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Plant of the Day
Tuesday 14 July 2026
A great clump-forming perennial for a sunny, well-drained location is Baptisia 'Dutch Chocolate' (Decadence Series) (false indigo). This plant is best left undisturbed, as it develops a deep tap root that improves drought tolerance. In the winter the stems and seedpods make a strong feature.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Wednesday 3 December 2025
Late in autumn the flowers of Aster ageratoides 'Ezo Murasaki' continue to create a display and are a source of nectar for the bees before winter. This is a vigorous, clump-forming perennial which can reach up to 60cm in height.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 5 December 2025
The North American species Helianthus salicifolius (willow-leaved sunflower, column flower, graceful sunflower) is a vigorous, clump forming perennial. It produces very tall stems that are covered in fresh green narrow thread-like leaves that arch away from the stem. From late summer into autumn each stem is topped with a spray of yellow daisy flowers. The plant thrives in full sun and associates well with tall ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus and Calamagrostis.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 16 May 2025
The clump-forming perennial Ranunculus aconitifolius 'Flore Pleno' (white bachelor's buttons, double fair maids of France, aconite-leaved buttercup) is a much loved plant of an Orkney cottage garden. This cultivar carries bouquets of small, perfectly formed double-white buttercups, with green centres on widely branched stems. It thrives in humus-rich, fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 9 May 2025
The herbaceous perennial Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegated' (masterwort) has produced a clump of new foliage. The leaves have a broad margin of creamy-yellow. In early summer there will be stems of small flowers surrounded by showy pink-tinged white bracts.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Tuesday 6 May 2025
Excellent for adding a bright spot to a shady border is Milium effusum 'Aureum' (Bowles's golden grass). This semi-evergreen perennial grass forms a clump of arching, soft yellow leaves, with airy panicles of bead-like flowers. It grows in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. This grass will self-seed around the garden but is easily controlled.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 21 February 2025
These clumps of Helleborus orientalis (Lenten rose, hellebore) were the perfect choice to plant at the edge of the path so people can easily admire the late winter flowers. This species has saucer-shaped flowers, in white, pink, green, mauve or purple, from February onwards. Plants thrive in a moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. All parts of hellebores are toxic and the sap may irritate the skin.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Wednesday 12 April 2017
A compact, clump-forming herbaceous perennial Lathyrus vernus (bitter vetch) is ideal for the front of a border. The flowers are reddish-purple, and become shaded greenish-blue as they age. It thrives in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade.
Jill Raggett
