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Flowers. Photo from Gee Tee Bulb |
Photo from Gee Tee Bulb |
See photo of Form from Flickr |
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Plant Name |
Allium triquetrum Allium is the Latin name for 'garlic'. The specific epithet triquetrum refer to the three-cornered shape of the flower stalks |
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Common Name |
Three Cornered Garlic, Stinking Onions, White flowered onion. |
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Soil |
Chalk or Sand (Well-drained soil required) |
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Sun Aspect |
Full Sun and Part Shade (Thrives well in shade - full shade of deep woodland and part shade of light woodland) |
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Soil Moisture |
Moist |
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Plant Type |
Herbaceous Bulb |
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Height x Spread in inches (cms) |
18 x 8 (45 x 20) |
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Foliage |
Basal, linear, 10-15 inches long and 1.5 inches wide Dark Green leaves. |
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Flower Colour in Month(s). Fruit |
White with distinctive Green midvein flowers on drooping one-sided umbel in April-June. Flowering stem is 3 sided. |
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Comment |
Allium triquetrum is native from Europe and Great Britain. Has become a rampant weed in the USA. Due to rapid propagation, should be grown only where spreading can be restricted (Black oblong seed fall mainly close to the parent plant, but can be carried further afield by nearby waterways or by ants; so look at Risk Assessment Information). Excellent as ground cover in poor well-drained soil in sun or shade where it will keep weeds under check, but keep it away from mixed borders.
"For naturalising even under trees.
Plant at 3 inch depth and 8 inches (20 cms) apart with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage. Never plant at perfectly measured distances apart as this looks artificial - plant in clumps of 5, 7 or 9 in a staggered group so that they look more natural when they flower. Split and divide large clumps in autumn or spring.
"It grows in meadows, woodland clearings, on river banks and roadside verges from sea level to an altitude of 850 metres (2,790 ft).
"Natural HABITAT
I suggest that you confine these bulbs to a pot, so that you stop them invading the rest of your garden, but you can still eat them!!! Christopher Lloyd planted it along the boundary with his neighbour and then had been trying to eradicate it with the help of Roundup (glyphosate) for 10 years. 1. Chop them up finely and mix into butter to make a garlic butter substitute. It's delicious spread on French bread and baked like garlic bread, or over fish. 2. Make a spread (especially nice on rice crackers) by mashing together chopped onionweed, soft tofu, ginger juice (from the gratings squeezed), soy sauce, and a splash of peanut oil. I love anything that combines onionweed with ginger! This Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipe has gone down a treat with onionweed used instead of spring onions. And if you don't eat pork or any meat, it's really nice with whole mushrooms and firm tofu instead. Note that the green bits of onionweed get stringier as they get older, so chopping them fine is important if you're actually eating them, rather than just using them to flavour something and removing them after cooking." from Wild Picnic - A GALLERY OF EDIBLE AND USEFUL WILD PLANTS, IN WELLINGTON AND THE WAIRARAPA (NZ).
See Gardenia with their pages on
Available from
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Single Flower. Photo from Gee Tee Bulb |
Flowers. Photo from R. V. Roger |
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Alliums The popularity of these ornamental onions shows no sign of waning - and with good reason, for they are a dramatic addition to any hot sunny border. As a general rule the foliage will emerge first and then die down as the flower stems emerge. It is often best to plant them with other plants that will mask the unsightly foliage as it dies back. After flowering R.V. Roger's staff find it important to dead head them by removing the flower head but leaving the flower stalk. This will allow the plant to put enough energy back into the bulb to ensure a good show the following year. If you want to preserve the seed heads on the plant to provide winter interest wait until the bulb is old enough to produce several flower heads and then remove half after flowering, providing you and the bulb with a good compromise.
In The Garden with Bill Cary:- "Gardeners who really pay attention to the bloom sequence in their spring beds have probably noticed there’s a long lull, usually in mid- to late May, between the colorful riot of spring bulbs and the launch of the first summer bloomers. The crocuses, tulips and daffodils have faded and the rest of your garden is greening up for summer, but bright colors seem to be missing. Why not try alliums to fill in this quiet time in the garden? With their oversized flower heads — some are as big as your head — and dramatic height and architecture, alliums add a wonderful exclamation point to any bed or border. These showstoppers also bloom later than the other spring bulbs. Alliums are related to other plants in the onion family, like chives, garlic and leeks. They want full sun and fairly fertile, well-drained soil — the softball-sized bulbs will rot if they sit in water in the winter. Like all spring-blooming bulbs, alliums need to be planted in the autumn, well before the ground freezes for winter. October is perfect. Don’t just plant one or two or three. Bulbs have the most bang when planted in large clusters. Follow the planting instructions that come with the bulbs for spacing and depth. In general, dig a hole that’s three times deeper than the width of the bulb. Big alliums like ‘Globemaster’ should be planted about 6 inches (15 cms) apart. Good companion plantings for ‘Globemaster’ include day lilies, nepeta, lavender, lamb’s ear, iris and hardy geraniums. The vibrant ‘Globemaster’ flowers should last three to four weeks in the garden — or bring them indoors for a fun, whimsical arrangement in a vase. Alliums are totally critter proof — no deer, no rabbits, no squirrels (though some people in our suburbs seem to have Viking-like squirrels that will go after anything). I guess it never hurts to cover your bulb-heavy beds with chicken wire or some other screening to keep them safe until you begin to see green tips emerging in spring."
