Vinca difformis

periwinkle

2 litre pot £8.99 Buy
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within 2-3 days excludes weekends Buy
1 year guarantee

  • Position: full sun to full shade
  • Soil: tolerant of most soils
  • Rate of growth: average, non-invasive
  • Flowering period: April-June and then August- September
  • Flower colour:powder blue
  • Hardiness: fully hardy

    Not to be confused with some of the coarser forms, this selected Vinca produces pretty star-shaped flowers of white to pale blue on arching stems. There are two seasonal flowering peaks; the first in spring, then again in late summer, but one can enjoy a light scattering of flowers almost continuously between these peiods. The shiny, oval leaves are reliably evergreen, creating a welcome bright carpet to any shaded planting.

  • Garden care: Trim off old outer foliage in early spring to reveal new central growth which bears the flowers.
Geranium phaeum

Geranium phaeum

dusky cranesbill

Small, deep maroon flowers. Good for groundcover

£7.99 Buy
2 litre pot within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Euphorbia × martini

Euphorbia × martini

spurge

Perfect for a small sunny border

£8.99 Buy
2 litre pot within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Ageratina altissima Chocolate

Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’

white snakeroot (syn. Eupatorium)

A late-flowering perennial with lovely, dark foliage

£7.99 Buy
2 litre pot within 2-3 days excludes weekends
Betula utilis var jacquemontii

Betula utilis var. jacquemontii

west Himalayan birch

Brilliantly creamy-white bark

£47.99 Buy
10lt pot (1.5-1.8m) available to order from late summer 2013
Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'

sevenbark

Huge globes of tiny white flowerheads

£9.99 Buy
1.5 litre pot available to order from late summer 2013
 

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12 Questions | 12 Answers
Displaying questions 1-10Previous | Next »

  • Q:

    Help with plants for N/East facing garden

    Hi, I have a little problem choosing some plants....... I really like the look and size of the 'Shady Pink' pre-designed corner planting plan, but our problem is that we have a north east facing garden, so we get no sun at all in the winter, and direct sun for only half a day on either side of the garden during the summer. Would this planting plan be suitable for that level of shade? We are actually are buying plants for the entire garden, so we'd need about 6 new shrubs, and maybe a small tree (we were thinking about the Prunus Amanogawa). Could you please help us with a few shrubs that would do well in these conditions? For perennials, we have been recommended; - Geranium Johnson's Blue, Kniphofia, Crocosmia, and Helleborus foetidus. Are these suitable? Many many thanks! Regards, Josee
    Asked on 4/12/2010 by Josee Mallet

    1 answer

    • A:

      Hello Josee, It is always difficult to give a definitive answer to the shade issue, but looking at the Shady Pink border, the most shade tolerant plants include Anemone hupehensis Hadspen Abundance, Thalictrum aquilegiifolium and Dryopteris erythrosora. If you click on the following link it will take you to all our shade-loving shrubs http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/shrubs/plcid.1/vid.11/ and for the shade -loving perennials http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/plcid.2/vid.11/ Of the plants you have listed, the Prunus, Helleborus foetidus, Kniphofia and Crocosmia will be OK as long as there is more sun than shade. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

      Answered on 4/13/2010 by Crocus Helpdesk

  • Q:

    Non poisonous plants for pots please

    Hi I wonder if you can help. I have a Nursery school and am looking for some plants I can plant in pots, that are in a partly sunny, partly shady spot. They have to be plants that aren't poisonous and provide interest over as much of the year as possible. I really like the plants in you ready made border section on the website site, particularly shady pink, sunny pink and keep it cool. Could you please tell me if any of these plants are suitable for my needs? Many Thanks Joanne
    Asked on 4/9/2010 by Happy Hearts Day Nursery

    1 answer

  • Q:

    Plants to replace a lawn

    Dear Sir I have a small lawn at the front of my garden and want to use plants other than grass. Can you give me some ideas of plants that could give a low effect of green or some planting scheme that would look ok ? Richard
    Asked on 1/19/2010 by richard wood

    1 answer

  • Q:

    Low maintenance exterior plants for office lightwell

    Hello Plant Doctor, Please advise on which evergreen plants would be suitable for a shady lightwell in my new office. Many Thanks, Colin
    Asked on 10/7/2009 by COLIN WATSON

    1 answer

  • Q:

    Dwarf Hydrangeas

    Hello I was just wondering if there is such a thing as 'Dwarf' Hydrangeas? If so, are they available in different colours, and how high do they grow? We have a curved walled bed that is about 30' long, and we would like put in some colourful flowering but dwarf plants (about 6-10" high), that require little or no maintenance. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Kind regards Rahme
    Asked on 8/16/2009 by Tim and Rahme

    1 answer

  • Q:

    Help for a shady damp spot please

    Hi I'm looking for plants for a damp shady spot in my garden. It's a raised, north-facing bed and stays damp most of the year, and the soil is compost-rich. I'd love to get some colour in there as I look out on to it from my kitchen window so I was wondering about Hollyhocks, Flag Irises or maybe Heuchera? I also have a very big slug problem though - tried Sambucus nigra last year and it was eaten! Please, what can you suggest? I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Mary
    Asked on 7/24/2009 by mary culhane

    1 answer

  • Q:

    What can I plant?

