Plant of the Day

Plant of the Day

Saturday 13 June 2026

One of the largest flower heads on an ornamental onion is produced by Allium schubertii (Schubert's allium). It provides star-shaped, pinky-purple flowers on stems of differing lengths producing a starburst effect up to 30cm across in early summer. This bulbous perennial has foliage that will die back before the flowers appear.

Plant of the Day

Friday 12 June 2026

In late spring and early summer the rarely seen deciduous shrub Sophora davidii (David's kowhai, David’s mountain laurel, David’s pagoda tree) produces small, pea-like, white and blue flowers. This hardy shrub needs a moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 11 June 2026

Cedric Morris was an artist and plantsman who collected variations of annual poppies he noticed in local arable fields. This plant continues as seed sold as Papaver rhoeas 'Cedric Morris' (poppy, corn poppy). The flowers come in dusky shades of silvery pink, lavender, mauve and white. Plants thrive in any well-drained fertile soil in full sun.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 10 June 2026

The new fronds of the deciduous fern Osmunda regalis (royal fern, blooming fern, buckhorn brake, flowering fern, ditch fern, king fern, osmund the waterman) were unfurling along with the growth of the spore-bearing pinnae. This large clump forming fern needs moisture all summer, cool conditions and plenty of humus.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 9 June 2026

The marginal aquatic perennial Orontium aquaticum (golden club, floating arum, never-wets, tawkin) was creating a display of flowers by this pond.

Plant of the Day

Monday 8 June 2026

Growing best in a well-drained soil in full sun Asphodeline lutea (asphodel, Jacob's rod, king's spear) is perfect for a dry garden or the edge of a gravel drive. This clump-forming perennial produces tall spikes of fragrant yellow flowers in late spring.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 7 June 2026

This is the perennial Dictamnus albus (burning bush, candle plant, dittany, fire plant, fraxinella, gas plant, spitfire plant) which has white flowers but there is also a purple flowered form Dictamnus albus var. purpureus. It has highly aromatic, dark green leaves and the whole plant becomes covered in a volatile oil which can be ignited resulting in a flash of flame in hot weather.

Plant of the Day

Friday 5 June 2026

This Oxalis triangularis (purple false shamrock) was thriving on a table in indirect, bright light which keeps the rich colouring of the foliage. The South American clump-forming, bulbous perennial is not hardy but makes an easy house plant.

Plant of the Day

Friday 5 June 2026

The scent from this rose was wonderful produced by these soft lilac-pink flowers. Rosa spinosissima 'Falkland' (Scotch rose) produces a dense twiggy framework and does tend to wander from the base but can easily be dug up to produce new plants.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 4 June 2026

Great for edging a gravel garden, Saponaria ocymoides (tumbling Ted, basil soap-wort, rock soapwort) provides pools of pink flowers in early summer. This is a vigorous mat-forming perennial up to 8cm in height, with small semi-evergreen leaves. The plant needs a moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 3 June 2026

An ideal upright, evergreen sub-shrub to add structure to a dry garden is Phlomis 'Edward Bowles' (Jerusalem sage, Turkish sage). This is a hybrid between Phlomis fruticosa and Phlomis russeliana and grows in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun with a sheltered position.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 2 June 2026

The countryside of Scotland is yellow with Ulex europaeus (gorse, furze, thorn broom, whin) flowers which have a distinctive, coconut-perfume. This large, evergreen shrub is covered in needle-like leaves and thrives on a poor sandy soil in full sun. It can be tricky to establish.

Plant of the Day

Monday 1 June 2026

Flowering in late winter to early spring is Cardamine quinquefolia (five-leaved cuckoo flower). It is a slowly spreading herbaceous perennial that is ideal for a partially shaded area with a moist, humus-rich soil. It will die back in summer so is a good companion to Hosta cultivars.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 31 May 2026

These urban planters filled the street with late spring colour with what was probably Tulipa 'Orange Passion' (fringed tulip, crispa tulip). Bulbs are great for containers, I always think these are like cake mix, just add water (and growing media)!

Plant of the Day

Saturday 30 May 2026

It was so good to see this Erysimum cheiri (wallflower, bloody warrior, wall gilliflower) showing clearly how it can grow in nothing more than the mortar between bricks. This short-lived, evergreen perennial is normally grown as a biennial. As the wall indicates plants grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral or, ideally, alkaline soil with full sun. The flowers are sweetly-scented.

Plant of the Day

Friday 29 May 2026

In the amazing Amisfield Walled Garden, East Lothian, that is gardened by community, volunteers, were these espalier trained Malus domestica ‘James Grieve’ (apple). This is a Scottish variety developed some time before 1893 when it was first recorded. The fruit is medium sized and stippled with orange-red.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 28 May 2026

In this woodland the native Allium ursinum (wild garlic, ramsons, buckram, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek, bear’s garlic) was filling the air with a distinctive and pungent garlicky smell. This bulbous perennial has white flowers and broad leaves.