Flower. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 29 July 2013. |
Foliage. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 29 July 2013. |
Form. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 29 July 2013. |
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Plant Name |
Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo' |
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Common Name |
Betony, Woundwort |
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Soil |
Chalk, Loam, Sand |
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Sun Aspect |
Full Sun, Part Shade |
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Soil Moisture |
Moist and Well-drained |
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Plant Type |
Herbaceous Perennial |
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Height x Spread in inches (cms) |
20 x 28 (50 x 70) |
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Foliage |
Rosettes of pointed Dark Green leaves |
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Flower Shape, Natural Arrangement, Number of Petals and Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed |
Upright spikes of two-lipped, tubular, Lavender-Pink flowers in June-September |
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Comment |
Erect Form. Pruning Group 14. "This is a clump-forming perennial, which is mainly grown for the rose-lavender flowers which appear in summer. These flowers are held on upright spikes above the rosettes of dark green leaves and act as a magnet for bees. It provides great groundcover which is ideal for filling gaps at the front of the border." from Crocus. "Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Appreciates some light afternoon shade in hot, humid climates. Soils should be kept evenly moist, but established plants have some drought tolerance. Spreads by creeping stems (stolons) that root as they go along the ground. Plant 12-18” apart for use as a ground cover. ‘Hummelo’ is a wood betony or stachys cultivar that features basal rosettes of ovate, glossy, dark green leaves and tiny, two-lipped, rose-lavender flowers which appear in dense spikes atop mostly leafless flowering stems rising well above the foliage mat to 1.5-2’ tall in summer. Clumps will spread over time to form a dense ground cover. Leaves are evergreen in warm winter climates, but will depreciate considerably in harsh winters. Although some species of Stachys are grown primarily for their gray woolly leaves (e.g., Stachys byzantina or lamb’s ears), this species is grown primarily for its vivid flowers which can provide a spectacular display, particularly when massed. Moreover, when plants are in flower, they somewhat more closely resemble some of the salvias than the fuzzy-leaved lamb’s ears. ‘Hummelo’ is sometimes sold in commerce as a cultivar of Stachys monieri." from Missouri Botanical Garden. "This Betony has dark green, glossy foliage in a basal mound. It is unusual in that it has wealth of rose-lavender spikes on short stalks all summer that are very decorative and last a long time as a cut flower. Perennial Stachys performs like a Salvia, and deer will leave it alone. Likes a spot that is well-drained in winter. Nearly evergreen." from Bluestone Perennials. - "Our plants are grown in 3 1/2" square x 4" deep 100% biodegradable plantable pots. Made from coconut husk fibers (coir, these pots have tremendous advantages over plastic pots:-
The exceptional permeability to water, air and plant roots allows our plants to quickly grow a robust root system. In traditional plastic pots, plants will tend to become root-bound with a tightly interwoven root mass at the bottom of the container. When grown in a coco pot, the same plant grows healthy roots throughout the entire pot. The roots spread out in all directions and air prune as they exit the pot. Just plant the pot – they are ready to grow!" Available from Crocus and Bluebell Cottage Gardens in the UK with Bluestone Perennials in America. |
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Companions |
... |
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Winter Form in left of middle from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 4 March 2013. |
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Spring Form from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 25 April 2013. |
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Spring Form diagonally from middle to front right from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 13 May 2013. |
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Summer Form from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 29 July 2013. |
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Winter Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
Spring Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
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Spring Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
Summer Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
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Flower from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
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Flower Group from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
Flower Bud from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
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MIXED BORDER RHS WISLEY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS GALLERY PAGES |
FOLIAGE COLOUR |
SEED/FRUIT COLOUR FLOWER BED PICTURES |
Starting with the data in Garden Style followed by Infill Plants, then you can refine your plant list from the remaining galleries in this cell:- |
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PERENNIAL |
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HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL Gallery with 7 Flower Colours (Red, Pink and Purple on same page) per Month in Colour Wheel. Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month. |
HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL INDEX -
The variety of plants that can be used in alpine gardening is obviously very large and very bewildering at first approach. With a view to easing the task of selection here are lists The standard potting and seed-soil recipes from The Propagation of Alpines by Lawrence D. Hills are at the bottom of the page on Alpine - Sink and Trough Gardens. |
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To compare |
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with 7 Flower Colours - Blue, White, Yellow, Green for Unusual, Red, Orange and Pink per Month in Colour Wheel below. Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month. |
