Climbers – an essential height for any green space

When you have such a small space the idea of a climber maybe the last idea on your mind.

I grew very few climbers in my narrow yarden until lockdown that is. Something that had never really crossed my mind.

I bought a jasmine for a pound from an allotment open day some years ago and planted this in my yarden. It has grown so well and the flowers smell divine.

With the jasmines success I decided to add a couple more climbers.

When people think of climbers they think of clematis, honeysuckles, roses, yet there are so many climbers out there and there will definitely be one (or six) for you.

If you’ve read any of my posts before you’ll know I love the jungle and exotic feel, but other things are really important to me too.

A garden with scent adds a totally different dimension and there are many climbers out there that can help with this, of course the jasmine I grow is one of those.

Having researched I decided I wanted to grow a holboellia, they have leaves that remind me of the umbrella plant. Waxy, nice sized and every green, and there are a multitude to chose from.

Holboellia leaves, apologies for the crazy picture, but it’s the best I have of the leaves. Cheers!

I decided to visit Crûg Plant Farm in North Wales as they grow many of these and they have the experience to offer also.

After a lengthy chat I chose Holboellia brachyandra, which I believe is not so readily available. It has the lush green waxy leaves as mentioned and highly scented creamy flowers, strangely it grows the male and female flowers in the same bunch.

Holboellia brachyanadra flowers.

Of course the way these plants were performing it just got me hooked and I got to finding more.

I stumbled across this next plant, in a local garden centre – Bud. Strangely unusual green perennial climber. It has five lobed leaves that look very similar to marijuana (or so people always remark).

This is Gynostemma pentaphyllum, or poor mans ginseng. It’s an extremely fast grower, dying back in the winter and returning just as fast in the spring.

What I particularly like is that it clings and climbs but when it drops it gives that jungle feel.

It is grown primarily for its leaves and its renown herbal properties. It must flower, yet I never notice them until I see the tiny black seed pods.

However I will say I add a WARNING note with growing this. I wouldn’t grow it if I had a garden with soil. A good friend of mine, originally from Japan, said ‘it’s a weed, takesover everywhere’ and if I had soil I have no doubt. It has found its way into other pots, other planters and I am regularly cutting it back and removing it.

I added yet another climber, again with lovely foliage as well as a nicely scented flower. It’s also a cousin of the Holboellia.

This is Akebia quinata ‘Cream Form’, a fast grower with tiny scented cream coloured flowers.

I now grow three forms of this, the plain Akebia quinata or Chocolate Vine, Akebia longeracemosa and the one mentioned above. They are fast growing and I would say they need to be kept in check.

I didn’t mention but both Holboellia and Akebia are able to produced large blue sausage like fruit if they have another local plant to cross pollinate. I doubt this will happen with my plants, yet it’s important to share. These fruits are a delicacy in some counties.

Another friend asked me if I wanted to add anything to an order, like any good friend would, so I carefully looked through the list.

The next plant was a real gamble, I didn’t know if it would grow well or even survive in my yarden. I’m happy to say it was a gamble well worth making.

This is Bomarea edulis syn. hirtella, you may see it’s resemblance to the much loved alstroemeria, quite rightly so, it is their climbing cousin.

This climber dies right back in winter, and out of no where climbs to great heights and sends out fireworks of these colourful flowers, which last a fair time and keep coming.

When they stop flowering even their seed pods look great! what do you think?

As you can see I have become slightly obsessed, I’m aiming to have interest from climbers throughout the year.

With that in mind I also purchased this beautiful little flowering climber. It is Tropaeolum tricolour. A very useful climber as it grows when most others are dormant and dies down when others are about to take over the show.

In fact the Tropaeolum family have impressed me so much that I’ve added more to the collection.

So far I have only mentioned evergreen or perennial climbers, but we mustn’t forget the numerous annual climbers out there.

This year I deceived to try and grow a few from seed, many grew however life got in the way and I lost many. However this unusual delicate climber was strong enough to pull through.

This is Cardispermum halicacabum, it’s name in itself gives me joy, it has tiny little white flowers with fern like foliage but the main reason I think you’d grow this is the almost balloon shaped seed pods.

