#autumn border

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 22 November 2016

The vigorous herbaceous perennial Physalis alkekengi (Chinese lantern) has filled on this border. It has creamy bell-shaped flowers in summer followed by inflated, lantern-like orange calyces enclosing red berries. It grows in any well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 31 October 2016

The herbaceous perennial Salvia 'Amistad' (sage) produces flowers from mid-summer with large deep purple tubular flowers with black calyces. The blooms are produced for a long period until the first frost occurs. The upright stems are covered with aromatic, slightly downy, corrugated, bright green leaves. This plant grows best in light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It needs a sheltered position and may overwinter if the plant has full sun and good drainage.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day Sunday 16 October 2016

The cream bracts of the flowers of Hydrangea quercifolia (oak-leaved hydrangea) turn brown but continue to create a display in the autumn and winter. This spreading deciduous shrub has large, deeply lobed leaves that turn red and purple in the autumn.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 11 October 2016

The airy, delicate flowers of Calamagrostis brachytricha (Korean feather grass) catch the autumn sunshine. This rhizomatous perennial grass forms tufts of glossy green, linear leaves which turn yellow in the autumn. The purple-tinged flowers start in late summer and persist into the winter. This grass is best planted in moisture retentive well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 26 September 2016

The bright flowers of Dahlia 'Princess Royal' add interest to this border in autumn. Dahlias are easy to grow but do need winter protection in most parts of the UK. They tolerate a wide range of soil types but thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and are planted out when the danger of frost is over. These tuberous herbaceous perennials need to be staked to help with the heavy flower heads and soft shoots.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 28 September 2015

Aster × frikartii 'Mönch' provides an autumn display of flowers. This herbaceous perennial grows up to 90cm tall and the large flowers forms a good contrast with ornamental grasses. It is best grown in an open, sunny place with a well-drained, moderately fertile soil.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 4 September 2015

The Dahlia border is a traditional feature of the English country house. The one at Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge, is planted so that the different cultivars proved a spectrum of colour from white to deep purple. The interpretation helps people understand Dahlia groups, how to cultivate the plants and the names of the different cultivars linked to numbers in the bed. Dahlia 'Purple Pearl' is today's star being a Medium Decorative with distinctive blooms of deep maroon edged in white.

Jill Raggett