Category: Foliage

Hardy Annuals

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Perennial

With any mild weather,  it would be tempting to go and buy some annual plugs. This can be achieved by sowing seeds though. Some are more hardy than others as the descriptions illustrate, some annuals can be classed as perennials since they come back a following year. If the parent plant doesn’t, it can throw its seed and the cycle repeats itself. The half hardy / hardy is an indication of what conditions it can withstand and whether this is for a prolonged period or a cold snap.

Calendula officianalis ‘pink surprise’- marigolds offer flowers from summer to autumn in warmer climes. Their demise is slug / snail related, not so much weather. Marigolds do best in full sun with well drained soil. They can self seed to prolong their lifespan. If you don’t want them, you need to pull them out once the flowers are spent.

Papaver orientale  – Poppies can be sown for spring and if provided with good drainage, a full sun aspect will return the following year. Equally, Eschscholzia californica, an annual though, under the right conditions can be treated as a perennial. It may self seed so be mindful if you don’t want it populating.

Viola – Wild violets are prolific in meadow areas and woodlands alike. These will return season after season. They’ll self seed and appear almost anywhere. The cultivated variety is an annual and normally dies after its season. It doesn’t self seed. They’re closely related to the pansy.

Pansies – There are summer and winter varieties. Single coloured and tricolour. Often described as a “cool weather annual” they can often survive prolonged cold snaps and on occasions come back when they’re not meant to.

Dianthus or pinks are a carnation flower suitable in rock gardens / herbaceous borders. The cut flowers, we associate with a florists spray (carnations) but the smaller ones are perennials. The plant is low growing with mat forming foliage. It offers fragrant flowers in the summer. Pinks can cope in poor soil.

Salvia horminum – clary sage / annual sage needs full sun or light shade but offers a show from summer through to autumn. The flowers attract beneficial insects so a bio diverse choice. it needs a decent, humus rich medium and does not sit well in poor soil.

Polyanthus / Primula – although these are removed to make way for summer bedding, this perennial survives cold snaps and returns the following year. It is argued that they come back stronger and flower in profusion.

Nasturtiums – an annual / perennial in the right conditions. The perennial variety – Tropaeolum – is hardy. The annuals, however, need to be sown early spring. if you are buying them as plugs slightly later.

Nigella damascena “Miss Jekyll” – Love-in-a-mist offers a blue accent in summer. The annual suited to a sunny spot will do well if a little sheltered.

Choosing a hedge

by zoe100675, posted in Foliage, Fruit, Hedges, Horticulture, Shrubs

Unconventional hedging is becoming more common providing colourful foliage and suitable habitat for wildlife. In addition to this, most of these plants offer berries as a food source in the winter period. The overall effect and the purpose of the hedge (a boundary line, a deterrent, providing shelter, a food source, windbreak or winter interest) are certainly important to consider. The flowers, habit, growth rate and maintenance need to be looked at before this is achieved.

Elaeagnus, Photinia and Portuguese Laurel are relatively new to hedging offering colour, fragrance and resistancy – Elaeagnus can cope in very poor soil offering interesting foliage, flowers and fruit. Prunus lusitanica (Portuguese Laurel) is tolerant of almost all conditions bar sitting in wet soil. While these remain popular, they can’t outshine some of the more traditional species.

Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is undoubtedly the 1st choice. While some may think its blandness offers nothing. It provides effective shelter for wildlife, it tolerates pollution, poor soil, is fast growing, the list goes on. It flowers but only when left unpruned. It’s a winner with its hardiness, ability to regenerate after being pruned quite severely.

Spotted Laurel (Aucuba japonica) (not to be confused with Laurus nobilis – a Bay tree). The shrub offers interesting foliage and a food source for wildlife. The variegated ‘Crotonfolia’ bears berries when a female is located close to a male. A hardy evergreen that effectively acts as a specimen plant or as hedging. It is tolerant of shade and able to cope with demanding neighbours (other large shrubs, trees).

Barberry bush (Berberis) A spring flowering shrub that can be sought in red B.thunbergii Atropurpurea – a decidious variety and green B. darwinii – an evergreen. There is a yellow too. It provides autumn colour but with being decidious, between winter and spring, be mindful it doesn’t offer anything.