I think I’ve gone on long enough, I have quite a few of the climbers however there are more so I’ve listed them:

• Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ (Mini kiwi)
• Apios americana
• Clematis alpina
• Dioscorea batatas
• Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’
• Jasminium beesianum (Pink jasmine)
• Lonicera halliana (Honeysuckle)
• Muehlenbeckia complexa
• Periploca praeca (Silk vine)
• Tropaeolum ciliatum
• Tropaeolum speciosum
• Tropaeolum tuberosum ‘Ken Aslet’
• Vitis labrusca ‘Isabella’
• Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat of Alexandria’

Many of these are still new to me and I wouldn’t like to comment on them as yet.

As you can see, climbers give height, they give cover, added interest and more.

Will you be adding more climbers to your green space?

Cautleyas – a must for any tropical garden.

If you like jungle looking plants, luscious green foliage topped with contrasting colours like red and yellow, these plants should definitely be in your green space.

I bought a Cautleya from an NGS some years ago and it’s not until the last couple of years that’s I have realised how much I am in love with the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).

My very first, Cautleya spicata robusta is an easy to grow exotic looking plant that requires very little care.

Cautleya spicata robusta

Cautleya spicata robusta

They come up from no where and spear year on year. The black plastic pot was my first ever plant. I thought I’d lost it and then boom!

Like I say the last couple of years I have taken to time to find other ginger plants that I simply had to add to my collection and needless to say more Cautleya.

Cautleya cathcartii ‘Tenzing’s Gold’

This is a delicate yellow flower with no where near as much red in the bracts or on the foliage.

This is also much smaller than C. spicata robusta. This is Cautleya cathcartii ‘Tenzing’s Gold’.

Cautleya spicata ‘Crûg’s Compact’

I really love this miniature plant, it’s form is more upright, it still has red bracts and lovely bright yellow flowers.

This is Cautleya spicata ‘Crûg’s Compact’. You can see it’s shape below.

Cautleya spicata ‘Crûg’s Compact’

Another recent addition to my yarden and collection this year is a decent sized plant, a very upright form. Much more of an orange flower. T

This is Cautleya spicata ‘Bleddyn’s Beacon’.

Cautleya spicata ‘Bleddyn’s Beacon’

The following plant isn’t performing as well as the other species, sadly it has been knocked but I will persevere. It has a lovely purple tinge to the underside of the foliage.

I am happy to see that there are new shoots appearing next to the main stem. Watch this space. I don’t think I’ll have any flowers to share this year.

I also grew Cautleya lutea in my parents garden last year. It grew and flowered but didn’t make a reappearance. Needless to say it will be added back to this list.

I leave them in the pots all year and when frosts hit them the stalks just collapse. I chop them up and add them to my compost bin.

I give them a weed and too dress, then await their return the following year.

They are fairly easy to propagate too, I simply divide either in autumn or in spring and pot them up.

I believe you can also propagate from seed, I have never noticed any but will keep an eye out for these in the following month.

What are your thoughts on Cautleya? I find them really east to grow and give me that amazing jungle feel that I am trying to achieve.

The return of the Hostas

I hope that you have been enjoying the lovely weather over the past few days. It’s amazing how quickly plants respond to the heat.

I haven’t posted so much about hostas of late, I’m soon to make up for this I’m sure!

Hostas have started popping up all over, whilst some are still waiting to wake up.

I love how varied the colours, shapes, sizes and growth of the emerging buds.

H. Dancing Queen

H. Blue Mouse Ears

H. Medusa

H. Cherry Berry

H. Bedford Rise and Shine

H. Liberty

H. Raspberry Sundae

H. Dixie Chick

H. Abiqua Drinking Gourd

H. Queen of the Seas

H. Frances Williams

H. Blue Ivory

H. Halcyon

H. El Niño

H. Tot Tot

H. Dilithium Crystal

H. Big Daddy

H. Teaspoon

H. Dragons Tails

H. Irish Luck??

H. Praying Hands

H. Dancing in the Rain

H. Tears of Joy

Not sure which hosta this one is. Need to find the label and update my spreadsheet!

Planted in the same pot above. Think it’s H. Krossa Regal, soon to see.

