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The 2 EUREKA EFFECT PAGES FOR UNDERSTANDING SOIL AND HOW PLANTS INTERACT WITH IT OUT OF 10,000:-
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Choose 1 of these different Plant selection Methods:- 1. Choose a plant from 1 of 53 flower colours in the Colour Wheel Gallery. 2. Choose a plant from 1 of 12 flower colours in each month of the year from 12 Bloom Colours per Month Index Gallery. 3. Choose a plant from 1 of 6 flower colours per month for each type of plant:- 4. Choose a plant from its Flower Shape:- 5. Choose a plant from its foliage:- 6. There are 6 Plant Selection Levels including Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers in or 7. When I do not have my own or ones from mail-order nursery photos , then from March 2016, if you want to start from the uppermost design levels through to your choice of cultivated and wildflower plants to change your Plant Selection Process then use the following galleries:-
I like reading and that is shown by the index in my Library, where I provide lists of books to take you between designing, maintaining or building a garden and the hierarchy of books on plants taking you from
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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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Site design and content copyright ©December 2006. Page structure amended October 2012. Chalk plants per month added in January 2023. Chris Garnons-Williams. 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. |
• Watering Schedule - Far and away the best course of action against slugs in your garden is a simple adjustment in the watering schedule. Slugs are most active at night and are most efficient in damp conditions. Avoid watering your garden in the evening if you have a slug problem. Water in the morning - the surface soil will be dry by evening. Studies show this can reduce slug damage by 80%.
• Seaweed - If you have access to seaweed, it's well worth the effort to gather. Seaweed is not only a good soil amendment for the garden, it's a natural repellent for slugs. Mulch with seaweed around the base of plants or perimeter of bed. Pile it on 3" to 4" thick - when it dries it will shrink to just an inch or so deep. Seaweed is salty and slugs avoid salt. Push the seaweed away from plant stems so it's not in direct contact. During hot weather, seaweed will dry and become very rough which also deters the slugs.
• Copper - Small strips of copper can be placed around flower pots or raised beds as obstructions for slugs to crawl over. Cut 2" strips of thin copper and wrap around the lower part of flower pots, like a ribbon. Or set the strips in the soil on edge, making a "fence" for the slugs to climb. Check to make sure no vegetation hangs over the copper which might provide a 'bridge' for the slugs. Copper barriers also work well around wood barrels used as planters.
• Diatomaceous Earth - Diatomaceous earth (Also known as "Insect Dust") is the sharp, jagged skeletal remains of microscopic creatures. It lacerates soft-bodied pests, causing them to dehydrate. A powdery granular material, it can be sprinkled around garden beds or individual plants, and can be mixed with water to make a foliar spray.
• Electronic "slug fence" - An electronic slug fence is a non-toxic, safe method for keeping slugs out of garden or flower beds. The Slugs Away fence is a 24-foot long, 5" ribbon-like barrier that runs off a 9 volt battery. When a slug or snail comes in contact with the fence, it receives a mild static sensation that is undetectable to animals and humans. This does not kill the slug, it cause it to look elsewhere for forage. The battery will power the fence for about 8 months before needing to be replaced. Extension kits are availabe for increased coverage. The electronic fence will repel slugs and snails, but is harmless to people and pets.
• Lava Rock - Like diatomaceous earth, the abrasive surface of lava rock will be avoided by slugs. Lava rock can be used as a barrier around plantings, but should be left mostly above soil level, otherwise dirt or vegetation soon forms a bridge for slugs to cross.
• Salt - If all else fails, go out at night with the salt shaker and a flashlight. Look at the plants which have been getting the most damage and inspect the leaves, including the undersides. Sprinkle a bit of salt on the slug and it will kill it quickly. Not particularly pleasant, but use as a last resort. (Note: some sources caution the use of salt, as it adds a toxic element to the soil. This has not been our experience, especially as very little salt is used.)
• Beer - Slugs are attracted to beer. Set a small amount of beer in a shallow wide jar buried in the soil up to its neck. Slugs will crawl in and drown. Take the jar lid and prop it up with a small stick so rain won't dilute the beer. Leave space for slugs to enter the trap.
• Overturned Flowerpots, Grapefruit Halves, Board on Ground - Overturned flowerpots, with a stone placed under the rim to tilt it up a bit, will attract slugs. Leave overnight, and you'll find the slugs inside in the morning. Grapefruit halves work the same way, with the added advantage of the scent of the fruit as bait.
• Garlic-based slug repellents
Laboratory tests at the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (UK) revealed that a highly refined garlic product (ECOguard produced by ECOspray Ltd, a British company that makes organic pesticides) was an effective slug killer. Look for garlic-based slug deterrents which will be emerging under various brand names, as well as ECOguard.
• Coffee grounds; new caffeine-based slug/snail poisons - Coffee grounds scattered on top of the soil will deter slugs. The horticultural side effects of using strong grounds such as espresso on the garden, however, are less certain. When using coffee grounds, moderation is advised. |
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It is worth remembering that especially with roses that the colour of the petals of the flower may change - The following photos are of Rosa 'Lincolnshire Poacher' which I took on the same day in R.V. Roger's Nursery Field:- |
Closed Bud |
Opening Bud |
Juvenile Flower |
Older Juvenile Flower |
Middle-aged Flower - Flower Colour in Season in its |
Mature Flower |
Juvenile Flower and Dying Flower |
Form of Rose Bush |
There are 720 roses in the Rose Galleries; many of which have the above series of pictures in their respective Rose Description Page. So one might avoid the disappointment that the 2 elephants had when their trunks were entwined instead of them each carrying their trunk using their own trunk, and your disappointment of buying a rose to discover that the colour you bought it for is only the case when it has its juvenile flowers; if you look at all the photos of the roses in the respective Rose Description Page!!!! |
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Ivydene Gardens Garden Construction followed by Plants Suitable for a Chalk Soil: |
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Botanical Plant Name, |
Flower Colour |
Flower Thumb-nail will be entered into the Ever-green Peren-nial 7 Flower Colours per month Colour Wheel, with its links in the next table |
Flowering Months |
Height x Width in inches (cms) - 1 inch = 2.5 cms, 12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cms, 36 inches = 3 feet = 1 yard = 90 cms, 40 inches = 100 cms |
Foliage Colour |
Comments
Here are some more cultivated plants:- From Colour Wheel Uses Gallery From Bulb Shape Gallery From P Garden Style Index Gallery Roses from Rose Use Gallery
Here are some UK wildflower plants:- |
Plant
There are 5861 plants |
Abelia x grandiflora Glossy abelia |
Perfumed mauve-Pink flowers of petal-less, funnel-shaped, Bunches, Posies and Sprays Natural Arrange-ment |
Aug-Oct CHALK, |
120 x 144 |
Dark green. Cultivation: Soil, well worked, friable; will grow in chalky loam. |
'A hardy semi-evergreen arching shrub is a mass of light pink flowers during September and goes on flowering till the frosts come in 1909'. Shrub with fragrant flowers in Summer-Autumn. |
Use in coastal locations and supported on warm sheltered wall in full sun. Plant in April or October. Ideal in cottage garden. Use several shrubs to cover a slope that is prone to erosion. Prune slightly after flowering. Attracts butterflies. |
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Abelia triflora |
Cream and Pink flowers of petal-less, fragrant, trumpet-shaped, Umbel Natural Arrange-ment |
Jun |
132 x 108 |
Green Cultivation: Sandy Soil, well worked, friable; will also grow in chalky loam. |
Deciduous upright shrub. 'It has become a tall strong bush about 144 inches (360) high, and is covered with pale rose flowers very sweetly scented. One of the charms of the garden is to have plants scattered around with pleasant scents, not too strong or heavy, but just right, like the scent of this abelia. Wherever seats are placed in a garden there should be rosemary and lavender near for their scents.' |
Use in coastal locations and supported on warm sheltered wall in full sun or part shade. Plant in April or October. Prune slightly after flowering. |
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Abutilon vitifolium |
Flowers saucer-shaped, white to violet-purple |
See large photos from Ron or Christine Foord. |
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160 x 100 |
Maple-like, toothed, dark green leaves on erect shrub in well-drained Sandy or broken chalk, moist soil in Full Sun. |
'It withstands wind well and is beautiful when the blue or white flowers are out in June. If raised from seed the flowers vary in colour, so a good-coloured form should be propagated by cuttings.' "This species from Chile is one of a group of abutilons with pink or mauve flowers. A weak-branched deciduous shrub, it has maple-like toothed leaves. Flowers saucer-shaped, white to violet-purple, in spring-summer. Zones 8-9" from Flora - The Gardener's Bible. |
Grow in pots, supported on wallside or trellis or in Greenhouse. |
Acer cappadocicum var sinicum |
Small and Yellow-green, borne in upright clusters with the young leaves |
May |
320-400 x |
Young growth is coppery red becomes 5 lobe glossy green leaves that turn bright yellow in autumn. |
'It was growing on a high bank in the chalk pit. It's scarlet seed covered the tree in July.' |
Very rare tree. |
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Acer davidii |
Light yellow, pendent corymb-shaped racemes |
See large photos from Ron or Christine Foord. |
May |
320-480 x |
Its bark is striped silvery gray on an olive green background and dark green leaves that are long pointed but mostly unlobed. Any soil, including clay and chalk |
It has an open habit and flat-topped outline. Light, open crown. 'The maples do well on chalk, except the Japanese ones' |
Use as speciman, as a park tree and in large gardens. You can see the stripes on the bark during the late autumn/winter. |
Acer griseum |
Yellow-green in clusters |
May |
400 x |
Young twigs red-brown, older twigs and trunk peel back. Trifoliate, dark green. Prefers neutral and lightly acid soil, but grows happily on chalk rubble. In autumn the foliage colour changes into orange to crimson. |
'It has unique red bark which is always peeling, and the leaves turn a lovely colour of red and gold in the autumn. In the opinion of the author of the book this is the best looking maple'. Round crown. |
Solitary. |
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Acer mono subsp. tricuspis |
Yellow-green petals |
May Fruit in September (China) |
Up to 400 x |
Brown or gray bark with thin, papery, and 3 to 5 lobe leaves - upper surface dull dark green, lower surface pale green; autumn colour is yellow. |
Asian species of Maple from China. Zones 6-7 Its charm lies in its small, rather rounded leaves, said to quiver in the breeze like those of Aspen (Populus tremula) |
'It has become a large shrub after many years on the nearly pure chalk of the cliff in the pit, but it has seldom gone to seed'. Habitat in mixed forest between 1200 and 1800 metres. |
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Acer orientale |
Greenish-yellow with the new leaves are followed by brownish-red winged fruits |
Mar-Apr |
320-480 x 160-320 |
Bright green leaves often retained on the tree until late Decembe with occasional tints of yellow to brown, |
Moist but well-drained soil in Full Sun or Part Shade Zones 7-8 |
'It has become a large bush some 84 inches (210) high in 30 years. The leaves are very unlike the usual leaves of a maple, small and oblong' Use in Coastal locations, Cottage Garden and as hedging or screen. Habitat in Maqis and forest edges in dry areas above 1500 metres in Greece and Turkey |
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Acer platanoides 'Schwedleri', |
Flower panicles are ochre-yellow |
Apr |
800 x |
Leaves unfurl brown red and turn dark green later. |
It has a large, dense, closed crown going from broad conical to more rounded later. Moist well-drained, clay, sand or chalk soil. Zone 4 |
'Bright red leaves when young.' Used as a park tree, along avenues, in industrial areas and in green borders. It stands up to semi-hard surfaces like partial paving. Valuable for bees and butterflies |
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Acer pseudoplatanus brilliantissimum, Sycamore Maple |
While the leaves unfurl, the yellow-green flowers emerge in pendent racemes. This is followed by winged nutlets |
Apr |
200-280 x |