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The Herbaceous Perennials in this gallery are not compared with other Herbaceous Perennials in the HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL GALLERY, but they are compared with each other in the Mixed Border Garden Design Gallery using the above 7 Flower Colours per month Wheel. FLOWER COLOUR RANGE IN 71 PARTS OF RHS WISLEY MIXED BORDER DURING After reviewing the situation in the |
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Blue = |
Green = |
Red = |
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Brown = |
Blue = |
Green = |
Red = |
Black = |
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Wet Soil |
Moist Soil |
Dry Soil |
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Flowering Months range abbreviates month Click on centre of thumbnail to move from this page to the The Comments Row of that Plant Description |
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Herbaceous Perennial |
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 |
Flower Thumb-nail |
Herbaceous Perennial Flower Thumbnail |
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 |
Flower Thumb-nail |
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Alpine Herbaceous Perennial if Text Background is Blue |
Alpine Herbaceous Perennial if Text Background is Blue |
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Evergreen or Semi-Evergreen Perennial |
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A |
A |
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May, June, |
48-60 x 24 |
96 x 40 |
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June, July, August, |
36 x 24 |
48 x 24 |
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June, July, |
48 x 18 |
40-60 x 20-40 (100-150 x 50-100) |
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June, July, |
36 x 18 |
June, July, |
60 x 40 |
Creamy-White. |
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June, July, |
48 x 24 |
32-39 x 24 (80-100 x 60) |
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May, June, |
36 x 24 |
July, August, September |
64 x 16 |
Violet-Blue. |
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June, July, |
20 x 15 |
August, September |
96 x 40 |
Dark Blue. |
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June, July, August, |
28 x 18 |
July, August |
40-60 x 4-20 (100-150 x 10-50) |
Violet-Blue. |
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June, July, August, |
36 x 16 |
24-48 x 18-24 |
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June, July, August, |
36-42 x 12 |
48 x 36 |
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June, July, |
16-48 x 12 |
70 x 40 |
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July, August, |
42 x 36 |
August, September, October |
80 x 24 |
Creamy-White. |
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July, August |
40 x 80 |
60 x 24 |
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December, January, |
18 x 30 |
40 x 20 |
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July, August, |
30 x 18 |
60 x 24 |
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June, July |
20 x 18 |
18 x 12 |
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July, August, |
24 x 24 |
July, August |
36 x 20 |
White. |
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July, August, |
30 x 24 |
32 x 24 |
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June, July |
72-96 x 24 |
36 x 16 |
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June, July |
72-96 x 24 |
40 x 16 |
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June, July |
72-96 x 24 |
July, August, September, October |
48 x 24 |
White. |
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June, July |
72-96 x 24 |
24 x 16 |
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June, July |
72-96 x 24 |
20-40 x 4-20 |
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June, July |
72 x 24 |
28 x 24 |
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June, July, |
4 x 20 |
July, August, September |
72 x 60 |
Pinkish-Lavender |
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June, July, |
16 x 12 |
60-100 x 40-60 |
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July |
24 x 230 |
20-40 x 20-40 |
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June, July, |
36 x 24 |
August, September, October |
24-40 x 24-40 |
Pale Pink. |
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August, September, |
36 x 24 |
40-60 x 20-40 |
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Pink - July, August or |
24 x 16 |
60 x 24 |
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July, August |
36 x 18 |
July, August, September |
60 x 24 |
Cream. |
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July, August |
25 x 16 |
August, September |
24 x 24 |
Yellowish-Brown. |
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May, June |
16 x 18 |
July, August, September |
60 x 18-24 |
Pink. |
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May, June |
30 x 12 |
September, October |
12-36 x 12-36 |
White. |
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June, July, August, September, October |
36 x 12 |
July, August, September, October |
4-20 x 4-20 |
Red and White. |
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July, August, |
28 x 16 |
September, October |
52 x 24 |
Mauve-Pink. |
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August, September, |
12 x 12 |
September, October |
60 x 16-24 |
Lilac-Blue. |
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July |
30 x 18 |
August, September |
12-18 x 8-12 |
Purple-Pink. |
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August, September |
8-12 x 10 |
45 x 78 |
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June |
20-24 x 12 |
September, October |
48 x 36 |
Purple-Red. |
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July |
24 x 18 |
August, September, October, November |
48-60 x 24 |
Pale Violet. |
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July, August |
39 x 24 |
24 x 16 |
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August, September |
48 x 24 |
B |
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June, July |
18-24 x 18 (45-60 x 45) |
40-60 x 20-40 |
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July, August |
24 x 18 |
C |
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July, August |
8-18 x 12 |
60 x 24 |
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June, July |
24 x 18 |
48 x 20 |
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B |
24-36 x 18-30 |
