Kari's Garden Plant List 2004

Kari's Garden from L to R Anthemis E C Buxton, Geranium palmatum, Agapanthus 'Golden Rule', Colquhounia

Online Plant Catalogue
I grow small numbers of interesting annuals, perennials and some shrubs.

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Key: [P] Perennial :[A] Annual or tender perennial :[B] biennial : [Bb] Bulb/Corm etc.: [Cl] Climber/Twiner : [H] Hardy :
[HH] Half-hardy : [Sh] Shrub : [T] Tree : ** Scented : ! Irritant or poisonous*

Complete plant list : Later flowering : Red themed : Scented : Bees & butterflies : Common plant names : Seeds

Plant name	Description
Foeniculum vulgare [P] 'Purpureum'**	Purple Fennel, in time the purple-bronze feathery foliage makes a stately airy presence 6 - 7 feet tall. Lovely when the yellow seed heads contrast with the foliage in the red border.
Fuchsia 'Hawkshead' [Sh H]	A favourite, small delicate white flowers tipped green with the palest pink inner skirts. Flowers for ages until really hard frosts.
Galactites tomentosa 'Alba' [A]	An annual thistley thing from the Mediterranean area. Netted silver and green foliage, amethyst flowerheads [or possibly the rarer white] will seed about. Probably good for bees.
Galanthus nivalis 'Lady Elphinstone' [Bb H]	A double snowdrop with variably yellow edging. Sometimes reverts to green when moved. Rare. Detail
Galium odoratum [P]** Woodruff	A major carpeter, useful in dry shade, it is invasive so better kept to less formal areas. White cross stitch flowers in May over whorls of green foliage.
Geranium palmatum [P H/HH] phaeum 'Margaret'? pratense 'Purple Haze' [P] sinense [P H]	Detail Glossy light green evergreen leaves and deep pink flowers. Not entirely sure as to naming, has very pale grey-lilac flowers over green foliage [it's not Margaret Wilson which has marbled leaves] I have a few available, variably purple to dark reddy-green leaves, intensity of colour increases through the season. Sharp red-black petals on beaky flowers.
Geum [P] Avens 'Karlskaer' 'Mandarin' chiloense 'Mrs J Bradshaw'	Garden stalwarts for sun or part shade. Large single intense orange flowers Very large semi-double frilled vibrant orange flowers Another cottage garden dependable, doubled scarlet-red flowers on long stems over low neat foliage.
Gladiolus [Bb H/HH] primulinus 'Hastings' primulinus Mrs A Rowley x colvillei 'The Bride'	Brown and orange Yellow and brown striped Pure white - probably needs lifting to over winter
Gypsophila [P H] oldhamiana paniculata ['Schneeflocke']	'Baby's Breath' - nice airy plants. From E.Asia. up to 4ft [1.5m] pale pink flowers, flowering late summer. Sun From seed, some will be white doubles others singles. Sun
Hedychium spicatum [HH/Bb]**	Perhaps not the flashiest member of the ginger family, spidery white flowers in late summer. Grows to 2 - 3 feet [90cm] in a pot with a bit of liquid feeding good when other things begin to look tired. Detail
Heiracium auranticum [P H]	Hawkweed - fantastic tangy orange dandelion-like heads on spreading mats of fuzzy leaves. Good ground cover in a sunny position. Detail
Helianthemum [Sh H] Henfield Brilliant Jubilee copper	Rock or Sun Rose - single crinkled petals to tight doubles. June flowering Rich single flame-orange over silvery mound forming foliage. Detail Small double yellow pom-poms Came to me un-named. Small deep green shiny leaves, copper orange flowers. [One of the Ben's maybe?]
Helianthus [A] Sunflower	Velvet Queen multiheaded in rich reds
*Heliotropium arborescens [Sh HH ]** Gatton Park	Cherry Pie - who can resist this wonderful scented tender shrub? Gatton Park has pale violet panicles of flower all year if moved into a cool conservatory over winter. Detail
Heptacodium miconioides [Sh/T ]**	A vigorous late flowering shrub. Detail
Hesperis matronalis 'Albiflora' [P H] ** Dame's Violet	Coarse fuzzy foliage gives rise to simple single white flowers on tall stems, hide it away but enjoy the wafting scent especially towards evening in May - June.
