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Month: February 2013

Verbascum Banana Custard and Other Mullien

Verbascum Banana Custard and Other Mullien

Verbascum banana custaard

This nine foot high perennial plant has a striking spire of yellow flowers. This variety has several smaller spikes in this case an impressive fourteen at the last count and still growing. This is a Verbascum hybrida and I also have a white which is less robust but still stately.

  • The leaves are hairy and can cause skin irritation
  • In the wild ‘Mulliens’ produce prodigious volumes of seed as do the hybrids. I treat good specimens as biennial although they are perennial as they are easy to grow from seed.
  • Flowers do not open evenly up the flowering spike but have colour for many weeks in summer. If dead headed there will often be a second flush later.
  • Mulliens like sun and space but are not fussy about soil conditions
  • Try grow a variety with multiple stems. Some have only one spike.

Verbascum
Design Tips

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Herbs for Drinks, Pillows and Baths

Herbs for Drinks, Pillows and Baths

Herbal Teas, Tisanes and Infusions

Herb tea made from dried or fresh leaves can be drunk hot or iced. Chamomile tea is popular and can be bought in tea bags but growing your own is more satisfying. Use one or two tea spoonful of leaves, dry or fresh, to a cup of boiling water and steep for five to ten minutes then strain if you wish.

  • Mint, Fennel and Sage can be used to create teas in the same way.
  • Tinctures are make by soaking in alcohol like cider vinegar and raspberries to make raspberry vinegar

Herb Pillows

Herbs were added to straw to deter insects in less sanitary times. Today it would be enough to collect flowers and put them in a small packet or muslin bag and hang it close to the bedhead.

  • Lavenda, Mignonette, Rosemary and Lemon verbena (Aloysia) make suitably restful pillows
  • Eucalyptus leaves are good for congestion with a strong scent when crushed

Herb Baths

Aromatic herbal baths can be theraputic and pleasurable. Hang a muslin bag filled with a handful of leaves under a running hot tap as the bath fills.

  • For stimulation try Basil, Bay, Lemon balm and Verbena, Mint or Rosemary.
  • For relaxation try Chamomile Valerian, Lavender or available scented flowers.
  • Healing herbs can be used such as Calendula, Acillea and Mints

Herbal Remedies

Herbs work as both preventative and curative medicines and the Greeks and Chinese have long been exponents of the craft. Remedies can be very powerful and be treated with respect. Do not ingest with prescription medicines without consulting a doctor.

  • Sage can be used to make a gargle for infected throats
  • Feverfew leaves or Meadowsweet can be chewed to relieve a headache
  • Yarrow tea is said to be good for colds
  • Dock and plantain leaves have long been used to relieve stings
  • Buy a good herbal medicine book
Wild Orchids in Britain

Wild Orchids in Britain

lady-orchid
There are a surprising number of Orchid species that grow wild in Britain. Because they are so special they should be left in the wild and only purchased from credible suppliers who cultivate their own stock.

The Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea grows up to 2’6″ and the purple speckled flowers on a robust spike make this one of the most popular Wild Orchids in Britain. It flowers in early May in scrub or woodland.

Helloborine Large White is found in Beech woods with chalky soil. It flowers 12-18 inches high in early June. The Narrow Leaved Helleborine is more wide spread especially in shady chalky areas. The Broad Leaved Helloborine grows up to 3 feet high and flowers red or pink  in August. The Marsh Heleborine prefers to grow in alkaline marsh land but in the open it collonises some older sand dunes.
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Stellar Pelargonium – Bird Dancer Geranium

Stellar Pelargonium – Bird Dancer Geranium

Pelargonium

These special zonal pelargoniums are often mistakenly called geraniums. The Stellars have star shaped flowers that give the cultivars their name. The petals are not as full as other zonals but the leaf markings are quite striking. There is a lot of bud at the moment and they are massing in the garden quite well.

As with other geraniums they like a free draining soil but are not troubled with pests (famous last words).

The zonal leaf marking became more apparent when the plants were put outside from the greenhouse.

Plants are easy to propagate from now all through summer and autumn. Just keep the plants on the dry side and frost free in winter. Plants last several years but are more robust and floriferous from new stock. Seed can be sown in warmth from February or raised from plug plants.

The flowers repay close attention and can be inspected on the geranium flower web site

Other links and information on Pelargoniums

Top 10 Scented leaved Pelargoniums
Pelargonium Grandiflorum and other ‘Geraniums’
Photogenic Pelargonium
The Secret of Geranium (Pelargonium) Cuttings
Growing Regal Geranium Pelargonium
Miniature Pelargonium
Dwarf Pelargonium aka Geranium
Tips for Growing Geraniums (Pelargonium)
Thompson & Morgan supply Pelargonium seeds and plants in season.

Growing Cistus Rock Rose

Growing Cistus Rock Rose

rock rose

Cistus or Rock Rose are evergreen and provide a blast of colour in early summer. The flowers of rock rose are short lived, but, a healthy plant can provide a multitude of new flowers every day throughout high summer.

Growing Requirements for Cistus

  • Well Drained soil. Rock roses are susceptible to root rot. If necessary add grit or sand to the base.
  • Full Sun (Rock roses originate from the Mediterranean.
  • Poor to moderately fertile soil. It is not necessary to feed rock roses, in fact, they can give better performances in average soil. Over fertilising them will encourage lush green growth at the expense of flowers. The new growth may be more susceptible to winter frosts

Cistus
Optional requirements

Dead head after flowering (although this will be a lot of work and isn’t essential for a long display)

Pinch out growing stems after flowering to encourage bushy growth

Easy to propagate from cuttings

Wentworth Castle Cistus

A national collection and authority on the species is Bob Page who gives talks on his passion for the Cistaceae family. http://www.cistuspage.org.uk/