Growing
Get Tropical With These 10 Hardy Palm Trees Chosen By Gardeners
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Brahea armata 2) Butia capitata 3) Chamaerops humilis 4) Jubaea chilensis 5) Phoenix canariensis 6) Rhapidophyllum hystrix 7) Trachycarpus fortunei 8) Trachycarpus wagnerianus 9) Trithrinax campestris 10) Washingtonia filifera Managing Winter Damage Getting a tropical feel in a UK garden is easier than you might think – choosing some hardy palm trees you can grow in the UK is a good place to start. Palm trees may hail from much warmer climes, but there are a surprising number that can grow rather well in many UK gardens. Some of the best hardy palm options for those looking for a tropical garden feel are listed below: 1) Brahea armata COMMON NAME: MEXICAN BLUE PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 10+ METRES HARDINESS RATING: H1C HARDY TO: -8°C The Mexican Blue palm, Brahea armata, is, as the name suggests, native to Mexico. It is an attractive though slow-growing palm with fan-shaped canopies of blueish-green leaves and tassel-like flowers. It will grow well in well-drained alkaline soil in full sun, and is hardy enough to survive outdoors in a temperate climate. However, young plants will need some protection over winter, and gardeners in chillier or wetter areas may wish to consider growing this palm in a container so it can be moved to a conservatory over the winter months. The Mexican blue palm can be planted any time between May and September, and will flower over the summer months with its long panicles of vibrant yellow flowers, which are followed by yellowish-brown fruits. This palm is hardy in the right spot (and with the right care) down to around -8°C. 2) Butia capitata COMMON NAME: JELLY PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 3-4 METRES HARDINESS RATING: H1C HARDY TO: -10°C The jelly palm is one of the hardiest feather palms available for UK gardeners. These can be grown outside in a sunny spot in sheltered spaces, and are even suitable for growing on heavier clay soils which are not suitable for most other hardy palms. It can tolerate light frosts and sometimes even survive temperatures down to around -10°C. Native to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, this attractive palm has graceful leaves which form a dense, full crown and create a gently weeping effect. If you are trying to create an edible tropical style planting scheme then this is the best palm to opt for. The orangey-yellow fruits which appear after the flower spikes are edible. They are around the size of dates and have a sweet, pineapple-like or apricot-like flavour. 3) Chamaerops humilis COMMON NAME: DWARF FAN PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: PART SHADE; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 2.5 METRES HARDINESS RATING: H4 HARDY TO: -12°C The dwarf fan palm can grow over six feet tall, forming dramatic clumps of fanned leaves. One particular type to consider is the var. argentea variant, which grows in the Altas mountains of Morocco. It has blueish-silver leaves. ‘Vulcano’ is another good cultivar of this hardy palm to consider. This is one other option to consider where there is a heavy clay soil, or where you are growing in partial shade. This is also a good option for somewhat less sheltered locations, since it is rather wind resistant. It can tolerate temperatures, when mature and in good health, of down to as low as -12°C. Small yellowy flowers are sometimes born on mature plants. 4) Jubaea chilensis COMMON NAME: CHILEAN WINE PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 12+ METRES HARDINESS RATING: H2 HARDY TO: -14°C The Chilean wine palm is very slow-growing, but can eventually grow to around 5m in height in mild areas. It is hardy, in a sunny, sheltered and protected site, with free-draining soil, to about -14°C. But, it is intolerant of cold or windy locations. This palm has a cracked greyish trunk that can resemble an elephant’s trunk, and large leaves made up of a number of small narrow leaflets in greenish-yellow to darker green shades. Even in cooler areas where this palm can not be grown outdoors year-round, it can still be placed in a container to move into a conservatory or indoors over the winter months. Purple and yellow flowers in summer are then followed by dull yellow, woody fruits. Where the fruit forms, it can be candied, and the seeds have a pleasant nutty flavour when raw, though are typically only produced after as many as 60 years. 5) Phoenix canariensis COMMON NAME: CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: PART SHADE; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 10+ METRES HARDINESS RATING: H2 HARDY TO: -8°C If you would like to see results more quickly then this is a faster-growing feather palm that could potentially grow well in the south in a sunnier and well-drained spot. These can form stout trunks and spread out their leaves which can grow up to 5m in length. It can cope with partial shade as long as it is growing in a well-drained, acidic or neutral loam. In most UK gardens, it will need some form of protection, or must be moved indoors during the winter months. Though in the right spot it can be hardy down to around -8°C, it can also be grown in a conservatory or in a bright room indoors all year round. 6) Rhapidophyllum hystrix COMMON NAME: NEEDLE PALM / BLUE PALMETTO PREFERRED ASPECT: PART SHADE; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 2-3 METRES HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15°C This palm is interesting for southern city gardens in a sheltered south or west facing position, where the heat island effect causes hot summer temperatures. It does need summer sun to mature successfully, but interestingly, can also cope with winter lows of down to -15°C. It grows very slowly, but can eventually form clumps of attractive leaves to 1m in height. Even when the plant is killed to the ground in a particularly cold winter, it can still sometimes come back even from a hard freeze due to its suckering growth habit. 7) Trachycarpus fortunei COMMON NAME: CHUSAN PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 12+ METRES HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15°C “The bold, and tropical looking Trachycarpus fortunei is one of my favourite plants,” shares Garden Designer Jacquie Felix-Mitchell. “It’s so hardy and can withstand the heat, cold, wind and rain, which is just as well with our changing climate!” Even in areas where other hardy palms will not thrive, the Chusan palm can be a good option to consider. It can be grown outdoors year-round across much of the UK, though its foliage may be damaged by strong winds in more cold and northerly, particularly exposed sites. This palm can survive a lot, as Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly explains: “Trachycarpus fortunei is probably the best all-round palm for UK conditions, closely followed Chamaerops humilis. “Both can cope with harder conditions in average UK winters but can also cope with wetter and windier conditions. “If you want to grow palms but you’re worried about whether they’ll survive, these are your safest bet.” It can be hardy down to -15°C, and can tolerate heavier soils, and even some shade. But it will still do best in a sheltered post, facing south of west ideally. This palm also grows a little more quickly than many of the other trees in this list. 8) Trachycarpus wagnerianus COMMON NAME: DWARF CHUSAN PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 6-8 METRES HARDINESS RATING: H5 HARDY TO: -15°C In areas where the leaves of the Chusan palm may be damaged by strong wind exposure, this dwarf varietal may be a better option. This is a closely related palm that looks alike and performs similarly. But it has stiffer and thicker leaves which makes it a better choice for somewhat more exposed locations. 9) Trithrinax campestris COMMON NAME: CARANDAY PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; EXPOSED OR SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 4-5 METRES HARDINESS RATING: H3 HARDY TO: -12°C The Caranday palm is another option which may work well in a somewhat windier spot. It has blue-green leaves in fan shapes which can also be rather wind tolerant. It is a palm that is rather easy to grow, though it should be noted that like some others on this list, it grows only slowly. In the right setting, with sun and warmth, it can be hardy down to around -12°C in winter. It can grow to an eventual height of around 5m. 10) Washingtonia filifera COMMON NAME: WASHINGTON PALM PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN; SHELTERED MAX HEIGHT: 12+ METRES HARDINESS RATING: H1C HARDY TO: -5°C This is the tallest and fastest growing palm on this list. It should be noted however that its height and fast speed of growth means that it may not be the best choice for a smaller garden. If you have a large garden, which is sheltered, out of strong winds, warm and largely frost-free, then this could be another choice to consider. It is believed to tolerate some sub-freezing conditions, but is not generally hardy below around -5°C. So this is probably only an option for certain more southern gardens. But where it will grow, it can be a dramatic and impressive choice, immediately whisking off you and any garden visitors to the sunny shores of California, and the Southwest of the USA. Managing Winter Damage Hardy palms are not always the easiest plants to grow successfully in UK gardens. The most common problem, of course, is winter damage. Fleeces are also commonly used in the UK to protect palm trees over winter. However, if winter damage occurs, the damaged growth should be removed in the spring, and the plants should be tended carefully and fertilised to maintain good health and air recovery. But since palms have only one growing point at the top, palms will not be able to regrow from lower down. So if the palm does not recover before late summer, unfortunately, it has probably seen its best days and you will need to replace it.