Gardening Which? selects the following 7 alliums as the best for your garden as reported in The Telegraph:-
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ALLIUM AND ANEMONE BULB GALLERY PAGES |
FLOWER COLOUR |
FOLIAGE COLOUR |
FORM |
SEED COLOUR BED PICTURES |
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The following Extra Index of Bulbs is created in the
Having transferred the Extra Index row entry to the relevant Extra Index row for the same type of plant in a gallery below; then
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7 Flower Colours per Month in Colour Wheel below in BULB, CORM, RHIZOME and TUBER GALLERY. Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month. |
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Besides the above Bulb Flower Colour Comparison Pages, you also have the following Comparison Pages:- |
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Bulb, Corm, Rhizome or Tuber Name |
Flower Colour with |
Flowering Form Thumbnail Mat, |
Height x Width in inches (cms) - Soil Sun Aspect Soil Moisture |
Foliage Colour with Foliage Thumbnail |
Bulb Use |
Comments |
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Alliums For best effect plant Medium Allium species with smaller heads en masse and use the larger headed species as accents (speciman plants). "Alliums last well and are decorative for flower arrangements as they make a very distinctive shape in a mixed group" from A Dictionary of Cut Flowers (Flower arrangements and sketches by the author. Photography by Kenneth Welfare) by Mary Bailey. Published by Arthur Barker Limited in 1969. SBN 213 76185 8 |
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Allium aflatunense |
Rosy-Purple |
May, June Clump |
36 x 18 Chalk, Sand Full Sun |
Grey-Green 4 inch wide leaves. |
It is deer resistant, attracts butterflies, bee friendly, squirrel resistant, fragrant, use for cut flowers and dried flowers |
Probably one of the best known of the drumstick alliums. |
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Allium altissimum |
Lilac-Purple |
June |
72 x 36 Chalk, Sand |
Fragrant sword-like leaves |
It is an excellent cutflower and thrives in inner city environments. Attracts butterflies. |
It will live for about 5 years. Interplant with late-season bloomers to hide dying foliage. |
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Allium ampelo-prasum (Elephant Garlic) |
Purple to Whitish |
May, June |
36-72 x 6 (90-180 x 15) Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green leaves emerge first and then die down as the flower stems emerge. |
The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellant. |
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Rose-Lilac |
June, July |
12-16 x 4 (30-40 x 10) |
Narrow 8 inch long Dark Green |
Fragrant Flowers. Attracts bees. |
It is a good idea to disguise the dying allium foliage in between with herbaceous perennials. |
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Allium amplectens (Narrowleaf Onion, Paper Onion) |
White to Pinkish |
March, April, May, June |
8-20 x 2 Clay |
2-4 narrow dark green leaves |
An unusual variety for the rock garden. |
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Allium angulosum (Mouse Garlic) |
Lilac-Purple or White |
June, July, August |
8-18 x 12 (20-45 x 30) |
12 inch long narrow deeply keeled dark green leaves |
Plant with Echinops ritro, Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead', Myrtus communis and Allium tuberosum. |
Native from Europe to Siberia and whole plant is edible. Pollinated by bees. Not affected by deer. Haven for butterflies. Cut flower. Suitable for container and edging |
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Allium azureum (Blue of the Heavens) |
Deep Blue |
May, June, July Clump |
24 x 8 Chalk, Sand |
Very narrow dark green leaves 10-18 inches long, which die back before flowering commences |
Site near front of borders and in containers with silver foliage plants to show off the blue flowers. Attracts butterflies. |
Suitable for a slope, is hot dry site tolerant, good for cut flowers and ok for containers. Rodent and deer resistant. Adored by bees. |
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Allium 'Beau Regard' |
Silver-Mauve |
June, July, August Upright Form |
36 x 9-12 Well-drained Sand |
12 inch long strappy dark green leaves |
Flowers last for 3 weeks. Cutflower. Use in rock garden Plant among roses to deter aphids |
Flowers in 8 inch diameter umbel in June-August. Mix with Siberian Iris, roses and meadow sage. |
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Allium caesium (Light Blue Garlic) |
Sky-Blue |
June, July, August |
Chalk, Sand |
Very narrow cylindrical dark green leaves |
Good for group planting and as a cut flower. |
Native plants on saline soil in semi-desert. Tolerant of poor soil. |
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Allium carinatum (White-flowered keeled garlic) |
White |
July, August, Clump Bell-shaped flowers |
14 x 12 Any well-drained soil |
Very narrow medium green leaves |
It is an excellent cut flower. Mass plant. |
Looks good growing through Artemesia schmidtiana 'Nana'. Plant in containers or in drifts in the rock garden or border with Heuchera 'Dale's Strain', Sedum 'Oktoberfest' and Talinum calycinum. |
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White with Red stripes |
September, October, Umbel |
6-12 x 12 (15-30 x 30) Sand, Chalk |
Green cylindrical and hollow leaves |
These unusual autumn flowering species are ideal on a scree or rockery in full sun. They are hardy and also make nice pot specimens in a cold greenhouse. |
Native of the Pelo-ponnese. Plant at soil level and 4 inches (10 cms) apart. All Alliums have the distinctive onion smell, both in the foliage and bulb. This smell can be used to reduce aphid infestations on flowers by planting 1 each side of the infected plant. |
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Allium cepa var viviparum (Egyptian Tree Onion) |
Purple |
June Drumstick |
18-24 x 6-9 (45-60 x 15-23) Acidic Sand |
Very narrow medium green leaves |
Suits the border, a herb garden or in vegetable garden. |
Egyptian Tree Onion. Drumstick flowers are produced in June, and these are replaced by small bulbils that can be used as a mild salad onion. |
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Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion, Lady's Leek) |
Light Pink |
June, July, August Clump Bell-shaped flower in cluster of Umbels |
8-18 x 2 Chalk, Sand |
Several linear and flat; 6-10 inches long; Dark Green leaves |
Grows in dry lightly shaded woods, rock outcroppings and prairies. |
It naturalises easily making attractive drifts without becoming a nuisance. Attracts butterflies. |
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Allium christophii |
Purple-Metallic Blue |
June, July Erect Star-shaped flower in umbels |
24 x 8 Chalk, Sand. |
3-7, strap-shaped, 1 inch wide, Grey-Green leaves 20 inches long |
The faded flowerheads hold up well in the border and are useful for dried flower arrangements. |
Dot amongst ornamental grasses. Use on bank, in containers. It attracts butterflies. It is Deer and Rabbit resistant. |
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White |
April, May, June Clump. |
24 x 4 Chalk, Sand. |
1 inch wide, pale green |
It lasts for 3 weeks as a cut-flower. Grow in densely planted borders and rock gardens, forced pots and as edging. |
Rabbit, rodent and deer resistant. |
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Allium crenulatum |
Rose-Purple |
May, June, July Umbel of star-shaped flowers |
3 x 4 |
2 Grey-Green sickle shaped leaves |
Grow in scree garden, rock garden, alpine trough |
Plant at 2 inch (5 cms) depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4 inches (10 cms) apart. |
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Allium cupanii Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. |
Pink or nearly White |
May, June, July, August, September, October Spheres |
5-10 x 4 Sand, Chalk, Scree which is well-drained. |
Thread-like mid green 4 inch long leaves |
Its habitat is Pinus nigra forest, amongst Quercus pargana, alpine and grey steppe rocky places on limestone, serpentine and schist, to 2200 metres in Turkey. |
Edible plant with medicinal use to reduce cholerestol levels. Pollinated by bees. Repels moles. Use in pots, alpine house or greenhouse. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. |
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(Dark Blue Garlic) |
Violet-Blue |
August, September, Clump. |
6-12 x 4 Sand, Chalk which is well-drained and humus-rich or woodland type. Peat. |
Sparse grass-like mid-Green leaves appear before and during the flowers. |
Attracts bees, butterflies and birds. |
Plant at 4 inches (10 cms) depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4 inches (10 cms) apart. Never plant at perfectly measured distances apart as this looks artificial - plant in clumps of 5, 7 or 9 in a staggered group so that they look more natural when they flower. |
Index of Bulbs from Further details on bulbs from the Infill Galleries:- |
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Allium cyatho-phorum |
Red-Purple |
May, June, July Clump. |
12-15 x 9-12 (30-43 x 23-30) Acidic Sand, Chalk, which is well-drained. |
Grassy dark green 8 inch long leaves |
Use on a scree, rock garden, containers, alpine trough or edging. |
Grows on grassy slopes at high elevations in China. Toxic to cats and dogs. |
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(Scytheleaf Onion, |
Pinkish, Red-Purple, or White-streaked Purple |
May, June Clump. |
2-3 x 6 Sand, Chalk, Scree. |
2 grey-green scythe-shaped leaves |
It is often found on slopes with excellent drainage. |
