If you are looking for a dramatic plant for your garden, you can’t go wrong with Fatsia japonica. This tropical-looking, evergreen shrub with its large, glossy, leathery leaves is surprisingly easy to grow.
Fatsia japonica
Category: Plants
A great place to find plant inspiration for your own garden.
This is a seasonal look at flowers, shrubs and trees, with tips on growing and pruning.
Euphorbia cyparissias (Spurge)
I grew this spurge from seed quite a few years ago and although the label has long since disappeared, I am pretty certain it is called Euphorbia cyparissias. I love its long season of interest, starting in the spring with the fresh lime green foliage, followed by the acid yellow bracts which age to red. In the autumn the foliage turns a lovely pink colour before dying back for the winter.
Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree)
Arbutus unedo, one of my favourite trees is flowering in my garden at the moment. Also known as the Strawberry tree, it has pink tinged white, bell-shaped flowers which hang in clusters from the branches and which are magnets for bees and butterflies.
The strawberry tree is full bloom is a fantastic sight
Flowers and fruit appear at the same time
These flowers will become next years fruit, which unusually appear at the same time as the flowers. The fruit is said to be edible, but doesn’t taste like a strawberry, and can be used to make jam or liqueur. The birds eat them before I get chance to!
Arbus unedo is an evergreen shrub with a bushy habit. However, you can prune the bottom branches off so that it reveals the brown-red bark which peels rather attractively. It is a member of the Ericaceae family so the leaves go yellow if it is not on acid soil – I give mine an Ericaceous feed.
Plectranthus argentatus ‘Silver Shield’
The thick silver-grey velvety leaves of Plectranthus argentatus make it a perfect foil when planted with dark leafed plants or strong contrasting flowers.Continue reading
Oriental Lily: Casa Blanca
Oriental lily Casa Blanca has the most exquisite large, pure white flowers and my house has been filled with the most delicious scent. There are four flowers, dripping with nectar on a strong straight stem.Continue reading
Sunflowers: To Deadhead or Not to Deadhead?
The bright yellow faces of the sunflowers are such a cheerful sight, but the dilemma facing gardeners is whether or not to deadhead the spent flowers.
Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’
The beautiful white Echinacea is a hardy perennial which thrives in clay soil (always a must in our garden). The bees and butterflies find the flowers attractive and the birds love the seedheads.
Dionaea muscipula (Venus Flytrap)
The Venus flytrap plant is a carnivorous plant, native to subtropical wetlands in America. In England it is commonly sold as a house plant, but people find it difficult to look after. Here are some tips for keeping it alive.
Cynara scolymus (Globe Artichoke)
I grew this Globe Artichoke from seed many years ago and it attracts lots of attention from passers-by, as well as bees and other insects.
Nicandra physaloides (Shoo fly)
Easily grown from seed, Nicandra physaloides is an annual which reaches approximately a metre in height.Continue reading