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A lesser known plant that you think should be more widely grown? 🌱

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited January 2022
    Do you start that undercover as a half hardy plant @VictorMeldrew?
    The RHS states it isn't very hardy [1 - 5 degrees] so they'd need a fair bit of protection here. 
    I like the look if it though - I like a good blast of orange!

    I think I've looked up U. anthemoides instead - apologies.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    That looks like a splendid plant @VictorMeldrew - I'll keep an eye out for seed in the catalogues that are now arriving thick and fast on the mat.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    We just grow it as an annual bedding plant @Fairygirl. No it's not hardy here at all but it produces lots of easily harvested seeds and the odd one usually finds its way into a little cranny somewhere and comes up unaided the following spring.

    It is sometimes listed as 'anthemoides' so I think you got the correct one. I've seen it referred to as 'Star of the Veldt' which gives a clue to its origins.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cheers @VictorMeldrew. Collecting seed is always the tricky thing here. By the time many plants are about to set seed, the weather is unfavourable for them. 
    I'll keep a look out for that though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • My suggestion would be Aronia melanocarpa as a good choice for a deciduous garden shrub that I have found does well with very little maintenance. Nice white flowers in spring followed by fruit that I leave for the birds but I have read can be used in cooking and is a very healthy food and then towards the end of summer/start of autumn the leaves take on a very nice bright red colour.

    Happy gardening!
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Fairygirl said:
    Cheers @VictorMeldrew. Collecting seed is always the tricky thing here. By the time many plants are about to set seed, the weather is unfavourable for them. 
    I'll keep a look out for that though  :)

    We harvest most of our seeds in July so you should be ok.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Our season is much shorter here I'm afraid, so many plants aren't flowering until around June/July  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Any Panicum (Switch grass) particularly Northwind which has a very upright habit and looks like a torch during winter months with its fiery copper tones:

    https://www.hopesgrovenurseries.co.uk/shop/grasses/panicum-grasses/
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Any Panicum (Switch grass) particularly Northwind which has a very upright habit and looks like a torch during winter months with its fiery copper tones:

    Interesting. I bought Panicum 'Prairie Skies' on impulse from my local GC last year and was really hoping to be wowed but alas I was a rather disappointed with both the impact of the flowers and the lack of any autumn colour. I'm considering digging it out and replacing it with something else. Am I being too impatient do you think? Will it come good if I give it another season?
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful

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