It is also never found too far away from oak trees, relying on the organic matter from decaying oak leaves. Use in cottage gardens, in coastal conditions, cut flower or rock garden |
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Allium flavum |
Yellow |
June, July, August Clump. Umbels of fragrant Bell-shaped flowers in Plumes |
14 x 2 |
Narrow blue-green |
Pollinated by Bees. Rock Garden. Use flower-heads for drying. Rodent and deer proof. Naturalizes easily. Grow as edging, in scree gardens, in cottage gardens. |
Best planted in clusters or allowed to self-seed, it does of its best in an open, sunny position in well-drained soil. Attracts butterflies. |
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Allium flavum nanum |
Lemon-peel Yellow |
June, July, August Clump. Fragrant Umbels of Bell-shaped flowers |
4-6 x 2 Chalk, Sand |
Mid green cylindrical leaves |
It is a good rock garden plant. Pollinated by bees. Dry flower-heads for flower arranging. Pot plant or in trough. Use as edging in Scree and Cottage Gardens |
The 40 flowers on the densely clustered flower head open in succession to give a long-lasting display. Thrives in dry soil. Naturalizes. Attracts butterflies. |
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Allium geyeri |
Pink |
April, May Bell to Urn shaped flowers. |
3-12 x 2 Chalk or Sand |
Narrow dark green cylindrical leaves |
Pollinated by bees. Grows by streams. Repels moles and deer. Grows well with Roses, beet and chaomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. |
Easy to grow species from the meadows of the western USA, producing small bright pink flowers. |
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Allium giganteum |
Violet-Mauve |
June, July Clump. Fragrant Spike of an Umbel |
60 x 6 Chalk or Sand |
Pale Green 2 inch wide and 30 inches long leaves. |
Try it dotted in small groups among ornamental grasses. Pollinated by bees. Attracts butterflies. Squirrel resistant. |
A huge tall spike some 1.5m (5ft) tall bearing a very dense umbel of bright purple flower to be dried and used in dry arrangements. Border background plant. |
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Allium 'Gladiator' |
Rose-Purple |
May, June
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68 x 12 Chalk or Sand (prefers acidic sand or sandy clay) |
2 inch wide, Dark Green. |
Use on a slope or bank. |
Great with Bearded or Siberian Iris. |
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Metallic-Violet |
May, June, July Clump. Globular Umbel of star-shaped florets |
28-36 x 8 (70-90 x 20) Chalk or prefers neutral pH Sand |
2 inch wide, strap-shaped gray-green |
It is deer and rodent resistant. Excellent cut flower - fresh or dried. Speciman plant. Attracts bees. |
Well-matched with Camassia, Dutch Iris, Eremurus, Peonies (Festiva maxima, Eden's Perfume or Riches and Fame) and Ornithogalum magnum. |
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Allium 'Globus' |
Pale Mauve |
June Star-shaped flowers in pompom on a Drumstick |
24 x 9-12 Chalk or Sand |
Large 2-inch wide, dark green |
A good cut flower. |
Pale mauve spheres on 20 inch stems in June. |
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White |
May, June Star-shaped flowers in Pompom on a Drumstick |
48 x 12 Chalk or Sand |
Large 2-inch wide, dark green |
Speciman plant. |
One of the taller species, so great for adding height to the border. |
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Bluish-Purple |
May, June Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on a Drumstick |
Chalk or Sand |
Large 2-inch wide, dark green |
Long-lasting cut flower. Mass plant in drifts with ornamental grasses and other alliums |
Foliage is glossy and persists until well after flowering. Attracts bees and Butterflies. Edging for beds |
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Allium x hollandicum (Allium aflatunense, Persian Onion) |
Purple-Lilac |
May, June, July Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on a Drumstick |
30-36 x 12 (75-90 x 30) Prefers alkaline Sand or Chalk |
Light Green 4 inch wide, strap-like leaves, 20-24 inches in length. |
Excellent cut flower - dried and fresh. Mass plant. Repels moles. Mix with Chaerophyllum hirsutum 'Roseum'. |
Pale greens of Alchemilla, purples of hardy geraniums or blues in the late Camassia compliment their purple colours very well. |
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Reddish-Purple |
June, July Star-shaped flowers in loose Umbel on a Drumstick |
31 x 12 |
Green |
An excellent cut flower. Bee friendly. Grow it between a group of the deciduous Ceratostigma willmottiana. |
Grows in the dry mountainous meadows of Central Asia. |
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Allium jesdianum ssp |
Dark Purple |
May, June, July Umbel on Drumstick |
24 x 6-9 Chalk or Sand |
Linear, lanceolate, up to 2 inches wide and 20 inches long Green foliage |
Neither deer nor rabbits eat them. |
It dries up and retreats into dormancy immediately after flowering. |
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Allium jesdianum |
Bright Violet |
May, June Star-shaped flowers in a loose Umbel on a Drumstick |
48 x 12 Any well drained Soil |
Linear, lanceolate, up to 2 inches wide and 20 inches long Green foliage |
Good cut flower and ideal for mass planting. |
The new foliage is attractive in that the leaves all have red tips when they first emerge. |
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Allium jesdianum |
Deep Purple |
May, June, July Umbel on Drumstick |
28 x 12 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Mid-Green strap-shaped leaves. Foliage dies off soon after bloom. |
Good cut flower. It will not grow if planted after December. Plant amongst summer flowering perennials and grasses. Will naturalize. |
Requires plenty of moisture when growing; tolerates growing in very wet soil. Grow with roses to repel aphids. |
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Dark Purple |
April, May Clump-forming. Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick |
29 x 12 Any well-drained soil |
5-6 Grey-Green strap-like leaves that persist during flowering. |
Edging. |
Flowers on 28 inch stems. Plant bulb at 6 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 8 inches (20 cms) apart. |
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Allium karataviense |
White with a |
May, June Clump. |
Any Soil |
Glaucous Blue, 4-6 inch wide leaves. |
A very useful allium, its large glaucous foliage makes for excellent, well behaved groundcover. Cut fresh and dried flowers. Naturalize. |
Silvery-white flower spikes grow up some 20cm. (8"). Deserves to be used more often. Use in window boxes, bedding and patio planters. |
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Allium karataviense |
White |
May, June Clump. |
10 x 8 Any Soil Use as edging |
Blue-Green, 4-6 inch wide leaves. |
Makes ideal ground-cover and looks great in tubs. Looks wonderful in low glazed pots alongside pots of hostas and heucheras. |
Attracts butterflies. Pollinated by Bees. Deer ignore it. Use in beds, gravel and rock gardens or cottage gardens. Mass plant. |
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Allium lenkoranicum |
Buff to Rose |
June, July, August Bell-shaped flowers in Umbel on Drumstick |
14-20 x 2 (35-50 x 5) Any well-drained Soil |
4-5 thread-thin long Green leaves |
The allium lankoranicum is best planted en masse. Cut flowers - fresh or dried |
Plant bulb at 3 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 1 inch apart. |
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Allium |
Violet-Purple |
May, June, July Erect. |
40 x 12 Any well-drained Soil |
Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves |
Great cut flower - either fresh or dried - and ideal for pots. Use in middle of border or rock garden. Deer, rabbit, squirrel resistant. |
Mass plant with 10-15 per group. Plant bulb at 5 inch depth with an inch (2.5cms) of fine grit under them for drainage and 4-5 inch apart in October. |
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Allium macleanii |
Pinkish-Purple |
May, June, July Erect. |
36-40 x 6 (90-100 x 15) Sandy well-drained Soil |
Broad, shiny, deep Green leaves |
Grows well with roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but inhibits the growth of legumes. |
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Mauve-Purple |
July, August Clump. |
6 x 4 Sandy Soil |
Narrow, flattened, Grayish-Green channeled leaves. Almost evergreen. |
Interplant with ferns both to fill the space when its below ground. Grow in rock garden. Deer resistant. |
Grows in high mountain meadows and stream banks in moist soil. Its root is fleshy and almost rhizomatous. |
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Allium 'Mars' |
Lilac-Purple |
May, June Erect. |
48 x 4 |
Strap-shaped 2 inch wide Grey-Green |
Excellent long-lasting cut-flower. Plant in Pots or drifts with ornamental grasses, as edging or in middle of bed. |
Flower umbel on 36 inch stem in May-June. Seedheads look great covered in frost during the winter. Attracts bees and Butterflies |
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Allium maximowiczii |
Rose-Pink and |
May, June, July Umbel on Drumstick. |
6 x 4 Sand or Chalk |
1 or 2 narrow green leaves |
Grows in damp meadows, along riversides, forest margins, and wetlands. |
The 10.3Mb PDF of the Phanerogram Flora of Mt. Yupari, Prov. Ishikari, Hokkaido, Japan provides further details of its native habitat. |
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Allium moly |
Bright Yellow |
June, July Erect. |
8 x 4 |
Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green |
Excellent long-lasting cut-flower. Excellent for under planting roses. Rock garden, edging, cottage garden. Attracts butterflies |
Increasing very rapidly and suitable for naturalising in open sunny places or light woodland. |
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Allium moly 'Jeannine' |
