Alistair November 27th, 2008
Most climbing plants require support with trellis or wire,and very often a degree of skill with pruning and training the branches. The self clinging Hydrangea Petiolaris is a climber that is easy to grow and will take care of itself other than maybe cutting back some of the branches that grow outwards,if you feel they have become too long.
It does not grow as fast as ivy, but after a few years you will be rewarded with lovely white flowers. Flowering time is June to September’ Petiolaris attracts, bees and butterflies. Apart from the attractive flowers, this hydrangea also has shiny, fresh green foliage.
The climbing Hydrangea is an easy plant that thrives in the shade or semi shade. It likes humus rich soil with a neutral Ph .Petiolaris looks very good on a north-facing wall or fence especially during the flowering period, when it will brighten up a dull area beautifully. The plant can reach a height of twelve metres or more and a width up to five metres,however you don’t have to let it grow that large it can be pruned back in autumn or early spring.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given it it’s prestigious award of garden merit.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Pusition - Part/full shade
Alistair November 21st, 2008
The Hamamelis Mollis (Chinese witch hazel) is a very attractive and dependable winter flowering shrub. Between December and February the spidery sweet scented mid yellow flowers cling to the bare stems, very eye catching and unexpected in these cold wintry days. This robust shrub seems to thrive in Aberdeen.
Plant near enough a garden path or mixed border where it can also be appreciated from a window indoors. In autumn the bright green leaves of this deciduous shrub turn a soft yellow. Remove any dead or misplaced branches in early Spring and mulch with general garden compost.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Height - 9ft/280cm (slow growing)
Position - Full sun/part shade
Soil - Well drained neutral to acid
Visit my website to view pictures of our award winning garden. www.aberdeengardening.co.uk
Alistair November 13th, 2008
Whether you are planting up a new garden or redesigning borders please don’t turn up your nose at the ornamental grasses. So many available which not only look fantastic on there own, but as a host absolutely enhance the appearance of many traditional flowering plants.
A perennial specimen which is a particular favourite of ours is Hakonechloa Macra Aureola. This one has to be the most eye catching of the shorter grasses. Elegant arching clumps with boldly striped gold and lime green foliage which does not fade whether planted in full sun or semi shade. This specimen plant which is fully hardy in our part of Scotland dies back completely in late Autumn, emerging in Spring and looking fantastic for the whole season. This sensational plant was given The Royal Horticultural Societys prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
Position - Full sun/partial shade
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Height - 40cm
Visit my website to view pictures of our award winning garden. www.aberdeengardening.co.uk
Alistair November 7th, 2008
We are always on the look out for hardy evergreen plants that are perhaps that little bit different. The Pittosporum Irene Patterson which caught our eye in Ben Reids garden centre last Summer has been a very welcome new introduction to our border.
My experience with Pittosporum over the past five years or so is that they are fully hardy in Aberdeen. I have reason to believe that they may struggle to get through the Winter in inland country areas where the temperature can plummet much lower. The shiny mid green leaves of Irene Patterson are marbled white and cream and held on black stems. This shrub truly shimmers when the sunlight catches it. The new leaves are creamy white and in Winter tinged pink.
Irene Patterson was a seedling found in a garden in the south island of New Zealand and native to this country.
Your Pittosporum can be pruned at any time during the Summer with shears and will give it that more dense appearance.
Even if you are one of the many gardeners who are not fond of plants with variegated leaves, I promise you will love this one.
Height - 90cm/3ft
Hardiness - Fully hardy in coastal areas
Position - Shade/Full sun
Visit my website to view pictures of our award winning garden. www.aberdeengardening.co.uk
Alistair November 3rd, 2008
Hardy Geraniums, not to be mistaken with the tender Pelergoniums which we have all referred to as Geraniums for decades. The true Geranium a perennial which thrives in the north east climate is a flowering plant which should grace every mixed border. Hundreds of named varieties available in every shade of colour except yellow.
One very popular and dare I say common Geranium is Johnson’s Blue, the deep lavender blue flowers appear in May/June and if after flowering the dead blooms and foliage are cut back, the plant will become rejuvenated and most likely give a second flush of flowers in August. This Geranium goes very well with Alchemilla Mollis. The RHS have deservedly given it their prestigious award of garden merit.
Hardiness - Fully hardy
Position - Full sun/part shade
Soil - Well drained fertile soil
Height - 30/35cm
Alistair October 27th, 2008
Fritillaria Pyrenaica, an attractive and unusual hardy perennial which grows well in full sun or semi shaded position, and is even more at home in a rockery or at the edge of a woodland setting.
This Fritillaria from the Pyrenees forms sturdy vertical stems with grey/green grassy like foliage, the bell shaped flowers are mottled purple brown, and yellow inside. Flowers in mid Spring, best results when planted in groups of five.
: Hardiness - Fully Hardy
: Soil - Free draining, Neutral ( add grit when planting)
: Position - Sun or Partial Shade
: Height - 30/40cm
Visit my website to view pictures of our award winning garden. www.aberdeengardening.co.uk
Alistair October 24th, 2008
When planting up a woodland area consider Erythronium (Dog Tooth Violet.) Genus of around 22 clump forming perennials with long tooth like bulbs.
Flowers in shades of yellow, white, pink and purple, leaves of some are glossy and marbled.
Look out for Pagoda a very hardy and vigorous specimen with sulphur yellow lily like flowers and bronze mottled glossy deep green leaves.
The leaves of Erythronium die back completely in Summer, leaving the opportunity to place a container grown plant for the rest of the Summer period.
: Hardiness - Fully hardy to minus 15 degrees
: Height - 8/12 inches - 20/30 cm
: Position - Plant bulbs 4 inches deep in fertile humus rich well drained soil that does not dry out in dappled or partial shade.
: Flowering - Early/mid Spring, Does particularly well under a deciduous tree.
Erythronium Pagoda
Alistair October 14th, 2008
Crown Imperials, surely the most eye catching flowering plant of April, very majestic in appearance, and fully hardy in Aberdeen. They come in shades of orange and yellow, flowering April/May. The orange flowering ones seem to become established more quickly than the yellows.
One which does extremely well is Aurora, plant the bulbs in free draining soil. About six/eight inches deep, a good idea is to plant the bulbs on their side, and also add a fair amount of grit, as this prevents rotting of the bulbs.
Plant in groups of three or five separating them far enough apart to allow the flower heads to develop. They do have a preference for soil that is not too acidic.
Height - 90cm/3ft
Position - Full sun/part shade
Hardiness - Fully hardy
