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Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'

Botanical Name: Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'
Common Name: Globe Thistle
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: Europe and Western Asia


If you want to introduce structure, texture, and a hint of steely blue to your garden, Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue' is an exceptional option.

Commonly referred to as the Globe Thistle due to its foliage, this remarkable perennial provides both visual impact and durability, making it a popular choice for wildlife-friendly and drought-resistant planting designs.

'Veitch’s Blue' is valued for its metallic-blue, globe-shaped flower heads that rise above silvery-green, spiny leaves.
The flowers emerge on sturdy, branching stems from midsummer to early autumn, creating a striking contrast with softer garden elements.
Each round flower measures about 4–5 cm in diameter, serving as a stunning feature whether fresh or dried.

It is best to cultivate this herbaceous plant in full sun, as it will thrive and maintain compact growth under these conditions.
While it is not particular about soil, it is advisable to provide well-drained, even poor or sandy soils.
Water only when initially planted, as once established, it is drought-tolerant.

Height: Approximately 90–120 cm tall
Spread: About 45–60 cm wide.

It is important to note that if you wish to attract insects, simply just plant echinops ias is excellent choice as it is highly appealing to bees and butterflies, making it a valuable addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. Its flowers are rich in nectar and stand tall, facilitating easy access for flying insects.

If you have a sunny area in your garden, consider adding Echinops to the border, as it will bring brightness to gravel gardens, prairie borders, cottage-style plantings, and naturalistic designs.

It pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses, lavender, verbena, and rudbeckia. The spherical blooms also add interest to floral arrangements.
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Now, the key question: how to care for the plant:
Echinops is low-maintenance, but you can prolong the flowering season by deadheading. Cut back the stems in autumn or leave them standing for winter interest and to provide seeds for birds.

Laburnum × watereri 'Vossii', also known as Voss's laburnum,
 
This stunning deciduous tree that captures attention from late spring to early summer when its long clusters of vibrant golden yellow flowers adorn the entire canopy.
This display is soon followed by a light yield of toxic seeds.

Belonging to the Fabaceae family, commonly referred to as the pea family, this tree is robust, fast-growing, and long-lived, reaching heights of approximately 8 meters. It can be cultivated as a solitary specimen, in groups, or as a focal point in a spring-summer flowering border.
When trained over a large pergola, the laburnum creates a breathtaking effect due to its rapid growth, allowing for quick results.

Additionally, having laburnum in your garden is beneficial for pollinators, as the area is filled with the delightful sound of buzzing when near the tree.
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Minimal pruning is required; however, if you need to remove any diseased or crossing branches, the optimal time to do so is between very late summer and mid-winter to prevent excessive sap bleeding at other times.
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Photo of Laburnum in Clifton area in Bristol taken in first week of May.  

Most of them are very easy to establish.
Remember to plant in autumn spring-flowering crocuses  and in late summer the autumn-flowering types.
Always for maximum effect plant them in big group. They will self-seed and spread in grass and wilder areas.
Most of crocuses like to be in full sun in well drained soil.

Fuchsia is a lovely plant which will provide color later in season.
AIM: Produce strong, healthy new shoots from the base from spring which will produce flowers from June till first frost. 

to achieve this prune hardy fuchsia between November and February to 5-10cm above soil level. The new shoots pinch out in spring to produce branched plants with more flowers later in season. 

Common name: Silk Tassel Bush, Coast Silk Tassel or Wayleaf Silk Tasse



Family                       Garrycaeae
Height & spread     4m x 4m
Soil                             moderately-fertile, 
                                   well-drained soil
Aspect                      Full sun or partial 
                                   shade.
Hardiness               Frost hardy - may tolerate 
                                   temperatures down to 
                                   -10ºC
Flowering time        December to 
                                    February. 




Care                    
Garrya elliptica  is native to western USA, Central America and the West Indies and is usually found in a woodland setting. 
Is useful to the landscape architect for its winter interest; the long  silvery catkins up to 20cm long, shine out among glossy, dark green leaves throughout winter.
It can also be pruned into a very attractive small tree like habit.
The silken tassels of this upright, evergreen shrub make a stunning feature in the winter garden. 
Male and female, petalless flowers are borne on separate plants, from winter to early summer, in the form of catkins. The females produce purple brown berries, however the male catkins are more attractive.
It tolerates a wide pH of soil. Avoid transplanting.
Requires little maintenance only cut back dead or straggly branches in April or May.

Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’, AGM
is a male form with dark, sea-green, slightly larger leaves and silver-grey catkins up to 20cm (8in) long.

'Common name: Christmas Rose
Family                       Ranunculaceae
Height & spread     30cm x 20cm
Soil                             well-drained,clay, loam, rock or chalk
Aspect                      Partial shade or shade
Hardiness                Hardy 
Flowering time        From December until April. 
Care                    
Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould or organic matter during planting and  5cm around the base of the plant in autumn.
Cut the old leaves back down to the ground in February
to keep plants diseases free especially from Hellebore leaf spot
 also will show off the new emerging flowers.

Flowers are white and fade to pink over time (see picture above).

 All parts of the plant cause severe discomfort if ingested and the sap may cause skin irritation

Skimmia japonica 'Pabella'


Family                        Rutaceae
Height & spread      100cm x 100cm
                                    Evergreen, 
 Soil                            Well-drained, humus-rich, neutral to acid soil
 Aspect                       Partial shade/ shade
 Hardiness                Frost hardy

This new variety (from Holland) has nice evergreen leaves as 'Rubella', however the biggest attraction is the abundance of berries which turn from green to red and which last for whole year.
'Pabella' is a female and you have to have a male var. next to to have a berries!!!