Gunnera Mannicata

[madonplants]

I have one of these and it is being planted by the pond in a bog garden. Question is I am wanting suggestions as to a shrub I can plant next to it (!!) but that won't be in the boggy ground, but in ordinary clayey soil. I have been elsewhere(??), one suggested dogwoods and other responses were, do you know how big they grow? Yes I do, it was not an impulse buy. I have photos of my son under one, when he was about three and it swamped him, if you excuse the pun! So does anyone have suggestions as to what could be the first plant after this. I appreciate that it won't be right next to it, to start with, as obviously until it is fully grown I will have to fill in with annuals or other plants.
Thanks in advance
Keith

[oldmoleskins]

hi Keith, the dogwood makes sense because - as you probably know - in St Neots, unless global warming puts on a spurt, you're not likely to get much fun from the Gunnera over winter - it will be packed away with the crown protected - so the dogs will give some striking colour to that patch...
I would reflect the setting I've seen in Devon and Cornwall - and add a fuscia 'hedge' or maybe in your case two or three plants. These also will probably need protection and be less than dynamic over winter - the frost will kill the leafy parts anyway - but you'll get a long flowering season from them if cut back hard each spring. Plant deep to protect the crown.

OM

[madonplants]

Cheers OM. I have not discounted a dogwood, as I like them. I just wanted to see if anyone else had other ideas. I will have a dogwood (Cornus Alba Spaethii) near to the other corner of the pond at that end, if you know what I mean, so I had thought of dogwoods. There will be, come next year, a waterfall in between and a tree fern. I have been wondering whether a bamboo would look OK. But it is the usual thing, finding one that a) will not be invasive and b) not toooooo tall. I know bamboos are the in thing at the moment, but most of the popuar ones grow huge. I have been told by someone that you can always keep them in check, but I think that will spoil it's shape. If two people think a dogwood is OK, maybe that is the way to go.
Thanks again
Keith

[beanie]

if bamboo would be too invasive have you thought about grasses,some of the sedges will take wet ground,carex elata aurea is a golden sedge and about 2ft also carex pendula although this one does seed rather a lot

[andy]

How about some of the ericacious plants....all love moist, clay soil. Japanese maple, pieris, Rhodos and azaleas and Camelias would be ideal.

If you go for a dogwood, i found C. Alba 'Elegentissima' to be a nice plant with lovely varigated leaves and bright red stems.