sedums that can work well in an alpine trough garden. Amongst the Sedums that we would recommend are S. spathulifolium ‘Purpureum’ – purple spoon-leaved stonecrop – which looks great year-round in a sunny or part shaded position. And Sedum acre, such as ‘Golden Queen’. S. cauticola could be another option to consider. 14) Sempervivum tectorum The common houseleek is a well-known choice, but that is no reason to exclude it from this list. There is a reason why this alpine succulent is such a popular choice – both for use inside the home, and for planting outdoors in alpine troughs and containers. The fleshy rosettes on these plants, with their reddish-purple tinge, look great year-round. So though they may not be the most original choice, they are still an excellent plant to consider when planning an alpine trough in a full sun position. Just make sure that the plants are protected from excessive winter rainfall. 15) Veronica prostrata Last but not least, Veronica prostrata ‘Nana’ is another great choice. This charming speedwell is great for forming ground cover and creating mats of dark green foliage in an alpine garden. Then in late spring/early summer, the vibrant blue flowers will appear. Placing this in a trough can really show it off to its best advantage, and help make sure that its lovely display is not lost amid other vegetation. References 1. International Rock Gardener. (n.d.). International Rock Gardener. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2018Feb221519324634IRG98.pdf
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These 10 Perennial Flowers Bloom All Summer For A Riot Of Colour
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Gerbera Daisies 2) Lantana Bush 3) Butterfly Bush 4) Creeping Buttercup 5) Hyssop 6) Golden Feverfew 7) Begonia 8) Geranium 9) Red Hot Poker Plant 10) Azalea References With only a little effort you can bring a panoply of floral shapes in a riotous medley of colours to your garden all summer long – and, indeed, before and after summer! Conical inflorescences, ‘red hot’ spikes, and bona fide multi-petalled flowers, in every colour of the rainbow from the palest tint to the most intense hue, can be grown throughout the United Kingdom. Let’s admit it: we all love plants that bloom all summer long. “My favourite plants bloom during early summer, which is why it is my favourite time to be in the garden,” shares Alley Marie Jordan, a Garden Historian. “I want to experience a garden in its most bounteous, at its fullest, highest potential. After all, that is the ideal, and with designed gardens, we are chasing an ideal that usually occurs in summer!” Who wouldn’t like to sow and care for just once, and then lie back and revel in lustrous multi-coloured blooms from before June even begins to after the end of August, year after year? What follows is a wonderful ’Top Ten’ assortment of flowering plants that will keep your garden bathed in blooms all summer long. We do not toss out vague or sketchy species or flower names but precisely identify series or varieties that, under non-adverse conditions, will bloom clear through summer – yes, that’s 1st June to 31st August. In fact, a good few will begin flowering from April, even more will bloom well into September, and some will do both! We present species that originate in China and those that are out of Africa; plants that are tallish and others that are dwarfish; blooms that are in pastels and pinks and more that are in vivid vermilion; and flowers that are but tiny florets in panicles and big huge blossoms that are 10cm across. Linking all these richly varied plant properties are two objective facts: our choices are all perennials, be they deciduous or evergreen, and they bloom all summer long! 1) Gerbera Daisies BOTANICAL NAME: Gerbera garvinea RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Sweet Surprise’, ‘Sweet Memories’, ‘Fleurie’ HARDINESS RATING: H3 MONTHS IN BLOOM: MAY-NOVEMBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED Our Gerbera recommendation covers only Gerbera garvinea, not G. jamesonii or any other species or series. G. garvinea is a relatively new series that is more robust and disease-free than other species and series. Most importantly, this series’ varieties typically begin to bloom in spring and wind up in autumn or even later, providing a spectacular floral display for nearly half the year! Choose any of the following: ‘Sylvana’ (pure white), ‘Orangina’ (yellow-orange), ‘Sweet Surprise’ (orchid pink), ‘Sweet Memories’ (salmon pink), and ‘Fleurie’ (deep red). All bear drop-dead gorgeous double flowers of about 5cm. What is more, they are prolific bloomers – simply deadhead regularly to encourage fresh blooms. Grow G. garvinea in a loose, very well-drained loam of a slightly acidic pH. Direct, full sun in the morning is welcome but afternoon sun should be filtered or indirect. Water well but allow the soil to just dry out between waterings. The root ball should be right at the surface of the soil to guard against root rot. Simply protect these plants from frost; if grown in pots then bring the plants indoors in the winter. Though great in beds, these flowers are a fantastic choice for growing in decorative pots to put on verandahs, parapets, and balconies, and for hanging them off pergolas, beams, and posts. The flowers are equally fantastic for cutting and gifting in a bouquet because of their astonishing vase life. The disk-shaped, many-petalled, vibrant Gerbera has a unique unsubtle and direct charm that brings joy both indoors and outdoors. 