I meant to post this yesterday, but forgot. Those sphaerocephalon alliums always need support here, and so do Aquilegias. The latter would be a good addition, but easily get to more than three feet because of the moisture, so they need to be in with shrubs to avoid a manual support put in place. I grow that shorter Verbena - hastata? It's in a sheltered spot, small raised bed, and it's fine without support, and has managed the weather fine. Another way of not having to support the V. bons is to nip them out earlier in the year to stop them getting too big. They'll still flower. Heleniums get supported by woody perennials like Euphorbia in my garden. They'd need support otherwise. Asters are the same, as they can get quite tall. Sedum [hylotelephium] would need support, but they don't start growing until later here, so that's another thing to bear in mind. Even in the recent mild winters, they're only a few inches by mid to end of May. That makes it easier too. Camassias for wet areas are fine, and they get sizeable. Lilies are too, but the beetles are becoming a bigger problem now. Yes - even in a mild winter @Liriodendron, that temp is still a bit higher than we'd often get here, but it's only problematic when you get lower temps long term for most plants, so something like minus 3 or 4 for a week or so, without getting above about 4 or 5 in the daytime, is a bigger problem than minus 7,8,9 or beyond, for a couple of nights. It's why plants generally start into growth later here.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you, @Fairygirl. Yes, my sphaerocephalon alliums also fall over, given half a chance. Some aquilegias do too - but the old fashioned "granny's bonnet" ones, which have moved with me from garden to garden, are a bit shorter and less willowy, so they tend to stand up better. I haven't many euphorbias. I do like them though, and if they are good supporters of other plants I might look out for more. Wulfenii looks a good bet for woodiness. I'd forgotten camassias. I grow them in the meadow, and they never fall over... unlike some other spring bulbs, especially the (inherited) tall double daffs in this garden. Very useful info. Thanks again.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
There are some dwarf varieties of aquilegia too @Liriodendron. I had a lovely one, but I divided it to give to someone, and the piece I had died! I think it was apart of a series called Cameo, but I'd need to check that. It's a long time since I had it. Yes - many daffs are difficult here. It's always windy, so those earlier months of the year [March/April] when they start appearing can be difficult if they're not in among woodier plants. Some of mine are later than that too, but it's always tricky. Dicentras are good too - I never have to support those. I only grow the white one. I mostly grow the smaller Euphorbias when I have them in gardens - very useful as a support, and ideal if you have gold/orange/yellow flowering plants with them. Hebes are good supports too, for better drained bits, but they can be a bit iffy in many winters, so it always pays to have a few cuttings.
All a bit of experimenting over time though, isn't it?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes, experimenting is the way to go, @Fairygirl. I grew a lot of things from seed during lockdown (our first year here), and many of them are lovely but floppy, as well as seeding all over the place! This garden will never be finished, which actually suits me well. I'd get bored if all I had to do was weed.
Might try a small-leaved hebe... not sure if it's on the "susceptible to honey fungus" list though. I'm getting to the stage of crossing my fingers and planting things I like, anyway, to be honest.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I know what you mean @Liriodendron - you sometimes just have to give something a go and see what happens. Never had honey fungus in any garden I've had, so that's another problem you have to think about. I was right about those Cameo aquilegias. I had a look and found this nursery - unfortunately I've now bookmarked it and noted several plants I fancy getting
I was wrong about that Verbena too -it's the other one - V. rigida. I can never remember which one it is. Hopeless mare
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I never have to stake the lower growing hardy geraniums, epimediums, hardy fuchsias or hostas.
I also have HF in the garden and have started only planting shrubs which seem to be resistant. It's a pain in the proverbial having to think about it but also quite upsetting having to remove large 'feature' shrubs when they start looking very sorry for themselves.
