Wanting to up your gardening game but are unsure as to what to plant? Here are a few plants that we love and can be planted early 2021.
Roses:
Climbers and Ramblers
One of our tallest English climbers. Its large, single, blush white flowers gradually fade to white. They have a delicious myrrh fragrance. Even though it does not repeat, it produces a magnificent display in early summer and bears many hips in autumn
Ghislaine de Felligonde Rambling Rose
This is a useful rambler in that it is almost thornless, very healthy and not too vigorous. The orange buds open to small, pale apricot blooms with a yellow base, then fade to peach, pink and white. In autumn the flowers tend to be more pink. There is a sweet, musky fragrance and it repeat flowers throughout the summer
The Generous Gardener Climbing Rose
Bears beautifully formed flowers, which nod gracefully on the stem. When the petals open they expose numerous stamens, providing an almost water lily-like effect. The flowers are a pale glowing pink and have a delicious fragrance with aspects of Old Rose
Always one of the first English Roses to start flowering, its perfect scrolled buds open to large, rosette-shaped flowers of bright glowing pink. The strong, perfectly balanced Old Rose scent is often described as being the quintessential Old Rose fragrance.
Shrub Roses:
The fully open flowers are very large, 4-5 across, and have only 10 petals. They are a rich apricot colour, with an area of yellow behind the stamens. The fragrance is fruity with a strong element of lemon zest. It forms a spreading shrub, the many stems producing a mass of flowers held in large heads.
Rich orange-red buds open to chalice-shaped blooms, filled with loosely arranged, orange petals. The surrounding outer petals are salmon-pink with beautifully contrasting golden-yellow undersides.
Produces white, shallowly cupped, full petalled blooms with impressive regularity throughout the summer. They have a pure myrrh fragrance. It forms an attractive shrub with bushy, relatively upright growth. Named to celebrate the Royal Wedding
A striking climber bearing large, deeply cupped, bright crimson-red blooms, with a pleasing Old Rose fragrance. It is a relatively compact climber clothed in large, dark green leaves
Shrubs and dwarf trees for colour and fragrance
An old favourite, great in semi shade and very fragrant
Super Fragrant Daphne, a lovely plant. Even your neighbours will smell it
Reliable and easily maintained evergreen flowering shrub with fragrant white flowers, available in various sized balls for architectural installations
Fabulous autumn colouring, great as seasonal focal point
Mahonia can be a bit of a Marmite plant but this one changes the rules
This lovely aromatic culinary plant is mainly grown as a shrub but can also be allowed to grow into a small tree. The Berries are one of the original ‘European’ spices before there was access to the East Indies. Try a sprig or four on the BBQ to impart a wonderful flavour to your cooking.
Prunus Kojo no Mai (shrub form)
A very pretty dwarf cherry tree with copious small white sometimes flushed with pink spring flowers. Leaves turn a fiery red before falling in the autumn
Hydrangea Paniculata Little lime
A lovely and reliable pastel hued Hydrangea, great planted on mass
Central London generally enjoys a milder climate on average 2 to 3 degrees warmer than the surrounding countryside. Happily, this opens the door to quite a few plants, climbers and perennials that would otherwise suffer in the suburbs or outside of the capital. Over the years this has allowed us to experiment with a few plants previously thought to be far too ‘soft’ to stay outside all year round. Here are a few to try in a sheltered garden, just remember that often it’s a wet cold that kills ‘soft’ plants that can otherwise survive a nice cold but dry winter, so good drainage is imperative and if in doubt, use fleece when the temperature really drops
A lovely addition to a protected London Garden which is available in purple, white and occasionally pink. it provides a soft unstructured coverage and flowers from now through to mid spring.
Yuzu Oranges Citrus Junos
Rather different but fun, it can be a little difficult to source larger plants but this Japanese citrus with its special fruit grows well in London.. (protect young plants in winter) From all accounts one of the best citrus to add to your G&T 😉
Plant in a protected sunny spot, be patient and you may well get to enjoy their wonderful fruit
(protect from Kiwis)
You will recognise this as a house plant but this variety grows well in good soil in a well-protected London garden
The cousin of the better-known Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia Reginae) with blue and white flowers, our monster one has been outside now for two years now, it’s suffered mild frosts and sub-zero temperatures without any problems but consider its huge leaves and keep it out of strong winds, a real conversation starter
Summer Bulbs to plant in February
Lilies have some of the most recognisable flowers, and with such scent, size and colour, it’s no surprise. Plant them any time from autumn to spring in a sunny spot, in rich, well-drained soil, around 15-20cm deep. If you have heavy, wet soil, you could try planting the bulbs in containers, to create a vibrant display.
Exotic pineapple lilies (Eucomis) bulbs are usually planted in spring, however, it’s not too early to plant them in pots and containers. If planted in well-drained soil, the bulbs should be hardy to around -6ºC. Plant the bulbs 15cm deep in pots for an impressive summer display, or if you like, plant them out in the border once actively growing, after the last frosts.
Liatris are tough, herbaceous perennials hailing from North America, beloved by bees and butterflies. Large, extravagant blooms come in shades of pink, purple and white and they’ll eventually form a clump that can be divided in spring to increase your stock of plants. Plant the bulbs in light, well-draining soil, around 5cm deep.
Galtonia prefer a sunny position in well-draining soil where the bulbs should be planted 10cm deep, 10cm apart. These stately plants produce tall spikes of nodding white flowers, which look particularly spectacular when planted in large drifts. In colder areas, overwinter the bulbs by lifting as you would with gladioli.
Of course, should you need any help with looking after your garden or even building a new one, we are always here to help….
IF YOU’D LIKE HELP TO REDESIGN YOUR GARDEN, CALL TOWN & COUNTRY GARDENS ON 0207 736 7801.