2) Lantana Bush BOTANICAL NAME: Lantana camara RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Feston Rose’ (Pictured), ‘Yellow Sage’ HARDINESS RATING: H1C MONTHS IN BLOOM: MAY-OCTOBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED You’d have to be very unlucky to choose a Lantana variety that does not bloom all through summer. In fact, the odds are that whatever variety you choose, it will start blooming before summer and continue blooming well after summer. Lantana is an evergreen bush that is so strong and fast-spreading that in some regions it is considered an invasive weed! It is beyond us how anyone could use the word ‘weed’ for a bush that has ideally-shaped emerald-green leaves and gorgeous bunches and clusters of florets that are both richly hued and multi-coloured, and are fragrant to boot. Choose from ‘Feston Rose,’ ‘Yellow Sage,’ or any cultivar from the ‘Landmark’ or ‘Lucky’ series. Colours include white, off-white, and pinks, yellows, and oranges from the palest pastel to the most saturated hue. As a bonus, you get bees and butterflies with it. L. camara ‘Feston Rose’ Lantana is truly easy to grow and just as easy to care for. It does not even need regular watering and flourishes in baking sun! The sole concern is that you will need to protect outdoor plants in winter in many regions of the United Kingdom. If grown outdoors, the root ball and stem should be protected from the cold but it is easier to grow it in a large container and bring it indoors in the winter. Full sun and southern exposure best suit this plant. Though just about any type of soil will do, a balanced loam mix with a slightly acidic pH will be ideal. It is very ‘friendly’ to bees and butterflies and will attract these visitors in droves. Lantana’s profusion of sometimes top-heavy floret-clusters will also delight visitors of the human kind. 3) Butterfly Bush BOTANICAL NAME: Buddleja RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Flutterby Petite’ Series HARDINESS RATING: H6 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JULY-OCTOBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN Buddleja are deciduous perennials that are indigenous to China. Though quite a number of Buddleja species and varieties have extended flowering seasons, ‘Flutterby Petite’ Series’s cultivars bloom from the start of summer well into autumn. They are remarkably easy-grow and low-maintenance varieties that are drought-tolerant. The word Petite is not quite accurate because these varieties range from 60-90cm in height with a similar spread. Flutterby Petite Buddleja have a habit that is bushy but not dense, with gently arching, swaying stems and stalks. Choose from ‘Tutti Frutti Pink’ (Magenta-Pink), ‘Blue Heaven’ (Lilac), and ‘Snow White’ (snow white!). The first two varieties’ flowers are sweetly fragrant; the third ones are unscented. These plants can be grown in any halfway decent soil but preferably a fertile loam of compost, chalk and sand. Soil should be well-drained – what they appreciate more than anything else is full sun. What you will appreciate is that while Buddleja is well-known to be fast-spreading, invasive, and destructive to native ecosystems, the ‘Flutterby Petite’ Series plants are sterile and produce no or few seeds. And what you will appreciate even more are the masses of frothy, conical inflorescences with delightful little florets which will draw every butterfly and hummingbird in the neighbourhood. Generally hardy through H6 they can be enjoyed virtually anywhere in the United Kingdom. They are excellent to grow in broad containers, in mixed beds and as borders for walkways. 4) Creeping Buttercup BOTANICAL NAME: Ranunculus repens HARDINESS RATING: H7 MONTHS IN BLOOM: MAY-SEPTEMBER PREFERRED ASPECT: ANY (CONSIDERED INVASIVE) It is invasive. It is a ‘rampant weed.’ It’ll colonise even damp, wet soil! Among all the Buttercups, Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens, has the worst press. It’s also the Buttercup species that will bloom reliably from the beginning of summer – if not earlier – to the end of summer – if not later! “We are starting to rethink what were once regarded as problem weeds,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “Ranunculus repens is one of those ‘weeds’. Whilst it can tend to run through a border too readily, it is a fantastic plant in a damp area of grass that can be grown as an area of meadow. “In competitive habitats like a meadow or even just less frequently mown grass, its tendency to take over is kept in check and can be appreciated by us as well as wildlife.” We do not say that Creeping Buttercup is ‘easy to grow’ because once it gets into your garden it will grow by itself! Indeed, many gardeners grapple with the question of how easy or difficult it is to control. Nonetheless, this article is about flowers that bloom all summer long and this zero-care deciduous perennial fits the bill to a ’T.’ What’s more, it brings forth masses of delightful little flowers. This plant grows on runners and has a prostrate creeping habit, and as the foliage is a brilliant emerald-green it makes for truly attractive ground cover. Creeping Buttercup loves damp soils but is not fussy about soil type or pH. Our Buttercup selection does not provide any choices in varieties or colour; there’s just one colour, but it is the richest, sunniest, cheeriest hue of yellow there can be. Furthermore, it blooms profusely, and its wee-little, simple, five-petalled wildflowers are the exemplar of ‘simple joys.’ Weed or not, you can’t beat this variety for its brand of simple good cheer all summer long. Just be careful not to let it take over your garden; you can do so by surrounding it with inhospitable and non-damp soils and by cutting off the stolons. 5) Hyssop BOTANICAL NAME: Agastache RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Blue Boa’, ‘Kudos Ambrosia’, ‘Kudos Gold’, ‘Kudos Mandarin’, ‘Kudos Silver Blue’, ‘Kudos Yellow’ HARDINESS RATING: H4 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JUNE-OCTOBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN A garden stunner, an Agastache or Hyssop plant can simply overwhelm the viewer with the incredible profusion of its flowers, the vibrancy of its hues, the gentle graceful swaying in the breeze, and even the wafting fragrance. This plant is very easy to grow and you are virtually assured of summer-long blooms going into autumn if you choose from ‘Blue Boa’ (deep purple), ‘Kudos Ambrosia’ (pink-to-rose), ‘Kudos Gold’ (amber-gold), ‘Kudos Mandarin’ (Mandarin orange), ‘Kudos Silver Blue’ (silvery lilac), and ‘Kudos Yellow’ (bright yellow). And then there’s ‘Little Adder’ (lavender-to-mauve), the long-blooming champion which will begin its show before summer and continue deep into autumn. Because these varieties are of different series, their heights and spreads vary widely with some being taller than wider, and others having a wider spread than height. But all of them bear lots and lots of big, thick, erect spikes with bunches of florets. Agastache or Hyssop need full sun and very well-drained soil. Other than that they are low-care plants that are generally disease-free and pest-resistant. They will bring bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden like there’s no tomorrow. Because the primary criteria for our selections is all-summer-blooms, the recommended varieties of Agastache turn out to have diverse habits and, as a result, are best suited for different garden purposes. For example, ‘Kudos Silver Blue’ is perfect for edging long paths and walkways and to serve as a companion plant for tall, erect species; on the other hand, ‘Blue Boa’ is just as perfect to plant in the rear of beds, especially against the back of marigolds, and to grow against verandahs and fences. 6) Golden Feverfew BOTANICAL NAME: Tanacetum parthenium RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Aureum’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H6 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JULY-SEPTEMBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN Resembling rather a daisy but actually a type of chrysanthemum, Golden Feverfew will just about give you a veritable mat of lovely wildflowers from the start of June until the close of August. However, it brings unexpected ‘extras’ to the garden. To begin with, the pinnate lobed leaves are of a light, bright, almost shiny green that makes for awesome foliage. And this foliage emits a fresh, humusy scent that will remind you of the countryside. The plant forms rounded clumps that are wider than they are taller, being 45-60cm in spread and 30-45cm in height. Because of its form it is perfect for the front of beds, for edging walkways, and as groundcover. It can also be grown in containers provided they are kept outdoors in a sunny spot. Though the plant is a perennial, it is a short-lived one so let some flowers go to seed and deadhead most; that way you’ll never be short of blooms and will always have new Feverfew plants. There’s more to Feverfew than all-summer flowers, though. It also contains Pyrethrin so it is a nature-made insect repellant.1 But to return to our subject at hand, reminiscent of alpine wildflowers, Golden Feverfew’s happy little blooms are