Heuchera [P H] x 'Palace Purple' x 'Emperors Cloak'	Border stalwarts - evergreen foliage in various purple combinations, good plants to show off deep reds and tangy oranges. 'Emperors Cloak' has crispier edges.
Hosta [P H] nigrescens plantaginea **	Detail Elegant glaucous leaves and purple flowers on long waving stems. Glossy apple green leaves and scented white trumpet flowers in Sept/Oct.
Hyacinthoides non-scripta [Bb H] ** Bluebell	The English bluebell. Gorgeous blue-violet delicate downward facing bells and sweet scent, the essence of a spring woodland. This is the proper bluebell and not the dumpy inelegant Spanish bluebell which is potentially crossing with and threatening our native bluebell. These are not taken from the wild.
Hyssopus officinalis [P H]	The most gorgeous deep blue flowers and a wonderful bee plant.
Impatiens omeiana [P H/HH]	Do not run away screaming - this is a nice 'Busy Lizzie' from China. Attractive fingered foliage and yellow 'helmet' flowers in late summer, lowish growing runner for moist soils. Dies down in winter. Detail
Ipomea Morning Glory alba [Cl HH] tricolour [Cl A HH] 'Darks' Kniolas Black x Grandpa Otts 'Heavenly Blue'**	Ipomea bona-nox is another name for this twining tender climber [perennial only in warmer climes]. Large white flowers untwist as it gets dark and extra bonus, a strong pleasant scent accompanies the huge blooms. Bindweed look-alikes in gorgeous colours and annual, so not a problem. Fantastic sight en masse when the flowers are open on a late summer/early autumn morning. Detail
Iris [Bb H] germanica 'Florentina' ** g 'Berkeley Gold' g 'Mount Stewart Black' Sibirica 'Blue Flyer' 'Bridal Jig' s 'Papillon' [Butterfly]	Flowers are off-white violet and violet scented. Early flowering. Detail Yellow Deep purple black Deep Blue flowers White flowers Pale blue, black pencilled flowers. Seems OK planted in a poor hot dry situation, not the ideal I. sibirica habitat.
Knautia arvensis [P H]	Field Scabious, soft lilac flowers, good for later colour, dry conditions and attracting bees and butterflies.
Kniphofia Red Hot Poker northiae 'Nancy's Red' 'Alcazar'	Huge strapping succlent leaves, great as a feature in a pot. One of the reddest 'red hot pokers', this is a refined lady not the thumping big red and yellow type. Willing and increases well. Taller growing and more robust in growth with glowing orange heads
Lathyrus chilensis [P H] odoratus [A] ** Sweet Pea	Similar to the 'Everlasting Pea' in habit but the flowers are a more delicate pale pink. The epitome of summer, the scent of Sweet Peas mmmm...... 'Windsor' - purple black : 'Cambridge Blue' - light blue : 'Royal Wedding' - pure white
Lavandula [Sh H/HH]** angustifolia Cedar Blue stoechas	Bushy lavender with blue-lilac flowers The Stick-a-Dove lavender, two purple bunny ears and lovely scented foliage.
Levisticum officinale [P H]	Lovage - a herb used in cookery for its celery flavoured leaves. Makes a good background plant with its dark chunkily divided leaves.
Libertia peregrinans 'Gold Leaf' [P H]	Very showy stiff orange sword shaped evergreen leaves, white flowers in the summer.
Lilium [Bb H] formosanum 'Pricei' lancifolium 'Flore Pleno' Tiger Lily regale 'Album' speciousum var. rubrum	Low growing foliage with large purple backed, white scented trumpets in July and August. Best in a pot, 8 - 10 ins high in flower. These are not flowering size - will take another 1 - 2 years. Eventually long stems topped with very doubled orange flowers spotted with black. Detail 'African Queen' - scented bronzy orange trumpets flowering slightly later in July than L.regale. Height 24 - 30 inches : 'Golden Splendour' - deep gold trumpets also later than L. regale : 'Pink Perfection' - dusky pink Completely white trumpets Late flowers open white, heavily speckled with red, scented, acid soil.