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Horticulturists Recommend These 59 Tolerant Plants For Windy Garden Areas
IN THIS GUIDE Protecting Against Wind Trees For Windy Areas Shrubs for Wind-Break Hedges Wind Tolerant Grasses & Perennials Finding the right plants for the right places is crucial, and this is especially true in a windy garden. If you live in a coastal spot, or high up further inland, you might have a windy garden. Windy gardens do pose certain challenges, but with the right strategies and exposure tolerant plants, you should still be able to create a beautiful and abundant garden. Protecting Against Wind Many different plants can be grown in windy garden areas, but only when initial planting provides some protection from the strongest winds. Carefully choosing trees or shrubs for a windbreak hedge or shelterbelt is the best way to get started – to reduce exposure, and to increase the number of different plants that you can successfully grow. Borders with taller wind tolerant grasses and perennials can also be useful – softening winds without casting a lot of shade or obscuring beautiful views. They can often be beneficial where you want to temper winds to a degree without blocking your sightline to the sea or over the surrounding countryside. Once some wind protection from initial planting is in place, you can populate the rest of your garden with a much more varied selection of different plants. Trees For Windy Areas Pine tree shaped by wind Trees frequently won’t grow as tall in very windy areas, but choosing trees that can withstand the winds is crucial to create micro-climate conditions for other plants. Trees can potentially be used to create shelterbelts to the windward side of a garden. They can also be used individually on a smaller windy site. Of course, when choosing trees for a windy site, it is also important to think about other environmental factors. Consider whether the site is coastal, and whether specimens will also have to tolerate maritime exposure. Also think about sunlight and shade, water availability, and soil characteristics. Across the UK, some of the top trees for windy locations include: Alders Aspen Birch Cedars Cypress Dogwoods Elder Goat Willow Junipers Oaks Pines Poplar Rowan Whitebeam In a windy garden, it is important to understand that placing living plants as windbreaks or shelterbelts is always better than placing solid walls or fences. Wind will deviate around solid and impenetrable barriers, while it will be filtered through a living planting scheme to a degree. When solid barriers are created, this can actually increase turbulence and wind issues on the other side. For example, it may be very windy at the centre of a walled garden, even though it will be more sheltered around the edge. When planting a windbreak for a windy garden area, it is generally best to opt for a scheme with as much diversity as possible. Include trees if possible, and plenty of shrubs. Both evergreen and deciduous species help create the most effective designs. Even in a much smaller windy garden (including gardens on rooftops of balconies), trees can be included in your design to break winds and reduce exposure. Many trees can be grown in pots and placed cleverly to reduce the impact that stronger winds have on the other plants that you grow. Place these in the right ways and you can grow all the usual common edible crops and many other beautiful plants even in a very windy and exposed location. Shrubs for Wind-Break Hedges Sea buckthorn Shrubs are often the most important features in a windy garden. They can be included in border planting or windbreak hedging to provide more sheltered microclimates within a garden – and so are often crucial in creating a successful garden in windy areas. If you plan to create a windbreak hedge, or shelter planting around the garden borders, some good shrubs to consider (which can even work well in areas of maritime exposure, as well as in windy locations inland) include: Berberis Blackthorn Brachyglottis Broom Cotoneaster Elaeagnus (Silverberry) Escallonia Euonymous Gorse Griselinia Hawthorn Hazel Hebe Holly Hornbeam Mahonias Pyracantha Rosa rugosa Sea buckthorn Viburnum tinus Of course, there are also many other shrubs to consider, and which one will be right for you will depend on other conditions in your area. But when making selections, these plants can be a good place to start. If you are planning a windbreak hedge, of course you will need to think about the prevailing wind direction. A windbreak hedge placed in the right location and including the right plants can protect a substantial area behind it. Generally, a hedge around 2m tall will protect an area beyond it of approximately 60m. It will also reduce wind on the wind facing side for about 4-8m. The wind will rise up when it approaches the hedge before it drops down again on the other side. To increase this effect, the most effective windbreak hedges are created to form a triangle shape, with taller shrubs in the centre, and shorter plants to each side. The length of windbreak hedges should also be considered, to minimise any turbulence round the edges. The shrubs in a windbreak should usually (depending on species) be planted at a spacing of between 30cm and 90cm. But as well as including shrubs in windbreak hedging and around the edges of the space, it can also be helpful to place shrubs (and perhaps smaller trees) scattered throughout the garden to break up the wind, and create a series of more sheltered micro-climates through the space. Smaller shrubs that can be wonderful in windy gardens include: Heathers Hyssop Lavender Rosemary Thymes Of course, shrubs can also be placed in containers to provide a space-saving way to reduce wind exposure in a windy garden. Many shrubs grown in pots can be carefully positioned to create more sheltered microclimates for other plants. Wind Tolerant Grasses & Perennials Armeria Further planting for windy garden areas will usually follow after the initial trees or shrubs have been placed to mitigate against the strongest winds on the site. However, in certain locations, wind tolerant grasses and perennials can also be useful in creating a design. The best grasses and herbaceous perennials for windy gardens usually fall into two categories. They are either taller plants that are happy to sway with the winds, or they are sturdy, lower growing plants. They are not plants with shallow roots which cannot tolerate wind rock, nor are they fragile plants that can easily be knocked over by gusts of wind. Some grasses and perennials which prove useful in many windy gardens include: Achillea Alchemilla mollis Alliums ‘Ornamental Onions’ Armeria (sea pinks) Aster alpinus Aubretia Carex Catnip Cortaderia selloana Crambe cordifolia Crocosmia Echinops Eryngium Erysimum Gaura Hardy geraniums Japanese anemones Salvias Stipa tenuissima Veronicas Again, this is by no means a comprehensive list, but could offer you a place to start when choosing plants for a windy herbaceous border. Many short-growing, mat-forming alpine plants are also ideally suited to sunny, exposed locations can also thrive in many windy gardens. So alpine plants are most definitely another key category of plants to consider. “Whichever plant you go for, just be aware it is likely the plant will grow misshapen or slower than those in sheltered conditions,” shares Master Horticulturist Dan Ori. “If you embrace the idea of wind-sculpted trees over clipped topiary on an exposed site, your garden enjoyment will be instantly multiplied.”
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These Prolific Self-Seeders Will Keep Coming Back, Shares Sally Flatman
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Alchemilla mollis 2) Alliums 3) Angelica 4) Borage 5) Calendula 6) Erigeron 7) Foxgloves 8) Lamiums 9) Marigolds 10) Myosotis sylvatica 11) Nasturtiums 12) Poppies 13) Verbena 14) Yarrow Edible Self Seeders 15) Chives 16) Radishes 17) Mustard 18) Lettuce 19) Rocket 20) Asian Greens 21) Dill 22) Coriander 23) Chamomile 24) Parsley 25) Fennel References Plants which are self-seeding can be great choices for a low maintenance garden – but which are right for you? There are many different plants that will self-seed readily in the right conditions. In order to take advantage of these self-seeding plants for easy propagation, you need to make sure that you understand the conditions in your garden and the plants that can thrive in the particular environment that you are able to provide. Remember, even plants which can self-seed readily in one garden may not do so in another. “I love self-seeding plants because I like the dynamism they bring to the garden,” shares Colin Skelly, a Master Horticulturist. “You never know where they’re going to pop up. However, be prepared to edit by weeding out a good proportion if they start to thrive as you can easily end up with a monoculture. One man’s self-seeder is another man’s weed.” “I love self-seeding plants because they just seem to pop up all over the place,” shares Sally Flatman, a Garden Podcast Host. “Depending on how much you garden yourself, self-seeders can be a blessing as they will keep coming back. “Allowing plants to self-seed and then transplanting them can also be a good way of saving you money.” While some plants are generally considered to be good self-seeders, this is really a relative thing. What works well for a southern garden, for example, may not self-seed in more northern gardens, for example. Climate, micro-climate and soil are all things that need to be taken into account. That being said, here are some great self-seeders that you could consider growing in your garden: 1) Alchemilla mollis This perennial is a stalwart in many gardens, which will readily spread by forming clumps and by self-seeding. It can grow in full shade, partial shade or full sun, in most soil types as long as they are moist but well-drained. For many gardeners, this plant is a particularly easy plant to grow. Though it can potentially be a little too successful in certain settings, and can spread onto paths or grow in the cracks in paving, it can be an excellent ground cover plant to consider. 2) Alliums Ornamental alliums are reliable and attractive border flowers which can often self-seed rather readily. This means that they can often be a good choice for a low maintenance perennial border, and can spread to fill in any gaps in a planting scheme. They will typically grow (and set seed) most effectively in full sun, in a free-draining or moist but free-draining soil. 3) Angelica Angelica is another great self-seeder. It is a perennial, H6 hardy. It can thrive either in full sun or partial shade, in a location which is sheltered or exposed. It can thrive and self-seed very readily in moist but well-drained or water-retentive chalk clay or loam soils. Fertile soils are a must, and conditions must not dry out too much. As long as these conditions are met, angelica should spread well through your garden. 