like flat disks with pure white petals emanating from a biggish golden yellow centre. And each plant produces loads and loads of them! 7) Begonia RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Nonstop’ Series (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H1B MONTHS IN BLOOM: MAY-OCTOBER PREFERRED ASPECT: PART SHADE A ubiquitous garden favourite on both sides of the Atlantic, Begonia surely makes everyone’s list of all-summer-long flowering plants. Many varieties start blooming in spring and tail off only near the end of autumn. As an ‘easy out’ as well as a sure thing we recommend the ‘Nonstop’ series of Tuberous Begonias but like as not you can draw a variety name out of a hat and it will give you flowers through summer and perhaps even more. Take ‘Hanging Basket Scarlet’ and ‘Bossa Nova Pure White,’ to throw out two examples. As for the Nonstop series, they bear fully double rose-like flowers that are up to a staggering 10cm across. Moreover, they produce a sea of blooms and do so continuously. We recommend the Nonstop ‘Pink,’ ‘Red,’ ‘Orange,’ and ‘Yellow’ varieties. Begonia ‘Mocca’ The one concern is that Begonia ‘Nonstops’ are tender perennials which are hardy only to H1B. As such, the tubers will not survive the winter in any region of the United Kingdom and so you have a choice. Grow ‘Nonstops’ in (largeish) containers and overwinter them indoors or in a heated greenhouse, or dig up the tubers, dry them, and store them for the winter. The only other concern is the possibility of powdery mildew. Other than that these are strong plants that are low-maintenance. They like part sun, part shade, and are best grown in a fertile sandy loam of pH slightly acidic. They have a bushy mounding habit with 40-60cm spread but only 20-30cm in height so we suggest that you grow these terrific plants in a portable planter and set them on the patio and the garden spring through autumn. 8) Geranium RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Mavis Simpson’, ‘Orion’, ‘Ann Folkard’, ‘Rozanne’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H6 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JUNE – AUGUST PREFERRED ASPECT: ANY Colourful, low-care, hardy, pest-resistant, disease-free, fairly drought tolerant…the virtues of some varieties of Geranium are such as to make them an automatic choice for any British garden. Some varieties are possibly among the easiest and most trouble-free bushes you can grow. You could try any and all of ‘Mavis Simpson’ (light lilac-pink), ‘Orion’ (gentle lavender blue with a pale eye), ‘Ann Folkard’ (vivid magenta with black eye), and ‘Rozanne’ (gradated purple). Let’s not quibble about summer, these babies flower from late spring to mid-autumn! The four varieties we have selected range from 30-120cm in height and 60-120cm in spread. They have a bushy habit that may be clumping or mounding in form. All four are RHS Award of Garden Merit recipients. Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’ In the UK these Geraniums are best planted in full sun but part shade will be fine too. They are not too particular about soil; all they ask is that it be well-drained and kept moist in the summer. Any reasonable loam mix will work very well. What you need to do is to remove old foliage and flowers to promote fresh growth. Geranium bushes will keep growing, gently, gently, without ever trying to take over your garden. The open, slightly cuppy, happy-go-lucky five-petalled flowers are from 3-5cm, and you’ll see scads and scads of them! The broad, sharply serrated, deep green leaves make for very pleasant foliage too. These fuss-free and versatile flowering bushes are ideal for cottage-style gardens, as companion plants to tall specimen plants, mass plantings in beds, and even as groundcover. 9) Red Hot Poker Plant BOTANICAL NAME: Kniphofia RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Incandesce’ (Pictured), ‘Elvira’, ‘Jenny Bloom’, ‘Mango Popsicle’, ‘Timothy’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JUNE-OCTOBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; EXPOSED Stalks averaging 1m, ramrod straight, bearing spikes of densely-packed tube-shaped florets in vibrant hues in the yellow-vermilion spectrum. And that’s why this floral present from South Africa is called ‘Red Hot Poker’. Several varieties bloom all through the summer with one or two starting in spring or finishing in autumn, or even both. In order of flowering season, from longest to least long, these varieties are ‘Elvira’ (flame orange), ‘Jenny Bloom’ (cream-orange gradated), ‘Mango Popsicle’ (deep orange), Timothy (peach), and ‘Incandesce’ (deep orange). Because the colour of the spikes fades as they grow and mature, they are gradated with the base being paler and the growing tip of a more vivid hue. Kniphofia ‘Mango Popsicle’ Be aware that Kniphofia guzzles water; at the same time, it cannot stand waterlogged soil! Very well-drained loam