Linaria triornithophora [P H/HH]	The 3 birds linaria, bold spikes of pale purple or pink flowers, think L. purpurea but bigger in all its parts.
Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon' [P] [Gin-ryu]	Looks like a stiff green and white stripey grass but in an elegant way [flowers I'm told, mine hasn't]. In the same family as lily-of-the valley, not that that helps much. Increases and spreads on long runners. Height 12 - 14 ins.
Lobelia [P] excelsa [H/HH] laxiflora [HH] tupa [Sh H/HH]	New to me - pinky flowers in spikes. Willow-like leaves with red and yellow trumpet flowers. Chunky red lobelia [nothing like the more familiar L.erinus of pot and basket fame]. Felted leaves topped in July by thick spikes of red tubular flowers. Hardy to around -10°C.
Leonurus cardiaca [P H]	Motherwort, grown for centuries for female complaints. Flowering in August, whorls of white or pinkish purple flowers [typical of the labiate family]. Pungent foliage. One for the wilder areas. Details
Lychnis [P H] arkwrightii 'Vesuvius' viscaria 'Firebird'	Green and maroon fuzzy leaves with large single orange flowers, very showy. Is perennial but not totally reliably, although the majority I planted in my garden are coming up again. 'Sticky Catchfly' - this is a selected form of the wild flower which is normally pink. 'Firebird' has red flowers over a neat green rosette of foliage.
Lysimachia minoricensis [P H]	Glossy green foliage heavily veined in white and spikes of small cream flowers in late summer. A native of the Balearics but apparently extinct in Minorca one of its original habitats. Height to 18 ins in flower. Fairly slow growing.
Matthiola incana [B]** Perennial Stock	Silvered whorls of leaves topped by multiple heads of single white flowers. Should overwinter in a sheltered warm spot, flowering in May - June. Can be ungainly, the rosette of leaves topping a thick bared stem, but worth it for the heavy scent. Detail
Mikania araucania [Cl H/HH]	Plant World seed - in theory has well marked bronzed leaves and small white? flowers. From Chile.
Mina lobata [P Cl HH] Quamoclit lobata/Spanish Flag	A tender climber for later summer flowering outside. Fingered fig-like leaves and spikes of claw flowers that run from cream to red. Grow through shrubs or up canes in a pot. Can sulk early on like the Ipomea but then romps away!
Mirabilis jalapa [P HH] **	The so called Four o'clock Flower as it doesn't open until later in the day and stays open all night, so presumably a moth attractant? Mixed shades and scented, can be lifted and over wintered like a dahlia.
Monarda [P H]** Bergamot	'Bee Balm' or Bergamot, originally from the US, the pleasantly scented foliage is an added bonus especially when weeding. Moist soil in sun. 'Adam' - cherry red, pale green leaves : 'Mahogany' - maroon with coloured bracts : 'Snow Queen' - white
Musschia wollastonii [P HH] [avail late summer]	A great whoosh of starry cream flowers explode from the rosette of leaves. Grows on rocky cliffs in Madeira which tells you it won't like frost and cold!
Myrrhis odorata [P H] **	Sweet Cicely in spring it starts to produce it's softly hairy pale green leaves with odd white splashes and then later small white heads of 'typical' cow parsley flowers appear. Brushing past it releases the sweet aniseed scent of the leaves. Detail
Nectaroscordum siculum [Bb H]	A member of the onion tribe with large loose, pink and green shaded downward facing bells. When it has flowered the seed heads then do a reverse and face stiffly upwards. It seeds around quite happily by itself outside in gravel. These are not flowering size, probably another year to flowering.
Nepeta [P H]** parnassica 'Six Hills Giant'	A big one, over 4ft [1.5m], purply flowers and aromatic foliage. So well known, large growing, sprawling, misty blueish flowers for months. Classic underplanting for roses. Watch out for cats in spring!
