Category Archives: PLANT PICKS

SPRINGING INTO SUMMER

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Spring may be well underway, but there’s still time to transform your garden into a horticultural haven in time for summer. Philippa O’Brien, chairman of the Society of Garden Designers (and something of an oracle on all things green-fingered!), has shared her sage advice on whipping your garden into shape in time for summer.

As the spring progresses it is easy to see which gardeners have planned ahead. Their gardens are overflowing with nodding tulips, buzzing with bee-friendly alliums and altogether a blaze of colour and a deep well of enjoyment! The well-organised gardener will have split their perennials, planted their autumn flowering bulbs, and made sure that the summer and autumn are as stunning as the spring was.

However, if you’re a normal human being with a hectic life, it’s still not too late to think about adding some additional summer interest.

Short-lived herbaceous perennials are great value, and will probably die back before you get tired of them. Think about a luscious carpet of blue with Geranium Brookside, or a fluttering drift of white butterflies with Gaura lindheimeri.

It’s still not too late to buy some bold and slightly shocking dahlia tubers, though you may need to stand guard against the slugs! If your taste is for the dramatic, big bold Rudbeckias can bring a stunning dash of yellow to your border or planters.

Verbena bonariensis is a designer special, the nurseries just cannot grow enough of them. Stick in a few now, and you will have a floating cloud of purple drifting over your other plants. Equally long lasting, but less floppy, the tough little Salvia Caradonna flowers until well into the autumn even if you don’t have the time to deadhead it.

And then there are the asters, just the thing to welcome you back after the summer holidays. These joyful daisies redolent of harvest festivals and bonfirey autumn days both attract the butterflies and light up the late border.

Most London gardens tend to be on the shady side, so think about a collection of ferns. The Victorians knew what they were doing when they put in ferneries, and a collection of these long-lived trouble-free plants can give endless pleasure. One of the most exciting is Belchnum chiliense, which does not mind a bit of sun, or you could try some of the lacy little Polystichums. Throw in two or three of the new double white Hellebores and the grimmest, darkest part of the garden will become a tranquil oasis of soft shady planting.

If all this is just too much to fit in between walking the dog and ordering the shopping, then why not think about employing the services of a professional garden designer. There are many planting specialists living and working around London. The Society of Garden Designers (SGD) website features only its fully Registered Members. These are garden designers that have passed the Society’s strict adjudication process and been in business for at least 3 years. As an organisation with hundreds of creative minds they are never short of ideas. Visit www.sgd.org.uk for a bit of inspiration.

Members of the Society of Garden Designers will be offering free garden design consultations at GROW London again this year. Visit the SGD stand on the day of your visit to find out more and book your slot.

Thanks to Sarah Hammond MSGD, Sue Townsend MSGD and Thomas Hoblyn MSGD for their beautiful images.

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A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - MARCH

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Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants introduces us to whole new world of sedums that we never even knew existed!

The genus Sedum is a group that most people have heard of. Sedums are green roof plants right? Or those creeping greyish plants that carpet the tops of old walls, and then there are those autumn-flowering border plants with pink flowers that the bees love? Yes, they’re all examples of the sedum or stonecrop family, but there are also many more exotic species that are pretty much unknown amongst the general public that are certainly worth knowing about.

Sedum mocinianum is something altogether quite different. A small, compact plant with plump bluish-grey leaves that are covered in dense white hairs - it looks like a small white furry mound in bright light. The plant is native to Mexico and was discovered only in the last thirty years. It is not hardy, and needs a warm bright windowsill to do its best, where it will resemble a small grey animal nestling in its pot. It is a winter flowering plant – producing short stems with starry white flowers tinged with red during January and February.

Do not assume that flowering means it could do with a drop of water - this is the worst thing you could possibly do, the plant will turn up its toes and die! This plant enjoys gritty, free-draining soil and needs to be kept completely dry over the winter months. Don’t be tempted to start watering again until it has completely stopped flowering and the days have started lengthening – say mid-March onwards. It will look well in a container of other succulents that enjoy dry conditions – use plants with a contrasting shape and colour such as one of the small aloes like Aloe brevifolia or Aloe squarosa, a larger echeveria like Echeveria agavoides, and maybe the china blue Senecio repens planted in a wide shallow container or even a terrarium.

If you want to increase your plant, use the old flowering stems as cuttings and tuck them into or onto a pot of gritty compost and leave until you see some signs of growth. Your gardening friends will be intrigued and want a piece when they see it!

Discover more of Fiona’s succulent picks here »

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LEAVE A CORNER FOR SPRING WEEDS

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Spring is coming and with it, the need to prepare the garden for summer. In this blog however, we’d like to persuade you to look again at a couple of those weeds that might not be so pretty, and leave a corner for them to flourish. Perhaps you already have them to encourage wildlife, but they also have a rich history of folk-use that can be rediscovered.

In many herbal medicine traditions around the world, spring is a time to nourish and regenerate. After a winter of eating comfort foods and high calories to keep you warm through the cold days, now is a time to add the fresh, nutrient rich greens that have finally re-emerged. Before all-year-round access to vegetables became available in shops, this would have been the first time people could get fresh greens into their diet after the winter. So, here are a couple of herbs used traditionally for both medicine and food to whet your appetite.

CHICKWEED (STELLARIA MEDIA)

This unassuming little plant loves growing in disturbed soil. Its tiny white flowers open at midday and give it its name ‘stellaria media’ – meaning ‘amongst the stars’. The name chickweed refers to its use as a poultry feed. It is a top edible human herb too, with a slight salty taste, and is high in minerals and protein. It can be cooked like spinach but is best used raw: chop into salads, sandwiches or over eggs. Its medicinal uses are numerous and it is best used fresh. It can be used for a wide range of problems from nettle stings to eczema and chickenpox: simply squeeze the juice on itchy, hot rashes.

CLEAVERS (GALIUM APARINE)

Cleavers, Goosegrass, or Sticky Willie are just a few of the synonyms for this hedgerow herb. It is a long straggly plant that some children use to throw at each other because it sticks or ‘cleaves’ to clothing.

While it is also often listed as an edible plant, it is one that is down to taste; the tiny hooks that give it its clinging ability are quite tough and are hard to swallow. However, it has a high mineral content including silica – for healthy bones and tendons (and therefore gardeners knees!) so if you would like to use it, chop it up finely and cook in soups, or put through a masticating juicer.

Cleavers is one of our favourite medicinal herbs, mainly because, according to folklore ‘drinking cleavers water for 9 weeks will make you so beautiful, everyone will fall in love with you!’ It’s not entirely mythical though, cleaver aids the movement of fluid through the lymphatic and urinary system, washes out your tissues, and gets rid of waste products - leaving you with a beautifully healthy glow!

 

CLEAVERS COLD INFUSION:
A handful of cleavers
Lemon slices (optional)
A jug
Cold water

Bash the cleavers a bit to release their juiciness. Place in a jug (with lemon slices if you choose) and cover with cold water. Leave overnight to infuse. Strain and drink throughout the next day. Repeat and watch the radiant glow begin!

We hope you have been inspired by these two herbs. If you would like to learn more, please join us for our medicinal and edible herb walks & workshops around London.

Kim & Vicky
Medical Herbalists

Follow Kim and Vicky on Twitter and like them on Facebook for more medicinal recipes and herbal remedies.

A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - FEBRUARY

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This month, Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants delves into the fascinating, if somewhat dark and mysterious, world of the Agave family.

Agaves are a genus of very beautiful (and sometimes spiteful!) plants. Native to the sub-tropical and tropical Americas, where they are important as food, sisal fibre and drink crops, agave is now widely naturalised in many parts of the world, including the Mediterranean and some southern coastal areas of the UK.


Agave Parryi ‘Cream Spike’ (to 1m wide with the flower spike reaching 5m!)