mainly of organic compost and sand is ideal. In summer they need frequent watering. They are disease-free and pest-resistant but be sure that the root ball is not deep in the soil. Care is limited to trimming the plants in spring and deadheading in the flowering season but you can allow the plants to self-seed, and be surprised and delighted with nature-made new shades and tints. In most regions of England and Wales the plant’s own withered foliage is sufficient to protect it from frost. The plant as a whole is a spectacular one as the ‘torch’ or ‘poker’-like shafts with their blazing, fiery racemes catch and hold the eye and will make your guests go, “Wow, what’s that plant!” Besides pulling eyes, these out-of-the-ordinary flowers also pull bees and hummingbirds. Red Hot Poker is a brilliant choice for mass plantings, borders of walkways and driveways, and against verandahs, decks, and fences. 10) Azalea RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Encore’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 MONTHS IN BLOOM: JULY-SEPTEMBER PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL / PART SUN Closing out our list is a googly (or a curveball, depending on your sport and your nationality). That’s because Azaleas are associated with spring, and their flowering season closes before the end of summer. But ‘Encore’ Azaleas are a different beast altogether. While many ‘Encore’ Azalea varieties are re-bloomers, some are continuous bloomers, especially if you follow the instructions, and also deadhead. Azaleas are unquestionably among the loveliest of flowers on top of which some varieties, including the ‘Encore’ series, are profuse bloomers. Nothing could outdo the before-summer to after-summer blooms of ‘Autumn Sunburst Roblet’ (coral pink), ‘Autumn Majesty Roblezd’ (purple), ‘Autumn Bonfire Robleza’ (deep red), ‘Autumn Chiffon Robled’ (pale pink with rose flares and speckles), and ‘Autumn Ivory Roblev’ (white). All varieties are dwarves and their flowers measure 6cm or more! Azalea ‘Autumn Sunburst’ These Azaleas will do best in a good loam mix with some compost and organic manure. Soil pH should be slightly acidic to moderately acidic. The top of the root ball should be just above the surface; in no event should it be at all deep in the soil. The soil should be well-drained. The plants should get full sun through the morning and shade or part shade in the afternoons. Water regularly, though not frequently, such that the soil stays moist. If you live in a location that has mild winters, simply mulch the plant when winter arrives. You can delight in ‘Encore’ Azaleas in the UK’s northern regions too, provided you keep the plants in containers and overwinter them indoors or in a heated greenhouse. Azaleas are awesome anywhere and everywhere, from a small pot on a 0.3m windowsill to a mass planting in a 3m bed. Thank you for reading – we hope this article has inspired you to introduce more perennials in your garden! References 1. Bowman, N. M., Akialis, K., Cave, G., Barrera, R., Apperson, C. S., & Meshnick, S. R. (2018). Pyrethroid insecticides maintain repellent effect on knock-down resistant populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. PLOS ONE, 13(5), e0196410. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196410
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20 Hardy Perennials Perfect For Naturalistic, Dense Planting
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Foxglove 2) Cranesbill 3) Gold Dust 4) Tickseed 5) Mexican Fleabane 6) Alpine Aster 7) Yellow Mullein 8) Blanketflower 9) Catmint 10) Prairie Meadow 11) Masterwort 12) Peony 13) Stinking Hellebore 14) Ruthenian Globe Thistle 15) Lungwort 16) Rose Campion 17) Gooseneck Loosestrife 18) Strawberry 19) Goat’s Beard 20) Miss Willmott’s Ghost That’s not all! References The UK climate is the source of much conversation and, depending on where you live, consternation. These plants are well-suited to the UK climate which, even though we love to grumble about it, really isn’t as bad as some other parts of the world. “Hardy perennials from across the world have found a home in the UK gardens, making possible the herbaceous and mixed borders that are so much a feature of our horticultural heritage,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “They are increasingly being used to create more naturalistic, dense plantings. Whatever your chosen style, perennials are key to the atmosphere in any garden.” Each plant in this list will make a pleasant visual contribution to your garden, and they won’t require too much in the way of maintenance. For this list, we’ve chosen plants that are rated at least H5 on the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) hardiness scale.1 These plants can comfortably handle temperatures below minus ten, so should stand in good stead to take whatever the UK weather throws at them. Each plant in the list is also a recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, designating them as particularly suitable for growth in UK conditions.2 And what’s more, each plant is renowned for being especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Choose next season’s plants from this list, and your garden will be a medley of colour and life by the time spring rolls round! 