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April, May |
12-18 x 24 |
24 x 12 |
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April, May |
12-18 x 18 (30-45 x 45) |
June, July |
60-100 x 40-60 |
White. |
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June, July, August, |
24 x 18 |
20-40 x 4-20 |
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C |
24 x 24 |
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April |
9 x 12 |
August, September, October |
35 x 23 |
Opening Orange fades to Pink. |
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June, July, |
2 x 12 |
36 x 18 |
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June, July, |
36-48 x 24 |
June, July, August, September |
60 x 48 |
Purple. |
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June, July, |
24 x 24 |
D |
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July, August, September, |
36 x 24 |
May, June, July, August |
80 x 40 |
Creamy-Yellow-Green. |
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D |
E |
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July, August, September |
60 x 18 |
18-24 x 14 |
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Links to the other 22 Diascia Pages are in Alpine / Herbaceous Perennial Index D Page |
June, July, August, |
6 x 20 |
40 x 18 |
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May, June |
18 x 30 |
28 x 16 |
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May, June |
24-36 x 20 |
39 x 39 |
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E |
July, August |
18-48 x 24 |
Bright Blue. |
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July, August, September |
30-48 x 18 (75-120 x 45) |
40-60 x 20-40 |
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F |
12-60 x 24 |
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June |
6 x 6 |
White |
88 x 40 |
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G |
Eupatorium maculatum (Atropur-pureum Group) 'Riesen-schirm' |
July, August, September |
80 x 80 |
Pink-Purple. |
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August, September |
24 x 18 |
August, September, October |
60-100 x 20-40 |
Purplish-Pink. |
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June, July |
32 x 18 |
24 x 20 |
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June, July |
12 x 12 |
F |
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July, August, |
4 x 12 |
60-100 x 20-40 |
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July, August |
60 x 72 |
July, August |
72 x 18 |
Sulphur-Yellow. |
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H |
60 x 20 |
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September, October, |
60 x 18 |
G |
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August |
48 x 30 |
48 x 36 |
White. |
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August |
20 x 36 |
Deep Violet |
48 x 32 |
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July |
36 x 48 |
36 x 36 |
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K |
Geranium 'Rozanne' |
24 x 16 |
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September, October |
24 x 18 |
24 x 18 |
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July, August |
36 x 24 |
24 x 20 |
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September, October |
30 x 18 |
H |
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L |
July, August, September |
72 x 24 |
Yellow. |
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May, June, |
24 x 12 |
June, July, August |
36 x 24 |
Brick Orange Red. |
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April, May, |
12 x 18 |
38-51 x 16 |
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August, September, |
48 x 36 |
20-40 x 4-20 |
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June, July, |
3 x 6 |
72 x 24 |
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June, July |
12 x 12 |
20-40 x 4-20 |
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June, July, August, |
36 x 12 |
September, October |
96-120 x 12-36 |
Yellow rays and dark Brown disc. If it flowered in Sep-Oct, I missed taking their photos |
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April, May, |
48 x 24 |
80 x 48 |
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May, June |
12 x 18 |
80 x 18 |
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July, August |
36 x 24 |
23 x 30 |
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M |
20 x 40 |
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May, June, |
12 x 36 |
Yellow with |
30 x 24 |
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May, June, |
12 x 24 |
32 x 40 |
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P |
18 x 12 |
Cream. |
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June, July |
36 x 36 |
26 x 20 |
Pale Pink. |
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May, June |
36 x 36 |
I |
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June, July |
30 x 30 |
72 x 36 |
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May, June |
16 x 16 |
72 x 60 |
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Paeonia |
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23 x 18 |
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May, June |
6 x 4 |
Pinkish-blue |
J, K |
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May, June |
... |
Yellow, Purple, Red, Pink |
32 x 24 |
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May, June |
6 x 5 |
Pink |
40 x 20 |
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May, June |
6 x 3.5 |
Purple |
August, September |
120 x 48 |
Orange-red fades to yellow. |
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May, June |
6 x 3 |
Red |
June, July, August, September |
48 x 32 |
Lemon-Yellow. |
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May, June |
6 x 5 |
White |
July, August, September |
40 x 30 |
Light Scarlet fades to Yellow. |
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May, June |
6 x 3 |
Yellow |
June, July, August |
36 x 24 |
Orange top with Ivory-White bottom. |
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L |
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June, July, |
12 x 6 |
August, September, October, November |
60 x 40 |
White. |
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May, June, |
36 x 24 |
36 x 36 |
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May |
4-8 x 8 |
48 x 48 |
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S |
30 x 18 |
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September |
18 x 18 |
Lychnis coronaria 'Gardener's World' |
24 x 10-12 |
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D |