Another I need to work out … possibly H. Proud Sentry.

I’ll try and update you when they are in leaf and also when flowering.

Enjoy your plants and your green space along with a little sunshine!

Winter’s here!

I hope this finds you well and gardening!!

I have finally cut some leaves off the Ensete murelii and have brought her inside.

I am always so saddened when I cut these stunning leaves from the plant (Ensete murelii), however I’ve learnt that this is a necessary evil to allow the plant to survive for the winter months. Along with not watering it whatsoever. This is a mistake that I have ignored in the past and sadly lost this beauty.

Many of my plants have had to come to their winter home, loving the green jungle which is our stairs!

This is one of my seed sown plants, Aeonium tabuliform, look at the prefect form of the leaves!

As the weather cools, hidden and forgotten friends return. This is Arum italicum pictum, soon we will have an insignificant flower to be followed by bright red berries.

Another stunner at this time of year is the beautiful Cyclamen hederofolium, look at their leaves! They even have beautiful flower … watch this space.

Many of the exotics are now inside, I am lucky enough to have a micro climate due to the high walls and the heat from a neighbouring launderette.

This Colocasia esculenta is still growing and looking quite at home in our tiny tropical yarden.

In other news, a friend on twitter sent me these huge cuttings. They look like bamboo, however they are Dahlia imperialis aka The Tree Dahlia.

It’s been an interesting year in the garden, I’ve grown many plants which I have never grown before. This is an interesting plant, it is a climber with delicate leaves and can flower if looked after properly. It has the added use that it is edible, it is known as Mashua, Latin name is Tropaeolum tuberosum.

It’s also been an interesting year in my parents garden, the bananas have grown well, I’ve also grown Mirabilis species, jalapa and longiflora. Both have also set seed and hopefully will see more of them round the garden next year.

Another plant that has really shown how well it performs is Impatiens tinctoria, a tall growing perennial with large scented white flower. A must have in any jungle garden.

Also pleased to have some seeds mature from my Hedychium, I believe it to be densiflorum ‘Stephen’.

I hope you’re all keeping well, keep gardening!

Quick update

Thank you for your patience and hope that you have all been enjoying your plants.

Here is an unknown species of Hedychium which is just starting to flower, let’s hope that all the buds have time to flower before the frost.

I have already put these beautiful succulents in to the greenhouse.

I grew this plant from seed and it had been a really slow grower. But it’s really put some growth of late. It is Solanum betaceum.

Other plants that are growing surprisingly well are the Tetrapanex (which you may remember my friend David gave to me), Begonia luxurians, popping in on the left is a Xanthosoma violaceum, which really has spread this summer.

It’s crazy how well some plants have done this summer! This is another perennial that has grown so well, grown much taller than me and has produced lots of flowers and continues to do so. This is Impatiens tinctoria.

I have been lazy taking some tenders in, partly because they seem to be enjoying the moisture and mild climate (also living next door to a laundrette and their dryer tubes helps). Here the Ensete murelii or Abyssinian Banana seems to be growing strong. The Zantedeschia ‘Hercules’ is slowing down for winter, yet the Gynostemma pentaphyllum is showing no sign of slowing down. I love how the plant grows so fast in a season and covers the ropes to give a real jungle feel.

Soon I will collecting these little bulbils that the Begonia grandis ssp sinensis ‘Red Undies’ produce and sow them in the greenhouse to ensure I have some babies in case they do not make it through the winter.

The Abuliton ‘Variegated Salmon’ is still growing well and producing these beautiful flowers. I will soon need to dig it up and put it somewhere safe over winter.

The Mirabilis Jalapa continue to flower along with the Salvia and Zinnia. You can also see the Arundo donax variegata and various Hedyhiums growing in the background along with a smaller growing Cautleya gracilis which is turning yellow.

I am hoping to give this bed a good mulch like I did last year and leave all the tenders barring the Abuliton in the ground.

Other stars of the show have been these Dahlia ‘Sandra’ which I couldn’t resist buying as they share the same name as my mum.

I have grown Dahlia ‘Bishop of Leicester’ over the past few years and always put on a good show. They tall have dark foliage and bright single flowers that the bees adore in the summer.