The leaf unfurls in spring with a distinctive pink hue and turns into a yellow-orange colour within a few weeks. Later the leaf turns yellow-green and finally light green. The underside of the leaf is always light green. |
Its dense, dark crown is spherical. Bright sunshine may scorch the leaves. The trunk bark is grey, branches grey to olive-green. 'The maples do well on chalk, except the Japanese ones' Zone 4 Full Sun |
'Bright red leaves in early spring.' Use in parks, pavements of streets, industrial areas and is suitable for small gardens as well as coastal regions. It is wind and sea wind resistant on all soils as well it stands up to semi-hard surfaces. |
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Adiantum pedatum See further details and photos in Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum) 2 page |
No flowers In early April, this deciduous fern unfurls to produce a 24 (60) wide deer-resistant clump in 10 years. |
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12-24 x 12-18 |
They have delicate bright green fronds. |
It likes shady conditions and plenty of moisture and is best grown in the ground as it dislikes being pot-bound. Acid organically-rich loams are very suitable and the plants appreciate applications of surface mulches. |
'It is happy in a damp place overhanging a small pool and is beginning to appear among the steps where the water overflows'. A native North American fern. Use as groundcover in woodland garden as a backdrop for hostas and other bold foliage plants. Use in rock garden or as an edge or border in the shaded garden. |
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Aegle sepiaria (Poncirus trifoliata, |
Fragrant White |
Apr-May |
96-120 x |
Compound foliage. This |
Full Sun on a well-drained, fibrous loam and leaf-mould. Requires protection in cold gardens in the north of the UK. Plant out in Mar-Apr. In February cut out dead wood, and trim and thin the bushes to keep them in shape. |
Native of China and Japan 'This does well on the chalky soil with white flowers at the end of April, and in October producing small orange-like fruit with thick skins. The leaves of this plant are like enlarged spines which are sharply pointed. In 1909.' |
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Aesculus indica |
Large panicles of white blotched with red and yellow flowers followed by ovate fruits |
Jun-Jul |
840-960 x |
Grey-green trunk, green-brown twigs with palmate, 7/9 leaflets, dark green. |
It has an ovate to round crown which branches out diagonally upwards. Sensitive to frost, but does stand up to hard surfaces in any soil. Can even be planted in wet soil. Plant from November onwards in well-drained, moist deep soil, mulched with leaf-mould and manure each autumn. Zone 8a |
Native of north west Himalayas. 'The most decorative flowering tree in the pit, raised from seed. The flowers come out about a month later than those of the common chestnut and are very fine when they cover the whole tree' Use as a park tree or to line avenues, Suitable for industrial areas. Should be used more often. |
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Aethionema grandiflorum, Sub-Shrub |
Jun CHALK, SAND rock garden |
10 x 12 |
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These little sub-shrubs have a neat, bushy habit, the much-branched stems bearing many narrow, rather succulent little leaves, usually of a lovely blue-grey. The individual flowers, in shades of pink, are small, but they are borne in many headed clusters at the ends of the branches. They are easy to grow in any light, well-drained soil, in full sun. They are lime-lovers but will tolerate neutral soil. Propagate by seeds or by cuttings made from soft growth tips before flower buds are formed. |
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Aethionema pulchellum, |
Pink |
Jun CHALK, SAND rock garden |
8 x 9 |
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These little sub-shrubs have a neat, bushy habit, the much-branched stems bearing many narrow, rather succulent little leaves, usually of a lovely blue-grey. The individual flowers, in shades of pink, are small, but they are borne in many headed clusters at the ends of the branches. They are easy to grow in any light, well-drained soil, in full sun. They are lime-lovers but will tolerate neutral soil. Propagate by seeds or by cuttings made from soft growth tips before flower buds are formed. |
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Aethionema 'Warley hybrid', |
Pink |
May-Aug CHALK, SAND rock garden |
4 x 20 |
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These little sub-shrubs have a neat, bushy habit, the much-branched stems bearing many narrow, rather succulent little leaves, usually of a lovely blue-grey. The individual flowers, in shades of pink, are small, but they are borne in many headed clusters at the ends of the branches. They are easy to grow in any light, well-drained soil, in full sun. They are lime-lovers but will tolerate neutral soil. Propagate by seeds or by cuttings made from soft growth tips before flower buds are formed. |
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Agapanthus mooreanus, |
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Allium cernuum, |
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CHALK, SAND. Jun-Aug |
Jun-Aug |
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Chalk, Sand. Full Sun The majority of the onions are too large for alpine house or frame culture. The smell of garlic is hardly ever noticeable unless the plant is bruised. They can bridge the flowering gap between the spring and autumn bulbs. Most have narrow, linear leaves, and have flowers in umbels held well above the leaves, which are visited by bees for the nectar. |
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Allium giganteum, |
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CHALK, SAND. Jun-Jul |
Jun-Jul |
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Chalk, Sand. Full Sun The majority of the onions are too large for alpine house or frame culture. The smell of garlic is hardly ever noticeable unless the plant is bruised. They can bridge the flowering gap between the spring and autumn bulbs. Most have narrow, linear leaves, and have flowers in umbels held well above the leaves, which are visited by bees for the nectar. |
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Allium murrayanum, |
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The majority of the onions are too large for alpine house or frame culture. The smell of garlic is hardly ever noticeable unless the plant is bruised. They can bridge the flowering gap between the spring and autumn bulbs. Most have narrow, linear leaves, and have flowers in umbels held well above the leaves, which are visited by bees for the nectar. |
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Aloe aristata, |
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Alpinia elwesii, |
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Amaryllis belladonna, |
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Amaryllis 'Haythor', |
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Amaryllis 'Parkeri', |
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Anacyclus moroccanus, |
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'We went collecting plants in Morocco and many of those plants are hardy and like the lime soil. This one with its daisy-like flowers with scarlet backs to the petals in May, does best in sunny places in the UK, though in Morocco it usually grows in woodland. In 1909.' Anacyclus is a shortened form of the Greek Ananthocyclus, from an, without, anthos, a flower, and kuklos, a ring. |
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Anagallis collina |
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May |
3 x 9 |
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"These plants are fabled as having the power to banish melancholy - in fact Linnaeus derived the name from the Greek anagelao - to laugh. For each square inch (2.5 cms x 2.5 cms), I know of no plant which gives a greater display of colour." from Alpines in Colour and Cultivation by T.C. Mansfield. First published in 1942 and reprinted in 1947 by Ben Johnson Limited. |
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Anchusa angustissima (Anchusa caespitosa), |
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Anchusa capensis, |
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Anchusa myosotiflora, |
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Anemone, |
Anemone blanda in may 1968 slide by Mr or Mrs Foord |
The Windflowers are mostly herbaceous, tuberous or rhizomatous perennials inhabiting the temperate regions of the world, also at higher altitudes in the warmer climates, their natural distribution being the Northern parts of South America, South Africa and Asia. Their cultural needs differ. The name Anemone may be a corrupted Greek word borrowed from the Semitic and referring to the lament for the slain Adonis, or Naaman, whose scattered blood produced the blood-red Anemone coronaria. |
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Anemone apennina, bulb - Deciduous Rhizome |
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8 x 12 |
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'One of the latest of the early anemonies to flower in march, this covers shady places with its blue and white flowers. The small miniature daffodils are beginning now and will be detailed in the April month. In 1909.' 'The mass of white and blue flowers are in flower for a long time, making a carpet under the deciduous shrubs during April'. In 1909.' |
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Anemone blanda, bulb See |
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Apr-May |
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'These anemones enjoy the chalk soil, and after 30 years have seeded themselves all over the garden. They increase each year and do not seem to mind the ground being dug over in autumn. Chalk, Sand. Full Sun, Part Shade |
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Anemone blanda ingramii, |
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'These anemones enjoy the chalk soil, and after 30 years have seeded themselves all over the garden. They increase each year and do not seem to mind the ground being dug over in autumn. |
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Anemone coronaria, bulb - Deciduous Tuber Florist's Anemone, |
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6 x 6 |
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'It has deep red flowers in march. It seeds freely and the different species never cross with each other. This flowers after the anemone pavonina. It comes true from seed with some seedlings having pure scarlet flowers and others have a ring of white at the base of the petals. In 1909.' Full Sun and Part Shade The Windflowers are mostly herbaceous, tuberous or rhizomatous perennials inhabiting the temperate regions of the world, also at higher altitudes in the warmer climates, their natural distribution being the Northern parts of South America, South Africa and Asia. Their cultural needs differ. The name Anemone may be a corrupted Greek word borrowed from the Semitic and referring to the lament for the slain Adonis, or Naaman, whose scattered blood produced the blood-red Anemone coronaria. |
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Anemone x fulgens, |
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Anemone japonica, |
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Anemone magellanica, |
May |
6 x 6 |
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'This comes out in April with white flowers and is an excellent plant for the rock garden. |
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Anemone nemorosa, Herbaceous Perennial - Wind-flower, Wood Anemone |
White |
CHALK enriched PInfill2 - Hardy Bulbs |
Apr-May |
4 x 12 |
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The wood anemone flowers in the shadier parts of the garden, some with large white flowers, some shaded with pink, and some a light blue. They all increase and make a carpet at the end of March or beginning of April, the smaller fritillarias like to come through this carpet, and one of the pleasantest combinations is the white Fritillaria meleagris coming through the pinky form of this anemone. In 1909.' CHALK enriched by leaf mould from estab-lished wood-lands. Dappled Sun. |
Bulbs, Corms and Rhizomes |
Anemone nemorosa 'Alleni', Bulb |
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SAND, PEAT, CHALK. Apr-May |
Apr-May |
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Sand, Peat Chalk. Part Shade. |
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Anemone pavonina, bulb |
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'After the anemone blanda goes over, this one comes out in all shades of red and pink and apricot, in 1909. It seeds freely and the different species never cross with each other. It comes up in the grass paths in march. It has also underplanted a Magnolia kobus var. borealis tree which flowers at the same time as this.' |
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Anemone ranunculoides, bulb - Deciduous Rhizome Buttercup Anemone |
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2 x 18 |
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'This appears at the end of march with its bronze leaves and makes a carpet soon to be covered with small yellow flowers, in 1909.' Part Shade, Full Shade |
