Diarmuid’s top 20 spring plants
WITH SUMMER JUST AROUND THE CORNER, NOW’S THE TIME TO START PLANTING...
TREES ›Betula utilis var. jacquemontii (Himalayan birch) Birch are a firm favourite with me — I love their shape, the white of their stems and their delicate canopy of leaves. Native to Ireland, they are able to tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions and aspects so will generally be a problem-free tree for the garden. Beautiful when planted in groups or as a multi-stemmed specimen, birch is wildlife-friendly too, supporting more than 300 insect species! Height: Ultimate height more than 12m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; most soils ›Acer griseum (paper bark maple) A real favourite in gardens everywhere — you’ll never tire of the wonderful coppery peeling park of this maple. In addition, it puts on a good autumn display of red and orange. It is always a delight to come across this specimen. A must for the small garden. Height: 8–12m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; most soils ›Magnolia stellata (star magnolia) One of the most popular magnolias grown, and for good reason. Its compact size, architectural shape and slow growth makes it ideal for the small garden. A native of Japan, it has an elegance perfectly suited to that nation’s considered and refined garden style. Beautiful white, lightly fragrant blooms in star-like formations adorn naked branches in spring. Generally trouble-free, although it can be susceptible to late frosts. Magnolia x
loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ is also a good choice for the smaller garden, with similar flowers to M. stellata but in a delicious sugary pink. Height: 1.5–2.5m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; moist but well-drained soil
›Carpinus betulus (hornbeam) A neatly rounded tree, hornbeam has a beautiful rounded, upright head. Similar to beech but neater, less vigorous and with slightly creasing leaves. The new leaves are tempting in their juiciness and it makes a perfect hedge. It’s familiar in streetscapes, but don’t discount it for the bigger garden or for screening a front garden. Height: Ultimate height more than 12m Conditions: Sun/ partial shade; moist but well-drained soil SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS, HERBACEOUS ANNUALS ›Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ Beloved of show gardeners every year at the Chelsea Flower Show, the allium bulb sends up explosions of purple and pink fireworks at the end of straight stems. Gorgeous as accents of colour flying aloft drifts of beautiful grasses. Height: 0.5–1m Conditions: Sun; moist but well-drained soil ›Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ (honeywort) If you have this in your garden, visitors will stop and ask you what it is, as it looks unusual and very lovely. Its foliage is bluegreen but it’s the purple bellflowers surrounded by blue bracts that really catch the eye. Sow indoors in early spring or direct into the ground in April and then it will happily self-seed. Excellent for the wildlife-conscious gardener, as bees and butterflies love it! Height: 0.5–1m Conditions: Sun; well-drained soil ›Agapanthus africanus Robust deep-green foliage that fills the flower border at ground level and tall, strong flowering stems which bear large bunches of purple-blue flowers that explode out of buds like fireworks. The flowers are particularly long-lasting throughout the summer and it requires little watering. It is an excellent plant for containers as it likes its roots to be tightly packed. Height: 0.5–1m Conditions: Sun; moist but well-drained soil ›Nepeta x faassenii (catmint) Nepeta, or catmint, is a great filler of spaces, as it quickly forms bushy mounds of lavender-like flowers. A lovely companion plant for roses and looks super tumbling over pathways — as you brush
by, the aromatic leaves release their fragrance. Easy to grow, likes the sun, is quite drought-tolerant — and the bees love it! Height: 0.1–0.5m Conditions: Sun; welldrained soil
›Geranium ‘Rozanne’
Hardy geraniums are the sturdy footsoldiers of the plant world — so reliable and hard-working. They flower prolifically, then do it all again if you chop off the old flowers. ‘Rozanne’ has vivid blue-violet flowers which it keeps producing all summer and into the autumn. Makes a good ground cover. Height: 6m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; moist but welldrained soil
›Verbena bonariensis
A stalwart of summer, Verbena bonariensis happily greets all garden visitors with its upstanding stem and foliage framework hosting dusky purple flowers. A favourite of Chelsea Flower Show gardeners, it produces blooms throughout the summer, resulting in a cloud of purple hovering above the border. It enjoys the sunshine and achieves the rare task of being omnipresent while retaining an air of gardening exclusivity. Height: 1.5–2.5m Conditions: Sun; welldrained soil
›Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’
Geums are the unsung heroes of the herbaceous border: bright, cheerful and undemanding. ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ is a hot orangey red and I’m thinking of dotting it through a blue/ purple border as a vibrant accent plant. It likes the sunshine and fertile soil and, if you deadhead it, will keep flowering through the summer. ‘Lady Stratheden’ is a zingy yellow and ‘Totally Tangerine’ a warm orange. Lift and divide in autumn every few years to rejuvenate and this plant will work its socks off for you. Height: 0.1–0.5m Conditions: Sun; moist but well-drained soil
›Angelica archangelica
A great plant for a large border or a specimen in a smaller border, Angelica
archangelica is great value. Buy it in the herb department in a small pot and it will astound you with its growth in a single season. Height: 1.5–2.5m Conditions: Sun; fertile, moist soil
›Echium pininana
As exotic as it comes. Hailing from the Canary Islands, this biennial is a showstopper. Although it’s biennial, it can take three years to complete its cycle. In year one, it can appear as a small seedling, but it must become a big rosette before it flowers, and this can take two years. When it’s ready, it throws up the tallest flower spike you’ve ever seen: a good metre to a metre-and-a-half tall and covered in small blue flowers. It does better in shelter, becoming lusher and taller — even peeking over the garden fence. Height: 2.5–4m Conditions: Sun; moderately fertile, well-drained soil
GRASSES ›Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass)
An unusual-looking grass with broad leaves and a ‘waterfall’ appearance. It’s graceful, distinctive and easy to grow. It will do well in sun or semi-shade and prefers soil that doesn’t get too dry. It spreads to about 45cm and flushes orange in autumn. H.macra ‘Aureola’ is a readily available 30cmhigh variegated form. Height: 0.1–0.5m Conditions: Sun/shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
›Ophiopogon japonicus
Not strictly a grass, ophiopogon is a very low ground-hugging plant. It has wide strap-like leaves and is good in small spaces or pots. O. japonicus has lovely fleshy green leaves. Height: 0.3m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; moist, well-drained neutral to acidic soil
›Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ and ‘Overdam’
These grasses are incredibly useful. They have delightful blooms of soft seed heads that condense to a neater, narrower form over the season. They can create a backdrop, look great in a line against a wall, or give structure dotted through other planting. ‘Karl Foerster’ has beautiful green foliage while ‘Overdam’ is a variegated form. Height: 1–1.5m Conditions: Sun/partial shade; will tolerate all but the poorest of soils
Discover Gerry Daly’s top 10 summer plants in part 2 of your gardening guide, free with tomorrow’s Sunday Independent.