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' [P H]	'Black Grass' except it isn't [similar to Liriope]. Stiff deepest black arching leaves. Small spikes of lilac flowers in the summer. To be at its best this plant needs low growing contrasting plants around it, it is lost on its own particularly against dark soil. Sun, height 8 - 10 ins.
Papaver [P H] heldreichii [spicatum] rupifragum	Soft orange, tissuey flowers over a low mat of softly bristly leaves. Frail, single soft orange flowers over low mounds of cut green leaves. I have it growing in gravel. Shortish lived but it is a prolific self seeder.
Passiflora x 'Constance Elliott' [Cl P H/HH]**	Passion Flower, from open pollinated seed so may be white or the normal P caerulea with blue markings. Vigorous and evergreen in a sheltered spot.
Pelargonium [P HH] sidoides lobatum	Crinkly grey green leaves sprawly growth and deep red to black umbels of flowers Another tuberous rooted night scented geranium, blackish maroon and yellow flowers. The plants should be allowed to go dormant after flowering and started back into growth in September. Main flowering March - May inside.
Penstemon [P H/HH]	Good for late summer borders leave foliage on over the winter and cut back late spring. 'Chester Red' - scarlet red : 'Hidcote Pink' - not as chunky as some : 'Mother of Pearl' - white with a bluey-purpley sheen : 'White Bedder' ['Snow Storm'] - white
Persicaria capitata [P H]	A ground hugging carpeting bistort, arrow shaped leaves in pewter green with a maroon V. Pink pom-pom flowers in summer. Not too dry a position.
Pimpinella major 'Rosea' [P H]	A rather refined umbellifer. Pink flowers over glossy deep green foliage. I have mine in shade, the flower stems grow up to 4ft [120cms].
Polypodium interjectum 'Cornubiense' [P H]	A low growing mat forming evergreen fern. The leaves are more complex than the common 'ladder' leaves of the type. I have this one in alkaline soil and it will take some dryness if pushed.
Potentilla [P H] 'Etna' 'Gibson's Scarlet' 'Gloire de Nancy'	Deepest red single flowers rising up from mounds of fingered foliage. Scarlet single flowers on sprawly stems over mats of fingered foliage. Tawny maroon doubled flowers.
Reseda odorata [A]** Mignonette	Not much to look at, but the yellow/green flower tufts give off a strong pleasant scent. In addition to growing in the summer border, can be grown in pots to enjoy through the winter months. Plant it somewhere that you sit in the garden.
Rhodochiton atrosanguineus [Cl HH]	Purple Bell Vine, much sought after tender climber for 'black' themed plantings.
Roscoea [Bb H] cautleioides scillifolia	More familiar July flowering roscoea, looks almost orchid-like with yellow or purple flowers, moist but not soggy soil in sun/light shade. An oddity, the flowers are very small and black. Lower growing than other roscoea.
Salvia aurea [africana-lutea] [P HH] guaranitica uliginosa [P H/HH]**	South African seed, tan flowers over grey foliage a bit unusual. Deep blue flowers over dark green nubbly leaves Long waving stems topped with short heads of the skyest blue flowers. Height 6 feet [180cm] or more! Detail
Saxifraga [P H] fortunei spathularis	A useful woodlander. Glossy reddish-green rounded scalloped leaves form a neat mound which looks fresh all summer. In October heads of many white flowers appear above the foliage giving a frilly effect. Light shade and moisture. Height 10 - 12 ins.[20-30cm] St Patrick's Cabbage, similar to 'London Pride' but does not form tight rosettes. A gentle runner to soften edges of paths and walls and will take shade flowering in May.
Scabiosa atropurpurea [P H/HH] 'Chile Black'	When in flower a definite 'I want it'. Deep black cushiony heads. Generally hardy, prefers sun and good drainage.