4) Borage An annual which self-seeds remarkably easily in the right conditions, borage is a wonderful plant to include in a vegetable garden, or in mixed borders. It can work well in most typical garden soils, and can even tolerate dry soil, though it will struggle in wet and waterlogged soils, or in heavy shade. Borage is not only an attractive plant, it is also a useful companion for common crops, and is an edible flower with a range of uses. The flowers have a delicate, cucumber-like taste. 5) Calendula Calendula, also known as pot marigolds, are remarkably easy to grow. These are another annual which can often readily self-seed from year to year. They can thrive grown as a companion plant in vegetable gardens, while also working wonderfully in ornamental planting schemes. They will flower and set seed most readily in full sun or very light shade, in moist yet free-draining soils, though are not particularly fussy plants and can thrive as long as the soil is not overly wet or waterlogged, and as long as they are not in deep shade. 6) Erigeron These daisy-like flowers, also known as fleabanes, can also self-seed in the right conditions. These can be a particularly good choice for coastal gardens. They flower over a long period throughout the summer months. There are annual, biennial and perennial varieties and many can be good self-seeders where there is full sun, and well-drained chalk, loam, or sandy soil. 7) Foxgloves Foxgloves are biennials and are another famously prolific self-seeder. These can be very valuable plants for the wildlife in your garden, and they are also extremely attractive flowering plants.1 They are unfussy about soil type, and can thrive in any soil which is moist but well-drained or free-draining – they can work just as well in a border in full sun, or in partial or dappled shade. The self-seeding can be rather too prolific in certain settings, but you can easily control their spread by deadheading after flowering where self-seeding is too excessive. 8) Lamiums Lamium is a genus of around 40-50 species of flowering plants – many species within this genus self-seed readily.2 Some self-seed so readily, in fact, that they are considered to be weeds in agricultural crops and gardens. Both lamiums commonly utilised as ornamental plants in gardens, and those considered weeds can be useful garden plants. They can spread to create great ground cover, and have a range of uses – many can be very useful shade-tolerant perennials, great for growing beneath trees and shrubs. L. purpureum and L. album can also be edible plants – the leaves are great for foraged salads in spring.3 9) Marigolds French Marigolds, Tagetes patula, are an annual which can work well in a vegetable garden. And these can also self-seed readily in the right conditions. Though they will need to be in full sun, in a warm spot, in clay, loam or sandy soil which is moist but well-drained or well-drained, and which does not become waterlogged or soggy for prolonged periods. They are an excellent companion plant for many common crops. In colder areas, you may have more success saving the seeds and sowing them indoors, but in the right conditions, they will self-seed prolifically. 10) Myosotis sylvatica Forget-me-nots are another great self-seeding plant. They are a biennial that can pop up everywhere if you allow them to self-seed. They can look particularly wonderful when allowed to self-seed among tulips and other spring-flowering plants, creating a beautiful blue froth among other plants. This plant can grow well and self-seed readily in areas of full sun, partial or dappled shade and can thrive in most soil types. 11) Nasturtiums Nasturtiums can be another very useful self-seeding plant for your garden. They are excellent companion plants for common fruit and vegetable crops, and every above-ground part of the plant is a useful edible. Nasturtiums will thrive and set seed readily where they are placed in free-draining soil, in full sun. Collecting the seed and resowing may be more successful in chillier gardens, but in warmer spots, they should pop up on their own each year. 12) Poppies Poppies may have only fleeting blooms, but they are one of the best annual self-seeders. These will pop up throughout a cornfield meadow planting scheme, or in beds or borders, delighting with their bright and delicate blooms year after year, and spreading to fill any gaps in a planting scheme in full sun, with well-drained yet fertile soil. 13) Verbena Verbenas, Verbena bonariensis for example, can be beautiful flowers for mixed beds or borders. V. bonariensis is also an excellent self-seeder. It will thrive in moist but well-drained or well-drained soil in full sun. 14) Yarrow Working wonderfully well in mixed borders, prairie planting, cottage gardens or the sunny fringes of a forest garden, yarrow – A. millefolium – is another plant that self-seeds readily. In fact, it can self-seed so readily that in some areas, it comes to be considered a weed. But yarrow is a very useful garden plant – and is especially great for wildlife. It thrives in moist yet free-draining or free-draining soil conditions, in full sun. Edible Self Seeders We mentioned ornamental alliums above. But some edible alliums (chives, for example) can also self-seed readily in the right conditions. 15) Chives It is also worth noting that there are many other common vegetable garden plants that will self-seed readily. Sometimes, allowing crops in a vegetable garden to self-seed is not a good idea, since you will not want certain crop families to grow in the same growing area year after year. However, in certain situations, self-seeding can be beneficial. Of course, some of the flowers mentioned above are also useful edible plants. Some other edible self-seeders to consider are radishes, mustard, lettuces, rocket, and Asian greens. 16) Radishes 17) Mustard 18) Lettuce 19) Rocket 20) Asian Greens Herbs such as dill, coriander, chamomile and (in the second year) parsley can also all be good self-seeders. 21) Dill 22) Coriander 23) Chamomile 24) Parsley 25) Fennel These might be good candidates for inclusion amongst perennial vegetables and herbs. There are plenty of other plants which can often readily self-seed in a garden, but those mentioned above should be a great place to start. References 1. Keating, H. (2020, July 1). Foxglove and other poisonous plants. Woodland Trust. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2020/07/uk-poisonous-plants/ 2. Deadnettles (Genus Lamium). (n.d.). iNaturalist United Kingdom. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/55460-Lamium 3. Lamium purpureum. (n.d.). Plants for a Future. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lamium+purpureum
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42 Plants That Spread Easily, Including Prolific Clump Forming Options
IN THIS GUIDE Are Plants That Spread Easily Always A Good Thing? Choosing Plants That Spread Easily Top Self-Seeding Plants 1) Alchemilla mollis 2) Alliums 3) Angelica 4) Aquilegia 5) Borage 6) Calendula 7) Dipsacus fullonum 8) Erigeron 9) Foxgloves 10) Lamiums 11) Marigolds 12) Myosotis sylvatica 13) Nasturtiums 14) Poppies 15) Verbena bonariensis 16) Yarrow Larger Clump-Forming Perennials That Spread Easily 17) Acanthus mollis 18) Bergenia 19) Bronze Fennel 20) Comfrey 21) Lupins 22) Penstemon 23) Persicaria 24) Phlox paniculata Ground Cover Perennials That Spread Easily 25) Aubretia 26) Campanula 27) Clovers 28) Lily of the Valley 29) Creeping Thyme 30) Crocosmia 31) Woodruff 32) Hardy Geraniums 33) Heuchera 34) Mentha (Mints) 35) Pachysandra 36) Sedums 37) Vinca minor Weeds Or Useful Garden Plants? 38) Ground Elder 39) Chickweed 40) Nettles 41) Cleavers 42) Dandelions Introducing Spreading Plants References Self-seeders and clump-forming and ground cover perennials are all plants that spread to fill your garden easily. The best gardens are gardens that just continue to look better and better over time. Creating that lush and abundant look can sometimes seem a challenge. But by choosing plants and flowers that spread easily, you can create a garden that fills out and looks more established, much more quickly and with much less effort on your part. When you choose prolific self-seeders and perennial plants which spread easily, you can fill your garden far more easily, and also at a much lower cost. Nature will do a lot of the work for you, filling in gaps and covering bare soil in your garden. You won’t need to buy as many plants or sow as many seeds to create your garden. Are Plants That Spread Easily Always A Good Thing? While some plants which spread easily can be beneficial for gardeners in the UK, it is important to recognise that some plants which spread easily can become invasive. It is also important not to harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive, non-native species which might become a problem in your area.1 Sometimes, when it comes to which plants are beneficial spreaders, and which are invasive – location is key. Be sure to check that no harmful plants (or plants that you don’t want to spread too profusely) are included in your garden design, as allowing certain invasive, non-native species into the wild can make you liable for prosecution and responsible for damage caused.2 It is important to think about the location, and not to place a plant that spreads too profusely in the wrong spot. Choosing Plants That Spread Easily Remember, if you want plants to thrive and to spread, make sure you choose the right plants for the right places. Plants will not self-seed or spread to fill an area if they are not provided with the right soil for their needs, and the right environmental conditions. Always make sure you understand the conditions in your garden before you make planting or seed sowing choices, because the plants which spread incredibly easily in one area may not do so in another. How quickly plants will spread can not just differ from one end of the British Isles to the other – it can also differ from one garden to the next, depending on a range of microclimatic factors. Top Self-Seeding Plants If you are looking for plants and flowers that spread easily, the first category of plants to consider are self-seeders. Many annual, biennial and perennial plants can be excellent self-seeders in the right conditions. Remember, however, how successfully individual plants will self-seed will be determined by the environmental conditions in your particular garden. Some excellent self-seeding plants are: 1) Alchemilla mollis 2) Alliums 3) Angelica 4) Aquilegia 5) Borage 6) Calendula 7) Dipsacus fullonum 8) Erigeron 9) Foxgloves 10) Lamiums 11) Marigolds 12) Myosotis sylvatica 13) Nasturtiums 14) Poppies 15) Verbena bonariensis 16) Yarrow Some self-seeders can be good choices for inclusion in predominantly perennial, low maintenance garden beds and borders, or even be allowed to self-seed as companion plants in a polyculture vegetable garden – where flowers can often be wonderfully beneficial to bring in bees and other pollinators, and other beneficial wildlife. Larger Clump-Forming Perennials That Spread Easily If you want to quickly establish an impactful perennial bed or border, you will want to include plenty of clump-forming perennials. Some clump-forming perennials that tend to spread well and easily include, but certainly are not limited to: 17) Acanthus mollis 18) Bergenia 19) Bronze Fennel 20) Comfrey 21) Lupins 22) Penstemon 23) Persicaria 24) Phlox