40 x 24 |
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May |
24-48 x 48 |
60 x 20 |
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36 x 18 |
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M |
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100 x 60 |
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June, July |
88 x 40 |
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June, July |
80 x 48 |
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June, July, August |
55 x 55 |
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June, July, August, September |
24 x 18 |
White. |
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July, August, September |
60 x 20 |
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June, July, August |
36 x 15 |
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N |
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June, July, August, September |
36 x 24 |
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June, July, August |
48 x 36 |
Lilac-Pink. |
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June, July, August, September |
24 x 20 |
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O |
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June, July, August, September |
18 x 24 |
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July, August, September, October |
18 x 18 |
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P |
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July, August, September |
70 x 24 |
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July, August, September |
70 x 24 |
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June, July, August, September |
40 x 30 |
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July, August, September, October |
48 x 48 |
Bright Red. |
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July, August, September, October, November |
18 x 18 |
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June, July, August, September |
50 x 60 |
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Persicaria amplex-icaulis taurus |
July, August, September, October |
40 x 28 |
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July, August, September |
20 x 40 |
White. |
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June, July, August |
80 x 40 |
Pale Yellow. |
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May, June, July, August, September |
36 x 30 |
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July, August |
40 x 24 |
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July, August, September |
30 x 20 |
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July, August, September |
30 x 30 |
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July, August, September |
36 x 24 |
Lilac. |
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July, August, September |
18 x 14 |
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July, August, September |
24 x 16 |
White. |
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July, August, September |
40 x 20 |
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Dear Mr C H Garnons-Williams, Tony Dickerson Horticultural Advisor Above email sent by the RHS on 13 September 2013 - plant label in Mixed Border bed still not changed by 23 November 2013. |
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July, August, September |
30 x 16 |
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July, August, September |
30 x 30 |
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July, August, September |
40 x 32 |
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July, August, September, October |
36 x 24 |
Red. |
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July, August, September |
24 x 24 |
Blue-Purple. |
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July, August, September |
36 x 12 |
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June, July, August, September |
24 x 18 |
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June, July, August |
16 x 12 |
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June, July, August |
16 x 12 |
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Q, R |
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August, September, October |
24 x 18 |
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June, July, August, September |
80 x 36 |
Yellow. |
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S |
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June, July, August |
30 x 24 |
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May, June, July, August, September |
18 x 18 |
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July, August, September, October |
24 x 20 |
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September, October |
20 x 16 |
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August, September |
40 x 20 |
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August, September, October |
12 x 12 |
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August, September, October, November |
18 x 18 |
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August, September |
18 x 18 |
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September, October, November |
24 x 18 |
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June, July, August |
32 x 24 |
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August, September, October |
60 x 32 |
Yellow. |
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June, July, August, September |
18 x 24 |
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June, July, August, September |
20 x 28 |
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August, September, October |
48 x 24 |
Violet-Blue. |
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June, July, August, September |
32 x 18 |
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T |
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June, July, August |
94 x 23 |
Lavender. |
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June, July, August |
59 x 23 |
Purple-Pink. |
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June, July |
48 x 48 |
Sulphur-Yellow. |
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June, July, August |
72 x 36 |
Purple-Pink or Lavender. |
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U, V |
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August, September, October |
60 x 18 |
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June, July, August, September, October |
24 x 16 |
Purple or Magenta. |
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June, July, August, September |
