Common Name |
Latin Name |
Abutilon Kentish Belle | Abutilon Kentish Belle |
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Another of the many Abutilon species is this one. The beautiful brown and yellow flowers are continually produced until just before the frost. This species is semi-hardy and can stand short spells at zero degrees centigrade, but does best if given some winter protection. This one grows well as a shrub climbing through other supporting shrub. It can also be trained to climb up trellis like a climber. |
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Abutilon_________ | Abutilon________ |
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I have just bought this Abutilon (12012) and cannot remember what its name is. It is a very small shrub and flowers continually, with flowers that is similar to a Kentish Bell without the yellow flowers. I do not know at the moment how hardy it is and will have to bring it inside for the winter. |
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Abyssinian banana | Ensete ventricosum |
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This plant is also called False Banana it is in the Musaceae family but is not a banana. It is grown for its root crop. Here I am using it as a replacement for my banana which was hit by the frost and cold winter. It is hardier than the banana and should survive the winter outside with some protection. It will not grow as tall as the banana, but it certainly adds an architectural structure to the garden. Its red-green leaves also looks great against the other green plants. |
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Acidanthera bicolor | Gladiolus callianthus |
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This bulb is a beautiful plant flowering in late summer. It is not fully hardy and will need to be dug up before the first frost and replanted in April to May. Although I have had them overwinter in a well sheltered pot.They grow to a height of 75 to 100 cm (nearly 3 feet) and flowers around about August to September. I have planted it in full sun and shade and both flower well. It likes the soil to be neutral to acidic. If given rich soil it will grow taller and will need staking. |
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Aeonium | Aeonium arboreum Zwartkop |
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There are several varieties of Aeoniums some of which remain green throughout the year and some which are almost black. It seems to get leggy in its growth habit, but it branches freely after pruning. It is easily rooted in well drained soil. As a succulent it should withstand drought well, but it seems to drop it leaves if it is too dry. On the bay roof it survives the winter well but pruning is needed as it gets very leggy. Aeoniums are natives of Maderia, the Canary Islands and North Afri... |
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Aeonium | Aeonium arboreum Crassulaceae |
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There are many kinds of aeoniums, which are native to the Canary Islands. All produce rosette of leaves of different shapes and colour. They do flower and the flower are mainly yellowish-greeen or pinkish. I have not yet seen any of mine flower, but as they are grown for the leaves I am not too disappointed. Some are Dark purple to black and some remain green or green verigated with white. They are not fully hardy and need some protection in frost areas. |
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Aeonium | Aeonium cuneatum |
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I bought this plant after seeing it at Heligans garden in Cornwall. The flower head had died and dried, but I thaught it must have looked excellent when in flower. I think my guess was not wrong. Unfortunately I lost the label and dont know its proper name. There are more pictures of this plant in my weekly blogs 1 to 4 |
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African Blue lily | Agapanthus____ |
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This is a tender bulb which survives the frost with protection for the crown of the bulbs. It can be difficult to flower regularly as too much feed or too little may prevent flowering. When it does flower well the flower stalk may need staking. It is great for cut flower., The flower stalk may be a metre high and the flower head may be 6 inches wide. |
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African Milkworth | Polygala myrtifolia |
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This plant flowers continually from Summer to winter before the frost. I bring it inside in December before the frost. The flowers are typical legume flowers in bright pink. It has many other common names including Myrtle leaf Milkworth, snakeroot and Sweet Pea Shrub. There are over 500 species of Polygala with different colours and shapes of flowers. I believe that it is called African Milkworth because its origin is from South Africa and the farmers there credit this plant with increasing t... |
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Agave Americana Marginata[2] | Agave americana marginata |
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This variety seems to be more tender than the unverigated A. americana. I grow it in a pot and bring it inside during the winter. It needs careful handling as the spines in the leaves are sharp. It rarely flowers and dies after doing so. As an architectural plant I think it is great. It also reminds me of the vast fields of extra large Agaves in Mexico some 2 metres high. It produces suckers readily which can be grown on into new plants. |
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Allium____ | Allium____ |
