Gardening with Margaret Matthews
Plants that disappear in the cold
by Margaret Matthews
May is a busy time in the garden. As we sort out the winter woollies and check the electric blanket, so in the garden it is time for the perennial plants to fall asleep under their blanket of earth. Time to coil up and store the hoses and sprinklers, cut back the bottlebrushes (Callistemons) plant liliums and order new roses (there is always room for one or two more!). But it is Herbaceous perennials that we will deal with today, and we will leave out bulbs, as they should have all have been planted by this time if they are to flower in spring.
The Penguin Dictionary of Botany defines perennials as follows: "Perennials: A plant that lives for many years. There are two types: herbaceous perennials survive each winter as underground storage of bulbs, rhizomes, stems, roots and tubers. The foliage, leaves and flowers die back in winter. Woody perennials are trees and shrubs whose aerial stems have woody tissue and persist above ground. They may be deciduous or evergreen."
May is the ideal time to dig up and divide perennials, or to plant new ones. The earth is still warm and hopefully moist, without being sodden. Plants that disappear completely can range from the humble chive to the gorgeous peony rose. If you have inherited an old garden, wait until late spring when you are sure that every plant has made new growth above ground, or you may destroy a treasure with a spade. Always label new perennial plants clearly, using plastic labels and permanent marker pen, as for several months of the year the marker will be the only outward visible sign that a plant is developing underground. You may have to contend with those pesky minor birds which play trick or treat with labels and carry them away to another part of the garden. Once the plants appear above ground, it is probably better to tie the labels on.
Now is the time to dig up clumps of perennials, divide them if necessary and either re-plant or give the surplus to friends. Dig over the soil and apply a dressing of lime. Grade the plants according to height, the taller ones at the back in a bed or border. Dig in some well-rotted animal manure.
When you plant, consider the colour scheme. Some pinks, reds and oranges blend well, while some clash violently. White flowers ‘light up’ a garden when mixed with brighter or darker colours. Grey foliaged plants look well with orange flowers.
Christopher Lloyd, famed for his garden Great Dexter, in Surrey, England, and prolific writer on gardens, believes that perennials possess every virtue that one could possibly require in a plant. He says that many of us would like to emulate herbaceous perennials and disappear for the worst period of each year. We should be glad that our winters are less severe than those of the northern hemisphere.
Here is a list of some easy-to-grow, reliable perennials which you will have in your garden for years to come. They can be increased by division and will more than pay for their initial outlay. You will be able to ‘swap’ with friends and pot up surplus plants for fetes and stalls.
ASTER (perennial): Michaelmas Daisies. Shades of mauve, pink and white. There are dwarf and taller species.
ASTILBE: Moisture loving, with fern-like foliage, prefers cool conditions. White, red and pink.
BELLIS PERENNIS (English Daisy): Dwarf plants with pink and white flowers. They often grow in lawns.
CENTAURA (Cornflower): Blue, purple or pink flowers, old-fashioned plants that belong in middle border or cottage garden. The original blue is responsible for the name ‘Cornflower blue’, a colour often attributed to a baby’s eyes.
CAPANULA (Bell-flowers): Many species from dwarf to tall. Blue, white, pink. Double and single forms.
CHRYSANTHEMUM (Marguerite or Shasta Daisies): Long-flowering plants in many colours including yellow. Lovely hybrids now available.
DELPHINIUM: Lovely perennials, but keep the snail bait handy. Available in pink, purple and white, as well as the original and most popular blue.
DIGITALIS (Foxglove): The flowers are in long spikes, many beautifully mottled and marked in the throat. Pink, purple, red and pale yellow. Dwarf and taller forms.
GEUM: Small, easily grown plants, flowering over a long period. Yellow, orange, red and pink.
HELLEBORES: Useful winter-flowering plants for shade. In colours of green, mauve, white, purple.
LUPINS: Russell lupins are stately plants (although there are now dwarf forms). Beloved by gardeners and snails. Pinks, purples, reds, whites, etc.
PENSTEMONS: Spikes of bell-shaped flowers in pinks, reds and whites. Varying heights. Easily grown.
PHLOX: Perennial phlox have bold heads of pink, mauve or white flowers. Good for the border.
PRIMULAS: There are many forms of perennial primulas. They are lovely dwarf plants in soft pinks, whites and mauves. They prefer a position with some protection from the hot sun.
ROMNEYA COULTERI: The Californian tree poppy. Choice perennial, difficult to establish and transplant. Once it is happy it will reward you with larger papery white blooms with yellow stamens. Definitely for the rear of the border; needs space.
SALVIA: There are many forms and colours of these useful plants. Varying heights. Mainly in shades of red, purple, blue, pink and white. Tough and long-flowering.
SCABIOSA: Small, old-fashioned plants commonly called ‘Pin cushions’ because of the flower shape. Soft pinks, blues and white. Easy to grow.
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