    I have a 1 ft wide border of poor quality soil along the edge of a patio which is adjacent to our neighbour's decking. I was wondering whether you could advise what I could plant. Thanks Anna
    Asked on 6/29/2009 by Anna Trundle

    1 answer

    • A:

      Hello Anna, Ideally you should dig in as much composted organic matter as possible to enrich the soil before you plant, and then (if you don't mind plants spilling out from the border), you could plant any of the following. Lavandula, Hebe, Hypericum or Vinca.

      Answered on 7/4/2009 by Crocus Helpdesk

  • Q:

    What plants for a neglected patch?

    Hello, We are trying to improve a rather nasty mud patch in our garden. It is in the shade and the soil is very, very dry - we have had to use a pick axe to turn it over. My question is what types of plants would be suitable for this terrain? Kind Regards, Mark
    Asked on 6/24/2009 by Mark Siddle

    1 answer

    • A:

      Hello Mark, All plants will need a degree of comfort, so the best thing to do would be to improve the soil by digging in as much organic matter as you can. Once you have done this you can plant tough, low maintenance things like Ajuga, Alchemilla mollia, Aucuba japonica, Berberis, Bergenia, Euonymus fortunei, Lamium, Sarcococca, Skimmia, Viburnum davidii or Vincas. It will be very important though that these are kept really well watered for at least the first year until they have had a chance to become established. I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

      Answered on 6/26/2009 by Crocus Helpdesk

  • Q:

    Help! I need plant ideas for a small, very shallow flower bed in full shade

    Hi, Please can you suggest plants that will do well in mostly full shade, moist soil, and a flower bed that is only 10-15cm deep. I live in London and have a very small courtyard garden with very high walls on all four sides. Many thanks. Kind regards Marianne
    Asked on 6/16/2009 by Marianne Nix-Griffiths

    1 answer

    • A:

      Hello Marianne, I'm afraid that very few plants do well in heavy shade and the best plants are going to be really tough ones. Even these though may not survive if the conditions are too harsh. Here are some of your best options, which might be worth a try - Bergenia, Euonymus, Vinca and Lamium.I hope this helps. Helen Plant Doctor

      Answered on 6/17/2009 by Crocus Helpdesk

  • Q:

    Which plants are Deer proof?

    I want a list of Deer proof plants please. It`s either a change in habitat or environment, but I get total devastation now and in the last two years they come up the drive.
    Asked on 2/3/2006 by david

    1 answer

    • A:

      Deer can be a real problem and deer proof plants are usually thorny, poisonous or simply taste awful, but it is hard to give a definitive list as you might get the odd deer with unusual tastes which might like the bitter taste! Below is a list of good plants that generally are quite successful though. Cornus varieties, Rhus, Sophora, Solanum, Berberis, Rosemary, Buxus, Cotoneaster, Ilex, Pyracantha, Garrya, Juniperus, Nandina, Elaeagnus, Aralia, Aucuba, Cortaderia, Yucca, Santolina, Hypericum, Myrtle, Vinca, Achillea, Digitalis, Echinacea and Dryopteris. Finally, fencing is one method to protect garden crops from deer. Since deer jump, you need an 8-foot fence for best results or stout chicken-wire fencing securely around smaller garden plots. Alternatively, fence the area with a thorny shrub, preferably something that will grow to at least 6 feet. Deer eat roses and some thorns but hawthorn, boxwood and holly will exclude them. Deer are also deterred by dogs, hanging aluminum foil, mirrors, wood that hits objects in the wind and other noise-makers. Some old-fashioned repellents are human hair and blood and bonemeal. Hanging bars of fragrant deodorant soap from branches may work. Other well-known deer repellents are mothballs or moth flakes spread on the ground or put in mesh bags for hanging in a tree. Unfortunately though, no repellent is 100 percent effective, especially if the deer population is high and deer are starving.

      Answered on 2/6/2006 by Crocus
Displaying questions 1-10Previous | Next »

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