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Post by Jonah on Feb 5, 2007 13:58:33 GMT
Hello I have a style of plant in my head for the border, but I don't know if there is a suitable plant! I am looking for a perennial, preferably evergreen, fairly low growing for the front of the border [no more than a foot and a half preferably]. I would like leaves in the style of hosta/ zantedeschia/ asplenium ie. fairly large and lush looking. If not I would like ferny foliage, though not too divided. Problem is it will be in a bed that is south facing and will not get any shade in the summer. I've got a small leaved bergenia which is as close as I can get to the brief, but does anyone have any ideas on a possible plant  |
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Post by andy on Feb 5, 2007 15:36:48 GMT
Crikey...you're going to be hard to please here !!!!! ;D
So....low growing and evergreen in full sun would immediately point to a Yucca....possibly any of the Yucca flacida cultivars or one of the smaller growing Phormiums such as bronze baby or yellow wave.
Lavender, rosemary (a bit tall) or any of the evergreen perennial herbs would be fine too.
Some of the euonymous such as fortunei are good and despite their fairly large size, both cordyline and fatsia make a good show.
Ceonothus, thrysiflorus repens would be another choice but does not fit into your description.
Other than that, why not try one of the varieties of polystichum ferns....evergreen and some produce plantlets on their leaf ribs. They will tolerate a good amount of dry too.
HTH
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Post by Spruance on Feb 5, 2007 15:55:34 GMT
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Post by Jonah on Feb 5, 2007 22:22:24 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions gents, I'll have to do a bit of googling.  I'm not usually this fussy  ;D I already have lavender and rosemary, I suppose I am really after the type of thing that usually likes a shady spot.  My next door neighbour has a hosta in the same aspect that does ok, it's just that they disappear for quite a long time winter/ spring. I'll have a look at ferns, I was more worried about scorching really if they are in sun all day in the summer. Wow Spru, I don't remember seeing all those pics of your garden before, it's lovely, you have achieved loads. In the picture of photinia island bed broader view you have some foliage in pots by the greenhouse, what are they? Is that a recent pic [season wise] |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2007 10:04:11 GMT
Beautiful garden Spruance!
What about a Euonymous Fortunei 'Blondy', Jonah? It would reach the height you are looking for but the leaves aren't huge. Lovely foliage though, deep green with bright splashes of yellow.
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Post by Spruance on Feb 6, 2007 11:42:57 GMT
Thankyou Mrs Beige, you're very kind. Jonah: The 'foliage plants' in pots beside the greenhouse are actually wallflowers. They are particularly bushy as they were set up in those pots last September, and should begin to flower in April, weather permitting. The Photinia and Aucuba photos were taken last Sunday afternoon (4th Feb 2007) so yes, that is how the plants look at this time of year. |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 6, 2007 14:24:53 GMT
That Euonymous is pretty Mrs Beige, I'm sure I can find room for one of those! I don't actually have a Euonymous in the garden. It's not quite what I had in mind though, I'm being particularly picky about this one. ;D I might just try a hardy fern, if I put some swell gel round its roots and try and put it to the side of something a bit taller for a little midday shade I might get away with it. Atleast ferns aren't too expensive to buy if it doesn't work, and I can shift it somewhere shadier if need be. Thanks for all the suggestions, if you can think of any more....... |
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Post by roxann57 on Feb 13, 2007 22:39:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2007 13:27:19 GMT
Hi Jonah ... what about commelina coeleistis ... see this link: www.theseedsite.co.uk/profile515.htmlIt may need winter protection where you are, but has the most glorious glossy dark green foliage. I got three bare-rooted plants from Lidl last year, which all survived (and seem to have survived winter). ... cheers ... |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 18, 2007 0:18:06 GMT
Hi Canarycreeper, does this look the same as your plant? www.fothergills.co.uk/en/commelina-sleeping-beauty-2089.aspx?search=COMMELINA+coelestisLooks a lovely blue. Can't believe I have already got my T&M order, these are reduced to 99p!!!! I would be rather silly buying them on their own, as i think the p&p charge is another 99p. The Geum looks lovely too roxann, I have a couple, but nothing that striking. I bought another asplenium in the meantime, a nice biggish one, and I'm going to position it very carefully in the bed to try and protect it from the sun. But I have an insurance policy maturing next month, so a few of your suggestions have been added to my must have list....... ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2007 0:39:21 GMT
Commelina coelestris Sleeping Beauty (day flower) - I sowed some of those last weekend! But for goodness sake don't tell anyone....... ....they'll be queuing up in their Reliant Robins before i know it  Do you want any? |
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Post by Jonah on Feb 18, 2007 13:40:58 GMT
Hello Captain. You know, I might have to take you up on those Commelina thank you. I will pm you when I've got a bit more time with a list of seeds, maybe we can do swapsies. ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2007 14:24:56 GMT
Yes, that's the one Jonah. Mine haven't flowered yet, but even if they never flower I wouldn't mind - the lovely glossy foliage is reward enough! cheers ...
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;D
My next door neighbour has a hosta in the same aspect that does ok, it's just that they disappear for quite a long time winter/ spring. I'll have a look at ferns, I was more worried about scorching really if they are in sun all day in the summer.