paniculata There are, of course, plenty of other beautiful and impactful perennials which you can use to create the perfect perennial border or another planting area in your garden with remarkably little effort on your part. Ground Cover Perennials That Spread Easily Perhaps the parts of your garden where plants that spread easily are required are areas where ground cover is required. Fortunately, no matter whether you are gardening in full sun, partial shade or full shade – and no matter what other conditions you can provide, there are plenty of great ground cover plants to consider. Here are some ground cover perennials that spread easily for you to consider – some suited to sunnier spots, and some to more shaded positions: 25) Aubretia 26) Campanula 27) Clovers 28) Lily of the Valley 29) Creeping Thyme 30) Crocosmia 31) Woodruff 32) Hardy Geraniums 33) Heuchera 34) Mentha (Mints) 35) Pachysandra 36) Sedums 37) Vinca minor Again, of course, these are just a select few of the many different ground cover plants that you could consider for your garden. Weeds Or Useful Garden Plants? Edible weeds spread easily and can often be useful wild foods. Ground elder is one example When we are talking about plants that spread easily, we cannot conclude without making some mention of weeds. In an organic garden, rethinking weeds can help us understand that sometimes, weeds are just plants that thrive in our particular environment. While they are not always the plants we want – sometimes they can be extremely useful additions to our gardens. Some common weeds which spread very easily, but which can also be beneficial include: 38) Ground Elder Often considered a pernicious weed, which can quickly take over, ground elder can also make excellent ground cover, and is also edible. “I cannot over-emphasise how difficult it is to eradicate this weed due to its masses of tangled roots which propagate from tiny pieces left in the ground when attempting to weed it out,” shares Master Horticulturist Roy Nicol. “It should not be introduced to a garden under any circumstances but if already in situ, can be harvested as indicated.” 39) Chickweed A weed which spreads quickly by seed, but which is a very useful wild edible which can also be useful as a companion plant in your vegetable garden. 40) Nettles The common stinging nettle is also a weed that spreads very, very easily, but it is also a delicious edible plant, with many other uses. 41) Cleavers These sticky plants can take over an area of your garden very quickly. But rather than eradicating them altogether, think about the fact that these are useful edible and plants. 42) Dandelions Of course many gardeners hate dandelions to take over their lawns. But dandelions are another flowering plant that spreads quickly which can be very useful in your garden, and also delivers a range of yields. These are just a few examples of some common weeds which spread easily, but which may be beneficial rather than something you don’t want in your garden. This brings home that sometimes, weeds are just plants that thrive and spread easily where you live. Introducing Spreading Plants Plants that spread easily can make things a lot easier and lower maintenance. So rather than thinking of quick-spreading plants as garden ‘thugs’, it can sometimes be a good idea to give them a second look. This helps us to recognise the many benefits that, as plants ideally suited to the environment, they can bring. Plants that spread easily always need to be considered carefully before they are placed in a garden or allowed to thrive. But in the right places, these prolific plants can make your gardening easier, and help you create a beautiful planting scheme, wherever you live. References 1. Invasive Species. (n.d.). National Geographic. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/invasive-species/ 2. How to stop invasive non-native plants from spreading. (2014, September 23). GOV.UK. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prevent-the-spread-of-harmful-invasive-and-non-native-plants
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Master Horticulturist Advises These 16 Plants For Winter Window Boxes
IN THIS GUIDE Growing Edibles Brassicas Alliums Beans / Peas Herbs Pansies Dwarf Conifers Small Evergreen Shrubs Ivy Heathers Other Winter Flowering Perennials Evergreen Ferns In A Shady Spot Window boxes can brighten up your life – not just in summer but also during the winter months. But choosing the right plants to grow in winter window boxes is key. It is important to think about the size of a particular window box, and where exactly it is positioned. A window box in a sunnier spot will be suitable for certain plants, while one in a more shaded position will be suitable for others. With the right plant choices, you can enjoy attractive displays all through the coldest months. And you may even be able to continue growing edibles in a window box all winter long. To help you find the right plant combinations for your winter window boxes, here are our top suggestions for plants that you should grow: Growing Edibles Edible crops As a sustainable gardener, growing at least some of your own food is always a great thing to do. You do not have to choose between edible, useful plants and aesthetics either. Many edible plants which can survive outdoors over winter across much of the UK in a sunny and relatively sheltered spot can also be attractive ornamentals. Brassicas Some of my top picks for a winter window box are in the Brassica (cabbage) family. There are a number of kales, cabbages and Asian greens which can survive cold temperatures and provide you with a source of food throughout the winter months. Kales and cabbages can be beautiful too – with their different types of foliage in greens, and also deep purple hues. The kale ‘Dwarf Blue Scotch’ is an especially compact variety with an elegant blue hue to its curly leaves. Alliums You can also consider adding some alliums (overwintering onions, or perennial onions, for example to your window box, to provide food the following year. “Consider planting the red onion ‘Electric’ as sets in mid-autumn,” shares Peter Lickorish, a Master Horticulturist. Beans / Peas Overwintering broad beans or peas could also be an option in some window boxes in some areas. “‘The Sutton’ is among the smaller broad bean varieties, but consider replacing your window box with a spring bulb display to let this plant reach its full height of 45cm somewhere away from the window,” says Peter. And with a little protection, a range of other leafy crops, root crops and micro-greens could be grown. Herbs Though you will likely leave them unharvested during the winter months, many evergreen herbs can also be good choices for a winter window box. Rosemary, thyme etc. can often overwinter successfully in a window box in the right spot – and many should remain green throughout the winter months. Pansies Pansies and violas are common winter bedding plants, but you might not realise that these are also edible flowers, which can be added to a winter salad. However, buying in bedding plants is not usually the most eco-friendly choice. With hugely detrimental peat compost, and plastic plugs or pots, bedding plants are generally best avoided if you are trying to garden in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. Instead, consider sowing these plants from seed yourself at home. Plan ahead for winter in late spring and early summer to make sure you limit your negative impact on people and planet. Dwarf Conifers If you would rather not go to the trouble of growing edibles year-round, and simply want a long-lasting and attractive winter display, conifers can be a low-maintenance choice. Junipers, for example, with dwarf or prostrate forms can be ideal choices for winter window boxes. There are a number of conifers with small and restricted forms which can look beautiful in a window box over the winter months. “One of my favourite low-growing junipers is Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’,” shares Peter. “The clue is in the name because it will hug the ground or a window box!” Small Evergreen Shrubs There are also plenty of small evergreen shrubs and sub-shrubs that can look wonderful in winter window boxes, providing plenty of visual interest and appeal over the coldest months. Gaultheria procumbens, for example, is one option to consider. Plant a small potted plant of this species into a window box, and when winter is done, it might even be suitable to replant and grow elsewhere in your garden. Skimmia japonica and Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana are other interesting small shrubs to consider. Again, there are examples that are rather diminutive in size, and which will provide winter interest in a window box before – potentially – being planted out elsewhere. Many Daphnes are also ideal for window boxes, some providing blooms in the winter months. For colour and interest over the winter months, Daphnes can be hard to beat. They are slow growing, but will eventually out-grow their window box and can be planted out in the garden. There are also plenty of other small evergreen shrubs and subshrubs to consider growing in a window box over the winter months. But the above are all great choices to maximise interest and visual appeal over the coldest part of the year. Ivy Ferns and ivy window box While some Hedera (ivy) is extremely vigorous, and will quickly take over, many ivy varieties are perfect for winter window boxes. These spill down over the front of a window box, creating a beautiful effect. Ivy trailing from a window box can give a sense of abundance and lushness and it can look good alongside a wide range of other plants. Heathers Heather and ivy window box Winter flowering heathers such as Erica carnea and Erica x darleyensis are also top picks for a winter window box. They can look good alongside some herb shrubs like rosemary etc, or alongside a range of evergreen alpine plants. There are numerous evergreen alpines that can look wonderful throughout the year, and which can thrive in a well-drained window box in the right spot. Other Winter Flowering Perennials Helleborus x hybridus (Hybrid Hellebores) and Helleborus niger (The Christmas Rose) are great choices for a winter window box, blooming as they do during the coldest months. Cyclamen coum is a perennial bulb that you could also consider growing in winter window boxes for some of the earliest blooms of the year. Evergreen Ferns In A Shady Spot In a shady spot, you may find it more difficult to find plants that will thrive in a winter window box. But some of the plants above – such as conifers and ivy, should still do fine. And you can also consider adding a range of interesting evergreen ferns. Creating a small window box fernery can provide a lot more interest than you might think. There are ferns that come in a wide range of foliage types, forms and shades. The fern Asplenium trichomanes is among the smaller evergreen ferns, with charismatic bright green fronds. Snowdrops, and other late-winter/early spring bulbs could also be considered for a window box in a shaded location. Iris reticulata are tiny irises, best viewed close up, such as in a window box.
