Buddleja lindleyana
butterfly bush
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: frost hardy (it may need protection in winter)
At the ends of the slender, arching stems, curved, dark violet flowers form nodding, tapering panicles that emit a delicate scent and act as a magnet to butterflies. This vase-shaped, deciduous shrub also boasts handsome, dark green leaves throughout the warmer months, so it works well towards the back of a mixed shrub border. Alternatively train it against a sunny, south-facing wall where it will appreciate the added protection in winter. - Garden care: Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year's growth to three or four buds.
Ceanothus 'Burkwoodii'
Californian lilac
Bright blue flowers in summer
Lavatera × clementii 'Rosea'
tree mallow (syn. L. olbia 'Rosea')
Long flowering, with pink, hollyhock-like flowers
Escallonia 'Apple Blossom'
escallonia
Ideal as a flowering, informal hedge
Hydrangea paniculata Vanille Fraise ('Renhy') (PBR)
hydrangea
Fabulous white flowers turn pink
How to create a wildlife-friendly garden
An organic garden should also be a wildlife-friendly garden. Not only is it wonderful to see nature at work, but many creatures will help you achieve better results. The ponds in my garden act as a magnet to dragonflies and...
Read full articleDealing with common pests and diseases
One of the first things you learn when you start gardening is that plants are not alone in the garden. There is a whole host of bugs that set up home in...
Read full articleSeaside
Gardening by the coast offers specific challenges and opportunities. You can take advantage of the mild climate to grow not-so-hardy plants with confidence, but will have to choose them carefully to ensure they can cope with the buffeting winds...
Read full articleAphids
Symptoms Most commonly thought of as the small, fat, green insects covering roses. However, aphids can also be black, yellow, pink, greyish-white and brown. They are all about 2mm long, round and full of sap. Harm Bad infestations can reduce the vigour of...
Read full articleChelsea Chop and other methods of extending the flowering season
Many gardeners who are happy, even gung-ho, with the secateurs when pruning shrubs and climbers are surprisingly reluctant to take the shears to herbaceous perennials. Maybe this is because it just doesn’t seem quite right to be cutting back all...
Read full article