These leathery-leaved, rosette-forming succulents are commonly known as the Century Plant because of a myth that they flower only once every hundred years. This is erroneous, as actually they flower when they are mature (depending on the species, this can range anywhere between 6 and 40 years!); at which point a magnificent flower spike will emerge, reaching metres high in some cases, before panicles of lily-like flowers unfold. Most species will die after flowering, exhausted by the energy taken to produce such huge inflorescence.

Many agaves will grow to an enormous size (in excess of 4 or 5 metres wide), generally making them unsuitable for any but the largest and mildest of gardens in the UK, but there are also a good number that are much smaller and these can make attractive potted specimens.

One of the most pleasing and distinctive aspects of this genus is the impression left on each leaf by the tightly rolled inner leaves, which are revealed as the plant grows. The more toothed the leaf margins, the more intricate the impression that is left - a beautiful example is Agave impressa, which has bud impressions that look as though they have been outlined in white paint.


Agave victoria-reginae (to 60cm wide)

Leaf colour can vary from grass green through steely blue to pearly white or grey; and leaf shape from needle-fine to broad. Some species have smooth leaf margins, others are saw or shark-toothed, while others still have contrasting leaf margins, or even curling fronds along their leaf edges (Agave filifera, for example). There are also lots of variegated forms – many of these are stunning hybrids originating from Japan, which fetch high prices for the more collectable forms.

Unsurprisingly, given their native environment, agaves are only half-hardy and would need protection in severe winters. They can survive in coastal areas and where a microclimate allows, provided there is also excellent drainage. Protecting the plants with straw stuffed into the center and then wrapping with fleece can help, and there are some species that display greater hardiness than others.


Agave utahensis subsp. kaiabensis (to 80cm wide)

These are plants that demand a bold-but-simple container. Larger specimens look fantastic in large corrugated metal or galvanized containers. However, should you decide you would like to grow them, I would caution against if you have children as the terminal leaf spines can cause nasty injuries. If you walk into an agave on the edge of a border, you won’t forget where it is in a hurry! And folklore has it that the Aztecs used to sacrifice people by throwing them off cliffs onto clumps of waiting agaves below…

Discover more of Fiona’s succulent picks here »

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A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - JANUARY

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As the old adage goes, new year, new succulent…well, we would like to think so anyway! And to celebrate the coming of a new year, Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants brings us not just one, but TWO stunning succulents to appreciate.

I am cheating a little this month and bringing you two succulents, but I just couldn’t choose between these two species which are looking their best at the moment. The first is Aloe variegata (common name ‘Partridge-breasted aloe’), a plant from South Africa that is relatively common and easy to look after. It is a near cousin of Aloe vera, and while not as successful for treating burns, it is much more handsome with racemes of orangey-red tubular flowers to add to its appeal.

This small aloe has green or deep brown leaves, painted with creamy white blotches and stripes, and white-toothed leaf margins; its sharply pointed foliage forming a spiky rosette. Its crisp outline looks fantastic in an indoor display and the plant can tolerate a hot south-facing window or conservatory, and doesn’t mind an unheated spot during the winter. Young plants or ‘pups’ push their way up from the roots to form small colonies that are easy to break off to make new plants. The flower stalk makes a welcome appearance from the centre of the plant in late winter/early spring (in the UK). Like most succulents, these plants require good drainage and careful watering, and this variety can also tolerate light shade.

My second selection is another Crassula – this time Crassula tecta. A diminutive species from the Little Karoo in southern Africa, this beautiful plant has plump, overlapping, rounded leaves covered with a frosting of white papillae that look like they have been dipped in icing sugar. If you look closely, you will see the amazing texture of the papillae - more like fabric than plant tissue. During the winter months, flower spikes emerge through the foliage terminating in long-lasting white balls of tiny flowers. They look adorable in tiny pots and take up little space on a sunny window-sill. Over time, a single plant will spread to form small mounds in a larger pot.

Discover more of Fiona’s succulent picks here »

To stay up-to-date with all our latest news and be first to hear about ticket offers to GROW London this June, sign up to our mailing list here »

A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - DECEMBER

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Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants – GROW London 2015 exhibitor – introduces a festive feeling succulent for a jolly December!

