Traditional Cottage Garden Plants With A Difference - Ideas?

[LONGK]

I'm looking for suggestions for what you might term "Traditional Cottage Garden" herbaceous perennials, but with a difference. For example; I have a few Digitalis - D.lanata, lutea, ferruginea, obscura and parviflora. The more common Foxglove are treated as weeds.

In particular I'm after recommendations for interesting Penstemon, more Digitalis, Campanula and Lobelia. Also any ideas on Salvia that may be reliably hardy here in Oxfordshire that are not as thuggish as my S.glutinosa.

A bit of background; I moved here 15 months ago - the garden was infested with Hemorcallis, various Iris, Forget me Not, Japanese Anenome, Teasel and something called "Golden Rod" (too nasty for me to bother finding out the Latin name). As such it will still need digging over for the next year or two to fully get rid of such tat. My neighbours on both sides both have large conifers at the top of their gardens meaning that I am well sheltered to the North and N/E. The east side is bordered by a dry stone wall of 2/2.5 metres and the west has a dry stone wall of 1/1.5 metres (the main garden space is on a gentle slope). The soil is neutral and fine in texture, but fairly dry thanks to the trees. In my garden is a large Taxodium which is largely responsible for the main growing area being on the dry side, and cast a shadow over it as the sun (when we see it) moves round. So the whole garden gets good sun, but shade at differing times of the day.

So any suggestions, and (being cheeky) offer of seed, is appreciated. Especially the suggestions and thoughts on hardiness.

Thanks for reading.

[Darran]

I was at Urban Jungle yesterday and purchased Penstemon 'Dark Towers' which is supposed to be very hardy and has nice dark foliage.

http://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/product.a ... searchfor=

Salvia x jamensis, 'hot lips' & 'Melon' that have all proved to be reliably hardy here in Surrey, I have also grown Salvia uglinosa, without difficulty. I could try taking some cuttings for you.

Other ideas, have you thought about including Peonies and also Mirabilis?

[AndyC]

I suppose a hardy evergreen Impatiens isn't really what you were asking about but it is certainly different from what people would normally associate with garden Impatiens.
Impatiens stenantha

IMG_1067 by atropica2012, on Flickr
It will produce small yellow flowers later in the summer but I think they are incidental to the fine foliage colour.

[LONGK]

I was at Urban Jungle yesterday and purchased Penstemon 'Dark Towers' which is supposed to be very hardy and has nice dark foliage.

http://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/product.a ... searchfor=

Interesting.
I've grown Penstemon "Huskers Red" for years, but it has struggled in this garden. Poor growth and the dark foliage on all plants is now mostly green.

Salvia x jamensis, 'hot lips' & 'Melon' that have all proved to be reliably hardy here in Surrey, I have also grown Salvia uglinosa, without difficulty. I could try taking some cuttings for you.

Personally not too keen on "Hot Lips". Is Melon this one.......................
http://www.planfor.co.uk/buy,sage-melen,1109,EN
I have some S.uglinosa seedlings coming along, but I do appreciate the offer.

Other ideas, have you thought about including Peonies and also Mirabilis?

I have inherited the common herbaceous Peony (lots of them!), and now that you mention it I have some Mirabilis seed here somewhere.

[LONGK]

I suppose a hardy evergreen Impatiens isn't really what you were asking about but it is certainly different from what people would normally associate with garden Impatiens.
Impatiens stenantha

IMG_1067 by atropica2012, on Flickr
It will produce small yellow flowers later in the summer but I think they are incidental to the fine foliage colour.

For the purpose of this thread, no. But for the garden in general I am looking at Impatiens. I introduced I.balfourii last year which was something of a star and is not proving a huge problem this year as far as self seeding goes.


I also have sown some I.tinctoria seeds a couple of weeks ago.

Far from hardy, but I.niamniamensis grew brilliantly in the main bed last year...................

[Darran]

Salvia x jamensis, 'hot lips' & 'Melon' that have all proved to be reliably hardy here in Surrey, I have also grown Salvia uglinosa, without difficulty. I could try taking some cuttings for you.

Personally not too keen on "Hot Lips". Is Melon this one.......................
http://www.planfor.co.uk/buy,sage-melen,1109,EN

Yes, that's the S. Melon, it has more cream/yellow in it that the photo seems to show though. I also have another S. x jamensis 'Bumble Bee' (burnt red/orange) I have to agree with 'Hot Lips' not my favourite but it seems to have reverted back to plain red ;)

[tony]

Mmm bit disturbed by your tat comment, I have all those plants in my garden lol. How about Kniphofia thomsonii subsp. thomsonii, quite distinctive from all other kniphonias. Agapanthus would be good but may not flower too well if not in a very sunny spot. Eryngium gigantium is a great cottage garden plant that just looks different, always a talking point when it starts to take on the silver metallic look, Erygium agavifolium is also nice, I am growing it with Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrascens which will be a winning combo when the black grass has bulked out. Euphorbia sikkimensis and schillingii would fit in and should do well, Veronicastrum has nice palmate leaves, my favourite being lavendelturm. How about sanguisorbas, I have offiicinallis which is thriving in my sandy soil and looks great with grasses. Some Eremurus might be ok in a sunny spot,but eucomis would also fit in if you are considering bulbs, Scilla peruviana has quite good foliage but lovely flowers, the list goes on and on.

[LONGK]

Mmm bit disturbed by your tat comment, I have all those plants in my garden lol.

One mans tat does not a tat plant make!! For petes sake, I'm so sad I like Arum maculatum and allow wee colonies to thrive!!!! Along with Iris Foetida!!! I've kept some of the Iris and Hemorcallis as I quite like them, just not a garden full!

How about Kniphofia thomsonii subsp. thomsonii, quite distinctive from all other kniphonias. Agapanthus would be good but may not flower too well if not in a very sunny spot.

I have a Kniphofia "Jade Green" which is struggling a bit, but your suggestion looks really good! Likewise with the Agapanthus - I'm looking at moving those.

Eryngium gigantium is a great cottage garden plant that just looks different, always a talking point when it starts to take on the silver metallic look, Erygium agavifolium is also nice, I am growing it with Ophiopogon planiscapus nigrascens which will be a winning combo when the black grass has bulked out.

Funnily enough I bought an Eryngium agavifolium last week!

Euphorbia sikkimensis and schillingii would fit in and should do well, Veronicastrum has nice palmate leaves, my favourite being lavendelturm. How about sanguisorbas, I have offiicinallis which is thriving in my sandy soil and looks great with grasses.

Nice, but looks a little on the large clump forming side for me.

Some Eremurus might be ok in a sunny spot,but eucomis would also fit in if you are considering bulbs, Scilla peruviana has quite good foliage but lovely flowers, the list goes on and on.

[LONGK]

I have to agree with 'Hot Lips' not my favourite but it seems to have reverted back to plain red ;)

damn! I left "Hot Lips" behind when I moved - they probably have a nice red Salvia now!

[LONGK]

Here are some that I would recommend for anyone after something "traditional, but different".

Penstemon smallii. Grows to about half a metre or so with wee flowers of 30mm'ish.


Penstemon pinifolius "Mersea Yellow" is getting more common in the nurseries and GCs around here. Needle like leaves and a lax habit (20cm tall tops) make it ideal for rockeries IMO.


Digitalis parviflora is a genuinely perennial Digitalis and forms a decent clump. Butt ugly but I love it!


These next two are not hardy, but easy from seed, not overly common, and fit in well somewhere in all gardens styles.
Commelina tuberosa................


And Cerinthe palestina.............


They both set seed freely.