Phyllostachys nigra
black bamboo
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast growing
- Hardiness: fully hardy
One of the most elegant bamboos, with polished, damson-black mature canes and dark green leaves. The slender, arching canes, which are dark green for the first two or three years, look perfect in a contemporary, minimalist garden particularly if the low-growing foliage is stripped. Although this is not one of the more vigorous and invasive bamboos, it is advisable to restrict the roots using a rigid, non-perishable barrier to prevent the plant from colonising adjacent plantings. - Garden care: Plant in a large container or surround the roots with a non-perishable barrier that restricts the plant's spread. Water regularly until established. Bamboos do not like competition, so are best planted en masse in a designated area of the garden.
Athyrium filix-femina
lady fern
A delicate, graceful fern
Asarum europaeum
wild ginger
Lustrous foliage for a shady corner
Hosta 'Devon Green'
plantain lily
A much sought-after variety
Fatsia japonica
Japanese aralia
A handsome, evergreen shrub
Dicksonia antarctica
tree fern
Dramatic, exotic-looking fern
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The only black bamboo, restrained in habit, with damson-purple bloomed stems accentuated by narrow white rings and pale bud scales appearing at regular intervals
Val Bourne - Garden Writer