1) Foxglove BOTANICAL NAME: Digitalis purpurea RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘CAMELOT ROSE’ HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: PART SHADE FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER This short-lived perennial will stick around for a few years if treated well, and will bring its undeniable aesthetic to your garden for the duration. Foxglove’s tall, proud stems soar into the air, replete with multiple purple bell-shaped flowers. In the spring and summer, it’s rare that you’ll find your foxglove bee-free. They absolutely love it, and the high number of flowers provide a plentiful supply of tasty pollen. In terms of growing conditions, foxglove thrives in part shade. It can tolerate any aspect, and isn’t fussy in terms of exposure. Try to find a spot with loamy or sandy soil, and ensure it can drain well. Avoid alkali soil where possible. Once it reaches full size, your foxglove should reach heights of around 1-1.5m, with a spread of about half a metre. 2) Cranesbill BOTANICAL NAME: Geranium subcaulescens RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Splendens’, ‘Giuseppii’ HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN / PART SHADE FLOWERING SEASON: SPRING / SUMMER Geranium subcaulescens ‘Splendens’ brings a recurring burst of purple to your garden in spring and summer. The ‘Splendens’ cultivar is a mat-forming plant, meaning it hangs fairly low to the ground. Many gardeners like to use mat-forming perennials to provide visual interest on the low levels of flowerbeds. A splash of colour near the ground can do wonders in highlighting the other colours above. ‘Splendens’ likes full sun or partial shade and isn’t fussy about aspect or exposure. It’s a bit more forgiving with soil types, too, tolerating chalk and clay alongside foxglove’s loam and sand. Soil acidity isn’t something to worry about, either. At full height, your ‘Splendens’ won’t surpass 10cm or so, thanks to its mat-forming tendencies. It will spread out to a range of about 0.5m, meaning you can enjoy it without having to worry about it engulfing nearby plants or paths. 3) Gold Dust BOTANICAL NAME: Aurinia saxatilis HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN; EXPOSED FLOWERING SEASON: SPRING / SUMMER This plant really is something to behold. Its 4-petalled flowers bring a special vibrancy to any garden, working well by themselves, or incorporated into a wider floral display. At a maximum height of around 50cm, ‘Basket of Gold’ provides its visual interest a little bit higher than Geranium subcaulescens. And unlike the previous two plants, this one requires full sun, is fussy about aspect (south- or east-facing only), and prefers exposure to shelter. Try to avoid clay soil, and make sure the soil can drain well to keep this plant in optimal condition. 4) Tickseed BOTANICAL NAME: Coreopsis verticillata RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Zagreb’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN / PART SHADE FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER / AUTUMN Here’s another fantastic eruption of yellow, this time boasting bushels of daisy-like flowers. As a clump-forming perennial, ‘Grandiflora’ brings something quite visually different from the others in this list – perfect if you’re looking to mix things up a little. This jolly customer will do well in full sun or partial shade, and will be happy with any aspect. It’s OK exposed or in shelter, and is only averse to clayey soil. Over the five or so years it takes to get to full height, ‘Grandiflora’ will bless your garden with its yellow bloom every summer and autumn, retaining its visual interest later in the season than some other plants. 5) Mexican Fleabane BOTANICAL NAME: Erigeron karvinskianus HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN; EXPOSED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER As the name suggests, this white mat-forming perennial hails originally from Mexico and neighbouring South American countries. Now firmly settled in the UK, however, it grants British gardeners with dense white floral mats in the summer months. (You may also see tints of purple and pink in the mix, if you’re lucky.) While it can look a little scruffy (some might even say ‘weedy’), rest assured that Mexican fleabane is an attractive addition to any garden. It’s versatile, too: As a mat-forming plant it shares the same appeal as Geranium ‘Splendens’, and as a blanket of white, it’s a beautiful backdrop for almost any other colour. This plant loves full sun in a sheltered spot, and likes