Herbaceous borders can be looking a bit sad this time of year. A few heucheras or heucherellas can brighten things up. We have a wide range of colours available from yellow and caramel through dusky pinks and burnt orange to almost black. See the images below for some of the plants mentioned here.
The euphorbias are looking good too – green – cream or purple – foliage and the lovely Blackbird with nearly black foliage and red hot yellow flowers later.
Pulmonaria Blue Ensign is in full bloom – really true blue and not a hint of pink. The Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White is at its best and also the excellent Diana Clare AGM with deep purple flowers and silvered apple green leaves.
Narcissus Snow Baby: new this year this gorgeous “Snow Baby” is a creamy white version of the old favourite “Tête à Tête”. Compact, clump-forming bulbous perennial to 15cm with dark grey-green leaves.
Al these perennials were potted last autumn but for some things it is best to wait until spring. Now it is a bit warmer we can get going and the full range should be available by mid-April.
Geraniums are really good doers in the border – shade tolerant and long blooming. We are listing an amazing 35 this year, so plenty to choose from! New this season are :
- Geranium sanguineum ‘Ankum’s Pride’ – a compact neat mound spreading perennial to 15cm tall, with rounded leaves divided into narrow lobes, and bowl-shaped clear rose-pink flowers in early summer
- Also Geranium oxoniamum ‘Tess’ – 35cm dark foliage with green edges showing off the pure white flowers
Pulmonaria Blake’s Silver at Downside Nurseries
geranium-oxonianum-Tess
Heucherella Sweet Tea at Downside
Heuchera Midnight Rose at Downside
Geranium sanguineum Ankum’s Pride photo c/o RHS
Euphorbia ‘Blackbird’ (Nothowlee) photo c/o RHS
Pulmonaria Sissinghurst White at Downside Nurseries
