#wallshrub

Plant of the Day

Thursday 6 January 2022

On the bare branches of Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet) the highly fragrant flowers are opening and contrast well with the grey painted barn. The flowers have outer tepals of almost transparent, yellowish-green while the inner tepals are shorter and dark red.

Plant of the Day

Friday 28 May 2021

Here Fremontodendron 'California Glory' (flannel bush) has been trained as a wall shrub against this sunny, warm wall. This is a vigorous, large shrub with evergreen, hairy leaves that can cause a rash or skin irritation so it is best to wear gloves when pruning this plant.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 16 February 2020

The early flowering Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' (Japanese apricot) has almond-scented flowers on bare stems in late winter. A compact, shrubby deciduous tree, here it has been trained against a wall and the shadow doubles the display value. The flowers can be followed by edible, bitter yellow fruits.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 29 November 2018

On the north wall of the Cory Lodge, Cambridge Botanic Garden, is a carefully trained specimen of Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree). This plant species is a very ancient and goes back in history to before the Atlantic Ocean existed! The natural distribution is now restricted to a few parts of China.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Covered in red berries the Cotoneaster horizontalis (wall spray, rock spray, herringbone cotoneaster) was the star of the show at Great Dixter, Sussex. This spreading, low growing deciduous shrub has distinctive flat sprays of foliage with small glossy leaves that turn orange and red in autumn. There are white flowers in early summer which the bees appreciate and then result in the spectacular red berries.

Plant of the Day

Friday 9 June 2017

Carpenteria californica (tree anemone) has shiny evergreen leaves on this medium-sized shrub. The flowers are pure white with conspicuous yellow stamens. This plant grows in a well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position, here it has been trained as a wall shrub. 

Plant of the Day

Thursday 8 June 2017

Trained as a wall shrub on this sheltered south-facing wall was Vesalea floribunda. This semi-evergreen shrub was covered in tubular dark pink flowers. 

Plant of the Day

Monday 27 February 2017

The small deciduous tree Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' (Japanese apricot) blooms earlier than the majority of flowering cherries. It has scented blossom so plant by a path so the fragrance can be appreciated. Occasionally the flowers are followed by edible but bitter, yellow fruits. This tree will grow in any moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil preferably in full sun.