How do I with Reckless

Reckless gardeners like plants which are easy to care for and earn their living. Plants you don't have to fuss over. We will be adding to the list over the coming months.

ALCHEMILLA MOLLIS (Lady's mantle) Slug resistant, easy to care for, drought tolerant I first came across this plant courtesy of HRH Prince Charles, not in person I hasten to add, but it is one of his favourites apparently. Ideal as a filler in beds and edging for front of borders, this wonderful plant is both drought tolerant and a perennial that produces sprays of little green/yellow flowers right through the summer. Superb after it has rained as little droplets form on the leaves. Really easy to care for and needs little attention although it can get a bit out of hand sometimes but this adds to its charm.

HARDY GERANIUMS (Small) Slug resistant, easy to care for, drought tolerant. There are large and small types of hardy geraniums. While the larger varieties are really good fillers, they do tend to get over large and can be floppy, while their smaller relatives are a different prospect altogether. Useful for front of border, rock gardens and raised beds, they have a neat spreading habit and will reward you with a long flowering season. They will live a long time and need virtually little or no care. They can stand droughts and if you cut off the old flower heads you will get fresh growth very quickly.They can grow between about 12 inches (30cm) and can spread to about 4ft (1.2m). Try G. 'Johnson's Blue'and G. x riversleaianum 'Russell Prichard'. They are easy to split and so you can make lots of new plants over the years.

ASTILBE Slug resistant, easy to care for, sun or partial shade. Varieties of this plant will give you long lasting feathery heads of flowers. They do like to be damp so you would need to watch them in very dry weather but apart from that they need very little help. They are also partial to some shade although I have to admit that some of mine are in the middle of sunny borders and have done well. There are one or two low growing varieties such as Astilbe x Crispa'Perkeo' but generally they will reach 18" to 3ft in height. (60 to 50 cm). If you like a good red then choose Astilbe x Arendsh 'Fanal'.

ASTRANTIA Slug resistant, sun or partial shade. Another easy to grow plant that will look after itself apart from division after a few years growth. Astrantia Major 'Sunningdale variegated' has attractive variegated leaves as well as bearing green or pink and often deep purple-red flowers. Astrantia is an old cottage garden plant dating back to the 16th century. 'Rubra' has vibrant red flowers but there are hundreds of varieties to choose from.