Trilliums are such lovely plants that it is suprising that more people don't grow them. This North American species must be one of the most handsome with its rounded, narrowly pointed, dark green leaves and solitary white flowers. The flower 'cups', made up of three green sepals, appear from April to June and open widely to reveal three broadly ovate, wavy three inch petals reflexing towards the tip. As they age, these 'triangular' flowers fade to a delicate pink. Grow trilliums in neutral or acid, moist, well drained, deep humus rich soil in partial shade.
Propagation: Sow seed as soon as ripe in a shaded cold frame. (It takes five to seven years to reach flowering size.) Divide after flowering. |
This shade loving plant is a graceful charmer whose natural habitat is damp woodland in Asia and Europe. The delicacy of its pale pink or purple pendant flowers, with recurved petals and conspicuous stamens, are particularly appealing, but its four inch, mid-green, oblong leaves marbled with bronze certainly add to its charm. The flowers grow on slender upright stalks up to four inches tall from April and may last for several weeks. It is common to see this erythronium planted under deciduous shrubs or trees but it may also be naturalised in short grass. Whatever its site, it should be planted in fertile, humus rich, well drained soil that does not dry out.
Propagation: Divide dumps after flowering. |
Corn lilies are members of the iris family that come from grassy, sandy or marshy slopes of South Africa. They are quite tender and therefore not the easiest plants to grow in our climate, but their open, star shaped, brightly coloured flowers add a welcome touch of the exotic to the garden in late spring. The pale bluish green flowers have conspicuous, red rimmed, black centres and grow on long wiry stems. In cooler areas, grow ixias in a cool greenhouse or in front of a sunny wall. The front of a border will suit them in warmer regions, provided they are in moderately fertile, well drained soil in full sun.
Propagation: Sow seed in containers in a cold frame. Separate offsets when dormant in late summer. |
