Melianthus major
honey bush
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
- Flowering period: May to July
- Hardiness: half hardy (will need winter protection)
As they unfurl in early spring, the spectacular, grey-green leaves up to 50cm (20in) long, reveal serrated edges that look as though they have been cut with pinking shears. This dramatic architectural shrub makes a stunning specimen for a sunny, perennial border or exotic-style garden in warmer areas of the country. In hot summers, it sends up curious tubular, reddish-brown flowers, but it is the wonderful foliage that stops you in your tracks. To stop it getting leggy, it is best cut back in early spring and the plant will make up to 1.5m growth in one season. To minimise the risk of frost-damage it's important to provide a dry, winter mulch. It is quite late into leaf in spring, so you do need to be patient, but you may be surprised by the amount of growth it will put on late in the year. - Garden care: Water frequently until established and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost around the base of the plant in spring. Although it is is shrub, this plant is best treated as a perennial and cut down to within two or three buds from the base of in early spring. It will shoot back from the base. Protect with a dry winter mulch of straw or bracken especially in cold winters.
Dahlia 'Summer Night'
dahlia (syn. Nuit D'ete)
A fashionably dark dahlia
£6.99
2 litre pot
within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Alcea rosea 'Nigra'
hollyhock
Tall stems bearing near-black flowers
£1.49
approx 50 seeds
within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Verbena bonariensis
verbena
Lilac-purple flowers
£7.99
2 litre pot
within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Musa basjoo
Japanese banana
A fabulous specimen plant
£9.99
1.5 litre pot
available to order from summer 2013
Eryngium yuccifolium
button eryngo
Distinctive strap-shaped foliage
£8.99
2 litre pot
available to order from summer 2013
Jungle
The trick to achieving the tropical effect is good preparation and dense planting, vivid foliage, fiery flowers and striking contrasts. The jungle garden is a place for theatrical planning and planting. If you don't have room or the inclination...
Read full articleMarch pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
Use the following notes as a guide when pruning trees, shrubs and climbers in your garden during the month of March. I’ve included timely advice on Abeliophyllum, Artemesia, Brachyglottis, Brunfelsia, Buddleja, Ceanothus, Clematis, Colutea, Cotinus, Daphne, Eccremocarpus, Elsholtzia, ...
Read full article
Crisply serrate foliage, in misty blue-green, erupts from the ground in late summer and this impressive plant may even produce a totally superfluous waxy maroon-brown flower spike for you in hot summers
Val Bourne - Garden Writer