Teucrium fruticans. I first saw this growing in the south of France in spring some years ago. I didn't know what it was but identified it later. Six years ago I planted one in my garden in southern England, now I have three. It's a super shrub with grey foliage and delicate blue/purple flowers in every month of the year so long as there is no prolonged frost. It needs well drained soil and a sunny position. It's very beneficial to pollinating insects especially on those mild winter days when bumblebees and solitary bees are out searching for nectar and there is little for them to feed on. This year I saw a bumblebee on a flower on New Years Day. It is not a show stopper of a plant but one that goes well with other plants, particularly a Mediterranean style planting but is so beneficial in the wildlife garden and provides winter interest. It's a winner.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
Cuphea cyanea. It looks a bit like a corydalis, although the leaves aren't the same, with soft orange flowers over a very long period in late summer and autumn. It thrives in a dry sunny spot, and is reasonably hardy, but back-up cuttings (which strike easily) would be a good idea.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Geranium Mary Mottram which was named by Joan and Robin Grout who were involved with the beginnings of The Plantfinder. It is slow growing but I have keep it going for years.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Mine would be the long-flowering Dicliptera Suberecta (Uraguayan Firecracker). Supposedly tender, only recommended for the milder/coastal areas of the UK and apparently doesn’t like frost but mine survives our cold winters with weeks of -5c and lower. Plus it’s planted in poor, compacted clay soil, so the total opposite of what the RHS says!
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Teucrium fruticans. I first saw this growing in the south of France in spring some years ago. I didn't know what it was but identified it later. Six years ago I planted one in my garden in southern England, now I have three. It's a super shrub with grey foliage and delicate blue/purple flowers in every month of the year so long as there is no prolonged frost. It needs well drained soil and a sunny position. It's very beneficial to pollinating insects especially on those mild winter days when bumblebees and solitary bees are out searching for nectar and there is little for them to feed on. This year I saw a bumblebee on a flower on New Years Day. It is not a show stopper of a plant but one that goes well with other plants, particularly a Mediterranean style planting but is so beneficial in the wildlife garden and provides winter interest. It's a winner.