Like honeybees, bumblebees visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar to take back to their colonies to feed the developing brood.
19.07.2023 - 11:43 / theenglishgarden.co.uk / Garden Merit
By the time we get to the summer months, the leafy canopy overhead has closed in and shady spots in the garden are even darker. Spring flowers such as wood anemones and bulbs including snowdrops and bluebells have died back and vanished underground. Happily, there are some shade-loving plants that will flower in summer. We asked head gardener Phil Cormie, currently at the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park, to pick his top 10 flowers for shade in summer.
Geranium phaeum is an excellent candidate for shade, as are many of the hardy geraniums. Phil recommends the cultivar ‘Samobor’. “It’s a wonderful upright geranium with lobed leaves bearing a deep purple band and slightly pendulous maroon flowers in early summer,” he says. Like many geraniums, it responds well to cutting back after flowering for more blooms later in the season.
A beautiful, Award of Garden Merit-winning plant that Phil suggests growing at the front of a semi-shaded border. White,star-shaped flowers appear in June and July, followed by berries and distinctive foliage in autumn. Deciduous and growing up to a metre in height, it is a valuable plant for any shaded border.
Dissected, dark purple foliage emerges in spring followed by intensely fragrant, bluish-purple flowers in early summer. “It’s a lovely little clump-forming perennial with foliage that continues to give interest once the flowers have faded,” explains Phil. This deciduous plant will thrive in most soils.
“Architectural and dramatic foliage with stunning plumes of white flowers in early summer,” are what make rodgersia so appealing, says Phil. “They’re great for foliar contrast with grasses and irises,” he adds. The deeply divided palmate leaves can reach up to 40cm long and the shrub grows to
Like honeybees, bumblebees visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar to take back to their colonies to feed the developing brood.
Winter season doesn’t mean you have to turn your back to your flower garden until spring comes. There is a good number of plants that bloom beautifully even in the coldest of weather. Let’s dig into their world and see which ones you will fancy.
Now that October is here, you must be busy with theessential gardening jobs for this autumn month. For most people, this time of the year is especially pleasing because of the cooler nights, warm sunny days, and pretty autumn foliage.
After 20 years of having a lawn that took, I wanted a yard that contributed: to the planet, to local animals, to biodiversity, to my neighbors, to my mental health. With the sage (native plant pun intended) design work, counsel, and collaboration of David Godshall of Terremoto and David Newsom of Wild Yards Project—and a plant-friendly paint palette from color consultant Teresa Grow—another little garden that gives was born.
California is well known for its trees and this article shall provide a list of the most popular California’s Native Shade Plants. So let’s begin!
Mother’s day in the UK is fast approaching. If you have a habit of forgetting until the last minute, you can always rely on a bunch of flowers to save the day. But, rather than just a standard bunch of daffodils from the petrol station, what else would make your mother really happy and inspired to bake you more cakes?
Alstromeria are one of the longest lived cut flowers I know. Several weeks of flowering are possible if the bunch is bought with colour just showing. Ensure there is plenty of bud and you will be delighted.
A stroll through a boutique garden store might lead you to believe that filling a garden with happy, healthy plants is only for the well-heeled. But those very plants that have soaring price tags in the store might be yours for free if you are willing to be a little creative. If you are wondering how to get free plants, you’ve come to the right place. Read on for five tried-and-true paths that lead you to free garden plants.
From trying cottage cheese ice cream to adding protein powder and bananas to morning coffee, the internet is ablaze with protein hacks lately—but Trader Joe’s just announced a bit of extra protein in its Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup that you may not want to try.
Discover the Most Long-Lasting Flowers for Yard and Garden! From perennials to stunning annuals, let’s explore the perfect floral choices to transform your yard and garden into a beautiful long lasting oasis.
Nothing says Christmas more than a poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Did you know that December 12th is known as National Poinsettia Day? Plant breeders have developed a wide range of colors in hues of white, purple, orange, and pink, but red poinsettias continue to be the most traditional color of the holiday season.
Do you have a shady garden where you would like to plant perennials? Hostas, ferns, and Lenten roses are the usual choices, but there are a number of wonderful perennial selections to choose from that will add bloom, texture, and color to your landscape. Here are several of my favorite early spring bloomers.