Golden-Yellow |
May, June Erect and Clump-forming. |
12 x 12 |
Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green |
Rock garden or middle of bed and suitable for naturalising in rough ground. Attracts bees and butterflies. |
Easy to establish in grass or under deciduous shrubs. Use as edging or in pot and as a groundcover. |
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Creamy-White |
May, June, July Fragrant Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on Dome |
52 x 4 Well-drained Chalk or Sand |
Strap-shaped 2 inch wide metallic Blue-Green |
Excellent cut-flower. Speciman Plant. Houseplant. Deer, rabbit, squirrel resistant. |
Mass plant. Naturalizes in well-drained soil. Rock Garden. Attracts butterflies. Combines well with perennials. |
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Allium multi-bulbosum |
White with |
May, June, July, |
12-24 x 6 (30-60 x 15) Well-drained Chalk but prefers Sand |
Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves emerge in April |
Excellent for naturalising and as cut flower. Deer and Rabbit resistant. Bee friendly. Grow in pots. |
Goes with Allium atropurpureum, Astrantia major, Campanula Prichard's Variety, Peony Sarah Berhardt, Erysimum Bowles Mauve and Hosta El Nino |
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Allium neapolitanum |
White |
March, April, May Erect. |
12 x 4 Any well-drained Soil |
Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves |
An excellent variety to naturalise on the rock garden. |
This edible, erect-habit, bulb is native to Northern Italy and frequently found growing in grassy areas. |
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Reddish |
May, June Star-shaped flowers in globe |
Any well-drained Soil |
2 attractive blue-grey wide leaves are held at ground level and last through flowering. |
Suitable under glass in an Alpine House in a pot. Bees love it. Rodents and deer resistant. Groundcover. Coastal conditions. |
Partners are Allium Purple Sensation, Allium sphaerocephalon, Allium gladiator, Allium Silver Spring and Allium Mount Everest. |
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Allium nigrum |
White with |
April, May, June |
20-40 x 16 (50-100 x 40) Any well-drained Soil |
Strap-shaped Grey-Green leaves which start to die back when the flowers emerge. |
Allium companions are Allium 'Forelock', Allium ascherso-nianum and Allium aflatunense 'Purple Sensation'. |
Good Cut flower. There is a pink form of Allium nigrum (Syn. Allium auctum). |
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Allium nutans |
Mid-Pink |
June, July Upright Star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick |
18-36 x 9-12 (45-90 x 23-30) Any well-drained Soil |
Extra wide flat mid-green |
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles. Liked by Bees and Butterflies. Grow in Pot. |
Native habitat of stony slopes and meadows on the steppes of central asia. Meadows and damp places in Tibet. |
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Allium obliquum |
Pale Yellowish-Green |
March, April, |
18-36 x 12 (45-90 x 30) |
The flower stem is sheathed with 6-10 long, channelled green leaves |
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles. Cut flower - dried and fresh. Naturalise. Pair with a dark background. |
All parts are edible - the bulb is used as a garlic substitute in Siberia. Grows in meadows and on wooded slopes. |
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Alium paradoxum |
White |
March, April Bell-shaped flowers in umbel |
14 x 12 |
Shiny wide green foliage |
Plant in pot. Grows in deciduous woodland and can smother native bluebells and snowdrops. |
Self-sows in mild-winter climates and an INVASIVE, species in Europe. Destroy after use and put in rubbish, but not compost bin. |
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Allium plummerae |
Icing Pink or White |
June, July, |
12 x 12 |
Upright tufts of strongly keeled grayish-green 10-20 inch long leaves |
Grows in marshes, alongside streams and rocky slopes. |
Noxious weed in only 46 states of USA; one of the Federal and State Noxious weeds. |
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Allium oreophilum |
Carmine-Pink |
May, June Upright, Clump. Sweetly-scented Star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick |
4-6 x 8 Chalk or Sand |
Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves. |
Use in borders, edgings, rock gardens and in ground covers. Use in patio pots. Deer resistant. Cut flower - dried or fresh. |
Aggressive - spreads rapidly to form clumps. |
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Allium pulchellum |
Reddish-Carmine |
July, August Upright, Clump. |
24 x 4 Chalk or Sand |
Very narrow dark green leaves |
It is an excellent cut flower. Attracts bees and butterflies. Suitable for container. Use for edging and middle of border. |
Native to the Mediterranean region. Forms a good clump quickly but is not invasive. Being self-sowing, let it colonise paving cracks and foot of dry walling. |
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Allium ramosum |
White |
June, July Upright, Clump. |
10-20 x 6-12 (25-50 x 15-30) Sand |
3-7 Hot-tasting, hollow dark green leaves grow to 12 inches. They clasp the base of the flowering stem. |
Attracts bees and butterflies. Suitable for containers. Grow in rock garden and edging. |
'Chinese Chives'. The flower petals and foliage can be used as a garnish on salads. |
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Allium rosen-bachianum |
Dark Violet |
May Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on drumstick |
Sand, Chalk |
Linear, lanceolate Blue-Green leaves 2 inches wide and 20 inches long |
Excellent for both cut and dried bouquets. Attracts butterflies. Deer resistant. |
Plant with white Mount Everest Alliums for lovely contrasting blooms. Mix with roses and perennials |
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Allium roseum |
Bright Pink |
April, May, June, July Clump. Star-shaped flowers in cluster on long stem. |
6-22 x 20 (15-55 x 50) Sand, Chalk |
Strap-shaped Green leaves Alliums prefer to be dry during their dormancy after July. |
Squirrel and browsing deer resistant. Pollinated by bees. Use in rock garden, hedgerows, pots, mass plantings, middle of borders and as cut flowers. |
Habitat is grassland and gravelly places near the sea. Cannot grow in shade. Companion plants to tulips. Use in Coastal conditions. |
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Allium 'Round |
Lilac-Mauve |
April, May, June, July Star-shaped flowers in Umbel on drumstick |
Sand, Chalk |
Green Attracts bees and butterflies. |
Good in containers and excellent cut flower. Back of border, cut flower - fresh and dried, edging and middle of border |
Allium 'Giganteum, Allium 'Globemaster' and Eremus (foxtail lilies) together produce a magnificient flower display. |
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Allium saxatile (Stone Leek, Rock Onion) |
Mid-Pink through |
July, August, Clump. |
4-14 x 2 (10-35 x 5) Sand, Chalk, Scree |
Very narrow channeled Green leaves as shown in Specimen from Caucasus. |
Ideal for Alpine Gardens and in a Trough. Use in Rock garden and Scree garden. |
Native habitat is rocks and stony slopes, 225-460 m. |
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Allium schoeno-prasum |
Lilac or Pale Purple |
May, June, July, August Clump. |
4-18 x 12 Prefers acidic well-drained Sand |
Blue-Green, 4-6 inch wide leaves spreading over ground. Foliage smell repels aphids. |
Woodland garden, sunny edgings, hedgerows, rock garden. Pollinated by bees for its high production of nectar. Mass plant. Use in pot and windowbox. |
In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new edible leaves appearing in early spring in cottage garden. Grows on the rocks (scree). |
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Allium schoeno-prasum |
White |
May, June, July, August Clump. |
10 x 10 |
Hollow and tubular, up to 24 inches long and 0.1 inches in diameter, Dark Green |
Cut Flower, edging, cottage and vegetable gardens and patio pots. Adored by bees and butterflies. |
The best way to harvest and maintain a fresh supply of chive leaves is to cut them to about 1 inch (2.5 cms) above the ground 4 times a year. |
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Purplish-Pink |
May, June, July Clump. |
12 x 4 Any well-drained soil - prefers acidic. |
Hollow and tubular, up to 24 inches long and 0.1 inches in diameter, Dark Green |
Cut flower - fresh or dried. Grow in mixed containers and herb garden. Attreacts butterflies. Mass plant. Use as edging. Deer Resistant. |
Chives are grown for their edible leaves in Woodland garden sunny edges, hedgerows and use these 3 chives mixed in an edging to a bed. |
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Allium schubertii |
Pink and Silver |
April, May, June, July Fragrant Star-shaped flowers in loose Umbel on Drumstick |
12-24 x 8 (30-60 x 20) Chalk or Acidic Sand |
Pale Green 2 inch wide and 30 inches long leaves. |
This is perfect for front of borders or large pots and containers. Pollinated by bees, attracts butterflies. Cut flower - dried and fresh. |
This bears the largest flowers of all of the allium family. Dot between grasses. Deer and squirrel resistant |
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Allium scoro-doprasum |
Lilac to Purplish |
May, June, July, August 6 sepal flowers in a globular cluster on a drumstick with onion-like aroma |
16-36 x 4 Well-drained Chalk or Sand . Native habitat of grassland and scrub on dry soils. |
Mid Green |
Coastal conditions. Sandy river banks and in open damp broad-leaved woodland, forest margin, shores, hillside meadows and hedgerows. |
A bulbous, perennial herb spreading mainly by bulbils in rough grassland and waste ground, on road verges and track sides and by railways. |