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This Allium started growing in the garden by itself and appears to be very tough. It was transplanted to its present position near the footpath and has survived the digging up of the path. Every year it gets larger and looks like chives without flowers. In its present position it gives a good display late in the summer. |
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Amaryllis White | Hippeastrums ____ |
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Although these bulbs are sold as Amaryllis they are actually Hippeastrums . Amaryllis come from South Africa and Hippeastrums comes from the Americas. They are both from the same family Amaryllaceae. The larger the bulb you buy the greater the flower head of this Amaryllis. The problem is that if it cannot receive a long growing season the bulb gets smaller every year and the flower gets less until it stops flowering. As an indoor houseplant the result is fantastic. |
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Amaryllis White[2] | Hippeastrum____ |
![S_hippeastrum____-c_amaryllis_white[2]](/images/plantimages/thumbs/S_Hippeastrum____-C_Amaryllis_White[2].jpg?1216011217) |
Is it Amaryllis or Hippeastrum. Amaryllis is from South Africa and Hippeastrum is from South to Central America. Both are from the same family Amaryllidaceae. I think these are Hippeastrums , but they are sold as Amaryllis. The larger the bulb you buy the greater the flower head of this Amaryllis. The problem is that if it cannot receive a long growing season the bulb gets smaller every year and the flower gets less until it stops flowering. As an indoor houseplant the result is fantastic. Th... |
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Amarylsis Red White | Hippeastrum red lion |
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There is a vast range of colours of Amaryllis bulbs. The larger the bulb you buy the greater the flower head of this Amaryllis. Without a long growing season and good feeding the bulb gets smaller every year and the flower gets less until it stops flowering. As ian indoor houseplant the result is fantastic and well worth the price now around £5.00. |
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American Cowslip | Dodecatheon Clevelandii |
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This plant is a great plant for double planting, as it dies down during the summer and reappears in the spring, when its flowers are fantastic. I have grown these in pots for the past two years. I have to be careful not to throw it away after it dies down. The flowers almost reminds me of cyclamen. The hardy cyclamen could well complement this along with something which will flower in the summer. |
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Angels Fishing Rod | Dierama pulcherrimum |
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This cormous hybrid is said to like deep rooting heavy clay in full sun. I grow it in pots on the fence where their long (up to 4 feet) arching pink, bell type flowers are one of the highlights of the summer. Although it is frost hardy I protect mine with a sheet during the worst of the frost. It is often a temperimental plant and will not flower if the conditions are not right. |
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Angels Trumpet Pink[1] | Brugmansia souveolens pink |
![S_brugmansia_souveolens_pink-c_angels_trumpet_pink[1]](/images/plantimages/thumbs/S_Brugmansia_souveolens_pink-C_Angels_Trumpet_Pink[1].jpg?1216010993) |
I find this pink version of this plant to be more temperamental than the white or the yellow variety. I grow it in large pots which are regularly re-potted as the plant is a gregarious feeder, needing plenty of water during the growing season. As a tree in its natural habitat it can grow to about 30 feet, therefore heavy pruning is required to keep it relatively small. It does regrow easily like tomatoes. |
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Angels Trumpet White | Brugmansia souveolens white |
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This tender tree is now about four years old. Every year I dig it up in its pot and take it inside. I dig away some of the soil and put fresh soil in its place. In the spring before setting out I prune heavily. This tree will easily grow to four feet in its first year and even faster as it gets older. It needs plenty of water and rich soil to produce its best. The scent it produces when it is in flower fills the garden with a glorious smell. |
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Angels Trumpet Yellow[2] | Brugmansia souveolens yellow |
![S_brugmansia_souveolens_yellow-c_angels_trumpet_yellow[2]](/images/plantimages/thumbs/S_Brugmansia_souveolens_yellow-C_Angels_Trumpet_Yellow[2].jpg?1216010997) |
This tree is now about five years old. Every year it is re-potted and pruned to keep it from getting too large. It needs plenty of water and feed in the summer and autumn. A constant lookout must be kept for red spider as they love the soft succulent leaves. The tree flowers in flushes, but there are always one or two flowers on the tree. The leaves are also architectural and sometimes reaches one feet in length. |
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Apple James Grieves | Malus james grieves |
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Even in my small garden I have room for many fruits. Although this is a half standard, apple trees can be obtained in any size to fit in any garden. This variety is james grieves a wonderful eating apple, but with a short shelf life. Its fruit are best eaten ripe from the tree. Other types of apple can last months in a cool place. There are even small grafted trees with two or three varieties which polinate each other. In flower the apple tree is a wonderful sight. |
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