12 KEY PLANTS
1 Gentiana asclepiadea
Willow gentian gets its name from its arching shoots, which carry bright-blue bells late into the season. Thrives in moist soil and light shade. 50-80cm. AGM*. RHS H5†. 2 Euonymus alatus
Provides some of the brightest and most reliable autumn reds on a compact shrub – especially in full sun. 1.5m. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b.
3 Monarda ‘Cambridge Scarlet’
A long season of bright-red flowers makes this a really useful component of the
Red Borders at Parcevall Hall. It spreads gently to form a healthy clump. 1.2m. RHS H4. 4 Hylotelephium spectabile ‘Brillliant’
Dense clumps of fleshy shoots bear flat heads of chalky pink flowers beloved by late bees and butterflies. Best in full sun. 40cm. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-9b. 5 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Fontäne’
One of the smaller clones, with lovely, silver-veined leaves and reddish plumes that become silvery as they age. 1-1.5m. AGM. RHS H6.
6 Kniphofia ‘Nancy’s Red’
A useful, tall, late poker, with coral-red flowers from late summer into autumn above quite narrow leaves. 70-90cm. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b.
7 Kniphofia ‘Percy’s Pride’
An autumn stalwart, usually at its best in September, producing abundant spikes of lemon-yellow flowers from solid clumps. 75cm. RHS H5.
8 Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Provides months of softly coloured flowers on robust stems, forming a big clump that is very useful at the back of a border. 1.5-1.8m. AGM. RHS H4.
9 Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’
Hardy vine, with white, hairy new growth turning to purplish leaves, whose colour becomes richer in autumn. Grown for its foliage rather than any grape harvest. 5m. AGM. RHS H5. 10 Polypodium x mantoniae ‘Cornubiense’
An excellent, winter-green fern for groundcover in well-drained places, making a dense mass of finely dissected fronds. 30cm. AGM. RHS H7.
11 Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’
A multi-season dogwood, with white-edged, variegated leaves that turn purple-red in autumn. Red stems give winter interest. 1.5m. AGM. RHS H7, USDA 3a-7b. 12 Phytolacca americana
Known as pokeweed, this perennial has long spikes of white-pink flowers, followed by shiny, black berries held on reddish stems. 1.2-1.5m. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.
*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.
the revenue from more visitors would be welcome, the fewer than 10,000 who reach Parcevall each year leave a light footprint.
Winter can be dark, with the sun only making it over the high ridge to the east by late morning, but in spring the garden is full of daffodils and other bulbs, transitioning into summer richness exemplified by the fragrance of the rose garden. By late summer and into the autumn, the Red Borders stretching below the terraces reach their peak, and on the terraces long beds of Nerine bowdenii, agapanthus and hardy fuchsias provide continued floral colour as the season fades. Beyond the garden the hillsides change colour yet again, summer purple heather fading to bronze bracken and yellow birch, the whole flaring into brilliance as the setting sun lights up the crags of nearby outcrop Simon’s Seat.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Address Parcevall Hall, Skyreholme, nr Appletreewick, North Yorkshire BD23 6DE.
Tel 01756 720311. Web parcevallhallgardens.co.uk
Open The garden is open daily from 1 April to 31 October, 10am-6pm (last admittance 4pm). Parcevall Hall is closed to the public and used as a retreat house for the Diocese of Leeds.
By late summer, the Red Borders reach their peak, and long beds of agapanthus and hardy fuchsias provide continued floral colour