Common Box -(Buxus sempervirens). It can be sought already shaped or alternatively as a hedging choice. It’s slow in its growth which is why it is suited to topiary. It’s good in sun but tolerates a shaded position. It does, however, need a well drained environment. Its density thickens the more its clipped.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) offers fragrant flowers in spring to early summer and berries in autumn. It is good in both sun and shade although decidious so lacking interest in the dormant period. A fast growing shrub tolerant of exposed sites. It needs a trim after flowering. If it is done at the correct time this may not need more than an annual prune. It does need some sun so not a shade loving plant.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) a fast growing habit offering flowers and berries. The flowers have no scent and although it offers interest in autumn, it eventually loses all signs of life until the following spring. It is very similar to Hawthorn although can cope in slightly more adverse conditions – this being the soil, air, nutrients and light. It is particuarly resilient in exposed areas with salt laden winds making it drought tolerant.

Pyracantha Saphyr Orange – this shrub flowers in summer and attractive berries are borne throughout autumn into winter. An evergreen, it provides interest at all times of the year including large thorns.

Conifers – encompass a large number of different species with different habits. Chamaecyparis lawsonia ‘Alumni’ – (False Cypress) is an evergreen that can be used as hedging. A hardy choice offering reliable foliage for little maintenance. Pinus and Thuja are conifers but usually used as an accent plant in a sunny border as opposed to a hedge. Cupressocyparis x leylandii ‘Castlewellan’ is fast growing and considered the typical choice for hedging. It does only require a shave to keep in check. A little every so often is key. A mistake that is made is that this hedge is left to get out of hand and then cut back in one go. This is needs to be clipped periodically rather than cut like privet. It doesn’t regenerate the same way and weakens it making it more prone to disease and fungal infection.

Forsythia x intermedia – a spring flowering shrub and Mahonia, an evergreen providing flowers, foliage and fruits in winter have been used but not particularly associated with hedging. Mahonia, a hardy evergreen tolerant of shade. It does need protecting from exposed areas though. It also flowers off last years growth so when you prune it, you pruning all the flowers away. The growth habit of both is informal, these plants shouldn’t be conditioned.

Dangerous practice

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Perennial

In recent years, I became keen on wearing gloves. Often, unless it was partcularly thorny (Pyrancantha) or prickly (Berberis) I didn’t bother as a younger gardener. It’s so very necessary though. Alot of plants emit an irritant sap and more. No-one’s suggesting you voluntarily ingest anything toxic but may remain on your hands – you can inadvertently infect yourself. Rose thorns equally dangerous, can give you blood poisoning, it’s really not so difficult. There are many dangerous plants but to provide you with a few.

Digitalis purpurea (Common foxglove) – beautiful colours from purples, whites and reds. The common foxglove self seeds and reproduces. D. illumination ‘Ruby’ a pink hybrid – does not seed but offers an effective food source for insects. The hybrids that are crossed for resilience are usually sterile although hardy to adverse conditions. (D. x vallini). A easy plant in a herbaceous mixed border with delphiniums, monarda and rudbeckia. It prefers a sunny aspect offering foliage and flowers in summer. It is resilient in an exposed site but can be supported if needed.

Ricinus (Castor Oil) – very attractive leaves and flowers. This plant needs full sun and relatively hardy. It’s a fast growing evergreen, sought in red and green. It will flower in late summer. Very dramatic leaves and flowers, just very dangerous.

Euphorbia (Spurge) It’s worth mentioning poinsettias are part of this group. Secretes an irritant and dangerous to swallow. It likes full sun and prolific in growth. E. characias is the variety we see alot and provides blue/foliage aswell as yellow flowers. A variegated E. x Martini (Ascot Rainbow) can be sought too. It is a shame Euphorbia is so invasive, once in situ can be difficult to control. Very attractive too, but precautions are necessary.

Dandelions – a weed but does possess an irritant sap. The leaves can be eaten and is known to have detoxifying benefits. Having said this, ingested in large quantities can be quite damaging due to their high alkalinity.

Laburnum x waterei – A beautiful specimen tree offering scented flora in early summer providing a canopy of colour. Breathtaking to see, but all parts of the plant are toxic. The pea – like flowers can look edible to an discerning eye (animals and children). It prefers full sun. A very robust and versatile tree. A decidious choice but provides foliage and flowers up until autumn.

Aconitum nappellus (Monkshead) offers deep violet and white (‘Gletschereis’) hooded blooms in summer. (A. ‘Gletschereis’ doesn’t tend to self seed). An effective herbaceous perennial. It needs a sunny spot but will tolerate some shade. The soil, however, needs substance – it must be humus rich and fertile.

