Other Names: Colchicum autumnale
Mature Height: 15cm (6in)
This crocus-like plant is ideal for growing under trees and shrubs or in grass. It is a vigorous perennial that produces long, strap-like leaves and large, showy, goblet-shaped flowers. It flowers in autumn without leaves (which appear in spring), producing its blooms as many other plants are starting to die down. The flowers are pale purple-pink with golden stamens. The form ‘Alboplenum’ has double white flowers, while ‘Pleniflorum’ has large, double lilac-pink flowers. Plant 10cm (4in) deep in summer or early autumn; if they are in a container, repot every 4-5 years during summer, dividing if they are becoming congested. Propagate by dividing dormant conns in summer.
Other Names: Bellis perennis ‘Pomponette’
Mature Height: 20cm (8in)
This daisy is a hardy, rosette-forming perennial, which will grow in most situations and seeds itself easily unless regularly deadheaded. It has bright green, spoon-shaped leaves and long-stalked flowers, borne singly throughout spring and summer. In mild areas it will even flower through winter as long as it is prevented from setting seed. ‘Pomponette’ is generally treated as a biennial for spring bedding. Also plant double daisies at the front of a border, among the paving of a path or patio, or in containers of any size, either on their own or in combination with other plants. Propagate by division in spring or autumn or sow seeds in spring.
Other Names: Calendula officinalis
Mature height: 60cm (24in)
This marigold is a compact, quick-growing annual with multiple stems and lance-like, hairy, aromatic foliage. Throughout summer and autumn it produces daisy-like, single or double flowers in shades of orange and yellow with darker centres. Use it for an added splash of colour at the front of a border, or in a container or windowbox. Deadhead regularly to prevent it from setting seed and ensure a continuous succession of flowers. Any seeds that do form and are shed are likely to grow next year. Propagate by sowing seeds outside in their final growing positions in late spring.
Other Names: Campanula lactiflora ‘Prichard’s Variety’
Mature height: 75cm (30in)
The milky bellflower is a pretty, upright, herbaceous perennial that is ideal for a border, as it tends to need staking as it grows. It has thin, long, oval, toothed, mid-green leaves and spikes of open bell-shaped, dark purple-blue flowers from early summer through to autumn. It will self-seed easily, although the flower colour of the seedlings may vary from that of the parents. Regularly deadhead as flowers fade to prevent the plant setting seed and encourage more flowers to form. Propagate by division in spring or autumn or basal cuttings in spring.
Other names: Lonicera periclymenum
A strong-growing, twining, woody, deciduous climber, ideal for a wall, fence or pergola. It has oval, mid-green leaves and very fragrant, tubular flowers. Red and yellow-white, these are carried in clusters at the ends of the shoots throughout summer, and are followed by (poisonous) red berries in autumn. The form ‘Belgica’ has white flowers, flushed red-purple outside and fading to yellow, in late spring and early summer (with a second flush in late summer); ‘Serotina’ flowers from midsummer to mid-autumn, the blooms are rich reddish-purple outside, white inside, fading to yellow. Prune off old wood after flowering. Propagate by taking hardwood cuttings in autumn.
Other names: Jasminum nudiflorum
The winter jasmine is a popular deciduous shrub with square, whippy, arching, green stems and small, dark green leaves. It has bright yellow, tubular flowers, each opening into a 5-petalled star throughout winter and early spring on the bare stems. ‘Aureum’ has yellow-marked leaves. It can be easily trained against a trellis, fence or wall, although it will need to be secured in place; alternatively, it can be grown in a border or container. Prune immediately after flowering by cutting back old flowered shoots to within 2-3 pairs of buds of the main stems. Propagate by taking hardwood cuttings in winter or digging up rooted layers.
Other names: Nelly Moser, Virgin’s bower
This is a fairly compact, deciduous clematis that will grow in almost any position, as long as the roots are shaded. It is happy in a container and will even tolerate growing against a shady wall, as long as it has some shelter from cold winds. In early summer, it produces huge flowers of up to 15cm (6in) across; they are pale pink with a darker central stripe and red anthers. There will often be a second flush of flowers in late summer and these tend to be paler in colour. Trim back the shoots by a third to a strong pair of buds in late winter or early spring. Propagate by taking softwood cuttings in summer or serpentine layering in spring.
Other names: Climbing Hydrangea
The climbing hydrangea is a woody, deciduous climber with clinging aerial roots. It grows well, even in shade, making it useful against a north-facing wall. Domed clusters, up to 25cm (lOin) across, of small sterile and fertile greenish-white flowers, are produced throughout the summer. The leaves are coarse and dark green, turning to butter-yellow in autumn, and borne on peeling, brown branches. It is slow-growing to start with, but can become very large in open ground. Growing it in a container will restrict the ultimate size. Prune only to maintain the shape and health of the plant. Propagate by serpentine layering in spring (stems take about a year to root).
Other names: Dianthus caryophyllus
The Carnation is one of 300 species in the Dianthus genus native to the Mediterranean. Originally pink, 2000 years of cultivation has ensured that it is available in almost any colour.
The flowers are usually 3-5 cm in diameter. These hardy perennials make great focal flowers in flower arrangements but they are at most demand on Mothering Sunday with the Pink and white variates being most popular.
Carnation meanings:
Like many flowers that have been grown for many years Carnations have symbolic meaning depending on their colour:
Giving someone pink carnations says: “I’ll never forget you”
Red Carnations say: “My Heart Aches For You”
White means innocence, “sweet and lovely”, pure love & good luck
Purple: capriciousness or whimsical
Yellow says: “You Have Disappointed Me”!
Other names: Gypsophilia.
Belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family Baby’s Breath is a delicate plant that belongs to a genus of approximately 100 species. It is a hardy annual native to Asia, Africa and Europe.
The flowers are made up of ball like clusters. The flower colour is nearly always white and they naturally bloom from April to August, Baby’s Breath makes a great filler plant in flower arrangements.
Common species:
- Gypsophila aretioides
- Gypsophila bicolor
- Gypsophila oldhamiana
- Gypsophila capituliflora
- Gypsophila paniculata
- Gypsophila cephalotes
- Gypsophila cerastioides
- Gypsophila altissima
- Gypsophila bungeana (Bunge’s)
- Gypsophila patrinii
- Gypsophila desertorum
- Gypsophila elegans
- Gypsophila pacifica
- Gypsophila licentiana
- Gypsophila fastigiat
- Gypsophila huashanensis
Other Names: Colchicum autumnale