36 x 24 |
Pale Purple/ Lavend-erish Lilac. |
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June, July, August, September |
60 x 24 |
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July, August, September |
60 x 36 |
Pink Lavender/ Lilac. |
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July, August |
40 x 20 |
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July, August, September |
60 x 18 |
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June, July |
42 x 20 |
Lilac/ Pale Blue. |
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July, August, September |
60 x 26 |
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W, XYZ |
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May, June, July |
18 x 14 |
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Site design and content of this table copyright ©July 2009. Page structure amended December 2012. Colour Wheel clarified January 2013. Feet changed to inches (cms) July 2015. Herbaceous Perennial Menu Table changed and Index Pages added June 2017. Chris Garnons-Williams. Site design and content for Mixed Border Herbaceous Gallery copyright ©March 2013. 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. |
Ivydene Gardens Herbaceous Perennial Flower Shape Gallery: |
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HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL FLOWER SHAPE AND OTHER DETAILS- |
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Number of Flower Petals |
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Flower Shape - Simple |
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Flower Shape - Elabor-ated |
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Natural Arrange-ments |
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Herbaceous Perennial Name Index The respective flower colour and thumbnail, months of flowering, form, height and width, foliage colour and thumbnail, use and comments are in the relevant index page Evergreen Perennial Name Index |
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UK Peony Index :- |
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Perennials & Ephemerals chapter of Plants for Dry Gardens by Jane Taylor. Published by Frances Lincoln Limited in 1993. ISBN 0-7112-0772-0 for plants that are drought tolerant. |
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Rock |
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Perennials for Ground Covering in Shade and 3 |
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Colour All The Year in My Garden by C.H. Middleton. Published by Ward, Lock & Co. for culture. Perennials The Gardener's Reference by Susan Carter, Carrie Becker and Bob Lilly. Published by Timber Press in 2007 for plants for Special Gardens. It also gives details of species and cultivars for each genus. |
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Herbaceous Perennial Form |
Prostrate or Trailing |
Cushion or Mound-forming |
Spreading or Creeping |
Stemless. Sword-shaped Leaves |
Erect or Upright |
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Herbaceous Perennial Use |
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Back of Border, Alley, and Too Tall for Words Special Garden |
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Herbaceous Perennial in Soil |
Clay + |
Peat + |
Any + |
+ Herbac-eous Perennials in Pages in Plants |
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Peony Use |
Copied from Ivydene Gardens Mixed Borders in RHS Garden at Wisley Garden Design: |
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This section details what I consider as errors in design carried out by the staff at the RHS garden in Wisley:-
Mixing all the primary colours together for the flower colours used in many of the 71 parts of these Mixed Borders This mixture provides a foliage and flower foil against which these other permanent herbaceous perennials can provide new growth from the ground each year, with the different colours of foliage from juvenile to mature to dying off in the autumn and then an easy maintenance during the months of December-March for removing most of the growth above ground and replacing the plant supports to provide a neat bed in a series of large ground areas. The bedding plants - see Bedding Annual Plant Index and Un-labelled Bedding Annual Plant Index pages - provide the icing on the cake at different flowering time periods between May and November to enhance the overall flower colour scheme. The new bedding each year can provide opportunities to vary the look of these beds. It was disapointing that I did not see the flowers during 2013 of more than 25% of these Permanent Herbaceous Perennial Plants - possible reasons shown in Lost Flowers Page with 'Walkabout' Plants and 'Stateless' Plants Page. A table for each month - May, June, July, August, September, October, November - shows the flower photos for each of the 71 parts of the Mixed Borders split into Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, Unusual Colour, White, or Yellow for all the plants. Besides that, you can see from the table below that Red and Pink with Unusual Flower Colours seem to be predominant as flower colours and that these are spread throughout the beds.
I have added the BEDding (started January 2014 - completed March 2014) and then the OTHer Permanent Plants (started March 2014 - completed May 2014) to the table below to show the flower colour planting scheme of the Bedding and the Other Permanent Plants and then its combination.
If I had produced this planting design with its mixture of flower colours in almost every part - or maintained these beds in this way - in 2013, I would be deeply ashamed. As a nation of gardeners in Britain; the Royal Horticultural Society being at its pinnacle, with the tradition of excellence by our previous head gardeners and their staff during the Victorian era, I had thought that the staff at the RHS Garden at Wisley would not need a lecture.
Another Possible Solution for lack of coordinated Flower Colour Scheme If you want the garden to be restful to the eye, then you can provide a colour scheme using the harmony of adjacent colours. If you prefer to shock the visitor, then use the contrast of opposite colours, but I am not favourable of the above partial use of the harmony of triads as shown by the Colour Wheel Page of Garden Design.
Very Poor Plant Labelling After reviewing the situation that 102 plants were missing their identity when in flower in 2013 out of 348 (29.31% of the plants) in 768 square metres of Mixed Borders garden beds:-
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