Gardening Advice - Plant Magic

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One of the most enjoyable things about winter is the time to look through all the lovely plant catalogues. With so much choice these days and endless varieties of our favourite plants it is often hard to choose. We take a peek over the next few months at some of the plants on offer from several of the larger growers and nurseries to stimulate your appetite and get you thinking of summer months ahead.

This month we feature Darwin Plants, the Netherlands‚ leading exporter of perennial plants to the trade. They have some exciting plants heading for garden centres for 2006 and we have chosen just a few which we think you will love. You can read more information and backgrounds to the plants we mention in this article by clicking on www.plantspotters.com where you will also be able to find your nearest retailer.

HOSTAS

After a period in the doldrums the lovely Hosta is making a big comeback and unusual varieties will be much sought after in 2006. We've picked two which caught our eye from Darwin Plants.

Hosta sieboldiana 'Golden Meadows'

A Hosta which loves the sun and won't burn except when it gets excessively hot. Sunlight will bring out the golden colouring and plants grown in shade will be all green. Early foilage has a puckered texture and the leaves have large chartreuse-gold centres, irregular dark-green margins and random pale-green streaks. This Hosta will be the envy of your neighbours and will bloom June / July.

Hosta 'Magic Fire' Magic Fire‚ is a mutation of the popular H. Sagae‚ but with much broader and brighter edges. The name has been inspired by the flame-shaped patterning created by irrgular gold margins, it also has a vase shaped habit and sports pale-lavender flowers.

HELENIUMS

Ever popular plants which sport a terrific variety of colour. We've picked Helenium 'Double Trouble' and Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday'.

Helenium 'Double Trouble' This delightful variety has all the qualities required from a good cutflower - long-lasting flowers, strong stems and attractive foilage. Because Double Trouble's‚ flowers are sterile they last much longer and continues to bloom for much longer. You will get beautiful yellow flowers from July to October.

Helenium 'Ruby Tuesday' As the name implies expect this Helenium will offer you masses of petite rich ruby-red flowers on plants which are compact and can also be grown in a pot. A small Helenium which will be a versatile addition to the Helenium varieties.

'Flower of Scotland' is destined to prove a big winner with Verbascum fans. Discovered by Dutch plantsman Dick Maas, growing between rocks on a roadside near Gretna Green, this variety will produce a long succession of wine-red flowers flowering to a height of just 5".

Flowers fade in strong sunlight to an attractive antique pink. This variety breaks the mould in terms of Verbascum use as it is one for edging or group planting at the front of the border and as such we feel sure it will prove really popular.

SCABIOSA

Scabiosa 'Grand Stone'‚ features 4" flowers of ruffled lavender-blue petals around a large green centre that opens into white petals. It has a longer-lasting flower which will prove popular for the cutflower market as well as sturdy stems. Flowers will start in June and will continue until October if deadheaded. Plant height of this variety is 30"/75cm.

Log onto the plantspotters‚ website to discover other exciting varieties available at retailers for 2006. www.plantspotters.com

© Reckless Gardener Magazine 2005 Mill Cottage New Media