Plant of the Month
Plant of the month
April Plant of the Month
Fritillaria meleagris
Otherwise known as snakeshead fritillary. A beautiful, delicate, bell shaped, spring flower with speckled markings. Fritillaria meleagris has many uses; an ideal plant for naturalizing into a lawn and/or meadow (plant in groups for maximum effect), it is equally attractive planted in groups within a woodland scheme, it looks wonderful planted along the edge of a stream and will also do itself proud within the rockery. I have underplanted a magnolia with groups of Fritillaria meleagris along side my pond, they look gloriously wonderful bobbing in the breeze!
Carefully plant the small bulbs 4″ deep in fertile well drained soil in either sun or partial shade. They need to be kept damp during the summer (not a problem last year!!).
Fritillaria meleagris is protected in the wild.
Plant of the Month
Garrya Elliptica, the silver tassle bush, is a fabulous plant for this time of year, with it’s dark wavy leaves and long catkins it can grace any border or wall.
It will grow in sunshine or partial shade, even on a North Wall, in costal areas it will make an excellent wind break. G. ‘James Roof’ with its dark sea green leaves and eight inch catkins has a RHS merit award and is the one I would suggest you plant.
Recently I’ve planted two Garrya into very large, wooden containers against a north wall either side of patio doors. I’ve planted them with Sarcococca hookeriana for scent, Hellebores for winter blooms and Muscari (Grape Hyacinthus) for colour. Hopefully over the coming years the plants with thrive and grow large and happy. (That is if I can stop my Cocker Spaniel from sitting in the container!!)
