Nothing brings drama to the garden more than the statuesque Echiums. Their towering summer blooms will attract enquiries from all who lay eyes upon them as to their identity and where they can get seeds. Perhaps not the best choice for my Scottish readers, but hardier than you may think, Echium Candicans will stand temperatures[…]
Plant Profile – Echium Candicans – Pride Of Madeira
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Biennials, Container gardening, Exotic Plants, Ornamental gardening, Plant Profiles, Summer Jun 06, 2023
Plantaholic’s Choice – Skyscraper Lilies
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer Feb 14, 2023
All lilies are beautiful, but this breeding is all about making them bigger, better and even more beautiful. These resplendent plants tower above other varieties, up to 5-7ft/150-215cm in maturity, looking down on previous varieties. Below I have listed some of their benefits:- Their tall stems (1.25m/4ft in their first year, increasing with age) make[…]
Rose of the Year 2023 – Rose Peach Melba (climbing)
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Roses, Summer Oct 25, 2022
Each year a rose is awarded Rose of the Year. The Award is given by Roses U.K. after rigorous testing in diverse locations throughout Britain. Trials assess the plant for two years. Trial categories include flower and form, colour and novelty, fragrance, plant health and easy maintenance. The well deserved winner of this prestigious title[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Buddleia davidii ‘Butterfly Candy’ Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Fragrant plants, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer, Wildlife Gardening Jun 08, 2022
There has been huge innovation in the breeding of Buddleias in recent years, especially in breeding shorter varieties for our often smaller plots. The Buddleia davidii ‘Butterfly Candy’ Series seems to be amongst the very best of this breeding, and I recommend them for your gardens for the following reasons. Very much smaller than traditional[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Campsis Trumpet Vine Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Climbing plants, Container gardening, New plants, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jun 02, 2022
For many years the blooms of Campsis have adorned our late summer gardens with their exotic flowers that look as if they might be more accustomed to a mediterranean setting, and yet they are quite hardy in the U.K. They are covered in fiery flowers from July through to at least October and are quite[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – NEW Rose ‘Sophie Rochas’
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Roses, Summer May 17, 2022
Roses are one of Britain’s favourite blooms, and what a stunner ‘Sophie Rochas’ is! Below I have listed some of it’s best attributes:- One of the most outstanding properties of this rose is the almost unique ruffled edges to the baby pink blooms. The gorgeous flowers contrast well with the glossy green foliage. As this[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – NEW Lavender ‘Twin Summer’
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer, Wildlife Gardening Apr 26, 2022
I just love to be able to introduce new plants to you like this new French Lavender from the Butterfly Garden series. French Lavenders have a longer flowering period compared to our English varieties. They are a little more temperamental in that they love to bake in hot sun and well drained conditions, not cold[…]
Grow Your Own Peanuts
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Fruit and veg gardening, Summer Apr 05, 2022
Some of my readers may be experienced fruit and veg growers, yet there will be few who have attempted to grow peanuts! This tender annual is somewhat of a rarity in the U.K. Not only is it a great novelty to be able to grow these plants, they are also quite decorative with their pea-like[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Raymond Evison Boulevard Clematis
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Climbing plants, Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring, Summer Mar 29, 2022
Raymond Evison has dedicated sixty years of his life to breeding and developing some of the best Clematis in the world. Throughout this time he has bred many outstanding varieties and won multiple gold medals for his exhibits at the RHS shows. Here I want to highlight the wonderful Boulevard Clematis, bred by Raymond at[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Dahlia Lubega Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Cut flowers, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jan 11, 2022
You’ve only got to look at social media to see how Dahlias have had a huge resurgence in popularity in recent years. And quite rightly so. Their bold, bright blooms, in almost every colour of the rainbow, bring joy to the late summer and autumn garden when many other blooms have faded. The Dahlia Lubega[…]