gardens

JANUARY - GAP/MARK BOLTON GAP/JO WHITWORTH CHRIS IRELAND-JONES
FEBRUARY - GAP/MAXINE ADCOCK NEIL LUCAS
With Chris Ireland-Jones from Avon Bulbs
Arum italicum
‘Marmoratum’
The perfect foil for
late winter/early
spring bulbs, this
marbled-leaf arum
(left) comes up in
autumn after its
orange fruits
have finished
(usually devoured
by hungry blackbirds). Easy in a shady spot
or in full sun, it is dormant in summer. The
leaves are wonderful for small winter
flower arrangements.
Cyclamen coum
A plant to lift the spirits in the coldest darkest
days of the year when in flower (top right),
and the pretty leaves last for months. Fully
With Neil Lucas from Knoll Gardens
Rosa glauca
Possibly my all-time favourite shrub is a
rose - Rosa glauca (below left). This rose and
I were introduced via my grandmother. In
summer, it can be a symphony of red stems,
leaves and fruit, but even in winter, its spiny
dark red stems and bright resting buds are
hardy and ideal to plant
under shrubs, at the
base of trees or in light
grass. A few planted in
my parents’ garden 20
years ago have seeded
into thousands, stopping
passers-by in their tracks.
Galanthus
‘Atkinsii’
A snowdrop
of majestic
proportions and
vigour, which
is one of the
earliest known
hybrid forms, dating from 1875. It regularly
flowers in January with 30cm stems and
long outer petals (above), earlier than the
‘A regular matinee performance that can be
enjoyed from autumn through the winter’
a promise of things to come. Prefers a
sunny open position for best colour. Prune
old stems hard to encourage new growth.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’
Known for its high-summer displays of
luscious soft-pink pendulous flowers, this
plants: expert picks
main flush of snowdrops. Try it among
shrubs or close to the house. They prefer
to be dry in summer.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Avon Bulbs, Burnt House Farm, Mid
Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset
TA13 5HE. Tel: +44 (0)1460 242177.
Mail order: specialising in bulbs and
plants. www.avonbulbs.co.uk
large grass continues to impress during winter
when its flowers (below centre), though dried
and beige, take on an attractive textural
quality. Remaining intact during the winter
months, this miscanthus moves and rustles
with the slightest wind. Choose an open sunny
position and cut down to the ground in March,
ready for the new season’s growth.
Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails’
Like most fountain grasses, ‘Fairy Tails’ is
great for this month as, though dormant,
the flowers (below right) remain intact for
winter so that even a single shaft of early
morning or afternoon sun can highlight
their delicate tracery. A regular matinee
performance that can be enjoyed from
autumn through the winter. Needs full sun
and good drainage to do well. Great in pots.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Knoll Gardens, Hampreston, Dorset
BH21 7ND. Tel: +44 (0)1202 873931.
Mail order: specialising in grasses and
perennials. www.knollgardens.co.uk
February 2013 the english garden 73