PUSHING THE BORDERS

Is it as invasive as mollis?

Both Acanthus eminens [purple] and sennii [red] need a mild winter to get top growth through, and then appreciate a hot summer to grow.

They are shrubby given the chance, only herbaceous if frosted.

They both flower on old wood, so if frosted you don't get flowers the next year.

So far I have only had them flower in the tunnel, eminens in the spring and sennii summer/early autumn.

I need a long south facing wall to experiment with things that need a hot summer!

Johnathan Grimshaw has interesting things to say about them here.

Both species can used for hedges if frost free.

A.eminens is the most opulently pigmented and quilted flower!



If it stops raining I'll get out with a camera for something interesting later on.

Chad

From the garden today; what is it?




Chad

Chad, A. sennii will flower here following being cut to ground given a long season. In fact it has been known to self-seed in a friend's garden.

Charlie - they are not invasive. These shrubby ones have different roots to the herbaceous ones and are fussy about being moved, not so easy from root cuttings, either.

That's interesting Paul,

A.sennii not flowering looks like the curse of the maritime summer.

Re root cuttings; thankfully they are both easy from stem cuttings.

Chad

Regretfully having read all that from you both and knowing I am colder than Chad in winter and cooler than Paul in the summer I have concluded it would be disappointing, love those leaves though!

Chad wrote:From the garden today; what is it?




Chad

Hydrangea Rembrandt Vibrant Verde It combines two of the remarkable trends in modern hydrangea breeding; an odd colour and being very dwarf. It is new to me this year so only has the one shoot, but for comparison



Hydrangea Magical Ruby Tuesday

How about this large leafed shrub in flower today?

That was Entelea arborescens.

Although I get the spiky seed heads most years, I don't remember seeing it in flower before.

I think I've killed this thread now!

Chad.

No, I just couldn't think of any suggestions for that last one - you do grow some seriously weird stuff! :)