PUSHING THE BORDERS

Difficult to quantify what makes a plant exotic, I reckon. And it isn't going to be the same thing for everyone. But I happily use many native plants in my exotic plantings because they just sit so happily amongst them. I have several candidates that I will filter into the discussion but start with two that I pass on my walks roughly 10 minutes from my front door.

Ruscus aculeatus. Butcher's Broom. Superlative plant that will grow in the driest, deepest shade. Interesting, also, in that the leaves aren't leaves - if you didn't know. There are a few large colonies of it here that must measure 1.5 x 1m. I have all the species now but there's nowt wrong with R. aculeatus. Here is a decent clump in my garden.



Daphne laureola, the Spurge Laurel. Neither spurge nor laural but a wonderfully chunky evergreen that grows in the same deep shade dry scrub in which you see the ruscus. Neither are massively common here but there are around. Here my biggest plant, a decade's old gift from Yvonne Golding's Cottingham garden for those know her.



It is such a treat to find such attractive plants that I am able to grow in my driest shade.

So what natives do y'all grow? Or do you not think they are suitable - if not, why not?

I love Rosebay Willow Herb. I know it was introduced so possibly strictly speaking not native but to most people it’s a UK weed. I think it’s a most glorious and stately plant and I love to see the big swathes of it. I have the white form but if it appeared in my garden would happily leave it be. And Butomus umbellatus. What a stunner.
I’ve often wondered if you could make a satisfying, colourful and beautiful garden from UK natives alone. I’m sure you could.

With the same caveat that Martin used; I’m not sure how many of these are strictly ‘native’ rather than just wild.

First three biennials.
Greater Burdock: Arctium lappa
Spear Thistle: Cirsium vulgare
Milk Thistle: Silybum marianum

Two Perennials.
Deadly Nightshade: Atropa bella-donna
Great Water Dock: Rumex hydrolapathum

One Tree.
Yew: Taxus baccata in particular Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta'

How expansively lyrical would you like me to be in extoling their manifold virtues?

Chad

Let loose, Chad!

Vinca major I suspect my fav is more of a hybrid but I like all of them even though they are invasive

Vinca Jenny pym 010 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Helleborous foetidus seeds about, I leave some - I like the leaves

Helleborus feotidus 013 by charliepridham, on Flickr

Primroses which I cant get rid of! ditto Blue Bells and the lesser Celandine, since deliberately planting erigeron karvinskianusthe whole village now seems infested!

I hadnt thought about Yew Chad, but I like those and have both Irish and standard british forms although they are kept clipped! or they get huge very quickly my two big ones are both female and attract all sorts of birds to eat the fruits and the gold crests like to nest in them

Arum italicum; markings are cheery and fresh at this time of year.
Iris foetidissima; tough and I like the bright orange berries in autumn.
Both of these are a pain to get rid of though.

How could I forget my own children! With both my wife and I being teachers, we tried to avoid names which would remind us of the students we teach (taught in my case). We really struggled because some of the names we liked were the names of some of the naughtiest children. In the end, I was in the garden and noticed how pretty the wild Bryony was clambering over the hedge. We were smitten with the name. I also had a Rowan tree in the garden so to continue the botanical theme, that became my son’s name a few years later. Up until then, neither of us had taught a Rowan nor a Bryony but we must have set a trend because lots of them have popped up since. Thankfully all of them delightful youngsters.
These two plants remain firm favourites and I have them both in my “new” garden. Even though Bryony can be a bit invasive, I think it’s a lovely thing and allow it room! As for Rowan trees, well they are just fabulous.