Schizostylus coccinea 'Alba' [P H]	Late flowering, delicate spikes of open white flowers until the first frosts and sometimes beyond. Open sunny position. Leaves can remain evergreen. 12 - 14 ins [30cm]
Sempervivum [H/HH]	These classic succulents look good in pots and need little looking after through the summer. 'Blue Moon' has a slightly glaucous appearance; 'Commander Hay' red and green up to 7 ins across; 'Sir William Lawrence' has purple tips.
Senecio scandens [Cl HH]	Yellow daisy flowers and softly heart shaped serrated leaves. Vigorous possibly!
Seseli libanotis [P H] Moon Carrot	A white native umbellifer, lime, dry grassy habitat, rare in Britain.
Solanum laciniatum [Sh HH !] linearifolium [Sh HH !] sisymbrifolium [A HH]	From Australia and NZ comes the 'Kangaroo Apple' or 'Poroporo'. Fast growing up to 5ft [1.5m] in a year [will grow taller], large bluey-violet 'potato' flowers and showy fruit, toxic when unripe, need to be fully ripe or cooked - after you! A more refined and tougher version of the above. 'Morelle de Balbis', large white tinged purple, 'potato' flowers, very spiny stems and leaves [definitely ouch!]. Detail
Solidago x solidaster luteus 'Lemore' [P H]	Very sweet pale lemon flowered 'Golden Rod' up to 3ft [1m] later summer. Good for bees.
Spiranthes cernua odorata 'Chadds Ford' [P H]	A US relative of our native orchid Spiranthes spiralis called 'Nodding Lady's Tresses'. Spikes of white closed lipped flowers twisting up the green stems. Moistish soil not too alkaline. Autumn flowering. Detail
Thalictrum uchiyamae [P H]	Fairly new kid on the block or just a re-introduction? Lovely purple bronzed emerging foliage followed by flowers that are upside down little purple caps. Fairly tall growing. June
Triteleia [Bb H/HH] ixiodes 'Starlight' laxa 'Queen Fabiola' [Koningin Fabiola]	Brodiaea - jazz up the summer border, June - July. 'Starlight' whitish yellow umbels of flowers to 12ins [30cm], 'Queen Fabiola' deep blue flowerheads up to 22ins [60cm]. Sun and well drained soil.
Tropaeolum [A/P HH] Nasturtium majus	Double nasturtiums 'Hermine Grashoff' - shaggy orange petals : 'Darjeeling Double' - flatter flowerheads in a vibrant yellow and well scented. Probably best grown in pots to either trail down or be trained up a support. Detail 'Black Velvet' - rich crimson and black flowers - non trailing : 'Empress of India' - at its best deep red flowers over dark foliage - non trailing : 'King Theodore' - dating from the 1890's almost maroon flowers and dark foliage - non trailing
Tulbaghia acutiloba [Bb H/HH]	Another allium, this one from South Africa, orange and purple flowers - should be interesting - small plants from seed @ -7°C, some sources suggest it is not hardy and should be overwintered inside.
Tulipa [Bb H] sprengeri sylvestris	Vivid lipstick scarlet and luscious, late flowering single. A woodland tulip, small yellow flowers and scented, may be, but probably not native to Britain.
Verbena bonariensis [P H/HH] **	Stately rigid stems making 6 feet or more, topped by corymbs of small purple flowers. Flowers for ages from July onwards. Honey scented, attractive to bees and butterflies. Can overwinter outside, depends how harsh the weather gets. Will normally self seed around.
Vernonia gigantea [P H]	'Ironweed' from the US, another bee and butterfly attracter. Dark violet-blue flowers on plants that could make up to 5ft. Flowering late summer to autumn.
Veronica grandis [P H]	Not so grand in stature just 12 ins or so , the 'Heart Leaved Speedwell' from Japan, sky-blue spikes in June.
Zigadenus elegans [Bb H !]	Cool green flower spikes, strappy leaves, dies down in winter. Different. Poisonous?
Zinnia [A] Envy	Green pom-poms if I can keep the snails off!
Updated May 2005	Plants A to E * I have marked some plants as irritants or poisonous but this is not intended as an exhaustive survey, if in any doubt at all check with other sources before you buy

@ Kari's garden 2002 - 2005