This has to be about the strangest but none the less useful and pretty species in the Genus. It produces its pale green bells with purple stamens in the midst of winter and they are nectar rich bird feeders, so this alone should get you planting. Afterwards it has huge flufly seed heads in spring …
This hardy South African shrub grows to about 3metres over time, is deciduous in colder climates and has its spikes of brilliant red flowers for months during the spring. The leaves are large and bright green looking very like those of a zonal pelargonium, what some would still call a geranium. The shrub itself has …
This small genus is usually represented in horticulture by the American species C. virginicus and the Chinese one that is the topic of this blog. However both are worth growing and for sale at the moment in 15cm. pots for $28.50. Both are large deciduous shrubs or small trees that can reach 4 to 5 metres and …
There can’t be a cheerier plant in my garden than this hardy scandent shrub nor one that pays its way more. If grown without support it will arch over and make a mound of spotty golden variegated foliage with yellow petalled flowers with dark stamens and a red calyx. However as the flowers hang down …
This bulb has for a long time been excluded from the Onions into the much harder to spell Genus of Nectaroscordum but thank heaven it is back again! However no matter what it is called it is a fine addition to any garden. It grows during the late winter through the early spring and then …
This is one of the best self seeding biennials for semi-shade bar none in my humble opinion! It grows to about 60cms tall at flowering and to the uninitiated it could be a Euphorbia with its limy-yellow bracts surrounding the flowers. However those that look closely will realise that it is in fact Apiaceae (in …
Yes there is a plant named after me!! Wait till Canna ‘Stephen Ryan’ hits the market. In the mean time for the record this plant (and the Canna) were named after me not by me! My Dahlia is type cast, it is simple,single, virginal white, self supporting and slightly scented! It flowers for ages and …
This small shrub or even perhaps sub-shrub is a great asset to any garden. It will grow in almost any sunny well drained site and can be used as an individual or as a low border hedge that is a great alternative to lavender. The foliage is deciduous and from spring to autumn is a …