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Could somebody tell me what plant this is please

bearfaced1977bearfaced1977 Posts: 14
in Plants
Hi folks,I had a plant in my front bed that I really liked but it died last year and I haven't got a clue what it was called to try and replace it.I used to love looking at it from the pavement as it really stood out,it's the plant towards the rear of my photo with what looks to my eyes as having purple..ish flowers.I don't know if any of you will be able to see it clearly enough to tell.

Posts

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    It looks like an Osteospermum to me. A lot of them are annuals and die after a season but you can get perennial which will return next year. I read that they can be susceptible to cold but mine are still going after two weeks of sub-zero temperatures last Winter. 
  • bearfaced1977bearfaced1977 Posts: 14
    edited July 2023
    plant pauper said:
    It looks like an Osteospermum to me. A lot of them are annuals and die after a season but you can get perennial which will return next year. I read that they can be susceptible to cold but mine are still going after two weeks of sub-zero temperatures last Winter. 
    Hi thanks so much,now that you say that I definitely did have one of those in that bed I put a few plants in that bed  one weekend and didn't mark them so was confused from the start.I loved it and it did really well for a few years but it didn't come back from last year.Where it was woody in the centre just above the soil the main stem had split in half.
    I'm so pleased that you managed to identify it,I'm going to get another and see if I can see any other Osteopermum perennials
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Mine just gives and gives. Keep dead-heading and they flower for ages. I don't think mine is as dark as yours so I must keep my eye out for the darker shade.
    They take easily from cuttings too if you find one to pinch from...like my NDN! 🤣
  • bearfaced1977bearfaced1977 Posts: 14
    Having had a look on Google I think that variety is Osteospermum serenity purple
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just be aware that not all Osteospermums are hardy perennials. Many of them won't survive year on year, so make sure you get the right kind  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bearfaced1977bearfaced1977 Posts: 14
    Yes thanks for that tip,I take my phone with me when buying plants to get more information on the plants than you get on the labels..I'm quite new to gardening so it's been exciting seeing plants return each year,last year wasn't great with the extreme heat and frosts I lost a few Hebe's but to be honest the ones that I did lose hadn't ever been that spectacular so I was able to try something else in their place.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - try and get as much info on plants as you can - it saves money in the long run!
    There will be plenty of plants that will do well for you, and you can get suggestions on the forum for ideas - just give us info re your climate, soil and rough location, and the aspect of the bed, and you'll get ideas  :)
    Hebes can be iffy anyway, depending on where you ar
    e, as they can be affected quite badly by wet cold, and don't take well to being cut back. In milder areas, that's easier. 

    A really reliable one, which is very different from the usual Hebes you'll see is this one
    https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=4644&fromplants=pl_id=2097
    Not to everyone's taste, but much tougher, and works really well with dark, purply/plum foliaged planting.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited July 2023
    I've found that ostespermums often survive a mild winter but a sudden cold snap like we had at the beginning of December last year clobbers them (all mine died last winter after several years). Not a reason to avoid them though. They're usually widely available and not very expensive so they're easy to replace if necessary.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bearfaced1977bearfaced1977 Posts: 14
    JennyJ said:
    I've found that ostespermums often survive a mild winter but a sudden cold snap like we had at the beginning of December last year clobbers them (all mine died last winter after several years). Not a reason to avoid them though. They're usually widely available and not very expensive so they're easy to replace if necessary.
    Hi thanks,yes the cold was extreme,do you happen to know months I may find Ostespermums in the shops?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    They usually appear in late spring to early summer and I guess they'll be there until they've sold out or completely gone over. I bought two small ones from a small nursery in about mid June, I think they were about £3 or so each. I put them in bigger pots and they've about doubled in size . They often have them in places like B&Q as well as garden centres and nurseries.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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