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Anemone rupicola, |
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'The anemone we have never succeeded in growing for more than a year or two is this one. It is easy to raise, but we find it difficult to keep. In 1909.' |
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Anemone sylvestris, Herbaceous Perennial |
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18 x 18 |
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'Nearly all the anemone species are at home on this soil; Anemone sylvestris looks fine growing in front of Cyclamen repandum, which seeds itself among the rocks. In 1909.' Part Shade |
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Anemone vitifolia tomentosa, |
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Antholyza paniculata |
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Further plants in |
Garden Construction Pages followed by Plants suitable for a Chalk Soil Work schedule for hard and soft landscaping with Soil Conditioning:- A Chalk Garden by F C Stern. Published by Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd in 1960. Chalk Plant Index - These index pages are complete with the names in 2022. The information from the above book is being viewed in June 2024 and added to the relevant page below. Then further research will be carried out to give the details for each plant from other books and the Internet. May be finished in August 2025 for this gallery and then flower comparisons will be added to 7 flower colours per month Colour Wheel - below - in Evergreen Per Gallery. 7 Flower Colours per Month in Colour Wheel below
Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month. Other Plants to grow in Chalk:- |
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,
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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. |
|
Egg, |
Groups of eggs on upper side of leaf. |
- |
||
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. |
|
Violets:- |
Egg, |
1 egg on stem or stalk near plant base. |
July to hatch in 8 months in March. |
|
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. |
|
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 |
|
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. |
||
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. |
|
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. |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
May-June for 18 days. |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October |
||
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. |
|
Marigolds in gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June or August till killed by frost and damp in September-November |
|
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 |
|
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September. |
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Narrow-leaved Plantain (Ribwort Plantain) |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
June-July |
|
Nasturtiums in gardens |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
April-June or July-September |
|
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. |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
May-June. |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-October. |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
July-May |
||
Butterfly |
Eats nectar |
7 weeks in July-August. |
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Comma |
Butterfly |
Eats nectar. |
July-October. |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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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White A-D |
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1 Yellow |
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Flowering plants of |
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Flowering plants of |
Copied from Ivydene Gardens Rock Garden Plants Suitable for Small Gardens in Colour Wheel Gallery: |
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Botanical Plant Name |
Suit-ability |
Type |
Height and Spread in Inches |
Soil |
Position and Pro-tection |
Flower Colour / Nearest Colour Wheel - Flowers Colour |
Months of Flowering |
Propa-gation |
|
Acantholimon is a genus of dwarf perennial plants with hard, usually grey, spiny leaves and tufted cushion-like growth. Natives of hot dry countries from Asia Minor eastwards, they need a sunny, raised position, and very sharp drainage. They are attractive at all seasons because of their tufts of needle-like leaves, and habit of remaining neat after flowering, owing to the persistent calyces. Acantholimon is from the Greek words akantha, a thorn, and limonium, sea-lavender, to which the plant is related. |
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A |
SSE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
June |
CH |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
SSE |
3 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
White |
|
June |
CH |
|
A |
SSE |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
July |
CH |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
libanoticum |
A |
SSE |
3 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
CH |
||
A |
SSE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
CH |
|||
A |
SSE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
CH |
|||
Yarrow or Milfoil species suitable for the rock garden owe much of their value to their finely cut foliage. The name achillea honours the Greek hero Achilles, who was taught in his youth the healing properties of this plant by his tutor Chiron the Centaur. Requires sunny positions in any good, well-drained soil. They may live longer and certainly flower more freely in soil which is poor rather than rich. |
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A |
E |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
June |
C |
||
A |
E |
8 x 12 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
July |
D |
||
A |
E |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
RC |
|||
A |
E |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
July |
RC |
||
These Adonis species have leaves divided in 3, with each segment much subdivided into linear divisions to the base. They are entirely herbaceous and the first sign of life in the New Year is the fat flower bud guarded by the under-developed leaves. The flower opens before the leaves are fully developed, and is a conspicuous feature in early spring with its ample yellow petals and boss of golden stamens. The following are both under 6" when the flowers first open, but later the leafy stems develop to their full height, forming a densely feathery clump. They can be increased by seeds or by division in the early spring as soon as growth begins. "Habitat in gardens |
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A |
HP |
9 x 9 |
AL |
Sun |
|
March |
S |
||
A |
HP |
9 x 9 |
AL |
Sun |
|
April |
S |
||
AETHIONEMA |
These little sub-shrubs have a neat, bushy habit, the much-branched stems bearing many narrow, rather succulent little leaves, usually of a lovely blue-grey. The individual flowers, in shades of pink, are small, but they are borne in many headed clusters at the ends of the branches. They are easy to grow in any light, well-drained soil, in full sun. They are lime-lovers but will tolerate neutral soil. Propagate by seeds or by cuttings made from soft growth tips before flower buds are formed. |
||||||||
A |
SSE |
4 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
GC |
|||
coridifolium |
A |
E |
6 x 8 |
AL |
Sun |
|
GC |
||
A |
E |
10 x 12 |
AL |
Sun |
...... |
June |
GC |
||
A |
E |
6 x 12 |
AL |
Sun |
|
GC |
|||
B |
SSE |
3 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
|
June |
GCS |
||
A |
E |
8 x 9 |
AL |
Sun |
Pink |
|
May |
GC |
|
A |
SSE |
4 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
|
GC |
|||
A |
E |
4 x 20 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
May-August |
GC |
||
ALECTORURUS |
From alectryon, a cock, and urus, a tail. A reference to the arching panicle. |
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"A plant of the local race (var. platypetala) of Alectorurus yedoensis, a liliaceous plant with flower stems 10cm tall bearing very small brown-tinged white flowers." from Plant Hunting in Yakushima in Barnes-Botany. |
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The majority of the onions are too large for alpine house or frame culture. The smell of garlic is hardly ever noticeable unless the plant is bruised. They can bridge the flowering gap between the spring and autumn bulbs. Most have narrow, linear leaves, and have flowers in umbels held well above the leaves, which are visited by bees for the nectar. |
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A |
B |
5 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
Pale Pink |
|
August |
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A |
B |
6 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
Blue |
...... |
July |
S |
|
mairon var. amabile |
"Allium mairei H. Léveillé.韭 Dian jiu (Chinese). Dainty rose-pink flowers bloom for weeks in July-August amid grassy foliage. Sometimes called A. amabile or A. mairei var. amabile. Amabile is Latin for "pleasing," and that's what this little clump-former is, both in moist areas and in the rock garden, as long as it gets sun. Native to SW Sichuan, SE Tibet [Xizang] and Yunnan provinces in China. Introduced from NY Yunnan by George Forrest, who found it in high alpine meadows. Our stock is from garden seed. Height 10-15 cm (4-6"). Zone 6." from Pacific Rim Native Plant Nursery in Canada. |
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A |
B |
6 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
Pink |
|
August |
S |
|
A |
B |
6 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
Pink |
|
August |
S |
|
A |
B |
6 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
Blue |
|
July |
S |
|
Leaves are small and often silvery hairy. The 4-petalled flowers are almost invariably yellow. Alyssum is from the Greek a, not or against, and lyssa, rage or madness. This herb was sometimes thought to be a specific against madness and rabies. They are avid sun-lovers and tolerant of any reasonably good soil as long as the drainage is good. |
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alpestre |
A |
SE |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
June |
C |
|
A |
SE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
May |
C |
||
A |
SE |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
C |
|||
A |
SE |
2 x 9 |
A |
Sun |
|
June |
C |
||
A |
SE |
6 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
|
C |
|||
A |
SE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
May |
C |
||
Anacyclus depressus is a native of the Atlas Mountains, which makes prostrate, large rosettes of fine much cut, ferny light green foliage and radiating stems bearing the large single, white daisy-like flowers with bright red backs in May. Anacyclus is a shortened form of the Greek Ananthocyclus, from an, without, anthos, a flower, and kuklos, a ring. The following plant should be Anacyclus pyrethrum var. depressus |
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A |
E |
3 x 9 |
A |
Sun |
White, red reverse |
|
May |
S |
|
"These plants are fabled as having the power to banish melancholy - in fact Linnaeus derived the name from the Greek anagelao - to laugh. For each square inch (2.5 cms x 2.5 cms), I know of no plant which gives a greater display of colour." from Alpines in Colour and Cultivation by T.C. Mansfield. First published in 1942 and reprinted in 1947 by Ben Johnson Limited. |
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collina (Syn. |
A |
E |
3 x 9 |
AN |
Sun |
|
May |
GC |
|
A |
HP |
1 x 10 |
BN |
Sun |
|
June |
D |
||
ANDROMEDA |
Native to the Arctic and temperate regions of the northern hemishphere. Polifolia compacta and Polifolia minima have been introduced to the UK from Japan. Named by Linnaeus after the mythological maiden who was chained to a rock as an offering to a sea-monster and rescued by Perseus. |
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C |
SE |
6 x 9 |
CN |
S |
|
May |
GC |
||
C |
SE |
6 x 9 |
CN |
S |
Pink |
|
May |
GC |
|
polifolia minima |
C |
SE |
2 x 6 |
CN |
S |
Pink |
|
May |
GC |
A genus of over 100 species, extending throughout Europe, Asia and Pacific North America. Androsace is from the Greek aner, a man, and sakos, a shield, a name used by Dioscorides for another plant. The floral structure is that of a primrose in miniature and are attractive. The very high alpine species, mostly European, are strongly saxatile, and make dense cushions of tightly packed leafy stems, bearing in the centre of each terminal rosette a single white or pink flower, sessile or on a stem up to 0.5 inch. In the mountains, the cushions are firm and often so crowded with flowers that these cannot open fully. In cultivation, however, it is by no means easy to keep them healthy and in character, so here is 3 cultivation hints for after the 3rd season of growth:
Winter damp is fatal and overhead protection is then essential, although they are impervious to cold. A meagre, very gritty soil and a position in a chink between rocks helps to keep the plants compact. Seed germinates well, although sometimes tardily. Single rosettes of the cushion androsaces will strike as cuttings.