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Horticulturist Colin Skelly Shares 12 Evergreen Shrubs That Are Perfect For Pots
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Aucuba japonica 2) Azaleas 3) Camellias 4) Ceanothus 5) Choisya 6) Cotoneaster 7) Daphnes 8) Heathers 9) Hebes 10) Photinias 11) Skimmias 12) Viburnums References Many evergreen shrubs can work just as well in pots or containers as they do in the ground. But which evergreen shrubs should you choose? You may wonder where to begin when choosing shrubs for a container garden. We’ve developed a list of twelve evergreen shrubs that work very well in containers, and which we believe are amongst the best for pots for you to consider. “Remember to consider the water requirements of shrubs in containers,” adds Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly. “In hot weather, they will need regular watering to maintain good health. Consider the final size of the plant you are selecting with the pot size that you can accommodate. “Remember to look out for smaller cultivars.” 1) Aucuba japonica HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL OR PART SHADE The first evergreen shrub to consider is the Japanese laurel – Aucuba japonica. This large shrub will be more compact in a pot and has attractive evergreen leaves which can be variegated and little purple flowers which are followed by large glossy red berries. It is H5 hardy, and will work well in a full shade or partially shaded position. 2) Azaleas HARDINESS RATING: MOSTLY H6 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE There are many, many small Azaleas (and Rhododendron) that work very well in a container filled with ericaceous compost or potting mix. Growing these in containers means you can ensure that they have the acidic conditions they need, even when the soil is not acidic in your area. There are options that work well in full sun, or in partially shaded positions, and most are H6 hardy in the UK. 3) Camellias HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL OR PART SHADE Camellias are another great choice for growing in an ericaceous potting mix. There are several bijou options that are wonderful for containers, and these too will thrive in a lightly shaded position. For environmental reasons, be sure to choose a peat-free ericaceous compost for your pots. These shrubs have beautiful blooms early in the year and most are hardy to some degree. 4) Ceanothus HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN One of the great things about Ceanothus is that this is a nitrogen-fixing shrub. Another is that they have truly stunning blue flowers that really can make a huge impact in your garden. Be sure to choose the right variety of Ceanothus, as some grow much larger than others. C. griseus spread into a low bushy form, and C. repens also has a low, spreading habit, or can be grown in a container to spread up against a wall or fence. Ceanothus can flower in spring, or in late summer or autumn depending on the variety. It thrives in full sun. 5) Choisya HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN Choisya (Mexican orange blossom) is another beautiful flowering evergreen shrub to consider. Growing to create dense mounds of evergreen foliage, these will come alive in spring with their white, scented flowers. ‘Aztec Pearl’ is one great small option to consider growing in a container. It is H4 hardy, and will do best in full sun. 6) Cotoneaster HARDINESS RATING: H6/7 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE Cotoneaster is another great option for growing in pots. This glossy evergreen has pretty white flowers followed by red berries loved by birds. Cotoneaster can take a range of different forms. It can be formed into more upright shrubs or tree-like forms, neatly pruned – or it can sprawl out horizontally or up a wall or fence – depending on which type of cotoneaster you choose. Cotoneaster can thrive in full sun or in partial shade and is a very easy plant to grow. 7) Daphnes HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE Daphnes are popular blooming shrubs – and with good reason. Their attractive and showy blooms flower often in late winter, when there are few other flowers around. Dwarf alpine species such as D. arbuscula, D. genkwa and D. cneorum are particularly good for growing in pots. Though there are many Daphnes that will work wonderfully in containers, mostly in moist but free-draining conditions in full sun. Some Daphnes, however, like D. laureola, will even thrive in deep shade. 8) Heathers HARDINESS RATING: H7 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN Many heathers and heaths in the Calluna and Erica genus will work very well in pots. Bear in mind that heathers and heaths generally require an ericaceous compost, and like acidic conditions. Other than this, they are relatively unfussy and will be good, relatively low-maintenance plants. Choose the right heathers for your container garden and you can enjoy blooms over the whole of the year. Some heathers have not only beautiful blooms but also interesting coloured foliage which alters over the course of the seasons. So if you are looking for year-round interest, heathers are often an excellent choice. 9) Hebes HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE There are many Hebes to choose from for evergreen appeal in your container garden. One delightful option, for example, is ‘Pink Elephant’. This is a hardy plant with attractive green leaves tinged creamy-yellow at the edges, and the whole plant blushes pink, then purplish in cooler conditions. Small white flowers also add additional interest during the summer months. 10) Photinias HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL SUN OR PART SHADE Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is a popular plant, both in gardens and municipal planting. And some may feel that it is overused. Nonetheless, it is popular for good reason, and we believe it is still a good choice to consider if you want to break up the green in your garden with some lovely reddish hues. ‘Little Red Robin’ is the dwarf cultivar – a good choice for containers. P. glabra ‘Rubens’ is another dense and rounded shrub that you might also consider growing in a pot in a container garden. 11) Skimmias HARDINESS RATING: H5 PREFERRED ASPECT: FULL OR PART SHADE Skimmias are also evergreen shrubs for year-round interest which can work extremely well in containers. Most will thrive in an area with light or partial shade – though there are cultivars for almost any situation. Skimmia japonica female plants will produce berries if grown near a male plant, which adds extra interest after the attractive flowers. S. japonica subsp. reevesiana is a hermaphrodite - meaning it will produce attractive berries over the winter months. 12) Viburnums HARDINESS RATING: H4 PREFERRED ASPECT: ANY Evergreen viburnums are also often top picks for evergreen container gardens. Viburnum tinus, for example, is a great value shrub which can work well in containers in many different positions, including full sun, partial and even deeper shade. It has dark, glossy green leaves, small white flowers, and these flowers are followed by dark bluish-black berries. So this is another great option to consider when growing evergreen shrubs in pots. In this list, we have focused on evergreen shrubs to maximise ornamental appeal. Though of course, many culinary herbs are also evergreen shrubs (or sub-shrubs), and these can also be wonderful to grow in pots. There are plenty of other beautiful evergreen shrubs to consider – so use this only as a starting point when choosing which to grow in your garden.
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These 75 Evergreen Plants Are Perfect In Pots You Can Move Around The Garden
IN THIS GUIDE Dwarf Conifers For Pots Other Evergreen Trees For Pots Evergreen Shrubs For Pots Evergreen Climbers For Pots Evergreen Grasses For Pots Evergreen Herbaceous Plants For Pots Evergreen Succulents For Pots There are a huge range of evergreen plants for pots to consider – but which options are right for you and your garden? In this article, we will discuss some common and popular evergreen plants which can be grown in containers; perfect for a container garden on your patio or a small garden. Of course, there are also many, many more evergreen plants that can be grown as houseplants here in the UK. “Growing plants in pots is great because you can move them around to refresh your existing space,” shares Garden Designer Kate Gould. “However, most plants in pots need as much room as possible and you are going to have to water, feed and watch them to keep track of pests. “It is a process, but it’s great once you’re into that rhythm.” However in this article, we will focus on plants that can be grown outside for at least some of the year in at least some areas of the British Isles: Dwarf Conifers For Pots Conifers in containers The first type of evergreen plants for pots to consider are conifer trees. Dwarf conifers are restricted by the size of their pots, and can be mini-Christmas tree type shapes, or be interesting bonsai in a range of topiary shapes. Some great conifers for pots to consider include: Abies (True firs) Cephalotaxus (Plum yew) Chamaecyparis (e.g. C. pisifera or C. obtusa) Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese cedar) Cupressus (e.g. C. sempervirens – Italian cypress) Juniperus (Junipers) Picea (Spruces) Pinus (e.g. Mugo pines) Thuja (e.g. T. ‘Mirjam’, T. orientalis ‘Aurea nana’, T. plicata ‘4Ever goldy’ etc.) Tsuga (Hemlocks) It is a popular option to grow these small coniferous trees in containers surrounded by other evergreen perennials and ground cover or trailing plants to create entire landscapes in miniature. Of course they can also be used to add formal structure and symmetry to a space, while they can also work well when placed along a boundary to increase the privacy in a garden, or as part of a windbreak planting scheme. Other Evergreen Trees For Pots Feijoa sellowiana Conifers are not the only evergreen trees that can be grown. In large pots or containers, you can also consider growing other evergreen trees, including, for example: Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree) Citrus (many can sit outside on a sunny patio, for example, during the summer before moving indoors or under cover in winter) Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) Chamaerops / Cordyline / Trachycarpus (hardy palms) Eucalyptus Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple guava) Ilex (Holly) Laurus nobilis (bay tree) Magnolia grandiflora (bull bay) Olea europaea (olive tree) Quercus ilex (holm oak) Evergreen trees in containers can make a bold statement and can be the focal point of a patio or container garden area. Some, such as strawberry tree, citrus, loquats, pineapple guava and olives may even provide an edible yield of fruits, and bay is a useful culinary herb. Even a small tree placed in the right position in your garden can increase privacy and break sightlines, without casting too much shade. Evergreen Shrubs For Pots Lavender There are also a wide range of evergreen shrubs that can be grown in pots. There are plenty of shrubs that will provide year-round interest, and which can thrive in a container garden. Some interesting options to consider include: Aucuba japonica Azaleas Bamboos Box Camellias Ceanothus Choisya Cotoneaster Daphnes Heathers Hebe Lavenders Photinias Rosemary Sage Skimmias Thyme Viburnums Winter Savory Evergreen shrubs can provide year-round interest, some even flowering or providing beautiful berries over the coldest months. They can also be great for wildlife in your garden. As you can see from the list above, the evergreen shrubs that you can grow include a number of culinary herbs, which can be very useful additions to a patio garden close to your home, since you will be able to come outside and pick some herbs whenever you need some. Some evergreen shrubs – bamboo in particular, can be especially useful as screening and for privacy, since you can grow many of these in containers even where a home is rented or for some other reason you cannot grow plants in the ground. Evergreen Climbers For Pots Ivy A large container placed against a wall, fence or other structure can also be used to grow a number of evergreen climbers. For example, you might consider: Clematis (Evergreen, winter-flowering, e.g. C. cirrhosa) Euonymous