E.A. Bowles (1865-1954) was remarkable plantsman whose garden in Enfield, north London, was a mecca for gardeners during his lifetime. He loved variegated foliage, and included plants such as spurges and grasses in his vast collection long before they became fashionable. He grew this golden sedge, with its decorative leaves, up to 24 inches long, of yellow margined with green. Flower stalks appear from late spring to early summer, the brown male flower spikes on stems about 20 inches long above two or tree stalkless green female spikes. This grass doesn'tmind getting its feet we but needs fertile soil. A position in sun or shade will suit.
Propagation: Divide between mid-spring and early summer. |
Astilbes are perfect for growing in boggy, water edge sites, as they will not thrive in chalky or clay soils that dry out. If you plant them in a moist, fertile soil and give them a position in full sun or light shade, they will reward you by producing masses of their characteristic and decorative plumes of flowers. A x 'Brautschleier' has a delicacy and elegance that I like very much. Its flower panicles start to appear in midsummer on stems up to 30 inches tall. The bright green buds open into sprays of pretty white flowers that become creamy yellow as they fade. The leaves, grouped in threes, are bright green and decorative in their own right once the flowers have lost their bloom.
Propagation: Divide in winter or early spring. |
Rodgersias come from damp woodland and river banks in the mountains of Burma, China, Korea and Japan so, in a garden setting, are ideally suited to water edge planting. It is the foliage, rather than the flowers, that makes them desirable. The leaves of R. aesculifolia are especially attractive. They are ten inches long, made up of up to seven leaflets, with woolly red brown stalks and well defined veining. The panicles of small, star shaped, white or pink flowers appear in midsummer. Rodgersias should be grown in humus rich, moist soil in full sun or partial shade and sheltered from cold, drying winds. They do not like dry conditions but will tolerate them if planted in a very shady site.
Propagation: Sow seed in cold frame in spring. Divide in early spring. |