"The book "Androsace - The Genus" by G.F.Smith & D.B. Lowe - This is the first modern comprehensive guide to the genus Androsace. Each species is fully described and painstakingly illustrated. The cultivation of androsaces is described and each species has a map to show its distribution in the wild. In addition, there is a series of accurate keys to enable the species to be identified. The authors were both well known and respected writers and lecturers on alpine plants, with a special interest in the family Primulaceae, of which Androsace is a key genus for alpine enthusiasts." from the Alpine Garden Society Bookshop. How to grow Androsace vandellii by Geoff Rollinson as an article in Page 295 of The Alpine Gardener Journal of the Alpine Garden Society Volume 81 No. 3 September 2013. |
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aizoon coccinea (Syn. A. bulleyana) |
A |
HE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
June |
S |
|
B |
E |
1 x 4 |
D |
PS |
|
S |
|||
brevis (Syn. A charpentieri) |
A |
HE |
1 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
|
A |
HE |
3 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
A |
HE |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Pink |
|
May |
S |
|
A |
HE |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
A |
HE |
2 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
Pink |
|
April |
S |
|
A |
HE |
2 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
|
S |
|||
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Rose |
|
May |
S |
|
B |
HE |
0.5 x 3 |
D |
Sun C P |
|
S |
|||
cylindrica *** |
B |
HE |
2 x 4 |
D |
Sun C P |
|
S |
||
B |
HE |
1 x 4 |
D |
Sun C P |
White |
|
May |
GC |
|
B |
HE |
6 x 8 |
D |
H S P |
|
June |
SL |
||
B |
HE |
1 x 4 |
D |
Sun |
|
May |
SL |
||
B |
HE |
2 x 3 |
D |
Sun C P |
|
April |
SL |
||
B |
HE |
2 x 4 |
D |
Sun C P |
White |
|
April |
GC |
|
A |
HE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
|
S |
|||
A |
E |
3 x 9 |
AN |
Sun |
...... |
June |
GC |
||
B |
HE |
1 x 4 |
D |
Sun C P |
|
S |
|||
B |
HE |
1 x 4 |
D |
Sun C P |
...... |
April |
SGC |
||
A |
E |
3 x 9 |
AN |
Sun |
...... |
July |
GC |
||
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
D |
Sun |
...... |
GC |
|||
B |
HE |
6 x 6 |
D |
Sun C P |
...... |
S |
|||
B |
HE |
1 x 3 |
D |
HS |
...... |
S |
|||
villosa taurica |
B |
E |
1 x 6 |
D |
Sun |
White |
|
April |
S |
A |
HE |
2 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
D |
|||
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
White |
|
April |
D |
|
The Windflowers are mostly herbaceous, tuberous or rhizomatous perennials inhabiting the temperate regions of the world, also at higher altitudes in the warmer climates, their natural distribution being the Northern parts of South America, South Africa and Asia. Their cultural needs differ. The name Anemone may be a corrupted Greek word borrowed from the Semitic and referring to the lament for the slain Adonis, or Naaman, whose scattered blood produced the blood-red Anemone coronaria. |
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A |
HP |
4 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
|
April |
DS |
||
A |
HP |
3 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
...... |
May |
S |
||
blanda |
A |
HP |
4 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
..... |
DS |
||
A |
HP |
4 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
Blue |
|
April |
DS |
|
B |
HP |
6 x 6 |
BN |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
magellanica lesseri |
B |
HP |
6 x 6 |
BN |
Sun |
Red |
|
April |
S |
C |
HP |
3 x 9 |
C |
PS |
|
June |
S |
||
A genus of sun-loving plants, natives of Central and Southern Europe. Well suited to any average garden soil. |
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A |
SE |
3 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
|
C |
|||
A |
SE |
3 x 8 |
A |
Sun |
Red |
|
May |
C |
|
Seed is the only practical method of increasing the dwarf 'Columbine' but unfortunately all the species readily hybridise with each other so that where a number of different plants are grown together, steps must be taken at flowering time to isolate the flowers required for seed. The majority of the species vary in height and are best purchased as adult flowering plants so that plants of dwarf stature are obtained. 90 minute DVD/video demonstrates sowing and growing, pests and breeding with data on cultivars by Carrie Thomas - holder of 2 National Collections of Aquilegias - from Touchwood Plants and Seeds. |
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A |
HP |
6 x 5 |
B |
A |
Deep Blue |
|
S |
||
B |
HP |
4 x 4 |
B |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
B |
HP |
4 x 4 |
B |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
A |
HP |
6 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
...... |
June |
S |
||
A |
HP |
6 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
Blue sepals, white petals |
|
May |
S |
|
A |
HP |
6 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
A |
HP |
4 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
White |
|
May |
S |
|
flabellata nana |
A |
HP |
4 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
Blue |
|
May |
S |
A |
HP |
4 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
Blue |
|
May |
S |
|
B |
HP |
3 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
|
S |
|||
B |
HP |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Blue |
|
June |
S |
|
B |
HP |
2 x 3 |
A |
Sun |
|
S |
|||
B |
HP |
6 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
|
May |
S |
||
A |
HP |
6 x 6 |
A |
PS |
|
May |
S |
||
B |
HP |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Blue sepals, white petals |
|
June |
S |
|
scopulorum *** |
B |
HP |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Flax blue |
|
S |
|
Useful in growing in sunny walls along with alyssums and aubretias. "Arabis, or rock cress, is a large genus of mainly small plants, many of them very suitable for sunny, well-drained places in rock gardens. They have four petals, usually white but sometimes pink or other colours. They come from the northern hemisphere, and recent research has indicated that most species from America are genetically distinct, and the name Boechera is now recommended for these species." from Kevock Garden. |
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B |
HE |
1 x 4 |
D |
Sun |
|
GC |
|||
bryoides *** |
B |
HE |
2 x 4 |
D |
Sun |
|
April |
GC |
|
B |
HE |
1 x 3 |
D |
Sun |
White |
|
May |
GC |
|
B |
HE |
2 x 5 |
A |
Sun |
|
April |
GC |
||
cypria |
A |
HE |
6 x 6 |
A |
Sun P |
|
April |
S |
|
|
|||||||||
nana |
C |
SE |
2 x 8 |
CN |
S |
|
April |
GCL |
|
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS |
|
||||||||
alpina (Syn. Arctous alpinus) |
C |
SD |
2 x 9 |
BN |
S |
White |
|
May |
GC |
alpina ruber |
C |
SD |
2 x 9 |
BN |
S |
White |
|
May |
GC |
C |
SE |
3 x 12 |
BN |
S |
|
May |
GC |
||
C |
SE |
8 x 8 |
BN |
S |
Pink |
|
May |
GC |
|
From the latin arena, sand, an allusion to the fact that many of the family grow in sandy places, thus the common name of Sandwort. |
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grandiflora *** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ledebouriana |
A |
HE |
4 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
White |
|
May |
GC |
montana *** |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
norvegica (Arenaria norvegica anglica is one of the globally threatened plant species which occurs in Britain from the 33,798 flowers, trees, grasses and ferns in the Red List of Threatened Plants published on April 8 1998 out of a world total of 270,000) |
A |
HE |
2 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
|
GC |
||
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun C |
|
GC |
|||
A |
HE |
1 x 4 |
A |
Sun |
White |
|
June |
GC |
|
ARMERIA |
"A genus that includes our native sea pink or thrift, often seen on coastal rocks. They make mats of bright green grassy foliage, with lots of pink or white button flowers, usually on short stems." from Kevock Garden. |
||||||||
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Pink |
|
May |
GC |
|
A |
HE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Deep Pink |
|
May |
GC |
|
|
|||||||||
B |
HE |
1 x 6 |
D |
Sun |
Silver foliage |
|
May |
GC |
|
schmidtiana nana |
A |
E |
3 x 9 |
A |
Sun |
Silver foliage |
|
May |
GC |
mutellina |
A |
SSE |
2 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Silver foliage |
|
May |
GC |
|
|||||||||
lilaciflora |
B |
HE |
0.5 x 6 |
A |
Sun P |
|
June |
GC |
|
nitida puberula |
B |
E |
1 x 6 |
A |
Sun |
Light Pink |
|
May |
GC |
B |
HE |
2 x 8 |
A |
Sun P |
|
GC |
|||
|
|||||||||
B |
HE |
2 x 4 |
A |
Sun P |
Pink |
|
March |
DS |
|
"There are tall astilbes for herbaceous borders and small ones of rock garden stature, but all prefer cool and damp conditions. They are clump-forming perennials with branched spikes bearing a multitude of tiny flowers, usually pink or white, sometimes red, closely packed together into a fuzzy mass. The multiply divided leaves are also attractive, opening with bronze colouring, and the dried flowers stems can stand through the winter, adding structure for many extra months. " from Kevock Garden. |
|||||||||
A |
HP |
6 x 8 |
B |
Sun |
|
July |
D |
||
A |
HP |
3 x 6 |
B |
Sun |
Rose-pink |
|
July |
D |
|
|
SOIL PAGE MENU Soil Introduction - How does Water act in Soil SOIL SUBSIDENCE
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Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month. |
LATE SUMMER GALLERY PAGES FOLIAGE COLOUR BULB, CORM, RHIZOME AND TUBER INDEX - There are over 700 bulbs in the bulb galleries. The respective flower thumbnail, months of flowering, height and width, foliage thumbnail, |
If you follow the normal procedure in the UK of weeding and leaving the ground bare, and then perhaps putting down chemical fertilisers, then that is like bearing a child and starving it to death. Perhaps you would like to read the following and do the job properly of looking after a garden from the following 4 steps:- |
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Besides the above Bulb Flower Colour Comparison Pages, you also have the following Comparison Pages:- |
