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Golden Jubilee Plant

hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
in The potting shed

.....'as part of the celebrations Gardeners' World are looking for the plant which has had the biggest impact on gardens over the past 50 years with the winner being crowned the Golden Jubilee Plant.;.....

Am I the only one bemused at some of the plants selected?

Bedding plants

dahlias

aquilegia

Stipa gigantea

Chili

Jasmine

roses

acer

echinacea

geranium rozanne

I think only 1 maybe 2 out of that list fulfills the brief. 

'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller

Posts

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    I'll confess and say my choice would be the Stipa (aka perennial grasses). And possibly mass produced bedding plants. 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    "bedding plants" certainly shouldn't be in there. It's like saying " herbaceous plants"or  "trees" 

    " Bedding plants" always remind me of Victorian parks. Hardly the last 50 years.

    Devon.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003

    I agree, bedding plants I thought was a ridiculous choice, as it includes many varieties of plant.  Yet they are used by gardeners and people who otherwise would never take interest in their garden at other times of the year.  They are a true realisation of our modern throw-away society, they offer instant gratification, they add instant impact, which are then disposed of when the season is over.  

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    I do think that out of all the plants, grasses are the only 'new' plant in the last 50 years. And most of us now have some in the garden. I do remember pampas grass being aro when I was a toddler but there has been a huge explosion in varieties and availability since then. 

    I did also quite agree with bedding plants, again because of the huge market they have now and they are available on every corner  . They have moved in the last 50 years from park displays into home gardens and the range has grown from allysum, lobelia and geraniums into the huge variety we now have  

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

    but they are not a "plant", singular, they're a huge range of plants. So clearly don't meet the brief.

    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    I agree .... I think the brief is a bit vwoolly ...... if it's the plant that has had a big effect on gardens in the past 50 years I still say what about Cupressus Leylandii ................ but I think they're looking for positive rather than negative effects image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039

    Some people grow Dahlias as bedding plants, so I too think that the category is inappropriate.

    If it is really meant to be the last 50 years, then I agree it has to be grasses.

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

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889

     I think , in terms of the brief, you're right Dove.

    I had a leylandii hedge around my last garden and it was a joy. 

    I know they can be monsters, but some dogs bite folk, doesn't mean they're all bad.  

    Devon.
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