Taxus baccata (Yew) – dwarf varieties can be sought although usually used a hedging / topiary plant. It responds well to heavy pruning (unlike conifers) Part of the plant has been used in the production of tamoxifen although it nevertheless quite dangerous. It is an evergreen. It’s hardy. It’s an effective architectural plant that can be shaped. It likes full sun, partial sun, no sun. You just don’t want to swallow it.

Fake Fruit

Featured by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Fruit, Horticulture

Although their names assume a fruit, some of these plants don’t produce any. The ones that do provide effective blossom in the early months and a food source at autumn time.

Mock Orange – Philadelphus – a highly scented large shrub / small tree. It prefers a full sun aspect; good soil too. It flowers in spring although has no leaves in dormancy so only seasonally interesting. The soil needs to have substance but be free draining. It does not tolerate being soaked either.

Mexican Orange Blossom – Choisya – A spring flowering shrub. Different varieties have varying leaves of shape and colour. ‘Sundance’ light green and ‘Aztec Pearl’ dark, narrow and pinnate in shape. This is a shrub that will tolerate some shade and offers spring flowers that are heavily scented. Both attractive foliage and flora. It’s an evergreen, so all year provides colour.

Ornamental Cherry Blossom – Prunus serrulata – an upright tree that is quick to establish. It flowers in spring although has no fragrance. A full sun aspect is preferred. Though its decidious (leaves fall off), this tree provides the biggest of white flora in May.

The Japanese Apricot – Beni chidori – Prunus mume – a highly scented specimen offering flowers late winter into spring. It flowers when there are no leaves. It does fruit in summer, but you wouldn’t eat them voluntarily – good for wildlife though. A sheltered site is preferred so exposed areas are not ideal.  This tree needs full sun; the soil free draining too.

Prunus incisa ‘frilly frock’ – a smaller variety with white flowers early in spring. Its habit is weeping and suited to a smaller space. It prefers sun but will tolerate some shade. As long as it’s in well drained soil, it accepts most medias.

Pyrus salcifolia ‘pendula’ – its flowers offer attractive white blooms in mid spring, autumn fruit and interesting opaque / frosted leaves. It bears no edible fruit although there is a yield. No fragrance to speak of either. It needs full sun to effectively perform.

Malus baccata – crab apple – offers highly scented flowers for beneficial insects and berries for birds. It’s very resilient and can withstand a poor environment, an exposed location and little maintenance.

Malus spectabilis – a chinese flowering apple blossom – will offer flowers early spring, fruit early autumn. Its flowers attract beneficial insects.

Silver Shades

by zoe100675, posted in Flowers, Foliage, Horticulture, Perennial, Shrubs

One colour can become so striking when offset against silver foliage. If the plant produces a flower, that’s a bonus. But purely for their leaves, these plants are effective.

Perovskia atriplicifolia – (Russian sage) ‘Blue spire’. This plant is ideal in a sunny position in well drained soil. It is highly scented too. It will flower through summer into early autumn.

Lavendula – Lavender offers attractive foliage, flowers and scent. French and English both look different in characteristics. French Lavender is inclined to a lime based soil that has plenty of air circulating around. It doesn’t bode well in compact, clay based medium. English Lavender similarly likes a free draining, light soil and neither keen on sitting in moisture.

Cineraria (senecio) a compact sub shrub. Adds a neutral tone to contrast with stronger colours. A bedding accompaniment more than anything. These can propagated by seed / bought in plugs. These are only really for one year bought in bloom and then discarded as opposed to a perennial.

Stachys byzantina (Lambs Ears) ‘Silver Carpet’ – this plant offers texture and colour to an herbaceous border. It prefers dry conditions and will not tolerate being over watered. It is a hardy evergreen, can cope in exposed conditions. It’s a foliage plant so there are no flowers.

Caryopteris (Blue beard) – a mid to late summer perennial shrub. There are various kinds but there is a silver green ‘Blue mist’. Its performance largely depends on how much light it gets, so a full sun position is recommended.

Helichrysum italicum (Curry plant) – as you would expect a highly scented shrub. It prefers to be in a sheltered position but generally resilient to most conditions. It doesn’t like being wet, so well drained soil is advisable.

Juniperus horizontalis ‘squamata’ or ‘Blue Chip’. An effective source of ground cover. The plant needs little maintenance although the aspect should be in full sun. The soil can be sandy, but not poor. It does prefer a degree of fertility. A very hardy, resilient shrub.