Wealden Times | WT164 | October 2015 | Food supplement inside

Cotoneaster horizontalis as a wonderful
backdrop to Cyperus vegetus
I think that I’ve written about coronillas before but
every garden should have one. They are members of the
Leguminosae family (peas) and Coronilla valentina subsp.
glauca ‘Citrina’ is particularly pretty with its soft yellow
flowers. Make sure you plant in a sunny sheltered position
and that you don’t move the plant once its established.
They really don’t like it. The leaves are pea like, rather fleshy
and a bluey green but the joy is that the fragrant flowers
continue for a hugely long time – from winter through to
early summer. There is a variegated form with creamy white
leaves. Its not the sort of plant that will go on for a lifetime
but it is worth growing for its scent in the depths of winter.
Coronilla valentina is another plant rather like
Cotoneaster horizontalis which is under appreciated. It’s
just fabulous in a semi shaded corner or in a container
and gives a tropical feel to the garden, although it
originates in Japan rather than south of the equator.
Fatsia japonica is a really good looking plant with huge
polished dark green palmate leaves. In October creamy
white panicles of spherical flowers appear followed by large
clusters of black fruits. The fatsia is perfect for exposed
seaside gardens and it’s well worth looking out for a couple
of cultivars with interesting extras. ‘Murakumo-nishiki
has leaves with a central yellowy-green blotch and the
better known ‘Variegata’ has white tipped leaf lobes.
A good friend of mine has a wonderful specimen of my
next plant and there was almost an international incident in
the spring when there was talk of removing it in its entirety
as it has grown so well but partially blocks a path. It had a
reprieve and because it has been regularly trimmed into a
large pin cushion shape, hers is a lovely thing. Pittisporums
originate from Australasia and SE Asia but this particular one
was found in the wild by a Mr. Paterson near Christchurch,
NZ when he worked for the Parks Department in Dunedin.
Named after his wife, Pittisporum tenuifolium ‘Irene
Paterson’ is one of the most decorative pittisporums you can
grow. It has small, wavy, palely marbled leaves, each with its
own particular combination of colours, and all this on elegant
thin black stems. It is a plant that looks perfect all year round
and its spring time treat of tiny scented flowers in the axils of
the leaves is a bonus. Plant one near your path (not too near!)
or a seating area where you can perch and take in the scent.
Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810
457948 for gardening advice and the sourcing
and supplying of interesting garden plants.
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