Learning bush craft
crumpled paper tissue.
Cistus x purpureus has pink flowers with a distinctive maroon blotch and yellow centre, while ‘Jenkyn Place’ is a crisp white with maroon blotch. They like poor, well-drained soil – even stony soil – and a sunny, sheltered position, so ideal for coastal or cottage gardens.
Lavatera, or tree mallow, is a handy quick-growing shrub – ideal when you need bulk to fill a gap fast.
Its pretty pink holly-like flowers will blossom through the summer and the most maintenance it needs is a hard pruning in spring. It’s not fussy and will do well in most soils.
Hydrangeas, whether mop head, lace cap or paniculata, are summer stalwarts.
Personal favourites are ‘Vanilla Fraise’ – it gives a strawberries-and-cream display of flowers regardless of your soil’s ph; and the cool ‘Annabelle’ with its subtle green and cream flower globes.
The secret to hydrangea care is in its name – hydra is the Greek for water and that’s what they need plenty of, so keep your hydrangeas wellhydrated, particularly in the summer.
Hebe ‘Midsummer Beauty’ has beautiful long spikes of small lilac flowers that flower effortlessly through the summer and as late as November. An evergreen shrub that is ideal for coastal locations, it prefers moist, well-drained soil in full or partial sun.
Abelia is an evergreen shrub for mild areas and will delight with small pink fragrant flowers from summer right through until October. If damaged by harsh weather, you can hard prune in March and it should spring back to life. It’s best planted in full sun.
Lavender – who doesn’t love lavender? Armed against nature’s hostilities with its silver foliage, its upright flower spikes brighten any location, coastal or inland. However, make sure you have excellent drainage and as much sun as possible.
Santolina has almost delicate grey/ silver fern-like foliage. It’s an absolute delight but keep it compact with steady pruning, otherwise it will become leggy and ungainly. The real joy is crushing the foliage to release the delicious smell.
Buddleja is sometimes overlooked as we see it growing wild everywhere. But there are some beautiful dark