Favourite cutting plants from the damp garden
13. Pimpinella major ‘Rosea’ This enchanting umbellifer thrives in ordinary soil but prefers to be kept moist. With a sweet scent and a long vase life, It was my favourite discovery at Beth’s. 1.2m. RHS H7, USDA 5a-8b.
14. Caltha palustris A common sight in damp, marshy areas. While their fleshy stems don’t lend themselves to much movement in the vase, they are long lasting. 60cm. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b.
15. Trollius chinensis ‘Golden Queen’ Trollius are fantastic cuts for early summer and sturdy additions to borders with moisture-retentive soil. I particularly love the rich shades of yellow in this cultivar and also those of Trollius x cultorum ‘Feuertroll’. By deadheading, you can sometimes encourage a second flowering in autumn. 90cm.
16. Thalictrum finetii Thalictrums, with their finely dissected foliage and delicate flowers, add textural interest to arrangements. At Beth’s we’re spoiled for choice, from heftily flowered Thalictrum finetii to the vibrant yellow flowers and glaucous foliage of Thalictrum sphaerostachyum. Most thalictrums thrive in moisture-retentive soil. 70cm-1m.
17. Vernonia arkansana With wide, bright-purple flowerheads, this is not a plant for the subtle arranger, but its seedheads colour beautifully, providing interesting texture before they’re blown away by the wind. While they prefer moist soils, vernonias also perform well in average garden conditions. 2m. USDA 5a-8b.
18. Tiarella wherryi Tiarella easily pairs with hellebores in the garden and the vase, and has a sweet, if ephemeral, scent. But unlike the hellebore it will flower well into the summer. While it prefers a humus-rich woodland position, once established it will tolerate dry shade as well. 25cm. AGM. RHS H5.
19. Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Diane’ A North American native from moist meadows. Veronicastrums provide interesting uprights for the flower arranger in soft shades of white, cream and pink. 1.2m. USDA 3a-8b.
20. Podophyllum versipelle ‘Spotty Dotty’ A leaf from ‘Spotty Dotty’ is as striking a focal point in an arrangement as a dinner-plate dahlia. Performs best in shaded, moist, rich soils. 40cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 5a-8b.
21. Astrantia maxima ‘Rosea’ Astrantias are long lasting in the vase and if you don’t already grow Astrantia major, you should add it to the garden immediately. However, my new favourite is A. maxima for its large, dusty pink flowers and its late flowering time. This cultivar has an even richer pink. Prefers a moisture-retentive soil. 60cm. RHS H7.
22. Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Eldorado’ A variegated grass with subtly coloured immature flower plumes in greenish-mauve. Odd but wonderful. Tolerant of a variety of conditions if soil is well-drained. 1.8m.
23. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Rotsilber’ By late summer, plumes of miscanthus become an indispensable addition to arrangements. Some have interesting colours when the flowerheads are immature, and others provide good foliage. I used ‘Rotsilber’, ‘Ferne Osten’, and ‘Silberfeder’ most often. 1m. RHS H6.
24. Cyclamen hederifolium No need to get down on your knees to admire the flared flowers and showy foliage of C. hederifolium if you put a few together in a bud vase or small dish with a spiked flower frog. Cyclamens happily naturalise through the border, but are especially beautiful in a grassy, bulb-studded woodland walk, as at Beth’s. 12cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 5a-9b.