any aspect except north-facing. Avoid clay soil, and take special care that the soil can definitely drain well. Treat it right, and Mexican fleabane will reward you with a lovely white floral mat about a metre square in size. 6) Alpine Aster BOTANICAL NAME: Aster alpinus HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER We’ve had purple, pink, yellow, and white. Now, how about violet? The enchanting flowers of the Alpine aster come in a gentle shade of violet that effortlessly invites your gaze, and the bold yellow centres make the whole thing pop. This herbaceous clump-forming perennial hails from the Alps and Pyrenees – two vast and wild mountain ranges – meaning it definitely has the hardiness credentials required to manage through a British winter. Plant your Alpine aster in full sun, anywhere except a north-facing aspect, and avoid soil with too much clay. Make sure it can drain well, and enjoy the gentle bloom! 7) Yellow Mullein BOTANICAL NAME: Verbascum epixanthinum HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER Take care when trying to say this plant’s full name in front of your friends, as it’s quite likely they’ll think you’re speaking to them in tongues, and may intervene. Tongue-twisting name aside, this is an intriguing and striking short-lived perennial. The flowers cluster densely around an erect stem that reaches far into the air. Grow it somewhere in full sun, nicely sheltered, and with a south-facing aspect, and Yellow mullein will reward you with fantastic bright yellow blooms every summer. At a maximum height and spread of about 1m, the plant takes up a nice bit of space in flower beds, acting as a great centrepiece for other blooms. 8) Blanketflower BOTANICAL NAME: Gaillardia × grandiflora RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Dazzler’, ‘Kobold’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -10 to -15°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER / AUTUMN 9) Catmint BOTANICAL NAME: Nepeta grandiflora RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Bramdean’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 10) Prairie Meadow BOTANICAL NAME: Sidalcea RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘OBERON’ HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 11) Masterwort BOTANICAL NAME: Astrantia RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Burgundy Manor’ HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 12) Peony BOTANICAL NAME: Paeonia daurica RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Mlokosewitschii’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY FLOWERING SEASON: SPRING 13) Stinking Hellebore BOTANICAL NAME: Helleborus foetidus HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: WINTER 14) Ruthenian Globe Thistle BOTANICAL NAME: Echinops ritro RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Ruthenicus’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY; EXPOSED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 15) Lungwort BOTANICAL NAME: Pulmonaria RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Diana Clare’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL OR PART SHADE FLOWERING SEASON: WINTER / SPRING 16) Rose Campion BOTANICAL NAME: Lychnis coronaria RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Alba’ (Pictured) HARDINESS RATING: H7 HARDY TO: -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 17) Gooseneck Loosestrife BOTANICAL NAME: Lysimachia clethroides HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 18) Strawberry BOTANICAL NAME: Fragaria × ananassa RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Pegasus’ HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED FLOWERING SEASON: SPRING 19) Goat’s Beard BOTANICAL NAME: Aruncus dioicus HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: ANY FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER 20) Miss Willmott’s Ghost BOTANICAL NAME: Eryngium giganteum HARDINESS RATING: H6 HARDY TO: -15 to -20°C PREFERRED SPOT: FULL SUN FLOWERING SEASON: SUMMER That’s not all! The flowers above are, in our opinion, a fine cross-section of what to expect from hardy perennials in the UK. There may be some names missing that you expected to see, but this was partly deliberate (what better way to get acquainted with some new flowers?), and partly due to the sheer volume of hardy perennials available. So, if you didn’t find anything in this list to your liking, don’t despair! There are literally thousands of options to choose from. And whatever you go for, we hope the weather at least holds out long enough for you to get your new hardy perennials in the ground! References 1. Hardiness Ratings. (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/rhs-hardiness-rating.pdf 2. Award of Garden Merit (AGM). (n.d.). Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/trials-awards/award-of-garden-merit
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