DECEMBER
Echeveria ‘Romeo’ is one of the more colourful hybrids around at the moment, and well worth looking out for. The fleshy, pinky-red leaves give the plant a really festive feel and it looks great in seasonal arrangements as you can see from the photograph below. One of its parents is probably Echeveria agavoides, a really fabulous plant. There are many different cultivars and hybrids of this beautiful species that form big rosettes of attractive pointed, shiny leaves in a range of colours. It is one of the largest species of the genus and a single rosette can reach up to 12 inches across, making it an ideal potted specimen for a windowsill or balcony.

Echeverias are native to Mexico where they grow on the sides of steep, rocky gorges. They are easy plants to maintain, thriving in a sunny position that will bring out the rich colour of the leaves. The plants are slow to offset, but in time, will cluster thickly around the base of the mother plant. Flower spikes emerge in late winter and the twisting stems of nodding pinkish-yellow flowers last for several weeks. Plants need infrequent watering throughout the growing season and should be kept dry during the winter months.

I like to use simple glazed pots to plant up single echeveria specimens – deep reds, greens and black work well. But for this arrangement, I wanted to bring out the redness of ‘Romeo’ by contrasting it with mad green Crassula rupestris (see last month’s blog) and a fleshy blue echeveria. The container is wide and shallow, so as not to distract too much from the plants, and is an antique verdigris copper sieve, which is a lovely dull blue when you catch a glimpse of it.

CHRISTMAS PLANT PICKS

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As winter comes and gardens grow bare, we’ve asked GROW London exhibitor Hortus Loci for their expert advice in the best plants for adding winter wonder to your outdoor spaces.

Hark the Herald… Hellebores!

Christmas is fast approaching and here at Hortus Loci, nothing proclaims the approach of the festive season more than the blooms of the Christmas Rose. Plant advisors at Hortus Loci and its retail and trade arm Whitewater Plant Centre have chosen some of their favourites.

Hellebores come in various shapes, sizes, colours and varieties, but for us, the clear favourite is always Helleborus niger Christmas Carol. It has perfectly formed white petals, deep, glossy green leaves and plenty of pollen which is a feast for bees and insects at this hungry time of year.

 

 

Helleborus lividus Purple Marble is a lovely, unusual hellebore with fragrant, nodding winter flowers. The subtle flower colour ranges from green, to soft yellow, and pink, with bright yellow stamens.

The veined, evergreen leaves are carried on reddish-purple leaf stalks. Helleborus lividus Purple Marble will grow up to 45cm in height and width. Grow this delicate plant in a sheltered position and it won’t fail to brighten up your winter garden.

The large, leathery silver leaves of evergreen Helleborus argutifolius Silver Lace combine beautifully with the yellow-green flowers which appear in late winter and early spring. This sturdy, vigorous variety can grow up to 90cm tall in ideal conditions. Bringing year-round interest to plant borders, this hellebore is also great used in winter container displays.

 

Hellebores are an easy to grow
perennial. They prefer dappled shade but aren’t too fussy about soil types, although they prefer neutral to alkaline soils. Once you plant them, they need very little attention and will give you a display year on year with minimal intervention from the gardener.

 

A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - NOVEMBER

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Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants – GROW London 2015 exhibitor – certainly knows a thing or two about growing succulents. The nursery, based in Kent, is a specialist grower and the majority of their plants are propagated right here in the UK. As she guides us monthly through a calendar of succulents, Fiona shares her favourite varieties and best tips for caring for your own at home.

NOVEMBER
A plant that I’ve been using a lot in my arrangements this year has caught the eye of many of my customers. It looks like a cutting from the head of Medusa - a writhing mass of snakes’ heads coiling from a pot! The plant is Crassula rupestris subspecies marnieriana ‘Hottentot’ and is one of my new favourite plants.