fortunei Garrya elliptica (Silk-tassel) Hedera (Ivy) Hydrangea seemannii Parthenocissus (Virginia creeper) Trachelospermum jasmonoides (Star jasmine) Growing climbers and wall shrubs in containers as the base of a wall or fence or other support structure can be a great way to make sure your garden, yard, balcony or patio has an enclosed and welcoming feel, with plenty of greenery about. Plants like ivy can also be grown down from hanging baskets or other hanging containers, in mixed container planting alongside a range of other plants. Evergreen Grasses For Pots Carex in a container Grasses and sedges are also great for adding year-round colour and interest in a container garden. Some great evergreen grasses to grow in pots include: Anemanthele lessoniana Carex Deschampsia Festuca glauca Miscanthus sinensis (e.g. ‘Morning Light’) Stipa tenuissima Larger specimens look great in stand-alone containers, as statement pieces. They can be placed in a row for gentle screening that does not overwhelm the space or overly restrict views of the rest of the garden. Smaller grasses for containers can also look great when planted in containers alongside other evergreen plants. Their soft and flowing forms can break up heavier, denser planting schemes and keep a container garden looking light and soft. Evergreen Herbaceous Plants For Pots Phormium There are also plenty of other herbaceous perennials to consider growing in pots in a container garden. Just some of the interesting evergreens of this type to grow in pots include: Ajuga Androsace Armeria Asplenium (evergreen ferns) Delosperma Dianthus ssp. Erigeon ssp. Fatsia Globularia Heuchera Hepatia Phormium Many alpine plants, for example, create mats of evergreen foliage. While other more sculptural plants like evergreen ferns, fatsia and phormiums, for example, can make an impact – even in somewhat more shaded positions. Including a wide range of different alpines and other perennial herbaceous plants with different shapes, textures and colours can add a lot of interest to your container garden. And the above list represents just a very small fraction of the many different plants that you could choose. Evergreen Succulents For Pots Sempervivum A number of succulents can also be excellent evergreen plants to consider growing in pots. These can be grown as houseplants, but can also often survive outside with winter protection in more sheltered, drier and milder spots. Some of the many succulents to consider include: Aeoniums Agave Aloes Crassula Echeveria Haworthia Kalanchoe Opuntia Sedums Sempervivums “Whilst most succulents will need to be protected from frost over the winter months, Sempervivum are frost hardy and (as long as they are in free-draining compost) can stay outside all year,” shares Colin Skelly, a Horticultural Consultant. Succulents can be great low-maintenance plants for a free-draining and sunny spot. They look at home in many different drier-climate planting schemes, or in containers inside your home. Creating containers with a number of different succulents can lend an exotic vibe to your container garden. We hope you’re feeling inspired to find some year-round greenery for your garden!
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Tropical Gardens Are Possible In Cooler Climates - Here's 11 Inventive Ideas
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Layered And Lush Planting 2) Consider ‘Food Forest’ Planting 3) Utilise Hardy Palms & Banana Plants 4) Plant Trees For Canopy Cover 5) Favour Plants With Bold, Architectural Foliage 6) Encourage Bright, Exotic Blooms 7) Don’t Neglect Under-Storey Planting 8) Create Winding Pathways Between Dense Planting 9) Consider Adding A Water Feature… 10) …Or Some Other Essential Garden Destination 11) Keep An Open Mind Tropical gardens are lush, green and exotic – and it is possible to create a tropical jungle effect, even right here in the UK. You might imagine that in our far chillier climate, a tropical garden would be an impossibility for British gardeners. Trebah Botanical Gardens, Cornwall But there are a surprising number of plants for a tropical effect that can survive perfectly well (sometimes with winter protection) in many UK gardens. Trebah Botanical Gardens, Cornwall Some are genuine tropical plants, from tropical climates, while others grow in cooler climates similar to our own, but look exotic enough to contribute to that tropical jungle look. And as Simon Goodfellow shares in our tour of the Abbeywood Estate in Cheshire, it’s even possible to achieve that exotic tropical effect in gardens in the north too. Choosing the right plants, and combining those plants in the right ways, is key to successfully achieving this effect in your garden. 1) Layered And Lush Planting In a tropical jungle, layers of dense planting spread from the canopy to the ground cover layer. Dense, lush, diverse planting can definitely help you to get the look you are going for. In the UK, the sun is not as intense as in the tropics, of course. But careful management of the canopy and pruning away lower branches strategically can help you create a range of different eco-zones in layered planting, with some areas of deeper shade and some sunny spots in between. 2) Consider ‘Food Forest’ Planting The layers in a tropical garden are like the layers in a food-producing forest garden. And in fact, it is worthwhile remembering that a tropical feel garden could easily also be a ‘food forest’. A food forest or forest garden is a way of growing food that allows you to work in harmony with the natural world. The goal in a food forest is to mimic the structure of a natural woodland or forest, but to include plants which are beneficial to us, or to the ecosystem as a whole. All forest gardens can provide a bounty of food, and many other resources, in diverse and wildlife-friendly, largely perennial planting schemes. A tropical-feel food forest could also be a place to forage for edibles. Not all plants will have edible yields, of course, but you can include many plants which do. Unfortunately, in the UK, many of the edible plants grown in real tropical climate forest gardens – those actually in a tropical climate – will not thrive over our winters. But that is not to say that you cannot grow plenty of fruit trees, berry bushes, and other edible plants which will give a wonderfully tropical or jungle-like feel. 3) Utilise Hardy Palms & Banana Plants Hardy palms and banana plants can work in many UK gardens, and help to give that instant tropical look. They often take a little work to keep them safe over the winter months, but they can survive happily in many UK gardens. Hardy palms, without a doubt, are the shortcut plants for achieving a tropical garden. Fortunately, there are a number of palms that can be grown in many UK gardens. For example, you can consider: Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan Palm) Chaemaerops humilis (Dwarf Fan Palm) Sabal minor (Dwarf Palmetto) Butia capitana (Jelly Palm) Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) These can all grow successfully in warm and sheltered UK gardens, in moist yet well-draining soil, though some will require some winter protection. Banana plants are also fantastic shortcuts to achieving that tropical garden look. While some can occasionally be coaxed into providing edible fruit, banana plants are usually grown for ornamental appeal in gardens. Some options to consider for your tropical garden include: Musa x paradisiaca M. basjoo M. Iasiocarpa M. acuminata Ensete ventricosum Since hardy palms and bananas are on the edge of what we can grow in the United Kingdom, these can lend an exotic feel. But it will be easier to create a tropical garden feel if you mix a few of these palms and bananas in with other plants which can grow more comfortably in our climate. “With the exception of Musa basjoo which is hardy, the other Musa plants require care over winter such as dry storing the trunks or keeping semi-dormant in a container in a light, frost-free location,” shares Master Horticulturist Roy Nicol. 4) Plant Trees For Canopy Cover Other unusual (especially evergreen) trees can also be interesting options to consider. Both evergreens and deciduous trees can also provide a range of edible yields. Pineapple guava In a tropical garden design for the UK, I like to mix hardy palms and banana plants with evergreen trees which fill in canopy cover through the garden, and which lend themselves to a jungle-like look. Evergreen trees to consider include: Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat) Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava) Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) Magnolia grandiflora (Bull Bay) Citrus (in containers, brought indoors during the winter months) There are also plenty of deciduous trees that can look great in a jungle-like tropical garden, including: Ficus carica (Fig) Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo) Catalpa bungei (Bean Tree) Paulownia tomentosa Tetrapanax papyrifer (Rice-Paper Tree) One final type of plant to consider for the upper tiers of a tropical garden is tree ferns, the most popular type being Dicksonia antarctica (it is usually evergreen, but may be deciduous in colder areas). 5) Favour Plants With Bold, Architectural Foliage Many other plants with bold, large leaves and architectural foliage and form should also be included – even those which grow in other climate zones can blend into the overall garden design and give an impressive tropical look, even in our temperate climate. Once you have decided upon the trees and other tall plants for your tropical garden, the key to creating the right look is choosing plenty of other plants with large leaves, or bold, architectural foliage. Some of our top suggestions for plants of this type are: Bamboos Phormiums Fatsia japonica Gunnera Mahonias Eucalyptus Many Ornamental Grasses Ricinus communis Colocasias Cardoon Rhubarb Hostas 6) Encourage Bright, Exotic Blooms Bright, exotic-looking blooms are also a must. They break up the foliage in a jungle-like garden with splashes of colour – adding a sense of warmth even on the cloudiest of days. Here are some of the amazing blooms that could work well in your tropical garden in the UK: Daylilies Canna lilies Eucomis Hedychiums Arisaema Jasmine Fuchsias Choisya Begonias Pittosporum Erysimum Persicaria 7) Don’t Neglect Under-Storey Planting Don’t forget the ground layer! To really achieve a tropical jungle look in your garden, you need to think about what will spread and grow over the soil below your trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants and flowers. Fill in all the gaps to create microclimates and to get the right look. Finally, remember to think about ground cover plants, to fill gaps and spread out below, among and around the other planting. Some great options for ground cover in a tropical garden include: Ground-Growing Raspberries (Rubus tricolor) Pachysandra Euphorbia amygdaloides Mints (Many!) Ferns 8) Create Winding Pathways Between Dense Planting Have pathways which wind between the dense planting, so you can walk through your tropical garden on a journey of discovery. Creating that jungle feel, even in a small garden, means getting the sense that something wonderful awaits, just round the corner. Obscuring the edges of the space, and making it feel like an environment you can get lost in, can make a small garden feel much bigger than it really is. 9) Consider Adding A Water Feature… Consider adding some water – a pond, stream, or small waterfall feature really can add to that tropical feel. An eco-friendly solution is to use water directed from a rainwater harvesting system, and to use solar-powered pumps. 10) …Or Some Other Essential Garden Destination Whether it is a water feature, or a seating area, for example, remember to create a destination to draw you and your visitors through your jungle scheme to the other end of your tropical garden – to make sure you make the most of the space. 11) Keep An Open Mind Of course, the plants mentioned on this list are just some of the many interesting options to consider. The great thing about tropical, jungle style gardens is that you can pack in so many diverse plants, and create a really lush and abundant feel. If you plan your planting well, you may not only be able to enjoy this style of garden, but also to harvest food from your food forest.
