#sunnysite

Plant of the Day

Friday 11 August 2023

In the Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen, the cheerful yellow flowers are probably the herbaceous perennial Achillea 'Moonshine' (yarrow). The grey, feathery foliage is adapted for a sunny site and is drought-tolerant. This cultivar is more resistant to flopping over than other Achillea cultivars.

Plant of the Day

Monday 25 February 2019

Belonging to the dwarf, bulbous group of the Reticulata irises is Iris 'George'. This miniature iris has fragrant, deep violet-purple flowers and thrives in full sun, with well-drained conditions in the garden or containers.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 23 July 2019

An endemic to La Palma, Canary Islands, Aeonium nobiles is endangered in its natural habitat. Once a plant is mature it produces a spectacular red-pink flower spike with thousands of small individual flowers which are appreciated by bees and other pollinators for months. As a succulent the plant is extremely drought tolerant, but it needs protection from frosts. It seemed to suit a hat!

Plant of the Day

Saturday 11 May 2019

The Erysimum mutabile (wallflower) is well placed in-front of the fountain-like grass Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (rope grass, dis grass). This elegant grass needs a dry, well-drained soil in a sunny location. As does the Erysimum which forms a small short-lived woody perennial covered with long stems of multicoloured flowers. The dark purple buds open to creamy-yellow flowers which become entirely mauve with age.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 18 May 2019

Ideal for a sunny, well drained site is the clump-forming perennial Asphodeline lutea (asphodel, king's spear, yellow asphodel). It has distinctive tall stems with whorls of fine, grey-blue leaves. At the top of the stems are a cluster of star-like yellow flowers which later form a wand of bright green, round fruit which eventually dry to crinkled brown and provide winter interest.