Crassula ovata, the ubiquitous money plant, is familiar to many, but this fascinating group has lots more interesting gems to explore. It is a genus of truly architectural-like plants with the fused leaves of many species affecting a columnar form, giving an appearance of beads strung along a wire.

This particular species (like many in this genus) hails from Cape Province in Southern Africa, where it grows high up on rocky ledges and forms dense clumps. At this time of year, each twisting stem is topped by a little top-knot of creamy white flowers that makes the plant even more endearing. The chunky leaves are green with red margins and stems and the plant makes a really interesting contrast to other succulents in a container as well as all on its own – plant it in a tall rustic-looking pot (or hanging basket) where it can grab your attention as you pass by. It is a very easy plant to grow for those new to succulents, and thrives on a sunny windowsill requiring only a little water to get it through the winter months.

I will come back to other members of this group later in the year…so keep your eyes peeled for more crassulas!

A CALENDAR OF SUCCULENTS - OCTOBER

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Fiona Wemyss from Blueleaf Plants – GROW London 2015 exhibitor – certainly knows a thing or two about growing succulents. The nursery, based in Kent, is a specialist grower and the majority of their plants are propagated right here in the UK. As she guides us monthly through a calendar of succulents, Fiona shares her favourite varieties and best tips for caring for your own at home:

Succulents are great plants for small spaces and can bring life to any patio, balcony, or windowsill with their jewel-like colours and easy maintenance regime. They make wonderful houseplants too - while they love being in a sunny outdoors spot during the summer months, they mostly need protection from the wet during the winter. So, if you don’t have outdoor space, that’s not a problem, they’ll be just as happy indoors if you give them the right conditions. Over the course of my blog, I will talk about some of my favourite plants for both inside and outside the house throughout the year, as well as the best plants to grow as specimens or in containers.

OCTOBER
If you’re a collector of pebbles and driftwood, the Aizoaceae or carpetweed family, that includes the group of plants referred to as ‘living stones’, are the plants for you! Their fascinating forms and textures will hook you and you’ll soon have a small collection on your windowsill as the plants are tiny, grow slowly, and don’t take up a lot of room. They are enthusiasts’ plants, and it’s important to understand their cultivation requirements (the opposite from most other succulents as these are winter growers) but once you do, they are easy, just as long as they get maximum amounts of sunshine and the right amount of water.

Lithops are the most commonly known of the group. These ‘living stones’ resemble tiny knobbly toes and their leaf surfaces have shallow fissures and marbled marks in subtle browns, reds, greys and greens. Native to South Africa, these plants live in dry, rocky areas where they are completely camouflaged amongst the stones. They suddenly burst into flower in early to mid autumn with a single starry flower of yellow or white. A tiny textured delight.

PLANTSMAN’S PICKS: OCTOBER

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If you thought roses were just for summer, then think again! Roses flower for a second period throughout October and November, so we have asked GROW London exhibitor, Keith Jones of rose specialists C&K Jones, to pick his favourite rosy blooms of the season.

CELEBRATION TIME
Oh, what a stunner! The shining dark red foliage really catches your eye before those perfumed dusky orange-pink flowers show themselves. A special rose perfect for growing in a pot.

STRIKE IT RICH
A totally underestimated specimen. Bright, golden flowers with a hint of pink and delicate perfume, too. Their lovely straight stems are good for cutting, just the ticket for adding fresh cheer in any room.

WILD BLUE YONDER
Large full flowers of a magenta purple, their fruity scent is delicious on a calm evening. Plant it near your patio so you get the full benefit.

MIDSUMMER SNOW
If you want a no fuss rose that repays you year after year, then this is the one for you. With its clusters of pure white against a luscious green plant - it will fit in beautifully anywhere.

NEWSFLASH
A rose with an upright habit, it blooms orange with a hint of apricot and has a lovely sweet perfume. An easy to grow plant, it starts in June, and keeps on going till November.

You can buy each of these varieties, and many more, on the C&K Jones website. Alternatively, you can arrange a visit to their Golden Fields Nursery in Cheshire by calling +44 (0)1829 740663.