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Throwback plants

fliprollswfliprollsw Posts: 35
in Plants
Bit of fun… what plants were in fashion when you grew up, or starting gardening and why have you kept some of these. 
Regimented bedding, big dahlias, and conifers were big in the 70s…. The dahlias are coming back now. 
Hanging baskets in the 90s. 
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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I remember kochia in the 80s and Lavatera and French marigolds. I don't grow any of them now
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited March 2023
     Plant one Siver Cineraria and then one red annual Salvia repeat. That was a garden recipe I remember from years ago.
    Also Rose Ena Harkness still a favourite of mine.  Peace Rose grown by Harry Wheatcroft and of course R Fragrant Cloud found in ever garden and purchased from Woolworths.  
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My granddad grew what he called "dinnerplate dahlias" in the seventies, and my nan always put in an edging of alternate blue lobelia and white alyssum. I seem to recall heathers grown with "dwarf" conifers being popular too. My other nan had a massive hydrangea that almost blocked the front door when it was in full flow, and a potted agapanthus that she'd brought back from a trip abroad (not allowed or recommended now of course). Both seem to be in fashion now so maybe she was ahead of the time.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Square front lawn with blue and white flowers ,lobelia and alyssum probably ,and auricula . With a standard pink rose of whatever breed in the middle of the lawn is what I remember from the 1960 s all fronted by a forcythia hedge 
    I do actually have a standard pink rose Lucky in my front lawn come to think of it .
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    My mum and dad had roses in the front garden including "Peace", "Blue Moon" and a red floribunda whose name we don't know. I think the previous owner had planted them. They also had a clump of red tulips with black and yellow centres. "Peace" and the tulips are still there.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • fliprollswfliprollsw Posts: 35
    I think that as you say the 1960s have a look of standard roses. 
    Rockeries from the 60s/70s, as are climbing roses!
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I have Rose 'New Dawn' that mum used to have over an arch, though I think the rose was holding up the arch rather than the other way round! She had 'Peace' and other roses but they are a bit formal for here, it's more Rugosa and old roses.
    For this year I have some Pyrethrums, which I can remember from my childhood mum grew, along with delphiniums, but the slugs like those too well for me. There were also Lily of the Valley growing next to the arch and I would like to have a go at getting them established too.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    Conifers were all the rage when the houses in my area were built.  The first thing I did when I moved here 9 years ago was to have a huge conifer removed as it was blocking all the light to the back of the house and garden.  Every summer, the area around me reverberates with the sound of power tools pruning and removing those poor conifers planted in the wrong location!  I also inherited a rockery which has now been replanted with grasses, ferns, shrubs and perennials, much nicer to look at!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Conifers have been very much on the way back in, for several years. I have a few dwarf Pinus Mugo which are lovely and provide year round interest and structure.

    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Conifers, heathers and rhododendrons are still a 'fashion' here, if you can call it fashion, and have been for decades. Mainly because they suit the climate. 
    Other plants come and go, as with everything else.  Some do well and some don't, as folk experiment along the way  :)

    You still see loads of conifers chopped @Plantminded , often badly, because they've been planted in the wrong place, or not correctly maintained  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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