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Allium |
Purple-Crimson |
May, June, July, August Clump. Unfragrant, deep green changing to rose purple flowers on 2 inch diameter umbel on 36 inch high stems |
24 x 8 Well-drained Sand, Chalk |
Cyclindrical, hollow, 24 inches long Mid-Green leaves form a foliage clump in spring. |
Very effective when massed in tight clumps in a sunny border. Suitable for a gravel garden and is deerproof. Attracts butterflies. Rock garden, Cottage Garden, open woodland area and meadows. |
Looks superb growing through Artemisia 'Powys Castle' or other silver foliage. Since it self-seeds, it will naturalize an area. Grows in containers including windowboxes. Cut flower - fresh or dried. Grow with yellow daylilies and contrasts well with red penstemons. |
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Allium |
Lilac-Purple |
May, June Star-shape flowers of 6 tepals in an umbel on a drumstick - These flowers can be left on the plant for many months. |
48 x 10 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves. |
Excellent cut-flower (cut flowers last as long as 3 weeks). Good as a dried flower. Plants grow on rocky slopes and in fields, so grow in gravel garden and pots including Alpine Trough. |
Plant with Anthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing', Aquilegia vulgaris var. stellata 'Black Barlow', Artemesia ludoviviciana 'Valerie Finnis' and Deschampsia cespitosa. |
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Allium |
White |
May, June Clump. |
36 x 12 Well-drained Sand |
Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves. |
Can be grown in pots. Excellent cut-flower. Grow in gravel garden, pots and Alpine Trough. Use for height in middle of border and as a speciman there. |
Plant with blue-flowering geraniums and Alchemilla mollis. The bulbs are eaten as shallots in Iran. |
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Allium |
White |
June Clump. |
48 x 4 Well-drained soil Chalk, Sand |
Strap-like 2 inch wide Mid-Green leaves. |
Excellent cut-flower (cut flowers last as long as 3 weeks), use fresh or dried. Naturalizes easily. Attracts butterflies. Deer repellant. |
Drought tolerant. Spectacular in large sweeping drifts - plant in groups of at least 10-15 bulbs. Use in gravel garden to bridge the gap between the tulip season and early summer bloom of peonies and poppies. |
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Allium triquetrum |
White with |
April, May, June Drooping one-sided umbel. Never plant this without knowing how invasive it is. |
18 x 8 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Basal, linear, 10-15 inches long and 1.5 inches wide Dark Green leaves. |
Excellent as ground cover in poor well-drained soil in sun or shade where it will keep weeds under check, but keep it away from mixed borders. Can be used along the bottom of hedgebanks. |
Do not use in USA Best to use in a pot in the UK because it will invade. |
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Allium unifolium |
Pink |
April, May, June Clump. |
8-24 x 12 (20-60 x 30) Well-drained Chalk, Sand, but prefers Clay |
Grey-Green leaves emerge first and then die down before the flowers open. |
It's the perfect choice for growing in alpine beds or at the front of a sunny border. |
Grows in moist grasslands along forested and chaparral areas along the coastal ranges. |
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Allium ursinum (Wild Garlic, Bear Garlic, ramsons, buckrams, wild garlic, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek, or bear's garlic) |
White |
May, June Strong garlic odour in 6 tepal, star-shaped flowers in umbel on drumstick |
12 x 12 |
Basal, linear, 10-15 inches long and 1.5 inches wide Dark Green leaves emerge in the Spring before the flowers. |
Grows in deciduous woodlands with, in the UK, bluebells. Groundcover only in woodland. Add sand to clay soils as needed to improve drainage. |
Foliage dies down in June. |
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Green hair-like petals |
June, July, August |
30 x 4 |
It produces its slender grass by October, and persists until after the late spring bloom before dying back for a while in summer. |
Use as upper storey in a flower arrangement. It lasts for 2 weeks as a cut-flower. Plant with more sedate alliums, lilies or irises. |
Rabbit, rodent and deer resistant. Naturalizes easily - this one grows hair-like new bulbil plants from the flowerhead (every bulbil that drops will turn into a new plant) |
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Allium wallichii |
Rose-Purple with |
July, August, Clump. |
6-30 x 4 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
0.25-0.8 inches wide and 8-20 inches long, keeled, dark Green |
Provides a welcome splash of colour in the autumn border and cut flowers. Use for edging and middle of border. |
These plants can be allowed to self-seed to make impressive clumps. Edible flowers and cooked leaves. It's native habitat is forest margins, scrub, moist meadows and stream banks |
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White |
April, May, June Clump. |
8-24 x 12 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Grows slowly into dense carex-like dark Green clumps. After flowering foliage becomes dormant. |
Unparalled for the dry shady garden, although it will grow in Sun too. Suitable for Seaside gardens and gravel gardens. |
Thrives in hot dry conditions where not much else will grow. |
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"Anemone coronaria or St Brigid are excellent for flower arrangements as they are colourful, long-lasting and cheap." from A Dictionary of Cut Flowers (Flower arrangements and sketches by the author. Photography by Kenneth Welfare) by Mary Bailey. Published by Arthur Barker Limited in 1969. SBN 213 76185 8. Companion plants :- Suitable Anemones for the Rock garden:-
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Anemone baldensis |
Creamy-White |
May Erect. |
6 x 6 Chalk, Sand |
Deeply divided Light Green |
Sand and peat in part shade in Rock garden. Can be grown with green carpet rupturewort to provide a light green background for the flowers. |
Should be grown in light shade where summers are hot; in full sun in cooler climates. Bold drifts. |
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Anemone |
Deep Blue |
April, May
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6 x 6 |
Dark Green |
Woodlands, Mass plant. Deer, rabbit resistant. Cold greenhouse. Ground cover. Rock garden. Carpet under small deciduous shrubs |
Companion plants from Department of Horticultural Science of NC State University for Anemone blanda and its cultivars |
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Anemone |
Mid to Dark Blue |
April, May |
Well-drained Chalk or Sand |
Mid Green lobed leaves. |
Ground cover. Cut flower. Mass plant. Naturalizes in turf on alkaline sandy soil. Woodland. |
Use to create a blue carpet in your border between your deciduous shrubs and interplant with Narcissus 'Ice King' and Galanthus nivalis. |
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Anemone |
Deep Pink |
April, May Clump. |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green fern-like leaves |
Grow in pots and are ideal cut flowers. They are deer, rabbit and squirrel resistant. Naturalize in turf |
They are ideal layered under white or soft yellow daffodils or peachy/pink cup of daffodil 'By George'. |
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Anemone |
March, April |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green fern-like leaves |
Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees. Excellent cut flower. Naturalize in turf. |
The richer in humus the soil is, the more flowers each corm will produce over a 4- 6 week period. Anemone blanda varieties open their blooms in the morning and shut them at night. |
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Anemone |
Deep Magenta with White centre |
April, May Clump. |
Well drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green leaves composed of 3 deeply lobed segments |
Grow in pots, Woodland, Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in turf on alkaline sand. |
Plant in bold drifts. Between June and July, lift and divide tubers after foliage has died down. Anemones grow well on the chalk soils of the South coast of England. |
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Anemone |
Light and Mid-Pink |
April, May Mat-Forming. |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Bronze-tinged Dark Green leaves composed of 3 deeply lobed segments |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, rock garden. |
Plant in bold drifts. Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees. |
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Anemone |
Rich Violet with |
March, April, May Cushion or |
Well drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green fern-like leaves |
Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. |
Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees. |
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Anemone |
White |
March, April, May Excellent ground cover as large clumps are quickly formed. Many petalled star shape bloom on stem. |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green palmate basal and stem leaves |
Grow in pots provided they are not given any heat. Lasts well for up to 2 weeks in water as a cut flower. |
Anemone blanda 'Ingramii', 'Radar' or 'White Splendour' will naturalise in turf on light alkaline soil (chalk or alkaline sand). Use to underplant roses and deciduous shrubs/trees. |
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Anemone coronaria |
Red, Blue or White |
March, April, Spreading. |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green |
