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Plants for shade trillium and podophyllum (Carol Klein)

a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
in Plants
I’m on the lookout for interesting plants for my woodland and saw these two on Carol’s gardening programme. They don’t seem to be easily available though, and they do seem a bit pricey. Any thoughts on the best way to acquire them? Are they difficult or should I be ok in a woodland in south scotland? The soil is great, but it’s a bit dry for plants that need moisture all the time. Hostas are doing well. 
Thanks for any advice.

Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    I have a passion for all woodland plants.
    They are special.
    Yes often difficult to buy as often they take years from seed to flower....and yes expensive.

    May I suggest you join the Scottish Rock garden club.. SRGC
    They have plant fairs where you can buy these treasures.
    They have garden visits where members may be happy to give you something.
    They have very active local groups with meetings/raffles etc.

    If buying do not bother with garden centres., they just sell easy to grow plants....go to specialist nurseries eg Edrom...near Berwick on Tweed.

    Recommended ......anemone, trillium, erythronium, podophyllum , polygonatum, Jeffersonia, woodland aster, some cardamine, hosta, epimediums, corydalis, snowdrops, ferns, Rhododendrons,  etc etc.

    https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=trillium&view_all=1

    https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=11713966@N02&sort=date-taken-desc&text=epimedium&view_all=1
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Agree with @Silver surfer, I grow many of those plants in my woodland, some of them do require a bit more effort, but the rewards are enormous.
    Polygonatums, Hosta and Epimediums are probably the easiest to grow.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @1154 I grow epimedium Spine tingler and E Domino both are lovely. Anemone Lipsiensis and Asarum Europaeum are favourites too. Polystichum setiferum is my favourite fern, it can vary best bought from a specialist.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @a1154,

    I also garden in south Scotland, and grow two types of trillium in a woodland area.
    They are spreading, slowly, and this year I'm going to collect some seed to try and raise more.
    I got mine from Edrom nursery near St Abbs, but I don't think they are currently open to the public .... just doing mail order. Which is a shame as I always came away with lots of little treasures from a visit there.
    I ordered mine when they had closed for the season, but they were happy for me to arrange with them to collect in person.

    They look wonderful in the spring at the RBG Edinburgh .... huge display ... well worth a visit.

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • a1154a1154 Posts: 1,108
    Thanks all for these excellent recommendations. I now have a longer list of plants I want! I will definitely have a look at Edrom and SRGC. Thanks too for the photos link SSurfer. Some gorgeous plants there.
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