Step 1 The normal method by which home gardeners provide nutrients to their garden plants:- In English gardens, you weed the ground in your beds and prune your plants including hedges and remove the weeds and prunings before donating them to the council or putting them into a 36 x 36 x 36 inch (90 x 90 x 90 cm) compost bin. The amount you put into that bin each day is so small that it never reaches more than 25 degrees Centigrade and therefore does not consume or destroy the seeds or the pests. The liquor produced goes into the ground below and unless your plants have accessed that ground area; is leached to the subsoil and therefore lost. If the compost bin was 180 x 180 x 180 inches (450 x 450 x 450 cms) and it was filled in one go, then it would reach about 55 degrees Centigrade which would consume and kill those seeds and pests/diseases. The end result of the compost bin is normally not much use, unless you use worm bins and then you can use the bottom tray compost on your garden beds. Then, if you are generous; you spread some general fertilser once a year like Growmore round your plants, or Rose Food round your roses again once a year and expect a marvellous year of flowers etc. As I have explained elsewhere this does not work for at least 2 reasons:-
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Late Summer INDEX link to Bulb Description Page |
Flower Colour with Flower Thumbnail |
Flowering Months Mat, |
Height x Width in inches (cms) - Seed Head Thumbnail Soil Sun Aspect Soil Moisture |
Foliage Colour |
Bulb Use |
Comments |
PLANTS PAGE PLANT USE Groundcover Height Poisonous Cultivated and UK Wildflower Plants with Photos
Following parts of Level 2a, |
PLANTS PAGE MENU
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PLANTS PAGE MENU
Photos - 12 Flower Colours per Month in its Bloom Colour Wheel Gallery
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Acis "They are excellent for cutting and make a good display either in a bed or in a thin woodland. They also do quite well in grass, which must not be mown until their leaves begin to die down. "Indoor Culture in Window-boxes - Plant in clumps during October, 3 inches (7.5 cms) deep, 2 inches (5 cms) apart. These are excellent for a site in partial shade, but will only succeed if left undisturbed for 2 or 3 years. Suitable varieties are Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' and Leucojum vernum." from Indoor Bulb Growing by Edward Pearson. Published by Latimer House Limited in 1953. |
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Acis autumnalis |
White |
August, September, |
4-6 x 4 |
Dark Green grass-like foliage, often being produced shortly after the flower spike. |
Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass. |
In autumn it throws up leafless stems from which it bears 2-4 bell shaped white flowers, often with red bases to them. |
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Acis autumnalis pulchellum - |
White |
August, September, |
8 x 4 |
Dark Green grass-like foliage being produced at the same time as the flower spike. |
Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass. |
Plant with 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cms) of soil over the tops of the bulbs towards the front of a bed in an area where they can be left undisturbed. |
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Acis |
Pure White flowers on 4-8 inch stems |
September, 6 petal, bell-shaped flowers in spike. |
4 x 2 |
Dark Green grass-like foliage being produced at the same time as the flower spike. |
Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flower. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass. |
Plant with 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5 cms) of soil over the tops of the bulbs towards the front of a bed in an area where they can be left undisturbed. |
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Acis valentinum |
White |
February, March, |
10 x 12 |
Thin Grey-Green leaves being produced after the flower spike. |
Plant at edge of bed. Use in rock garden. Cut flow-er. Thin woodland or shade from shrubs. Naturalize in grass. Coastal conditions |
Grows in open, calcareous, stony and rocky places, hill slopes. Requires winter mulch to protect it from the worst of the weather. |
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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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Babiana stricta - tender |
Pale Cream through Purple, Mauve and Blue and Crimson |
March, April, May 5 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a spike with slight fragrance |
6-18 x 4 |
Sword-shaped 5 inches (12.5 cm) long, 0.5 inches (1.125 cms) wide, green |
Plant against South-facing House Wall in Southern England where temperatures do not go below -5 degrees Centigrade. Mulch with 3 inches (7.5 cms) of organic compost to conserve moisture in the summer. |
Set 6 inches (15 cms) deep in average and sandy soils, a little shallower in heavy clay - put 2 inches (5 cms) of sand surrounding bulb to prevent rotting - soils, 6 inches (15 cms) apart. Leave undisturbed for years. Remove mulch during autumn and winter. |
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Dark Green to Dark Brown Spathe |
September, October, November Up to 6 inches (15 cm) long spathe but not a flower |
4-8 x 12 Scree, Sand or Chalky soil with 1 inch (2.5 cms) of sand worked into the top 2 inches (5 cms). |
The 5-10 light green leaves are 1 inch wide and 2-4 inches long. |
Can be planted beside a path in a rock garden where it is is a rocky, sandy location in full sun in Southern England. |
Biarum is a group of unusual looking bulbs, grown for their weird and wonderful spathes that are produced in autumn. Not fully hardy so these are best grown in pots in the garden before spending the winter in a greenhouse. |
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Light Green with |
September, October Up to 6 inches (15 cm) long spathe but not a flower |
3-4 x 12 |
5-10 light Green leaves emerge in Sep-Oct |
Can be planted beside a path in a rock garden where it is is a rocky, sandy location in full sun in Southern England. |
Not fully hardy so these are best grown in pots in the garden before spending the winter in a greenhouse. |
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Biarum tenuifolium |
Pale Green with Purple Flush Spathe |
July, August, September, October, November |
10 x 12 |
5-10 light Green leaves emerge in Sep-Oct |
Can be planted beside a path in a rock garden where it is is a rocky, sandy location in full sun in Southern England. |
Native to the central and eastern Mediterranean. |
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Bright Green with |
September Up to 6 inches (15 cm) long spathe but not a flower |
9 x 12 |
5-10 light Green leaves emerge in Sep-Oct |
Can be planted beside a path in a rock garden where it is is a rocky, sandy location in full sun in Southern England. |
Native to Northern Greece and Italy. Not fully hardy so these are best grown in pots in the garden before spending the winter in a greenhouse. |
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"The Erythroniums native to the Western U.S. are considered by many to be the most beautiful of the genus. Often called "Fawn Lilies" because of the dappled coloring to the leaves, they have dainty nodding flowers like small lilies, set off by large shining leaves that are either plain green or marbled with silver and bronze. Most grow in shaded woodland areas that go quite dry in summer, but with excellent drainage, they can tolerate some summer water." from Telos Rare Bulbs in USA. "Culture in Garden - They like a damp, well-drained soil, and a partially drained position. The bulbs must not be kept out of the ground any longer than necessary, as they resent being moved, nor must the best results be expected at their first time of flowering. It follows that they should be left alone as long as they flower well. An anual top-dressing of a mixture of light decayed manure and peat benefits them. They are increased by offsets and by seed, which last should be thinly sown in pans in a cold frame in August, and the seedlings grown on for 2 years before planted out in the the open; or if room can be found, in loose soil in a cold frame where they remain until the bloom, when the best can be marked before they are put in their permanent places." from Black's Gardening Dictionary. Edited by E.T. Ellis, F.R.H.S. Second edition. Published by A. & C. Black Ltd. in 1928. "The largest flower spikes are found where the ground has recently been burnt, so it is possible that a top dressing of potash would have the same effect. If they are to be divided and moved in the same garden this is probably best done when they are beginning to die down after flowering." from Collins Guide to Bulbs by Patrick M. Synge. Reprinted 173. ISBN 0 00 214016-0 "Suitable for cultivation in the garden, greenhouse or house. They succeed in any good well-drained garden soil, but the ideal compost is equal parts loam, peat, leaf mould and sand. The bulbs should be planted in August in a shady position in beds, rock gardens, edges or under trees. Once planted, they need not be disturbed for many years. "Rock Garden Culture for Erythronium citrinum (Yellow flowers); Erythronium Frans Hals (Purple-rose flowers); Erythronium revolutum (Pink flowers); Erythronium Hartwegii (Creamy-white flowers) - Plant in September 1.5 inches (3.75 cms) deep and 4 inches (10 cms) apart, in partial shade, in moist, well-drained sandy loam and ample leaf-mould or peat. Surround the tubers with about an inch (2.5 cms) of silver sand, and do not lift more often than necessary, but mulch annually with well-rotted manure and leaf-mould. Propagate by means of seed in a frame in August. Thin out but do not plant the seedlings out until the third September after sowing. The plants are also increased by offsets." from Rock Gardens how to plan and plant them with sections on the Wall, Paved, Marsh and Water Gardens by A. Edwards in charge of the rock garden, kew. Published by Ward, Lock & Co. in 1929. |