I hope to be growing and dividing plants over the winter and will keep you up to date as often as possible.

Wrap up warm, enjoy the milder days and most of all love your plants!

Flower catch up

Apologies for the lapse in our catch ups. Some technical issues.

I’m going to keep it brief by just showing some pictures of flowers that I’ve grown, mainly in my parents garden.

Dahlia Bishop of Leicester. A great one for flying insects, especially bees.

Zinnia which I grew from seed.

Mirabilis Jalapa also grown from seed this year. I love the variation you can get, this marble effect yellow and pink then the next is pink. I also have a white one! They are heavenly scented in the evening.

This is the Salvia that flowers grew from a rather strange bud.

This is Dahlia Sandra continuing time flower and standing out of the crowd!

This picture shows how tall this Impatiens tinctoria has grown. You can only see a small part of it. The white flowers are large and scented.

I hope you’re all still enjoying your green space, will update you soon!

Flower time

Such lovely weather today.

This stunning Agapanthus has white flowers with delicate blue nearer the base.

This is a Hedychium and this is the first time it’s got buds so I’m looking forward to this opening.

My dad bought this climbing / rambling rose. I have no idea what species it is but the scent is heavenly and the bees adore it!

I’m so happy to see the Hedychium densiflorum ‘Stephen’ flowering, with many more buds due to open.

This is Abuliton ‘Varigated Salmon’ is slow to start but once it starts… it blooms well throughout the summer.

This year I managed to get hold of these Mirabilis longiflora after trying to grow from seed and failing. Here is it flowering, I’m yet to see these open, my mum sent me this picture. I also want to see if the scent lives up to its reputation

This summer I bought a surprise collection and I received this Salvia, I was excited to see its unusual flower and can’t wait to see how it ends up.

I hope you enjoy these flowers as much as we do.

Enjoy your green space!

Wordless Wednesday

Just so wild!

Yay I’ve had sometime in my little oasis that you may already know I’ve named ‘Tiny Tropical Yarden’.

Here is a Hedychium coronarium, getting in the way of us walking to our door. I decided to move it to allow more space and protect it from damage.

I’m so happy that these night time scented stock have grown in the passage. I’m hoping that they seed and contribute to spread.

I may have also sprinkled so welsh poppies in the passage. I love their nodding heads and their simple yet very apparent presence. I’m happy that they have sprouted.

Our main weeds in the passage since I have been ‘caring’ for the area is Geranium palmatum, and I for one am glad of this … weed.

Another plant that has happened to ‘arrive last in the passage is this fun named plant – Mind your own business, it’s Latin name has changed a few times but I believe it is now known as Soleirolia soleirii.

This plant gives me happiness, it suppresses weeds and looks amazing. Frogs and critters seem to enjoy it. The moisture it retains provides the ideal habitat.

This calcium had a dying leaf, I tugged at the leaf and the whole section, as you can see there were also some roots. I’ve planted it and remain hopeful.

David and I went for a walk along the river Mersey. Look at who’s beautiful butterfly.

We foraged and collected a fair few blackberries.

We popped to my parents, and dropped off a few plants that’s I decided needed a better space that our yarden. Whilst there I was pleased to the progress of the Mirabilis longiflora, sadly they are not quite open but I am excited and anticipate them.

My friend David gave me a cutting of an Aloe striatula, aka Hardy Aloe, i never expected it to flower so soon, here it is in flower.

I’ve had time to sweep the yarden, move plants and pot plants up. I love just having the time potter and enjoy the yarden. My aim is to be able to sit and enjoy.

We always have something to do and it’s our choice to sit and take it in. Is it wrong that I find it easier to sit in another’s garden and contemplate?

Enjoy your green space!!

Exotic curiosities

Impressed with the size of the Taro or Colocasia esculenta.

I’m waiting for the Mirabilis Jalapa to flower.

Another Mirabilis, this time it is M. longiflora, again waiting for its buds to open.

I nearly cut the withering blooms but look how come flowers of this Geranium palmatum are clinging on and the bees are loving them.

These Hedychium are in bud already, standing tall in front of the Musa basjoo.

I hope you are enjoying the weather and green space.