Alpine House, Rock Garden. Must be given protection of frames or greenhouses in colder areas. |
Plant tubers 3 inches deep and spaced about 3 inches apart in bold drifts in Sep-Oct for spring-flowering; Mar/Apr for Jun-Jul flowering; May-Jun for Sep flowering. |
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Anemone coronaria |
Red, Blue, |
February, March, |
Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Rounded to oval bright Green leaves. Does not grow well in gardens in cooler climates, prefers warmth. |
Must be given protection of frames or greenhouses in colder areas. |
Ok to grow outside in South of England and Holland. Mulch with fallen autumn leaves to provide frost protection and moisture retension in the summer. |
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White, Blue, Red |
May, June, July 6 petalled star shape bloom in a plate |
6 x 6 Chalk, Sand |
Dark Green |
Woodland, Streamsides, |
Native to forests, sparse forests, scrub, grassy slopes and streamsides from 3000-5000 metres in North India. |
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Anemone hupehensis |
White, Pink or Purple |
August, September Clump and |
36-48 x 18 (90-120 x 45) Well-drained Acidic Sand is preferred - will tolerate fertile chalky soil. |
2-8 inch long, 2-6 inch wide basal Green leaves with lower surface pale Green |
In China is native and naturalized on scrub, grassy slopes and streamsides in hill regions. |
Good Companions - Japanese anemones mix well with many vibrant autumn flowers, including Aster 'Little Carlow' and Aster laevis 'Calliope'. |
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Anemone x |
Pale Yellow
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March, April, May 5 petalled star shape bloom on stem |
6 x 18 Well-drained Sand or Chalky, humus-rich soil. |
Rounded, 2-3 inches long, three-palmate and have deep lobes, Dark Green leaf in March-June. Plant is dormant in the summer, autumn and early winter. |
These plants are ideal for a woodland or rock garden, where they spread very slowly due to the fine network of roots that they create between the deciduous trees/shrubs. |
Makes a pretty colour combination with red or plumy forms of Helleborus x hybridus. Overall flowering period is around eight weeks long. |
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Anemone narcissiflora |
White and White tinted Blue or Yellow |
May, June, July Clump. |
3-24 x 20 Well-drained Chalk, Sand |
Light Green. |
Maritime gardens. |
Edible leaves and roots. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
White |
April, May Spreading. |
4 x 12 Chalk enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands |
Dark Green feathery foliage |
Found growing as a carpet in woodlands where the wood has been coppiced, thereby admitting extra light. A good bee and bumblebee plant. |
Anemone nemorosa is native to Europe including Britain. Clumps are best transplanted soon after flowering before the foliage has completely died down. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
White |
April, May, June 6 sepals on semi-double stellate of tiny petals on a stem |
6 x 10 |
Dark Green |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Wood-land. Ground cover. A good bee and bumblebee plant. |
In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
Lavender Blue |
April, May Clump. |
8 x 20 Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands |
Deeply cut, Mid Green. |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Woodland. |
Combines beautifully with spring-flowering bulbs and wildflowers, particularly yellow narcissus. Divide large clumps in early fall. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
White and Green |
April, May, June 6 tepal star shape bloom on stem |
6 x 6 Chalk, Peat, Acidic Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands |
2 to 5 inch long, 3-palmately compound stem and basal leaves. Dark Green leaflets are narrow, toothed, and divided even further. Foliage dies back shortly after blooming. |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. Woodland. In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed. |
White woodland anemone which is unusual in that it has three different styles of flowers growing on the same plant- some are single, some double, and some double with a green ruffle. A good bee and bumblebee plant. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
White |
April, May, June Clump. |
6 x 6 |
Dark Green |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, rock garden. Naturalize in grass. |
Good partner with rhododendrons. Large open flat white flowers on maroon-tinted stems. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
Wisteria Blue |
April, May Clump.. |
5-6 x 20 |
Deep Green tinged with Purple. The foliage tends to die down in the summer, ready to re-emerge the next spring. |
Alpine House, Greenhouse, Rock Garden. Naturalize in grass. A good bee and bumblebee plant. |
In the dry oak wood of lower levels, the sub-dominants are holly, anemone and bluebell, with the foxglove well distributed. |
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Anemone nemorosa |
White with |
March, April Mat. |
Chalk, Peat Sand enriched by leaf mould from established woodlands |
Deeply divided Green foliage. Overall flowering period is around 8 weeks long. |
Ideal ground cover in shady areas or wood-land gardens. |
White flower with tightly packed button in the middle of the flower, developing from the previously yellow centre. These flowers can last for 2-3 weeks if the weather is cool. |
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Anemone ranunculoides |
Golden-Yellow |
February, March, Spreading. |
12 x 20 |
The green foliage dies back to its rhizomes by July. The rhizomes spread just below the earth surface and multiply quickly, contributing to its rapid spread in woodland conditions. |
Rock Garden, Alpine House, Ground cover, Pine Woodland |
It is good to know that "if planted in optimal conditions, it can flourish for years past its gardener." Caring for an Anemone Ranunculoides article provides the growing instructions to grow a healthy plant. |
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Anemone ranunculoides |
Bright Yellow |
Spreading. |
6 x 18 |
Bronzy-dark-green foliage. The rhizomes spread just below the soil and multiply quickly, thus its rapid spread in woodland conditions. |
Buttercup Anemone grows in forests and in rock and alpine gardens. Grow in woodland or shaded part of border. |
The foliage dies back to its rhizomes by July, so grow under Tricyrtis for example. |
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Anemone rupicola |
White, Yellowish |
June, July, 5 tepal star shape bloom |
4-10 x 6 Sandy loam with leaf soil and grit |
Pale Green much divided 3-lobed leaves |
Suitable in rock garden. |
Its native habitat is woods, streamsides, stone cliffs and gravelly slopes from 2400-4200 metres. |
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Anemone trullifolia |
White fading to Blue. |
April, Clump. |
6 x 12-15 |
Velvet/fuzzy textured Mid Green |
Its native habitat is streamsides in forests and alpine meadows. |
There are also 7 varieties of Anemone trullifolia. St Andrews Botanic Garden May 2011 collaborated with colleagues in China. |
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Site design and content copyright ©December 2011. DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site. |
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Alliums
In The Garden with Bill Cary:-
I guess it never hurts to cover your bulb-heavy beds with chicken wire or some other screening to keep them safe until you begin to see green tips emerging in spring." |
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Functional combinations in the border from the International Flower Bulb Centre in Holland:- "Here is a list of the perennials shown by research to be the best plants to accompany various flower bulbs. The flower bulbs were tested over a period of years in several perennial borders that had been established for at least three years. In combination with hyacinths:
In combination with tulips:
In combination with narcissi:
For narcissi, the choice was difficult to make. The list contains only some of the perennials that are very suitable for combining with narcissi. In other words, narcissi can easily compete with perennials. In combination with specialty bulbs:
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There are other pages on Plants which bloom in each month of the year in this website:- |
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UKButterflies Larval Foodplants website page lists the larval foodplants used by British butterflies. The name of each foodplant links to a Google search. An indication of whether the foodplant is a primary or secondary food source is also given. Please note that the Butterfly you see for only a short time has grown up on plants as an egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for up to 11 months, before becoming a butterfly. If the plants that they live on during that time are removed, or sprayed with herbicide, then you will not see the butterfly. |
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Plants used by the Butterflies follow the Plants used by the Egg, Caterpillar and Chrysalis as stated in |
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Plant Name |
Butterfly Name |
Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly |
Plant Usage |
Plant Usage Months |
Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
10 days in May-June |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
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Egg, |
1 egg at base of plant. |
Late August-April |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. |
