Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Skylark'

Californian lilac

2 litre pot £12.99 Buy
+
-

A compact wider-than-tall mound of tight, dark-green leaves studded with bright-blue thimbles in early summer - perfect for smaller gardens

Val Bourne - Garden Writer


  • Position: full sun
  • Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
  • Rate of growth: average
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas)

    In late spring and early summer, this bushy evergreen shrub is smothered in clusters of of dark blue flowers among small, dark green, glossy leaves. It looks great in the middle of a south or west-facing mixed border, or as a specimen at the edge of a terrace or path. It requires protection from cold, drying winds.

  • Garden care: Each year, after the plant has flowered, take out dead, diseased or damaged shoots and trim back the flowered shoots to the required shape. Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around the base of the plant in spring.

× Alcalthaea suffrutescens 'Parkrondell'

hollyhock (Syn Alcea × Althaea Parkrondell)

Tall spires of semi-double pink flowers

£8.99 Buy

Clematis montana var. rubens 'Tetrarose'

clematis (group 1)

Fragrant, deep pink blooms

£12.99 Buy

Verbascum 'Clementine'

mullein

Tall, colourful and stately, a wonderful accent plant

£8.99 Buy

Camellia hiemalis 'Sparkling Burgundy'

camellia

Showy, ruby-red flowers in winter

£19.99 Buy

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Moerloosei'

flowering quince

Wonderful white flowers blushing pink

£12.99 Buy
 

How to create a wildlife-friendly garden

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 article

July pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers

Early-summer- flowering shrubs can be pruned this month to keep them vigorous and flowering well. It is also the ideal time to prune several trees that are prone to bleeding if pruned at other times, and it’s not too late...

Read full article

Protecting tender plants

February, March and sometimes even April, can be the coldest months of the year and many plants can be severely damaged by late frosts that kills any new growth that might have begun to emerge. The best way to protect...

Read full article