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Erythronium |
White, Each flower stem will have 1-10 downward pointing flowers, with reflexed petals. |
April, May, June Clump. |
6 x 5 Humus-rich Sand. Bulbs must be kept slightly damp during storage and before planting. |
The broad, often mottled, mid-Green marbled purplish- Erythroniums fit in naturally with Trilliums, Galanthus, Hepatica, Helleborus, Hosta, Pulmonaria, Cyclamen coum and Cyclamen hederifolium. |
Grow under deciduous trees/shrubs, in a rock garden, or naturalize in thin grass. Ideally they like a soil which will dry out in Summer although many will do very well in a normal shady bed or border. Must receive adequate moisture during early spring when the foliage is making growth. Appreciates additional dressings of fallen leaves when the plant is in woodland gardens. |
Erythroniums do best when planted under trees and shrubs - to provide partial shade during the hottest part of the day, in as near to a woodland setting as possible. Plant bulbs 5 inches (12.5 cms) deep in good, rich soil; in the autumn in soil that does not dry out. If you want to plant them in pots use a John Innes compost rather than a peat based compost. They will be fine in this and should only be repotted when it is absolutely necessary. |
Step 2 Have you ever been to an unmanaged forest and walked through it? You will find litter on the ground and the following article from Wikipedia will explain where that forest gets its nutrients from:- "Litterfall, plant litter, leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, or duff, is dead plant material, such as leaves, bark, needles, and twigs, that have fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituent nutrients are added to the top layer of soil, commonly known as the litter layer or O horizon ("O" for "organic"). Litterfall is characterized as fresh, undecomposed, and easily recognizable (by species and type) plant debris. This can be anything from leaves, cones, needles, twigs, bark, seeds/nuts, logs, or reproductive organs (e.g. the stamen of flowering plants). Items larger than 2 cm diameter are referred to as coarse litter, while anything smaller is referred to as fine litter or litter. The type of litterfall is most directly affected by ecosystem type. For example, leaf tissues account for about 70 percent of litterfall in forests, but woody litter tends to increase with forest age. In grasslands, there is very little aboveground perennial tissue so the annual litterfall is very low and quite nearly equal to the net primary production. In soil science, soil litter is classified in three layers, which form on the surface of the O Horizon. These are the L, F, and H layers: L - organic horizon characterized by relatively undecomposed plant material (described above). F - organic horizon found beneath L characterized by accumulation of partly decomposed organic matter. H - organic horizon below F characterized by accumulation of fully decomposed organic matter mostly indiscernible. Surface detritus facilitates the capture and infiltration of rainwater into lower soil layers. Soil litter protects soil aggregates from raindrop impact, preventing the release of clay and silt particles from plugging soil pores. Releasing clay and silt particles reduces the capacity for soil to absorb water and increases cross surface flow, accelerating soil erosion. In addition soil litter reduces wind erosion by preventing soil from losing moisture and providing cover preventing soil transportation. Many organisms that live on the forest floor are decomposers, such as fungi. Organisms whose diet consists of plant detritus, such as earthworms, are termed detritivores. The community of decomposers in the litter layer also includes bacteria, amoeba, nematodes, rotifer, springtails, cryptostigmata, potworms, insect larvae, mollusks, oribatid mites, woodlice, and millipedes. Their consumption of the litterfall results in the breakdown of simple carbon compounds into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O), and releases inorganic ions (like nitrogen and phosphorus) into the soil where the surrounding plants can then reabsorb the nutrients that were shed as litterfall. In this way, litterfall becomes an important part of the nutrient cycle that sustains forest environments. As litter decomposes, nutrients are released into the environment. The portion of the litter that is not readily decomposable is known as humus. Litter aids in soil moisture retention by cooling the ground surface and holding moisture in decaying organic matter. The flora and fauna working to decompose soil litter also aid in soil respiration. A litter layer of decomposing biomass provides a continuous energy source for macro- and micro-organisms." This is why when I am maintaining a client's garden, I weed and put the weeds under the hedge or inside the base area of groundcover shrubs/trees, remembering to take out the weed roots as well. I spread a 4 inch (10 cms) depth of Spent Mushroom Compost on the weeded area before going to the next area to be weeded the following visit. When I have weeded and mulched the garden beds/hedges, then on each subsequent visit I go round all the garden beds and hoe any weed that pushes its way through the mulch and leave it to dry off and wither away on top of the mulch. I then prune the shrubs/hedges or remove bedding plants etc as required and place those on the lawn before mowing them and the lawn and putting a 0.5 inch (1 cm) layer of grass mowings/prunings on top of the mulch. This then mimics the same process as detailed above in the Wikipedia article to feed my client's plants and reduce their water consumption. |
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Erythronium |
Sulphur-Yellow with brown central rings |
April, May, June Forms a large Clump. |
12 x 4 Chalk, |
Bronze-mottled, glossy, deep green |
Plant in pots, woodland or under shrubs in bed. Use as indoor plant in Green-house or sunny window of cool room inside house. Inside Alpine House, or outside in Alpine Trough, or Window-box. |
Bulbs must be kept slightly damp during storage and before planting. A good variety to start off with. Received an 'Award of Merit' in 1959. Ideal compost is equal parts loam, peat, leaf mould and sand for pots. |
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Erythronium |
Bright Yellow |
April, May, June Forms a large clump. |
12 x 4 Chalk, |
Wavy-margined, pale to mid-green. |
Plant in pots, woodland or under shrubs in bed. Use as indoor plant in Green-house or sunny window of cool room inside house. |
Plant inside Alpine House, or outside in Alpine Trough, or Window-box. |
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Dark Brown, Maroon and Black |
October, November, December 6 petal, star-shaped flowers |
16-20 x 16 ( 40-50 x 40) Well-drained Sand, Scree Suitable for coastal conditions in stony or sandy soil. |
Light green leaves overlap each other being up to 12 inches long, with the uppermost surrounding the flowers. |
The corms should be planted 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) deep and 6-8 inches (15-20 cms) apart in pots in a frost-free greenhouse during the winter and then the pots can be sunk into a south-facing rock garden during the summer in bold clumps. |
It grows in dunes and sandy places in South Africa. Flowers may last only one day, but the plant will continue to produce flowers for several weeks from October to early December. |
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Freesia "For outdoor culture, any light rich sandy soil will suffice, and the bulbs should be planted 2 inch (5 cms) deep and 2 inches apart in August and September. Do not move plants while growing as plants resent being disturbed. "Pot not more than 5 top-sized corms into a 5 inch (12.5 cm) pot from August and onwards, using John Innes compost or 4 parts sand, 3 parts leaf-mould with 0.5 ounces medium bone-meal mixed in the compost. The pots should then be plunged in a sunny spot in the garden, or frame, and remain there until there is the first possibility of frosts. During this time the corms must develop a good length of leaf. Where there is no garden a peat-filled box set up by a sunny window will do as a plunging ground. In such case it is important to see that the peat is kept sufficiently moist and that the excessive heat through the window does not scorch the potting compost. The window should be kept open in hot weather and at all convenient times. |
The following details come from Cactus Art:- "A flower is the the complex sexual reproductive structure of Angiosperms, typically consisting of an axis bearing perianth parts, androecium (male) and gynoecium (female). Bisexual flower show four distinctive parts arranged in rings inside each other which are technically modified leaves: Sepal, petal, stamen & pistil. This flower is referred to as complete (with all four parts) and perfect (with "male" stamens and "female" pistil). The ovary ripens into a fruit and the ovules inside develop into seeds. Incomplete flowers are lacking one or more of the four main parts. Imperfect (unisexual) flowers contain a pistil or stamens, but not both. The colourful parts of a flower and its scent attract pollinators and guide them to the nectary, usually at the base of the flower tube.
Androecium (male Parts or stamens) Gynoecium (female Parts or carpels or pistil) It is made up of the stigma, style, and ovary. Each pistil is constructed of one to many rolled leaflike structures. Stigma This is the part of the pistil which receives the pollen grains and on which they germinate. Style This is the long stalk that the stigma sits on top of. Ovary The part of the plant that contains the ovules. Ovule The part of the ovary that becomes the seeds. Petal The colorful, often bright part of the flower (corolla). Sepal The parts that look like little green leaves that cover the outside of a flower bud (calix). (Undifferentiated "Perianth segment" that are not clearly differentiated into sepals and petals, take the names of tepals.)"