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These 13 Plants Will Thrive In A Shady Garden Corner, Where Others Might Struggle
IN THIS GUIDE 1) Large ‘Architectural’ Ferns 2) Smaller Evergreen Ferns 3) Climbing Hydrangea 4) Heuchera 5) Cordyline fruticosa 6) Actaea simplex 7) Rhododendron 8) Stinking Hellebore 9) Lobelia erinus 10) Lily Of The Valley 11) Impatiens 12) Mat-Forming Geraniums 13) Hardy Geraniums Beware Heavy Shade References Is it really difficult to grow attractive plant life in shaded garden corners in the United Kingdom with its oft-overcast conditions? No! The good news is that not only can you grow fantastic plants in full shade, you can be spoilt for choice – tiny flowering clumps to huge landscaping ferns, ‘proper’ flowering plants and thick climbing vines…the list goes on. It turns out that some plants can make do with only patchy sunlight and a few don’t need any! Such shade-loving plants are heaven-sent for sitting in those sunless shaded garden corners. Here we identify plant life that will bring as much beauty and joy in those shaded spots as your more conventional plants do in your garden’s sun-drenched areas. What is more, though we list a dozen of shade-loving plants, we also identify a particular garden purpose for each one, so all your shade-garden needs are met. 1) Large ‘Architectural’ Ferns BEST USE: LANDSCAPING AND ARCHITECTURE SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: FULL SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘OSTRICH’, ‘BRAZILIAN TREE’, ‘ROYAL’ When one talks about shade plants, one has to start with ferns. Ostrich Fern The Ostrich Fern’s (very) large fronds are as if vivid green ostrich feathers that arch and curve this way and that, and sway in the breeze. Besides a preference for shade, this plant needs dry and cool conditions. This fern is one for the landscaper as it attains a height of nearly 2m and a spread of over 1m. Brazilian Tree Fern Tri-coloured Blechnum brasiliense ‘Volcano’ or Brazilian Tree Fern attains an eventual height and spread of about 80cm but it is prized for architectural purposes because of its shape and colour. The outwardly angled fronds form a conical, shuttlecock shape. The newer, inner fronds are a brilliant red, which turn bronze-purple, eventually becoming a rich green on the outer side of the cone. Both of these are deciduous perennials. Ostrich Fern is fully cold-hardy; Brazilian Tree Fern is frost-hardy. Royal Fern Also, check out the giant-sized 4m high Royal Fern. 2) Smaller Evergreen Ferns BEST USE: GREENERY, TEXTURE AND DECORATION SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: FULL SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘CHRISTMAS’, ‘JAPANESE PAINTED’, ‘HAY-SCENTED’ We suggest three varieties, all of which are fully cold-hardy. Christmas Fern Christmas Fern is an evergreen with intense green leaves which are good sized at about a yard long. It is an easy-care variety that provides year-round colour. It is an excellent choice for greenery, texture, or some robust groundcover at the rear of a shady spot or as a filler. Japanese Painted Fern Japanese Painted Fern is deciduous but is much more decorative and makes for a genuine talking point, and that is because of its foliage. Fronds are silver-green with distinctly reddish stems and midribs. It grows to 45-50cm. Hay-Scented Fern For something a bit different, a third option is Hay-Scented Fern. This deciduous variety’s fronds are appealingly filmy and feathery, and turn a hay-yellow in autumn. To top it off, it wafts a mild scent of freshly-cut hay. Who would have thought that shade-loving ferns would give you such different options? 3) Climbing Hydrangea BEST USE: VERTICAL WALL OR FENCE COVER SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: ANY RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: anomala subsp. petiolaris, Hydrangea viburnoides Several Climbing Hydrangea varieties are among those rare plants that are entirely indifferent to sun or shade. As such, they will provide lush green vertical cover along walls in your shaded garden area. Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris H. anomala subsp. petiolaris is a massive bushy vine that can reach a height of 12m and a spread of about 6m. Hydrangea viburnoides The not-so-big Hydrangea viburnoides still grows to about 6m. The former has ovate bright green foliage, and the latter, darker, elliptic leaves. Deciduous anomala provides a burst of yellow in autumn before shedding its leaves whereas evergreen viburnoides stays green year-round. The former bears thick clusters of insignificant flowers and larger, ‘proper’ white flowers during summer; viburnoides has panicles of small creamy flowers in summer and autumn. Though both grow very well in full shade, H. anomala subsp. petiolaris is fully cold-hardy while Hydrangea viburnoides is (just) hardy. 4) Heuchera Heuchera ‘Silver Gumdrop’ BEST USE: YEAR-ROUND ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGE SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: DAPPLED SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘ISLA’, ‘SILVER GUMDROP’, ‘GUACAMOLE’ Some Heuchera varieties love full shade and we are lucky to have three wonderfully colourful ones among them. “Heucheras are great in shady spots with variegated leaves and long flower stems, allowing the plants to stand out,” says Colin Skelly, a Horticultural Consultant. “One thing to watch out for is vine weevil, which favours heucheras and will eat through the root systems until the plant dies back. Nematodes work well but need to be applied at recommended timings and soil temperatures.” In ascending order of size, these are ‘Isla’, ‘Silver Gumdrop’ and ‘Guacamole’. The first is about 25cm by about 40cm, the second about 50cm by 40cm, and the third is about 50cm by 60cm – not all that different. What they have in common is that they are fully hardy, and are clump-forming semi-evergreens. ‘Isla’ has scalloped leaves with silvery dapples and purplish ‘trim’. ‘Silver Gumdrop’ has flat scalloped leaves that are silver-grey with purple flushes. ‘Guacamole’ has ruffled leaves of a sparkling lime-green hue. Thus all three exhibit exciting foliage yet all produce a little sideshow in spring and summer: cheery panicles of flowers on upright stems: ‘Isla’s are pink ‘Silver Gumdrop’s are rose red ‘Guacamole’s are white and cream. But, undoubtedly, it is the eye-pulling shapes and hues of the foliage that’s the ‘main attraction.’ Huecherella is also an interesting option, a hybrid form of Heuchera and Tiarella: It’s also worth mentioning the plant works well with hosta – a plant which deserves at least an honourable mention for use in any shaded garden spot: 5) Cordyline fruticosa The Vivid Colours of Cordyline fruticosa’s Foliage BEST USE: SMALL EVERGREEN ‘TREE’ WITH COLOUR SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: LIGHT SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: FRUCTICOSA Full-shade Cordyline fruticosa is not a tree, strictly speaking, but it ends up looking like one when it attains a height of 4m with an impressive spread of 2m, and as it develops what seems to be a trunk. Though drought-tolerant it is, unfortunately, not cold hardy and in the UK it must be grown in a suitably large planter so that it can be overwintered indoors. The upright habit is accented by a very proportional form. Its lanceolate leaves are themselves quite a sight at 60-plus-cm. The young leaves near the centre are a startling magenta-red, and develop red and green zones and blazes as they gradually become a rich, vibrant green. Come summer, the plant puts out scented pale purplish-white flowers on feathery panicles, and in autumn these form into bright red berries. Thus, this striking small ‘tree’ provides year-round colour, with those red tongues taking centre stage. A native of South-East Asia and Australia, the ‘Good Luck Plant’ is as architectural as it is ornamental. Various cultivars bred for hardiness, colour or height, are available. 6) Actaea simplex The Purple-Bronze Foliage and Flower Buds on Racemes of Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ BEST USE: DRAMATIC FOLIAGE AND FLOWERS SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: PARTIAL SUN RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Hillside Black Beauty’, ‘Brunette’, ‘Mountain Wave’, ‘Black Negligee’ Actaea simplex or ‘Baneberry’ varieties are good-sized deciduous shrubs that are fully cold hardy. They have a bushy habit and upright stems. Our selected varieties, underneath, range from nearly 1-2m in height, and 30cm through to a full 1m in spread. What they have in common is their richly-shaded, dramatic foliage. The divided narrow leaves come in dark shades of purple-black, maroon-black, bronze, and chocolate. These intense colours will provide an eye-catching offset to the surrounding greenery. All of them produce thick racemes of florets well above the foliage on tall upright spikes during a respectable flowering season from late summer into autumn. These tiny flowers are scented and, like the foliage, come in slightly different colours: white, cream, rosy white, and light pink. For that shaded spot, try any of ‘Hillside Black Beauty’, ‘Brunette’, ‘Mountain Wave’ and ‘Black Negligee’. 