Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea'
lesser periwinkle
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: any but very dry soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
- Flowering period: April to September
- Flower colour: dark plum-purple
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Pairs of dark green leaves develop along the long trailing stems, eventually creating a dense mat of rich green foliage that can be used to help keep weeds at bay. The 5-petalled flowers, which appear on long stalks, are a rich shade of plum-purple. - Garden care: To prevent the plant from becoming invasive cut back any unwanted shoots in spring.
Geranium phaeum
dusky cranesbill
Small, deep maroon flowers. Good for groundcover
Asarum europaeum
wild ginger
Lustrous foliage for a shady corner
Liriope muscari 'Monroe White'
lily-turf
Luminous white flowers
Dryopteris wallichiana
fern
Sturdy, upright fern. Tolerates dry shade
Crocus tommasinianus
early crocus bulbs
The best crocus for naturalising
Hosta 'Devon Green'
plantain lily
A much sought-after variety
Hyacinthus orientalis 'Woodstock'
hyacinth bulbs
Perfect for a 'bruised' coloured border
Anemone blanda blue-flowered
winter windflower blue-flowered bulbs
A carpet of bright blue daisy-like flowers
How to control weeds
‘One year's seed is seven year's weed’, or so the saying goes, so the most important thing an organic gardener (and non-organic gardener for that matter) can do is prevent weeds from flowering and setting seed. A horrifying example of...
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
Plum-purple flowers, with a darker eye suffused in white, make this a classy partner with diminutive white muscari or other paler miniature bulbs
Val Bourne - Garden Writer