Category Archives: Perennials
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Atropa belladonna
Posted on December 17, 2016 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Perennials, self seeds, shade tolerant, WoodlandersYes 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, WoodlandersThis 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, WoodlandersThis 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, PerennialsThis 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 interestThe 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, PerennialsThis 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, PerennialsThere 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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Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’
Posted on January 17, 2016 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, PerennialsThis is a stunning perennial to about 1metre each way that will get to full size in the one growing season. The main point is the foliage which is a dark plum colour with silvery V shaped patterns on each leaf. It does flower and these are an added bonus in the autumn as these […]
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Canna ‘Brolga Dance’
Posted on November 27, 2015 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, PerennialsI have again fallen in love with Cannas and don’t expect to have a minor fling again. They were once those things planted in mixed colours in round beds in public parks, oh how awful! But used singly as feature plants in a sunny moist border or by or in a pond they truly come […]
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Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum’
Posted on October 16, 2015 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Perennials, shade tolerant, WoodlandersThe whole Genus is stunning and worth collecting from the commonest old fashioned Solomon’s Seal to the rarest. Most are fairly hardy and require little more than a bit of shade and some winter, spring moisture to get things going. The form I am waxing lyrical about today is a fine example with its arching […]
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