The following details come from Nectary Genomics:- "NECTAR. Many flowering plants attract potential pollinators by offering a reward of floral nectar. The primary solutes found in most nectars are varying ratios of sucrose, glucose and fructose, which can range from as little a 8% (w/w) in some species to as high as 80% in others. This abundance of simple sugars has resulted in the general perception that nectar consists of little more than sugar-water; however, numerous studies indicate that it is actually a complex mixture of components. Additional compounds found in a variety of nectars include other sugars, all 20 standard amino acids, phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, vitamins, organic acids, oils, free fatty acids, metal ions and proteins. NECTARIES. An organ known as the floral nectary is responsible for producing the complex mixture of compounds found in nectar. Nectaries can occur in different areas of flowers, and often take on diverse forms in different species, even to the point of being used for taxonomic purposes. Nectaries undergo remarkable morphological and metabolic changes during the course of floral development. For example, it is known that pre-secretory nectaries in a number of species accumulate large amounts of starch, which is followed by a rapid degradation of amyloplast granules just prior to anthesis and nectar secretion. These sugars presumably serve as a source of nectar carbohydrate. WHY STUDY NECTAR? Nearly one-third of all worldwide crops are dependent on animals to achieve efficient pollination. In addition, U.S. pollinator-dependent crops have been estimated to have an annual value of up to $15 billion. Many crop species are largely self-incompatible (not self-fertile) and almost entirely on animal pollinators to achieve full fecundity; poor pollinator visitation has been reported to reduce yields of certain species by up to 50%." |
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Freesia alba |
White |
March, 6 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a cluster. Very strongly scented. |
8-17 x 4 Sand, or potting compost, |
Light Green sword-like leaves |
Bring pot indoors when nightime temperature drops below 9 degrees Centigrade. Excellent house plants and cut flowers. |
Native to South Africa. Main attraction with these bulbs is the sweet fragrance that fills the room. If outside, mulch in autumn, remove mulch in summer. |
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Freesia andersoniae |
Cream to Purple with yellow. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a cluster. Very fragrant. |
8 x 4 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Native to southern coastal areas of South Africa. Plant against South-facing House Wall in Southern England |
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Pale yellow with bright yellow-orange markings. |
April, May. |
12 x 24 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Erect, spiral dark green fan, 10 inches (25 cms) long. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Native to eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Plant against South-facing House Wall in Southern England |
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Fragrant Ivory White with mauve reverse and yellow markings. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a cluster. |
6-12 x 6 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Native to South Africa. In colder areas, lift corms after foliage dies, store overwinter, and replant in the spring. |
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Fragrant Ivory-White |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Introduced in 1957 and recei-ved an 'Award of Merit' in 1962. |
Step 3 Negatative impacts on the soil food web Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, and fungicides affect the soil food web, toxic to some members, warding off others, and changing the environment. Important fungal and bacterial relationships don't form when a plant can get free nutrients. When chemically fed, plants bypass the microbial-assisted method of obtaining nutrients, and microbial populations adjust accordingly. Trouble is, you have to keep adding chemical fertilizers and using "-icides", because the right mix and diversity - the very foundation of the soil food web - has been altered. It makes sense that once the bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa are gone, other members of the soil food web disappear as well. Earthworms, for example, lacking food and irritated by the synthetic nitrates in soluble nitrogen fertilizers, move out. Since they are major shredders of organic material, their absence is a great loss. Soil structure deteriorates, watering can become problematic, pathogens and pests establish themselves and, worst of all, gardening becomes a lot more work than it needs to be. If the salt-based chemical fertilizers don't kill portions of the soil food web, rototilling (rotovating) will. This gardening rite of spring breaks up fungal hyphae, decimates worms, and rips and crushes arthropods. It destroys soil structure and eventually saps soil of necessary air. Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link: if there is a gap in the soil food web, the system will break down and stop functioning properly. Gardening with the soil food web is easy, but you must get the life back in your soils. First, however, you have to know something about the soil in which the soil food web operates; second, you need to know what each of the key members of the food web community does. Both these concerns are taken up in the rest of Part 1" of Teaming with Microbes - The Organic Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web by Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis ISBN-13:978-1-60469-113-9 Published 2010. This book explains in non-technical language how soil works and how you can improve your garden soil to make it suitable for what you plant and hopefully stop you using chemicals to kill this or that, but use your grass cuttings and prunings to mulch your soil - the leaves fall off the trees, the branches fall on the ground, the animals shit and die on the land in old woodlands and that material is then recycled to provide the nutrients for those same trees, rather than being carefully removed and sent to the dump as most people do in their gardens leaving bare soil. |
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Fragrant Ivory-White. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Dusky Pink on a |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped double-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Dark Red on a pale |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped single-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Lemon Yellow. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped single-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Yellow. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped double-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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White. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped double-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Red. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped single-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Creamy-White. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped double-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Buttercup Yellow. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped single-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Purple-Red. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped semi-double-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Yellow. |
April, May. 6 petal, funnel-shaped single-flowered flowers in a cluster. |
10 x 20 Sand, Gravel, or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage held in fan shape |
Excellent house plants and cut flowers, also in rock garden next to house wall. |
Bring pot indoors during autumn and winter. |
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Ixia 'Blue Bird' - tender |
Pale Blue and Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Castor' - tender |
Violet Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia flexuosa - tender |
Pinkish Mauve |
June, July Clump. |
24 x 24 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Giant' - tender |
Ivory and Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Hogarth' - tender |
Cream and Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Holland's Gloire' |
Yellow |
July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Mabel' - tender |
Pink with Red Blush |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia maculata - tender |
Yellow with Purplish- |
May, June Clump. |
18 x 12 |
4 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Marquette' - tender |
Yellow and Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Rose Emperor' |
Pink with |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Titia' - tender |
Magenta |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Venus' - tender |
Dark Red |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Vulcan' - tender |
Pink and Purple |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Ixia 'Yellow Emperor' |
Yellow with |
June, July Clump. |
16 x 12 |
3-5 erect, narrow, sword-shaped, dark green leaves per corm |
Grow in greenhouse, cool conserv-atory, patio pot, raised rock garden by south facing wall, window-box. Ground cover |
In very mild areas, plant out in sandy soil with good drainage and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep coarse bark mulch, in March and then lift in late summer when the foliage has died down. Then, corms should be allowed to become dry. |
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Lachenalia aloides - |
Green, Crimson and |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
10 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
2 broad-to-lanceolate leaves which are dark green with purple markings |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia aloides |
Yellow |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
10 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
2 broad-to-lanceolate leaves which are dark green with purple markings |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia aloides |
Red, Yellow, Green |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
8-12 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
2 broad-to-lanceolate leaves which are dark green with purple markings |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia aloides |
Bright Orange edged |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12-16 x 12 (30-40 x 30) Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage and flower stems with brown markings |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia aloides |
Greenish-White |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
4-8 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
2 broad-to-lanceolate leaves which are dark green with purple markings |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Very robust |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia bulbifera |
Coral-Red edged with Green or Purple |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
6-15 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
2 broad-to-lanceolate leaves which are dark green with purple spots |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
These are the galleries that will provide the plants to be added to their own Extra Index Pages
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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Index of Bulbs from Further details on bulbs from the Infill Galleries:-
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Bulbs and Corms with
Index of Bulbs from
Website Structure Explanation and
There are other pages on Plants which bloom in each month of the year in this website :-
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Lachenalia contaminata |
White with Maroon tips and stripes |
April, May 3 petal, |
6 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Grass-like in appearance and plain Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia elegans var. suaveolens |
Blue shading to Rose |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
7-9 x 12 (17.5-22.5 x 30) Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia 'Fransie' |
Pink shading to Yellow with Maroon tips |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with mid-Green stems spotted Purple |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia glaucina var. pallida |
Cream with a Yellow or Pale Green Hue |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
8 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Dark Green foliage slightly mottled Purple with pale Green flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia juncifolia |
White tinged Red |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
6 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with mid-Green stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia 'Namakwa' |
Orange fading to Yellow, with Pink tips |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with Orange flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia namaquensis |
Blue shading to Magenta, White internally |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
6-8 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Spreads rapidly by means of long stoloniferous roots. Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England within the UK. |
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Lachenalia 'Nova' |
Bluish-Green |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
8 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia orthopetala |
White |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
10 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green grassy foliage with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia pustulata |
Cream or Pale Yellow, to Pink or Blue |
March 3 petal, |
12 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia 'Robyn' |
Red |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 Sand or potting compost, |
Mid-Green foliage with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. They can be grown as bed edging in only Southern England, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands within the UK. |
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Lachenalia 'Rolina' |
Creamy-Yellow |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia 'Romaud' |
Buttercup-Yellow with Creamy-White tips |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia 'Romelia' |
Light Yellow |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia 'Ronina' |
Yellow |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green with Purple flower stems |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia 'Rosabeth' |
Red outer petals, inside is Yellow |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green with Purple spots |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia rosea |
Blue through to Pink |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
10 x 12 |
Mid-Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia 'Rupert' |
Lilac-Purple |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
12 x 12 |
Mid-Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia splendida |
Blue shaded Lilac |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
10 x 12 |
Light Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia unifolia |
White with Blue shading |
May 3 petal, |
10-12 x 12 (20-30 x 30) |
Light Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia viridiflora |
Blue-Green to Turquoise |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
8 x 12 |
Mid-Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
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Lachenalia zeyheri |
White, |
March, April, May 3 petal, |
4-8 x 12 |
Mid-Green |
Edging in frost-free gardens. Houseplant in Patio Pot within a sunny but unheated room. Patio Pot or |
Use either John Innes compost or a mixture of 2 parts sandy loam, 0.5 part leaf-mould and 0.5 part decayed manure, with 1 part coarse sand in pots or hanging baskets. Will not tolerate frost so grow in Greenhouse or as houseplant in a sunny but unheated room. Bed edging in only Southern England. |
Step 4 Soil contains living material that requires the right structure and organic material to provide food for plants. If the structure of the soil tends towards a loam of about 20-50% sand, silt and 20 - 40% clay with a pH between 6 and 7.5, then this suitable for a high proportion of plants. Otherwise an application of a mulch of sand and horticultural grit for clay, or clay and horticultural grit for sand, is required to improve plant growth. If an annual mulch of organic material (Spent Mushroom Compost, Cow Manure, Horse Manure does contain weed seeds and should only be used under hedges or ground-covering trees/shrubs) is applied of 100mm (4”) thickness to the soil, then the living material in the soil can continue their role of feeding the plants. This mulch will stop the ground drying out due to wind or sun having direct access to the ground surface. The annual loss of organic matter from soils in cool humid climates is about 6lbs per square metre. If there is also a drip-feed irrigation system under the mulch (which is used for 4 continuous hours a week - when there is no rain that week from April to September), then the living material can get their food delivered in solution or suspension. If the prunings from your garden are shredded (or reduced to 4” lengths) and then applied as a mulch to your flower beds or hedges, followed by 0.5” depth of grass mowings on top; this will also provide a start for improvement of your soil. The 0.5" layer can be applied again after a fortnight; when the aerobic composting stage (the aerobic composting creates heat and 0.5" - 1 cm - thickness does not become too hot to harm the plants next to it) has been completed during the summer. Anaerobic (without using air) composting then completes the process. Application of Seaweed Meal for Trace Elements and other chemicals required to replenish what has been used by the plants in the previous year for application in Spring are detailed in the How are Chemicals stored and released from Soil? page.
You normally eat and drink at least 3 times every day to keep you growing, healthy and active; plants also require to eat and drink every day. Above 5 degrees Celcius plants tend to grow above ground and below 5 degrees Celcius they tend to grow their roots underground. 2 minor points to remember with their result-
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Leucocoryne 'Andes' |
Mauve with Purple |
May, June 6 petal, umbel-shaped flower in an umbellate. Sweetly scented. |
10-14 x 4 (25-35 x 10) Well-drained Sand or potting compost, |
Grass-like green foliage varies in length from 6-12 inches. Often they are just maturing or even have died down by going yellow by the time the first flowers are seen. |
A small genus of only 12 species from the winter rainfall regions of South America. These make excellent pot plants in a frost-free greenhouse or unheated room in the house, and |
Plant in the sloping ground next to a South-facing wall in the Channel Islands or in pots in cold frame or greenhouse for the remainder of the UK. The bulbs will not tolerate frost. This plant is resistant to deer! |
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Leucocoryne 'Caravelle' |
Mauve with Plum |
April 6 petal, umbel-shaped flower in an umbellate. Sweetly scented. |
12-16 x 4 (30-40 x 10) Well-drained Sand or potting compost, |
Grass-like green foliage varies in length from 6-12 inches. Often they are just maturing or even have died down by going yellow by the time the first flowers are seen. |
A small genus of only 12 species from the winter rainfall regions of South America. These make excellent pot plants in a frost-free greenhouse or unheated room in the house, and |
Plant in the sloping ground next to a South-facing wall in the Channel Islands or in pots in cold frame or greenhouse for the remainder of the UK. The bulbs will not tolerate frost. This plant is resistant to deer! |
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Massonia echinata |
White fading to Pink |
February Tubular flower |
2 x 10 Well-drained sand or potting mix, |
2 wide green leaves about 5 inches long, which lie flat on the ground. |
Makes an attractive and unusual late winter flowering pot. Full Sun in a Conservatory in the UK, where temperatures do not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degess Centigrade) in pot or hanging basket |
In well-drained soil (sand) in rock garden within Channel Islands where temperature exceeds 7C, otherwise grow in mixture of 2 parts topsoil, 3 parts peat moss and 7 parts sharp builder's sand in wide pots. Place shards of broken clay pots in the bottom to ensure good drainage. |
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Mela-sphaerula ramosa Zones 8-10 of Hardiness Zone Map developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
Pale Yellow |
April, May, June Tall dainty Gypsophila-like stems are covered with 6 narrow finely pointed petals in small starry flowers within a spray. |
12 x 3-6 Well-drained sand or potting mix, Part Shade in a Conservatory in the UK, where temperatures do not fall below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Moist in growth, dry in dormancy |
Long, narrow, light green leaves up to !0 inches (25 cms) in length. |
Suits pot cultivation in UK Conservatory. Lasts very well as cut flower. The bulbs will not tolerate frost. Moisture is necessary at the time of planting in late July-September, but keep barely moist until the foliage is observed. Then, additional amounts of water should be given, but never allow the bulbs to sit in cold, wet soil. Should be a complete resting period in the summer with dry conditions. |
Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cms) apart in the ground next to a South-facing wall in the Channel Islands or 5 bulbs per 10 inch (25 cms) pot and 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep. Soil - In well-drained frost-free soil (sand) perhaps in Channel Islands, otherwise grow in mixture of 2 parts topsoil, 3 parts peat moss and 7 parts sharp builder's sand in wide pots. Place shards of broken clay pots in the bottom to ensure good drainage. Grows in sheltered damp places among rocks in southern Africa. |
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Magenta-Pink with |
September |
8 x 4 |
Light green clover-like foliage, often twisting and closing at night or on very hot days. The foliage is not present during the late autumn and winter, when the plant is dormant. |
An outstanding selection with magenta-pink funnel-shaped flowers with yellow throats held above light green clover-like foliage in early autumn. Frost tender, so one for the greenhouse. |
This is good for hanging baskets. Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. |
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Reddish-Purple with |
September, October, |
0.5-2 x 4 (1.25-5 x 10) |
Light green clover-like foliage, often twisting and closing at night or on very hot days. The foliage is not present during the late autumn and winter, when the plant is dormant. |
This is good for hanging baskets. Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. |
Oxalis is an enormous family of plants from all over the globe. These in this Gallery are a selection of winter-growing varieties. All are easy to grow and very rewarding with very long flowering times. There are approximately 1919 species. |
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Yellow |
May, June, July |
4 x 4 |
Small tufts of light green clover-like leaves appear in spring and then die down for several months, before re-appearing in early autumn at the same time as the bright yellow funnel-shaped flowers. Foliage is absent in the winter. Mat-forming habit. Deep mulch after autumn foliage has died down to prevent the bulb being frozen. |
This is good for hanging baskets. Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. |
Frost hardy, this will withstand temperatures down to -5c. |
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Telos Rare Bulbs in USA have other Oxalis varieties for sale from |
Pink with a Yellow centre |
May, June, July |
10 x 10 |
Light green clover-like foliage with a silver gloss, often twisting and closing at night or on very hot days. The foliage is not present during the late autumn and winter, when the plant is dormant. |
This is a variable winter-growing oxalis from South Africa which produces delicate flowers in a range of pinks and apricots which last for ages. Do not feed to keep the leaves contained. This is suitable between paving, massed at the front of a low border or in a wall and rock garden, also suitable for window-boxes. Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. |
Oxalis are wonderful "collector's items" -- you know you have been bitten by the bug when, upon seeing their dazzling jewel-like flowers and different leaf forms, you experience an irrepressible urge to possess more! The South African species are largely winter-growers, brightening the dreary months with their exuberant flowers, then go dormant in summer. They are best appreciated as container plants, and need sun to open their flowers. |
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White |
October, November |
5 x 2 |
Light Green, erect, 0.25 inches wide and 4-5 inches high, foliage |
Polyxena is a small family of very dwarf bulbs suited to pot culture in a frost-free situation. Can start to flower in the autumn soon after potting. Very uncommon and well worth growing. This is suitable for hanging baskets in the summer and in coldframes for the rest of the year. Plant 1 inch (2.5 cms) deep and 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cms) apart. Can be grown outside in the Channel Islands in sandy soil. Moisture is needed in early spring, with little or none needed after the foliage dies back in late autumn. |
Small, white flowers are held between the leaves with flower fragrance much like that of a hyacinth. The native habitat in Cape Province of South Africa is open, sparse grassland near the coast. |
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Deep Lilac |
October, November |
2-3 x 12 (5-7.5 x 30) |
Light Green, erect, 1 inch wide and 4-6 inches in length, foliage |
This bulb has clusters of starry-like deep lilac flowers produced at the base of the strappy green foliage. |
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Sparaxis grandiflora acutiloba - tender
Sparaxis is derived from the Greek "sparasso" ("to tear"), which refers to the lacerated spathes that surround the flowers |
Golden-Yellow |
April, May |
4-10 x 12 (10-25 x 30) |
Flat, stiff and rather tough dark Green leaves 8 inches long are held in a fan shape at the base of the flowering spike. |
This is suitable for hanging baskets in the summer and in coldframes for the rest of the year where they can be protected from the frost below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants will withstand a few degrees of frost, but not prolonged cold temperatures. Plant 2 inches (5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. Can be grown outside in the Channel Islands in sandy soil in bold groups of 25 or more in one place. Moisture is needed in early spring, with none needed after the foliage dies back in late autumn, so that the corms ripen. Great cut flowers, as they are long-lasting. |
Sparaxis, native to South Africa, has been in cultivation for over 200 years, due to its ease and free flowering form. As part of the Iris family, brightly coloured flowers are borne above the strappy foliage. Colours range from hot oranges, yellows and pinks to reds and dark purple. Well worth a pot display in fertile gritty loam under frost free conditions. The plants prefer to be on the dry side in the summer as in their native habitats of South Africa, where they receive their rainfall in the winter. |
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Deep Violet with |
April, May |
6-12 x 12 (15-30 x 30) |
Flat, stiff and rather tough dark Green leaves 8 inches long are held in a fan shape at the base of the flowering spike. |
This is suitable for hanging baskets in the summer and in coldframes for the rest of the year where they can be protected from the frost below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants will withstand a few degrees of frost, but not prolonged cold temperatures. Plant 2 inches (5 cms) deep and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cms) apart. Can be grown outside in the Channel Islands in sandy soil in bold groups of 25 or more in one place. Moisture is needed in early spring, with none needed after the foliage dies back in late autumn, so that the corms ripen. Great cut flowers, as they are long-lasting. |
Sparaxis, native to South Africa, has been in cultivation for over 200 years, due to its ease and free flowering fo |