Would some of the better Cornus be of any interest to you? My garden is too dry to grow many of them but Midwinter Fire does well. The orange stems are a good feature in winter and in the summer looks good with a dark purple clematis crawling through it.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Thanks @Topbird. More candidates for my list... I have Cornus alba 'Sibirica' in the back garden, but I could see 'Midwinter Fire' being useful in the front. I'm still adjusting to the lack of trees there, having lost 3 mature rowans to HF since we moved here (so all my lovely shade plants have needed re-locating). I have my eye on a Ginkgo biloba 'Pendula' but it'll be a long while before it provides much in the way of shade...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
An apology and update, my thalictrum has just fallen over towards the lawn so I've had to tie it to its metal trellis panel support.
I looked at my Cornus Midwinter Fire today and it's grown a lot! it's about 6 x 6ft or more. I didn't get round to pruning it down in late spring so will have to get it done asap before the winter.
Posts
I grow that shorter Verbena - hastata? It's in a sheltered spot, small raised bed, and it's fine without support, and has managed the weather fine. Another way of not having to support the V. bons is to nip them out earlier in the year to stop them getting too big. They'll still flower.
Heleniums get supported by woody perennials like Euphorbia in my garden. They'd need support otherwise. Asters are the same, as they can get quite tall.
Sedum [hylotelephium] would need support, but they don't start growing until later here, so that's another thing to bear in mind. Even in the recent mild winters, they're only a few inches by mid to end of May. That makes it easier too.
Camassias for wet areas are fine, and they get sizeable. Lilies are too, but the beetles are becoming a bigger problem now.
Yes - even in a mild winter @Liriodendron, that temp is still a bit higher than we'd often get here, but it's only problematic when you get lower temps long term for most plants, so something like minus 3 or 4 for a week or so, without getting above about 4 or 5 in the daytime, is a bigger problem than minus 7,8,9 or beyond, for a couple of nights. It's why plants generally start into growth later here.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I haven't many euphorbias. I do like them though, and if they are good supporters of other plants I might look out for more. Wulfenii looks a good bet for woodiness.
I'd forgotten camassias. I grow them in the meadow, and they never fall over... unlike some other spring bulbs, especially the (inherited) tall double daffs in this garden.
Very useful info. Thanks again.
Yes - many daffs are difficult here. It's always windy, so those earlier months of the year [March/April] when they start appearing can be difficult if they're not in among woodier plants. Some of mine are later than that too, but it's always tricky.
Dicentras are good too - I never have to support those. I only grow the white one.
I mostly grow the smaller Euphorbias when I have them in gardens - very useful as a support, and ideal if you have gold/orange/yellow flowering plants with them. Hebes are good supports too, for better drained bits, but they can be a bit iffy in many winters, so it always pays to have a few cuttings.
All a bit of experimenting over time though, isn't it?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Might try a small-leaved hebe... not sure if it's on the "susceptible to honey fungus" list though. I'm getting to the stage of crossing my fingers and planting things I like, anyway, to be honest.
I was right about those Cameo aquilegias. I had a look and found this nursery - unfortunately I've now bookmarked it and noted several plants I fancy getting
I was wrong about that Verbena too -it's the other one - V. rigida. I can never remember which one it is. Hopeless mare
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I also have HF in the garden and have started only planting shrubs which seem to be resistant. It's a pain in the proverbial having to think about it but also quite upsetting having to remove large 'feature' shrubs when they start looking very sorry for themselves.
Would some of the better Cornus be of any interest to you? My garden is too dry to grow many of them but Midwinter Fire does well. The orange stems are a good feature in winter and in the summer looks good with a dark purple clematis crawling through it.
I have Cornus alba 'Sibirica' in the back garden, but I could see 'Midwinter Fire' being useful in the front. I'm still adjusting to the lack of trees there, having lost 3 mature rowans to HF since we moved here (so all my lovely shade plants have needed re-locating). I have my eye on a Ginkgo biloba 'Pendula' but it'll be a long while before it provides much in the way of shade...
I looked at my Cornus Midwinter Fire today and it's grown a lot! it's about 6 x 6ft or more. I didn't get round to pruning it down in late spring so will have to get it done asap before the winter.