How to Grow and Care for Philodendron ‘Brasil’ Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil’
30.11.2023 - 12:17 / gardenersworld.com
Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a deciduous tree with a slender shape and graceful appearance, which has given rise to its lovely name of the ‘lady of the woods’. Silver birch trees look attractive year-round with white bark, spring catkins and yellow autumn leaf colour. The catkins and seeds are popular with wildlife such as bees and birds, while several species of moth lay eggs on birch leaves.
Silver birch trees have an open branch structure that casts only light shade, enabling potential for underplanting around them. This makes them appropriate for all but very small gardens. While single-stemmed trees are most usual, multi stem silver birches are available or are easy to create – these make gorgeous garden feature trees and won’t grow as large as a single tree. Multi-stem birches can even be grown in a large container or raised bed.
Identifying silver birchSilver birch has white bark, which becomes marked with rugged dark cracks as it matures. As the tree grows the bark often peels off in strips. Silver birch leaves are triangular-shaped and green, fading to bright yellow in autumn. In spring, male catkins are 6cm long and brown-yellow, and female catkins catkins are 3cm long and green. If pollinated, female catkins become red-brown in colour and bear masses of tiny, winged seeds.
Betula pendula is the parent of several named, cultivated birches with a variety of ornamental attributes, including different growing shapes and habits. Weeping silver birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) is distinctly different looking, forming a wide-spreading tree of weeping branches.
Size: height and spreadSilver birch growth rate is relatively fast. Ultimate height is likely to be at least 8-10m and with a spread of at least 5m.
How to Grow and Care for Philodendron ‘Brasil’ Philodendron hederaceum ‘Brasil’
Licuala Grandis – a plant that stands out with its large, fan-shaped leaves, that can make it a focal point of any room! A spectacular specimen for anyone seeking a “foresty vibe” at home.
A fishbone cactus is easy to care for, durable, and fast-growing which makes it ideal for beginners.
Deutzias are easy to grow, hardy deciduous shrubs that make beautiful displays of massed pink or white flowers in early to mid-summer. Numerous small five-petalled cup or saucer shaped flowers are borne profusely in clusters or racemes along twiggy arching branches, contrasting with mid-green toothed-edged leaves.
I often hear folks say that they hate heaths (Erica spp. and cvs., Zones 5–8) and heathers (Calluna vulgaris and cvs., Zones 5–8), their earlier blooming cousins. The most common complaints are the woody, leggy shape they develop (mostly after years of neglect) and how they outgrow the space they’ve been provided rather quickly. The same people who complain about heaths and heathers admit they have no knowledge of how to care for them (Learn all about caring for heaths and heathers here). But while these plants do need certain conditions and annual care, they are not divas.
Heaths and heathers are easy to grow if you give them the right conditions. They only loathe clay soil and summer humidity (although you can find exceptions), and you can’t do much about those. Other than that, you can provide the conditions or find the species or cultivar that suits your spot. The best source for in-depth information is Gardening with Hardy Heathers by David Small and Ella May T. Wulff.
Rhipsalis is a low-maintenance, hanging house plant that’s perfect for beginners. Although it has no prickles, it’s a cactus and known as the mistletoe cactus. This may be because the tiny, white flowers that appear along its stems through winter into spring are followed by small, white or pale-pink berries or because its spineless foliage looks a little like mistletoe.
White Christmas Cactus, £11.99 from Hortology
How to Grow and Care for Banana Leaf Figs Ficus maclellandii
How to Grow and Care for Bamboo Palms Chamaedorea seifrizii
How to Grow and Care for Angel-Wing Begonias Begonia coccinea, B. corallina, B. dietrichiana, and hybrids
Jostaberry – pronounced ‘yosta’ (Ribes × nidigrolaria) – is a cross between blackcurrant and gooseberry. It forms a big, hardy, deciduous shrub that bears small purple flowers in late spring, followed by red-black berries the size of gooseberries but with a richer, sweeter flavour. While quite tart compared with other soft fruit, jostaberries are sweet enough to be eaten raw in salads, muesli and desserts, or cooked in sweet or savoury dishes. The fruit also freezes well.