Advice on Anthemis E.C. Buxton & front-of-border perennials

Posts

• Marlorena Posts: 8,705

  March 2023

  I don't stake mine, I think they look horrible tied and staked..
  
  ..I like to just let them gracefully fall over other plants nearby.. don't plant too close though as they will smother.. 
  Growing in full sun, dry rubbly soil.. easy to grow and propagate.. very hardy for me here.. 
  
  

  East Anglia, England

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• Marlorena Posts: 8,705

  March 2023 edited March 2023

  You might also like Aster 'Monch'.. long flowering season early July to October..
  Grows in the same border as above.. very easy, and does not flop..
  
  
  I note you want something for front of border.
  You might like to obtain this French Lavender... Lavender stoechas 'Anouk'.. it has proved very hardy for me, unprotected all winter, frozen solid in pot, down to -8C on several occasions here.. 
  I understand it's a particularly hardy type suitable for colder areas..  it's growing away again now, and I think it would make a good plant for frontal positions.. goes well with the Anthemis I should think.. 
  
  

  East Anglia, England

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• LunarSea Posts: 1,923

  March 2023

  I absolutely love Anthemis 'E.C. Buxton'. I can't imagine having a garden without it to be honest. But yes - it can need support, depending on what is growing around it and how fertile your soil is. One of my clumps borders the drive and I'm quite happy for it to drape over it's edges and soften the concrete. The other clump borders the lawn that I need to mow, so here I restrain it with wire supports but if introduced early on in the season they soon get over-grown and camouflaged. I do however tend to add more supports to both later in the season when there are fewer new flowers and it's starting to look a bit tatty.
  
  This shows both clumps in early July. The one on the right is in an island bed and tends to grow taller, and hence requires supporting.
  
  
  
  
  This is a little later when the flowers are at their peak. There is a bit of support to allow easy access to the front door but it is allowed to flop over the drive (from where the photo was taken).
  
  
  
  
  

  Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 
  
  I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  

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• NoSlugsPlease Posts: 120

  March 2023

  Thank you, @Marlorena. That was very helpful and it's always useful to see a "real photo" instead of the ones on nurseries' websites.
  

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• NoSlugsPlease Posts: 120

  March 2023

  @LunarSea , thank you for the photos of your lovely garden. It is interesting to see the contrast between the 2 clumps of Anthemis. You're right, I need to also think about its position and the fertility of the soil (it will be close to other plants which will be getting a heavy dose of manure).
  

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• LunarSea Posts: 1,923

  March 2023

  NoSlugsPlease said:

  @LunarSea , thank you for the photos of your lovely garden. It is interesting to see the contrast between the 2 clumps of Anthemis. You're right, I need to also think about its position and the fertility of the soil (it will be close to other plants which will be getting a heavy dose of manure).
  

  Yeah, the manure could produce a lot of soft sappy growth in the Anthemis that will then need supporting and probably fewer flowers. I had that problem when I made the island bed with bagged topsoil but it was much better the following year when the fertility had fallen off a bit. Don't be put off though  
  
  With judicious pruning I managed to keep one clump going into November last year (photo below), although it's debatable whether it was really worth it. But the first flowers came in June so it's a long season of interest.
  
  
  

  Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 
  
  I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  

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• daisym Posts: 108

  March 2023

  I bought this Erysimum 'Apricot Twist' in a 3cm pot from a garden centre in March 2022. It flowered within days and was absolutely covered in flowers until December. I haven't cut it back yet due to the weather but there is new growth at its base. It may suit your border. I am looking forward to enjoying it again all summer.
  
  
  

  East Dunbartonshire

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• Buttercupdays Posts: 4,546

  March 2023

  Not quite the colour you want perhaps, but I have Erodium manescavi with lovely soft grey feathery foliage and pinky purple flowers. Not as tall as the Anthemis but it makes a rounded hump and flowers non-stop all summer and well into autumn. Laps up sunshine but carries on regardless.
  

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• LunarSea Posts: 1,923

  March 2023

  daisym said:

  I bought this Erysimum 'Apricot Twist' in a 3cm pot from a garden centre in March 2022. It flowered within days and was absolutely covered in flowers until December. I haven't cut it back yet due to the weather but there is new growth at its base. It may suit your border. I am looking forward to enjoying it again all summer.
  

  
  A lovely plant @daisym, and some have a nice fragrance. Unfortunately the perennial wallflowers are short-lived so would need to be replaced after a few years.

  Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 
  
  I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  

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• NoSlugsPlease Posts: 120

  March 2023

  Thank you for the various suggestions. @daisym , that erysimum is really tempting, even if I have to replace it after a few years. Oh well, there are a few gaps in the borders that need to be filled so there's probably space for all of these...
  

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