Category Archives: Perennials

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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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  Podophyllum 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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  Cyclamen cilicium

  Posted on August 12, 2016 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Ground cover, self seeds, shade tolerant, winter interest, Woodlanders

  This charming little species is rarely grown in Australia and for no god reason as it is hardy, showy and self seeds well in a semi-shaded aspect in Southern Australia. Perhaps as it is autumnal in flower it is overlooked for the more common species of C. hederifolium which is better known and also worth […]

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  Dahlia excelsa

  Posted on May 2, 2016 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Perennials

  This is a rarer tree Dahlia that I find in many ways better suited to my garden and climate that the common D. imperialis. For a start it is usually slightly smaller topping out at about 3.5 metres tall with smaller and more interesting leaves. The flowers are a richer mauve and with a flatter […]

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  Eryngium pandanifolia

  Posted on March 22, 2016 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Bog plants, Collector Plants, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Perennials, self seeds, winter interest

  The Genus of Sea Hollies contains a fair few that seem to have little visually in common with Holly and this one from South America proves the point. It is an evergreen perennial with long strappy leaves to 1.5metres long with fine sharp spines along the edges so that dead leaf removal needs to be […]

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  Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’

  Posted on March 4, 2016 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Ground cover, Perennials

  This huge Genus has innumerable garden worthy species and one could open a nursery specialising in them! This stunning little thug I imported from Beth Chatto’s garden in England some years back and never get tied of it. It loves a sunny aspect and will sucker all over the place making it a great choice […]

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  Canna compacta

  Posted on February 11, 2016 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  There is something softer and more subtle about the species Cannas compared to the vast majority of Hybrid ones. Not that I necessarily want subtle when I want a Canna! This one if you except it as a species (some authorities don’t) grows to about a metre tall and has classic green leaves over topped […]

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