#whitestems

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 1 February 2022

The white-bloomed, arching stems of Rubus cockburnianus 'Goldenvale' (white-stemmed bramble) make a fantastic cage for the Galanthus (snowdrop) and Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite). In the summer when the bulbous perennials have died down the thorny stems will be covered in fern-like, bright yellow leaves which fade to lime-green by late summer. Once established the stems can be cut back in early spring to encourage the new white stems for the next winter display.

Plant of the Day

Friday 18 February 2022

The purple young shoots of Salix irrorata (blue-stem willow) are bloomed white in winter providing a great addition to a winter garden. Here this upright deciduous shrub has been surrounded with clumps of Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) which seem an appropriate association with the grey-white stems.

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 4 March 2020

The beautiful white culms of Bambusa chungii (white bamboo, blue bamboo) usually grow 5 to 10m tall, but with favourable conditions they can reach up to 18 metres. This evergreen, clump-forming bamboo is growing in the decorative display glasshouse at the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Wisley, Surrey.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 22 January 2019

The young purple stems of Salix irrorata (blue-stem willow) develop a striking white bloom in winter with grey catkins with red anthers in early spring. Just before bud burst these stems will be cut back to the main stem (leg) to allow new shoots to develop in the coming season to provide the best display for next winter, this pruning process is known as stooling.