Narcissus spp. Common name : Daffodil Family : Amaryllidaceae A bulbous soft wooded perennial with around 50 species and countless cultivars, the Narcissus is the archetypal spring flower in cool climate gardens. With a sheath of mid-green strap shaped or cylindrical leaves, these plants are most notable for their distinctive flowers. These have 6 flattened […]
How to grow dahlias
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According to the late Christopher Lloyd, whose Great Dixter garden featured multiple dahlia cultivars, dahlias are best in in late summer, when they are valuable in: “stiffening a garden that might easily dissolve into an amorphous froth of Michaelemas daises, and when the mellow quality of autumn sunlight best suits their warm colours.” This is […]
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’: Japanese Garden Star
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ Common name : Japanese Maple Family : Aceraceae Acer palmatums are tremendous garden plants, probably amongst the best loved of ornamental garden trees. Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’, a round-headed, deciduous tree or shrub growing to 5m x 5m, is undoubtedly one of the best. Here it is pictured in a border in early […]
Acanthus mollis: For foliage and flowers, sun and shade
Acanthus mollis Common name : Oyster Plant, Bear’s Breeches Family : Acanthaceae Acanthus mollis is a plant I very often incorporate into my gardens. It is easy to grow, creates a good shape in the border and provides interest through both its foliage and its flowers. It is a clump forming, evergreen soft-wooded perennial with […]
Taking care of dahlias: the trick with deadheading
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To my mind, one of the greatest strengths of dahlias, is that they can go on flowering from mid-summer right until the first frosts. Depending on where you live, that could mean that you can have dahlias in bloom for three, four or even five months. However, the most important word in that first sentence […]
How to grow bamboo: growing conditions, planting, maintenance
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Bamboo is undoubtedly one of my favourite plants. I almost always use it in gardens I create. Bamboo has striking presence. It can be used as a specimen plant – a star in the border, like this phyllostachys nigra – or as a wonderful screen. Learning how to grow bamboo is pretty straightforward. I’ll take […]