7) Rhododendron BEST USE: EVERGREEN FLOWERING HEDGE / SHRUB SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: DAPPLED / FULL SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: PONTICUM Though a few hundred Rhododendron varieties are suitable for partial shade, one particularly beautiful variety is best suited to full shade – you don’t even have to worry about it. Rhododendron ponticum R. ponticum is a long-lived evergreen that can hit a massive ultimate height and spread of up to 4m each way – perfect for landscaping, and more so as it is heat tolerant, cold hardy, and evergreen. Notwithstanding its dimensions, R. ponticum is not a tree but a branching shrub that is great to deploy as a screen or a hedge that can be pruned and shaped according to your needs. The thickish rubbery leaves are oval and of a deep, medium shade of green, and stay green year-round. Best of all, in spring it produces dense clusters of very attractive funnel-shaped lily-like flowers that range in colour from pink through magenta to purple. Be aware that R. ponticum is classified as an Invasive Species in the United Kingdom.1 8) Stinking Hellebore BEST USE: EVERGREEN FILLER SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: ANY RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Yellow Wilgenbroek’, ‘Gold Bullion’ For those shady gaps that you need to fill with dense, brilliant greenery that actually stays green year-round and is very cold-hardy to boot, Stinking Hellebore is a terrific choice. It is also ideal for planting along ridges and verges or for edging along a wall or walkway. ‘Yellow Wilgenbroek’ and ‘Gold Bullion’ are two varieties of choice. Both grow to 50-60cm with a spread that is a little less than the height. They have bushy habits and narrow strap-like leaves. ‘Yellow Wilgenbroek’s have a brilliant rich green hue and ‘Gold Bullion’ is a zesty lime-green that starts out yellow. They are not merely evergreen, they provide additional interest in the gloom of mid-winter to mid-spring by way of drooping, bell-shaped greenish-yellow flowers. 9) Lobelia erinus L. erinus ‘Sapphire’ BEST USE: CASCADING HANGING BASKETS / WALL COVER SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: FULL / PART SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Sapphire’, ‘Super Star’, ‘Regatta Lilac Splash’, ‘Waterfall White Sparkle’ If you have a post, beam, or any projection in full shade from which you’d like to hang a basket, what do you put in it? A Lobelia erinus variety, that’s what. Though they are deciduous, frost-tender plants, they provide gorgeous flowing cascades of colour in the dog days of summer and autumn. ‘Sapphire’, ‘Super Star’, ‘Regatta Lilac Splash’ and ‘Waterfall White Sparkle’ are all very compact, trailing varieties. They are so floriferous that at the height of the flowering season the tiny green leaves become virtually invisible. All produce a mass of small flowers with ‘Sapphire’s being violet with a white eye, ‘Super Star’s being white surrounded by blue, ‘Regatta Lilac Splash’s being white and lilac, and ‘Waterfall White Sparkle’s being pure white. In a hanging basket, these varieties produce lovely tumbling, cascades that billow in the wind, be the cascade soothing white or arresting purple. 10) Lily Of The Valley BEST USE: BEAUTIFUL, FRAGRANT FLOWERS / GROUNDCOVER SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: DAPPLED SHADE Lily of the Valley is a cold-hardy deciduous perennial. It grows to about 25cm and quickly forms colonies via rhizomes; as such, it may be a good choice for groundcover. It bears the most perfect of bell-shaped flowers. In spring, abundant numbers of these pure-white to cloudy-white bells dangle and nod from upright racemes. Cultivars with double flowers and blush-pink flowers have been developed. The blooms have a delicate, feminine fragrance that has been a perfume-industry classic for centuries. The white flowers turn into scarlet berries in summer. It will also allow you to gift one of the most expensive cut flowers in the world.2 11) Impatiens BEST USE: FLOWERS FOR BEDS AND CONTAINERS SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: FULL SUN / PART SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: MANY – SEE BELOW A garden ‘standard’ that is perfect for beds and clay pots, and brings oodles of flowers – that’s Impatiens. This genus includes within its array of varieties several that are shade-loving. They are frost-tender and are grown as annuals. Your choices are: I. walleriana ‘Tempo Series’ I. walleriana ‘Cajun Jambalaya Mix’ I. walleriana ‘Super Elfin’ Series I. ‘Sun Harmony Deep Orange’ I. ‘Sunpatiens Spreading Variegated White’ I. ‘Sunpatiens Compact White Improved’ Though these cultivars share a proclivity for shade and a bushy habit, they are very different otherwise. Their heights range from 25-60cm with equally varying spreads. They also differ in their attractive foliage as it may be a smoky bronze-green, sober dark green, spanking bright green, or even variegated with a central yellow band – and the margin may be smooth, serrated, or heavily toothed, depending on the variety. Though all cultivars are floriferous, a few bear flowers only in summer while others continue to produce them through autumn. They are saucer-shaped with five petals with that trademark distal notch, and occur in pure white, and in innumerable bright and upbeat shades of pink, orange, red, and purple. 12) Mat-Forming Geraniums G. × cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’ BEST USE: FLOWERING GROUNDCOVER SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: FULL SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Karmina’, ‘Czakor’ We close with those quintessential shade-loving plants which are such a garden favourite, Geraniums. These plants are so diverse in height and habit that they serve very different garden needs. For our purposes, we divide them into two ‘classes’ and propose three choices for each. All of them are deciduous perennials and all are cold-hardy to some or another extent; however, each is cold-hardy almost throughout the United Kingdom. G. sanguineum var. striatum, G. × cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’ and G. macrorrhizum ‘Czakor’ are very compact, spreading cultivars that reach heights of only about 20cm. All three do well in full shade. Their mat-forming habit means they can be put to use as groundcover. Geranium cantabrigiense ‘Karmina’ Moreover, they are very pretty as groundcover because G. sanguineum has dark, smoky green foliage that is deeply lobed into leaflets while the other two varieties have rounded and lobed leaves of a light, bright green hue. Topping it off, the foliage of the latter two varieties exudes a pleasant scent. All three produce delightful saucer-shaped, five-petalled flowers in and around summer. Wild Geranium ‘Czakor’ G. sanguineum’s are pale lilac-pink with faint veining, ‘Karmina’s are a pretty magenta-purple, and ‘Czakor’ are an intense magenta. These wee little plants also lend themselves to plugging small gaps and being used as companion accents in planters in the shade. 13) Hardy Geraniums BEST USE: FLOWERS FOR BEDS AND CONTAINERS SUNLIGHT REQUIREMENTS: PART SHADE RECOMMENDED VARIETIES: ‘Svelte Lilac’, ‘Julie’s Velvet’ As Geranium × monacense, G. nodosum ‘Svelte Lilac’ and G. nodosum ‘Julie’s Velvet’ are ‘proper’ flowering plants, let’s get down to their blooms right away. The hybrid produces curved, saucer-shaped flowers that are a deep rich purple with a pale central disk, ‘Svelte Lilac’s flowers are more open and disk-shaped and are in a pastel tone of pink-mauve with distinct dark veins, and ‘Julie’s Velvet’s flowers are somewhat bowl-shaped in a purplish hue gradated from pale mauve to intense purple with paler edges and pronounced venation. G. × monacense The petals of the hybrid are pointed at the distal end whereas the other two’s petals are notched. All three are simply gorgeous flowers. G. nodosum ’Svelte Lilac’ These Geranium varieties reach a height of about 40cm but G. monacense has an upright habit, ‘Svelte Lilac’ a bushy habit, and ‘Julie’s Velvet’ a clump-forming one. The first two produce their lovely flowers from late spring to summer and the third throughout summer into early autumn. All three feature lush green foliage, and all are great choices for shaded beds or containers. Beware Heavy Shade Be aware that heavy shade when combined with low air circulation and crowded foliage creates conditions ripe for pest infestations and disease, so do be vigilant for the same and avoid hemming-in plants with other plants. You can – of course – arrange garden statutary, set up outdoor furniture, or simply plunk a daybed in a shaded garden corner but such ideas are not included in this article. By all means, set up daybeds, gnomes, and outdoor furniture in that shaded garden corner but don’t forget the plant life – above you have enough options to fill half a dozen shaded spots! References 1. Forest Research. (2022c, April 13). Rhododendron control. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/research/management-of-upland-native-woodlands/rhododendron-control/ 2. The Priciest Flowers in the World. (2022, December 14). Floranext – Florist Websites, Floral POS, Floral Software. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://floranext.com/the-priciest-flowers-in-the-world/
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