Category Archives: Perennials

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  Canna ‘The Red Centre’

  Posted on December 8, 2017 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  This Australian bred Canna hybrid is possibly the best red one in existence with its huge rounded bright red flowers with a very fine gold edge to the petals. It has bright green paddle like leaves and grows only to about 1 to 1.5 metres tall. It was bred by Mrs. Reis in Queensland now […]

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  Helwingia chinensis

  Posted on November 26, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, shade tolerant, Shrubs, Woodlanders

  this plant isn’t going to set the world on fire but I think it is an interesting and worthy addition to the garden for the following reasons. Most importantly I imported it!!!! But seriously it is an interesting evergreen shrub to 2 to 3metres with handsome evergreen leaves on a shrub with a tiered branch […]

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  Euphorbia cyparissas ‘Fen’s Ruby’

  Posted on September 16, 2017 by stephenryan in drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, Perennials

  This tough as they come dwarf herbaceous perennial was something I originally imported from Beth Chatto’s nursery in England although I seem not to have been the only one. As the accompanying picture attests its spring foliage is ruby coloured turning slowly grey-green and its heads of bright green flowers are a stunning complement to […]

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  Sanguinaria canadensis

  Posted on September 8, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Perennials, shade tolerant, Woodlanders

  The Canadian Blood Root is a stunning if ephemeral woodlander from “you guessed it” as well as the USA. The single poppy flowers last only a few days but what a joy they are. The green scalloped leaves are charming and will keep you entertained for months afterward and as it doesn’t take up all […]

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  Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis ‘Painters Palette’

  Posted on September 2, 2017 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials, self seeds, shade tolerant

  This isn’t a plant for the timid gardener so I obviously love it! In the non variegated form it is a North American native and worth growing for its green leaves with a red-brown chevron about half way. It also produces spikes of tiny white flowers from deep pink buds at the end of the […]

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  Juncus effusus ‘Spiralis’

  Posted on July 23, 2017 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, winter interest

  If you are looking for a plant that will be a talking point and entertain children of all ages this could be the one for you! It is a clump forming evergreen rush that is grown for its stems which corkscrew in a most endearing way, each with a different amount of twirl so as […]

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  Persicaria virginiana filiformis ‘Painter’s Palette’

  Posted on May 20, 2017 by stephenryan in Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Ground cover, Perennials, self seeds, Woodlanders

  If you don’t like variegation don’t read on! This herbaceous perennial has to have some not the most over the top leaf colour of any cold hardy plant and I for one love it! It grows to about 60cms. or so and builds into a substantial clump in a fairly short time. The large leaves […]

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  Danae racemosa

  Posted on April 17, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Ground cover, Perennials, shade tolerant, winter interest

  This slow growing evergreen plant from South West Asia to Iran has long been on my want list and over the last few years it has come my way as it should come yours! It is called Poet’s Laurel or Alexandrian Laurel and is in fact the plant used to make the wreaths that crowned […]

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  Atropa belladonna

  Posted on December 17, 2016 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Perennials, self seeds, shade tolerant, Woodlanders

  Yes this is the feared deadly nightshade but you have to eat it!!!!! If we only knew how many poisonous plants we have in the garden and let it worry us we would probably stop gardening. If the kiddies are a worry then train them to eat things that come in punnets. This plant is […]

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  Dysosma pleianthum

  Posted on November 22, 2016 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials, shade tolerant, Woodlanders

  This handsome perennial comes from the cool forests of central and south eastern China and is a great addition to a shaded aspect in the garden or as a tub specimen. It is mainly about leaves which come up in spring and can still be telling in the autumn. They are huge plate like affairs […]

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