#free draining

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 31 December 2025

The trunk of Yucca filifera (St. Peter's palm, tree yucca) has stiff, spine-tipped leaves with peeling, thread-like edges. These are arranged in a dense rosette, the plant may eventually forms a tall, sparsely-branched evergreen tree. By contrast Dasylirion quadrangulatum is a succulent, evergreen shrub that forms a sphere of foliage on a stout trunk. This plant is borderline hardy in a sharply-draining soil in a sheltered, sunny position

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 16 April 2025

This container of Tulipa cretica 'Hilde' (tulip, Cretan tulip) welcomes visitors at the Marengo Community Garden, Orkney. These small tulips are from the Cretan mountains and despite looking fragile they are extremely strong and will naturalise when left undisturbed in gritty free draining conditions.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 15 July 2025

Even in northern Scotland Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula x intermedia (lavender) cultivars can thrive with well-drained soil. The key to growing these aromatic plants is to prune them after flowering to healthy foliage growth to prevent plants becoming ‘leggy’ and encourage denser growth.