7 days in June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. |
7 days in June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. |
7 days in August. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
10 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
2 weeks |
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Cabbages - Large White eats all cruciferous plants, such as cabbages, mustard, turnips, radishes, cresses, nasturtiums, wild mignonette and dyer's weed |
Egg,
|
40-100 eggs on both surfaces of leaf. |
May-June and August-Early September. 4.5-17 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of leaf. |
May-June and August. 7 days. |
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Cabbages:- |
Egg, |
1 egg on underside of leaf. |
July or August; hatches in 3 days. |
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Cabbages:- |
Egg, |
1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers. |
May-June 7 days. |
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Cherry with |
Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
10 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
6 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
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(Common CowWheat, Field CowWheat) |
Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 16 days in June. |
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Currants |
Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 20 days in July. |
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Dog Violet with |
Egg, |
1 egg on oak or pine tree trunk |
15 days in July. |
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Dog Violet with |
Egg, |
1 egg on leaf or stem. |
Hatches after 15 days in May-June. |
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Dog Violet with |
Egg, |
1 egg on leaf or stem. |
Hatches after 10 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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False Brome is a grass (Wood Brome, Wood False-brome and Slender False-brome) |
Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
... |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 20 days in July. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. |
7 days in June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf or stem. |
Hatches after 10 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. |
7 days in August. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. |
14 days in July-August. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid in the tight buds and flowers. |
May-June 7 days. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 20 days in July. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
|
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Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
1 then |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg at base of plant. |
Late August-April. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
10 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
2 weeks |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
6 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of leaf. |
May-June and August. 7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. |
14 days in July-August. |
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Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain) |
Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 16 days in June. |
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Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain) |
Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 16 days in June. |
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Nasturtium from Gardens |
Egg, |
1 egg on underside of leaf. |
May-June and August. 7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on tree trunk |
15 days in July. |
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Mountain pansy, |
Egg, Chrysalis |
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. |
7 days in August. 3 weeks in September |
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Egg, |
1 egg on tree trunk. |
15 days in July. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 20 days in July. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
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Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid under the leaf or on top of the flower. |
7 days in August. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 16 days in June. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on underside of a flower bud on its stalk. |
7 days. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
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Egg, |
1 egg under leaf. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
2 weeks |
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Trefoils 1, 2, 3 |
Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
6 days in May-June. |
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Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
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Egg, |
1 egg laid on underside of leaflets or bracts. |
7 days in June. |
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Violets:- |
Egg, |
1 egg on underside of leaf or on stalk. |
July-August for 17 days. |
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Violets:- |
Egg, |
1 egg on stem or stalk near plant base. |
July to hatch in 8 months in March. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. |
2 weeks. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
1 egg on leaf. 5 or 6 eggs may be deposited by separate females on one leaf. |
14 days in July-August. |
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Willow |
Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches encircling the branch of the food plant. |
Hatches after 18-22 days in April. |
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Egg, |
Eggs laid in batches on the under side of the leaves. |
Hatches after 20 days in July. |
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Plants used by the Butterflies |
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Plant Name |
Butterfly Name |
Egg/ Caterpillar/ Chrysalis/ Butterfly |
Plant Usage |
Plant Usage Months |
Asters |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
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Runner and Broad Beans in fields and gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September. |
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Aubretia in gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November |
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Butterfly |
Eats sap exuding from trunk. |
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
20 days. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June |
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Holly Blue |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
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Buddleias |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
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Wood White |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June. |
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Cabbage and cabbages in fields |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-October |
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Adonis Blue |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September |
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Pale Clouded Yellow |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November |
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Cow-wheat |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June-July |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
3 weeks between May and September |
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Germander Speedwell (Veronica chamaedrys - Birdseye Speedwell) |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June-July |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
30 days in May-June. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-September |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
May-June for 18 days. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
1 Month. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
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Painted Lady |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-October. |
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Marigolds in gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September. |
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Michaelmas Daisies |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September. |
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Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain) |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June-July |
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Nasturtiums in gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September |
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Butterfly |
Eats sap exuding from trunk. |
April-Mid June and Mid July-Early September for second generation. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-October. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-May |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
7 weeks in July-August. |
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Comma |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
3 weeks between May and September |
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Trefoils 1, 2, 3 |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
1 Month during Mid-May to Mid-June or during August-September |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
20 days in August. |
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June.
