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  • Armeria maritima – Sea Thrift

    Armeria maritima is a hardy perennial plant that grows in clumps and flowers from spring to summer with shades of pink that are best seen en masse.

    • Plant Family – Part of the Plumbaginaceae family or leadwort family. 
    • Native to – These flowering plants are native to the coastal regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
    • Common Names – It is often called Sea Thrift or Sea Pink.  The word thrift evidently comes from an Old Norse word meaning to thrive. Very apt for this plant as it makes the very best of rather poor ground to produce a display that will lift the spirits.
    • Flowers – The flower heads are formed in a round cluster on top of a thin but sturdy stem. The small flowers are various shades of pink. They remain upright on the thin stems to maintain a fine display.
    • Foliage – The dark green, glossy needle-like leaves form a clump or carpet from which the flower stalks grow to form a canopy.
    • Height and Spread – These are a low growing, ground cover plant that grow to a height of up to 18 inches, mostly shorter than that.  They tend to spread over time into a cluster and form a carpet that accentuates their beauty.
    • Position – These plants thrive in full sun location with a well drained soil, from acidic to alkaline. This makes them ideal for a rock garden, coastal gardens, but can also fit into any well-drained border or even a living roof.

    Overall, a plant that will cope with poor conditions to produce a flowering display and survive year on year with little maintenance.

    Armeria maritima - Sea Thrift

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Armeria maritima

    Common Names:

    Sea Thrift, Sea Pink

    Genus:

    Armeria

    Family:

    Plumbaginaceae

    Related Plants:

    Plumbago, Leadworts

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky, clay

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    well drained

  • Pieris Japonica – Andromeda

    Pieris japonica  is a hardy evergreen flowering shrub that has distinctive new red leaves early in the season. These new red leaves turn yellow then green as they mature. Certain cultivars can have very dark red leaves.

    • Plant Family – Part of the Ericaceae family or heath family, same as rhododendron, heathers, cranberry and blueberry, and my favourite bilberries. 
    • Native to – These flowering plants are native to China, Taiwan and Japan, especially in the mountainous regions.
    • Common Names – It is often called the Andromeda. 
    • Flowers – The flowers are small and bell shaped, similar to lily-of-the-valley. Colours ranging from reddish pink to white.
    • Foliage – The leaves usually start red when they first emerge, fading to yellow, light green and through to dark green as they mature. Being evergreen the leaves are glossy and leathery in form.
    • Height and Spread – Typically a slow growing shrub that can stay within 3 to 6 feet tall and wide, although they can develop into a more straggly, woody tree up to about 12 feet.
    • Position – These plants thrive in a shaded or partially shaded location with a well drained soil, acidic side. This makes them ideal in a woodland garden, or any moist, shaded and cool position. Too much sun or frost can scorch the leaves and turn them brown. They need regular water in dry conditions but don’t like soggy wet conditions.

    Overall, in the right position they can be a trouble free, easy to maintain plant that gives a splendid splash of colour in the spring and maintain its foliage all year round. Just remember it is an acid loving plant and if you have neutral or alkaline soil it will require specific acidic feed to keep it going.

    Pieris Japonica 4

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Pieris japonica

    Common Names:

    Andromeda

    Genus:

    Pieris

    Family:

    Ericaceae

    Related Plants:

    Rhododendron, Heathers, Cranberry and Blueberry

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    partial shade

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Acer palmatum – Japanese Maple

    Acer palmatum or Japanese Maple provide excellent colour and structure to the garden. Green, yellow, orange to dark red, they help to break up a sea of greenery. Colours changing through the season and bare skeletons in the late autumn and winter months.

    Here in our focus image, we have two similar but distinct varieties. The name palmatum comes from the similarity to the human hand or palm with leaves spread out like fingers. These fingers can be dissected as in the far Acer or doubly dissected as in the near Acer. The double dissection making the leaves like feathers.

    There are also two basic structures here. The far Japanese Maple is an upright Acer, whilst the near is more of a weeping Acer. The weeping structure provides a pleasing dome shape to the plant.

    Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple - two varieties

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Acer palmatum

    Common Names:

    Japanese Maple

    Genus:

    Acer

    Family:

    Sapindaceae

    Related Plants:

    Acer, Maple, Sycamore

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    partial shade

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky, peaty

    Soil pH:

    weak-acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    damp, well drained

  • Convolvulus arvensis – A Pain In The Grass

    Convolvulus arvensis, commonly known as field bindweed, makes a pretty show in the local wildlife meadow. However, if it’s allowed the space to prosper, it can be a real pain to subdue. If it invades farm crops then it can be hard to eradicate and cause loss of production.

    It is one of many species in the family Convolvulaceae or bindweed family. In the garden we mainly see its bigger brother, the giant bindweed (Calystegia silvatica), that grows higher and further than the field variety. 

    Field bindweed has smaller pink and white flowers, less trumpet like, and smaller arrow-shaped leaves. It grows close to the ground and in a meadow situation has many more vigorous plants to compete against. Still, makes an attractive plant in the right situation.

    Convolvulus arvensis - field bindweed

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Convolvulus arvensis

    Common Names:

    Field Bindweed

    Genus:

    Convolvulus

    Family:

    Convolvulaceae

    Related Plants:

    Calystegia, Morning Glory, Moonflower

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade

    Soil Type:

    chalky, clay, sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    weak-acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Allium – Ornamental Onion – Bold Architectural Blooms

    The Allium is a tall pompom flowing plant of the Garlic-Onion family. Predominantly purple or white with a globe head of fine star-shaped flowers. They are easy to grow but like the sun and good drainage as the bulbs can rot in heavy wet soil. They do stand out when isolated in a border but also look very good when planted in large swathes. The name Allium is Latin for Garlic and is thought to derive from the Greek word meaning avoid.

    Allium Ornamental Onion 1

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Allium

    Common Names:

    Ornamental Onion

    Genus:

    Allium

    Family:

    Amaryllidaceae

    Related Plants:

    Garlic, Amaryllis, Narcissus

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Agapanthus – African Lily – Tall Globe Shaped Flower Heads to Lift a Summer Border

    Agapanthus plants are tall with a globe of flowers on a single stem, not unlike their cousins, Alliums, and Amaryllis. Predominantly blues, purple and white with bigger more dramatic flowers than Alliums. Native to Southern Africa, and commonly called African Lilies although they are not Lilies at all. They love the sun, well-drained soil but can also stand some drought. Ideal for keeping in pots as you can control spread and concentrate the flowering.

    Agapanthus-African Lily Blue

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Agapanthus

    Common Names:

    African Lily, Lily of the Nile

    Genus:

    Agapanthus

    Family:

    Amaryllidaceae

    Related Plants:

    Allium, Amaryllis, Narcissus

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained