Flower. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 7 June 2013. |
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Plant Name |
Iris pallida 'Argentea Variegata' |
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Common Name |
Zebra Iris, Silver-variegated Sweet Iris |
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Soil |
Sand or Loam (Neutral to slightly acidic) |
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Sun Aspect |
Full Sun |
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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) |
23 x 18 (57 x 45) |
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Foliage |
Sword-like leaves, with silvery-white and grey-green stripes running lengthwise, remaining nearly evergreen in mild winter regions |
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Flower Shape, Natural Arrangement, Number of Petals and Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed |
Lavender-Blue, 6 Petal flowers in May-June |
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Comment |
Erect Form. Pruning Group 14. "Also known as the Zebra Iris, this is a very old garden plant, still as popular as ever. It forms a low clump of sword-like leaves, with silvery-white and grey-green stripes running lengthwise, remaining nearly evergreen in mild winter regions. Fragrant lavender-blue flowers appear in early summer. Excellent for cutting. Plants must have excellent drainage, particularly in hot, humid summer regions or areas with wet winters. Clumps may be easily divided every 3 to 4 years in late summer, exactly as you would treat a Bearded Iris." from Heritage Perennials. "Iris may be rhizomatous or bulbous perennials, with narrowly leaves and erect stems bearing flowers with 3 large spreading or pendent fall petals, alternating with 3 erect, often smaller, standard petals, in late winter, spring or early summer Tall Bearded irises are herbaceous rhizomatous perennials to 70cm or more, with flowers 10-20cm across, bearded on the falls, in late spring and early summer 'Argentea Variegata' is a semi-evergreen plant with sword-shaped grey-green leaves edged with white, and fragrant light blue-purple flowers 10cm wide in early summer, the falls with purple veins on white near the base. Remove any dying foliage in autumn, old flower stems can be cut down after flowering. Tall varieties can have their leaf fans trimmed to one third of the total height to reduce wind rock while the plants are establishing. " from Royal Horticultural Society. "Plant shallowly with the upper part of the rhizome sitting on the surface of the soil, incorporating a low nitrogen fertiliser in the planting hole. After planting remove the upper-most third of the leaves to minimise the incidence of wind-rock. In exposed areas stake with bamboo canes in early spring." from Crocus . Available from Crocus in the UK with Walters Gardens in America. |
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Companions |
... |
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Flowers mixed with Allium christophii. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 7 June 2013. |
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Seed Head of Allium christophii with the Iris. Photo from H. Kavanagh on 21 August 2013. |
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Winter Form next to front path 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 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 7 June 2013. |
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Late Summer Form with seed heads from Allium christophii from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from H. Kavanagh on 21 August 2013. |
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Winter Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
Spring Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 25 April 2013. |
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Spring Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
Autumn Foliage from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. |
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Flower and buds Group 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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