Shepherd - I was wondering that too since like you say the flowers on both are v similar. Thanks punkdoc for the info. I think mine is a spinosis then? This is a pic of end of border. It is right next to wheelie bins in front south facing garden so if I took it out would want to have something similar size that likes the sun and isn't too invasive. I'm going for a cottage garden style but modern (I know delphiniums aren't modern so I'm quite relaxed but mostly modern style as house is 60's build on estate so not a cottage).
I wouldn't plant the lupin or anything else in that space, because it isn't really a space. The plants around it have hardly got going yet, in a few weeks it won't be visible!
The lupin will need more room than that provides too, they can make big clumps if they are happy
I agree - no space for the lupin it'll be smothered as the acanthus leaves grow. Verbena bonariensis is useful to dot around. The foliage is all at ground level but the flowers appear on stout long stems about 4-5ft. I plant them all around my garden - they self seed freely too.
A grass like calamagrostis acutiflora ‘karl foerster’ could replace the acanthus. it stays as a narrow clump and the dead stems and flowerheads look good over winter too. They stay bolt upright even in strong winds and rain. Or some more delphiniums - a small rose - campanulas (lots of varieties). Your lupin would fill that space in a year or so too.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Agreed....acanthus leaves get huge and smother everything around them....I'm constantly having to chop mine back and try and remove lumps that have spread beyond where I want it. Lupins and delphiniums like space and sunshine. Verbena bonariensis might be able to fight its way through though, as @Pete.8 says.
OK. Thanks all. This is good information if a little depressing cus I thought I had a plan. I was planning on keeping acanthus chopped right back but even so perhaps u r right that the lupin will need more space to be happy and grow. I feel bad digging plants up but thinking might take acanthus out. I love all the suggestions of plants. Would like to incorporate a grass and i like the verbena and bellflower very much. I have lots of red bellflower which I am planning on taking out as I don't want red. I am going for purples and blues in that patch with the yellow flowers at front still and maybe a splash of pink. I love the foliage on the lupins too so would want them to be happy. Although now I feel bad cus acanthus is nice too but just quite domineering and I want to plant other things. Could be digging up more than I thought. Think I'll dig up everything except yellow flowers at front and start again. Plan is hollyhock at back, then alliums and cornflower, delphiniums, lupins and yellow flowers and some lavender at front.
It can be difficult when you try your best, don't give up, gardening is challenging and rewarding. Sometimes it is good to just walk away do something else and rethink. If you have a plant that is just not doing the job, you have nowhere else for it to go you have no option other than to pot it and pass it on, or bin it. Unfortunately some of the real thugs in our gardens are given to us by kind friends. Planting distances can be a problem for even expert gardeners as micro climate and soil conditions can make a big difference to plant growth. One grass you might like and I often mention is Calamagrostis Overdam, it stands straight through winter. There is also C Karl Foester. The tall Alliums have a problem with browning leaves as they come into flower so can be covered with plants like hardy geraniums. If you finish up digging up more than you thought this is how you will extend your Knowlege and I hope you will be pleased with the results.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thank you Suze for the advice and encouragement. I am a complete beginner to gardening and i think there is so much to learn but its surprising how quickly i have learnt names of different plants and flowers already so i am encouraged by that too. I'm over the initial disappointment of having to rethink design a bit. Its all a learning curve. I really like the overdam grass you suggested. Someone else suggested the Karl foester one too though I think overdsm may work with my colour scheme of purples and blues and bit of pink. It's so nice to be part of a community of other gardeners too!
I grew them from seed a few years ago, they flowered for the first time last year, this year they have buds. One plant measures 5’ across. Maybe sorry I sowed them.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Posts
A.mollis.......more rounded leaves.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Verbena bonariensis is useful to dot around.
The foliage is all at ground level but the flowers appear on stout long stems about 4-5ft.
I plant them all around my garden - they self seed freely too.
A grass like calamagrostis acutiflora ‘karl foerster’ could replace the acanthus. it stays as a narrow clump and the dead stems and flowerheads look good over winter too. They stay bolt upright even in strong winds and rain.
Or some more delphiniums - a small rose - campanulas (lots of varieties).
Your lupin would fill that space in a year or so too.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
If you have a plant that is just not doing the job, you have nowhere else for it to go you have no option other than to pot it and pass it on, or bin it. Unfortunately some of the real thugs in our gardens are given to us by kind friends.
Planting distances can be a problem for even expert gardeners as micro climate and soil conditions can make a big difference to plant growth.
One grass you might like and I often mention is Calamagrostis Overdam, it stands straight through winter. There is also C Karl Foester.
The tall Alliums have a problem with browning leaves as they come into flower so can be covered with plants like hardy geraniums.
If you finish up digging up more than you thought this is how you will extend your Knowlege and I hope you will be pleased with the results.