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Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June-July |
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Apple/Pear/Cherry/Plum Fruit Tree Blossom in Spring |
Butterfly |
Eats Nectar |
April-May |
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Rotten Fruit |
Butterfly |
Drinks juice |
July-September |
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Tree sap and damaged ripe fruit, which are high in sugar |
Butterfly |
Hibernates inside hollow trees or outhouses until March. Eats sap or fruit juice until April. |
10 months in June-April |
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Wild Flowers |
Large Skipper |
Butterfly |
Eats Nectar |
June-August |
Links to the other Butterflies:- Black Hairstreak |
Topic - Wildlife on Plant Photo Gallery. Some UK native butterflies eat material from UK Native Wildflowers and live on them as eggs, caterpillars (Large Skipper eats False Brome grass - Brachypodium sylvaticum - for 11 months from July to May as a Caterpillar before becoming a Chrysalis within 3 weeks in May) chrysalis or butterflies ALL YEAR ROUND. |
Wild Flower Family Page (the families within "The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers" by David McClintock & R.S.R. Fitter, Published in 1956 They are not in Common Name alphabetical order and neither are the common names of the plants detailed within each family. The information in the above book is back-referenced to the respective page in "Flora of the British Isles" by A.R. Clapham of University of Sheffield, |
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When you look at the life history graphs of each of the 68 butterflies of Britain, you will see that they use plants throughout all 12 months - the information of what plant is used by the egg, caterpillar, chrysalis or butterfly is also given in the above first column.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A FLAILED CORNISH HEDGE - This details that life and death from July 1972 to 2019, with the following result:- End note, June 2008. I hear spring vetch has been officially recorded somewhere in West Cornwall and confirmed as a presence in the county, so perhaps I can be permitted to have seen it pre-1972 in the survey mile. I wonder where they found it? It's gone from hedges where it used to be, along with other scarcities and so-called scarcities that used to flourish in so many hedges unrecorded, before the flail arrived. I have given careful thought to including mention of some of the plants and butterflies. So little seems to be known of the species resident in Cornish hedges pre-flail that I realise some references may invite scepticism. I am a sceptic myself, so sympathise with the reaction; but I have concluded that, with a view to re-establishing vulnerable species, it needs to be known that they can with the right management safely and perpetually thrive in ordinary Cornish hedges. In future this knowledge could solve the increasingly difficult question of sufficient and suitable sites for sustainable wild flower and butterfly conservation - as long as it is a future in which the hedge-flail does not figure.
CHECK-LIST OF TYPES OF CORNISH HEDGE FLORA by Sarah Carter of Cornish Hedges Library:-
Titles of papers available on www.cornishhedges.co.uk:-
THE GUILD OF CORNISH HEDGERS is the non-profit-making organisation founded in 2002 to support the concern among traditional hedgers about poor standards of workmanship in Cornish hedging today. The Guild has raised public awareness of Cornwall's unique heritage of hedges and promoted free access to the Cornish Hedges Library, the only existing source of full and reliable written knowledge on Cornish hedges." |
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Recommended Plants for Wildlife in different situations
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From the Ivydene Gardens Box to Crowberry Wild Flower Families Gallery: |
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The Bumblebee Pages website is divided into five major areas:
FORCED INDOOR BULBS in Window Box Gardens. |
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Theme |
Plants |
Comments |
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Thyme |
Thymus praecox, wild thyme Thymus pulegioides Thymus leucotrichus Thymus citriodorus |
Thymes make a very fragrant, easy to care for windowbox, and an excellent choice for windy sites. The flower colour will be pinky/purple, and you can eat the leaves if your air is not too polluted. Try to get one variegated thyme to add a little colour when there are no flowers. |
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Herb |
Sage, mint, chives, thyme, rosemary |
Get the plants from the herb section of the supermarket, so you can eat the leaves. Do not include basil as it need greater fertility than the others. Pot the rosemary up separately if it grows too large. |
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Mints |
Mentha longifolia, horse mint Mentha spicata, spear mint Mentha pulgium, pennyroyal Mentha piperita, peppermint Mentha suaveolens, apple mint |
Mints are fairly fast growers, so you could start this box with seed. They are thugs, though, and will very soon be fighting for space. So you will either have to thin and cut back or else you will end up with one species - the strongest. The very best mint tea I ever had was in Marrakesh. A glass full of fresh mint was placed in front of me, and boiling water was poured into it. Then I was given a cube of sugar to hold between my teeth while I sipped the tea. Plant this box and you can have mint tea for months. |
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Heather |
Too many to list See Heather Shrub gallery |
For year-round colour try to plant varieties that flower at different times of year. Heather requires acid soils, so fertilise with an ericaceous fertilser, and plant in ericaceous compost. Cut back after flowering and remove the cuttings. It is best to buy plants as heather is slow growing. |
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Blue |
Ajuga reptans, bugle Endymion non-scriptus, bluebell Myosotis spp., forget-me-not Pentaglottis sempervirens, alkanet |
This will give you flowers from March till July. The bluebells should be bought as bulbs, as seed will take a few years to flower. The others can be started from seed. |
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Yellow |
Anthyllis vulneraria, kidney vetch Geum urbanum, wood avens Lathryus pratensis, meadow vetchling Linaria vulgaris, toadflax Lotus corniculatus, birdsfoot trefoil Primula vulgaris, primrose Ranunculus acris, meadow buttercup Ranunculus ficaria, lesser celandine |
These will give you flowers from May to October, and if you include the primrose, from February. Try to include a vetch as they can climb or trail so occupy the space that other plants can't. All can be grown from seed. |
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White |
Trifolium repens, white clover Bellis perennis, daisy Digitalis purpurea alba, white foxglove Alyssum maritimum Redsea odorata, mignonette |
All can be grown from seed. The clover and daisy will have to be cut back as they will take over. The clover roots add nitrogen to the soil. The mignonette flower doesn't look very special, but the fragrance is wonderful, and the alyssum smells of honey. |
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Pink |
Lychnis flos-cucli, ragged robin Scabiosa columbaria, small scabious Symphytum officinale, comfrey |
The comfrey will try to take over. Its leaves make an excellent fertiliser, and are very good on the compost heap, though windowbox gardeners rarely have one. |
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Fragrant |
Lonicera spp., honeysuckle Alyssum maritimum Redsea odorata, mignonette Lathyrus odoratus, sweet pea |
The sweet pea will need twine or something to climb up, so is suitable if you have sliding windows or window that open inwards. You will be rewarded by a fragrant curtain every time you open your window. |
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Spring bulbs and late wildflowers |
Galanthus nivalis, snowdrop Narcissus pseudonarcissus, narcissius Crocus purpureus, crocus Cyclamen spp. |
The idea of this box is to maximize your space. The bulbs (cyclamen has a corm) will flower and do their stuff early in the year. After flowering cut the heads off as you don't want them making seed, but leave the leaves as they fatten up the bulbs to store energy for next year. The foliage of the wildflowers will hide the bulb leaves to some extent. Then the wildflowers take over and flower till autumn |
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Aster spp., Michaelmas daisy Linaria vulgaris, toadflax Lonicera spp., honeysuckle Succisa pratensis, devil's bit scabious Mentha pulgium, pennyroyal |
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Bee Garden in Europe or North America |
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Plants for moths (including larval food plants and adult nectar sources) from Gardens for Wildlife - Practical advice on how to attract wildlife to your garden by Martin Walters as an Aura Garden Guide. Published in 2007 - ISBN 978 1905765041:- |
Marjoram - Origanum officinale |
"On average, 2 gardeners a year die in the UK as a result of poisonous plants. Those discussed in this blog illustrate a range of concerns that should be foremost in the designer’s mind." from Pages on poisonous plants in this website:- |
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Wildlife-friendly Show Gardens
Many of our gardens at Natural Surroundings demonstrate what you can do at home to encourage wildlife in your garden:-
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Ivydene Gardens Water Fern to Yew Wild Flower Families Gallery: |
Only Wildflowers detailed in the following Wildflower Colour Pages |
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
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1 |
Blue |
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1 |
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1 |
Cream |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
White A-D |
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1 Yellow |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
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1 |
Flowering plants of |
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1 |
Flowering plants of |