Still sitting in a pot on a rather soggy Saturday is one of my latest foliage purchases heuchera 'Georgia Plum'. I bought this earlier this year from Plantagogo at the Southport Flower Show. Plantagogo is a fairly local concern being a Cheshire based nursery specialising in heucheras, heucherellas and tiarellas. The nursery holds national collections of both heuchera and heucherellas and away from home have been gold medal award winners at all the major flower shows. Owner Vicky Fox also gives talks to gardening societies and other organisations. She has visited our local gardening club a couple of times and is one of those speakers who is so enthusiastic about their subject that you feel you could listen to them time and time again.
I mentioned earlier this year that one of my projects this year was to bring back some permanent mainly foliage container planting to the north facing courtyard outside the front door. I've failed abysmally so far so baby steps from now on so that hopefully I can achieve this goal during 2015. 'Georgia Plum' should fare nicely in this spot. I have a couple of companions in mind for her so far which are lurking ready made in the cold frame. They are an ophiopogon nigrescens and some early flowering galanthus 'Faringdon Double'. I'm intending to add a couple of other ingredients to the mix but am not sure what yet. I also need a new pot so sometime this week hope to locate both a pot and some more plant material that would be happy in shade. Any suggestions would be welcome. In the meantime I'm off to have a look at Christina's monthly foliage day meme over at 'Creating my own garden of the Heserides' for some inspiration.
I love Heucheras, they might grow for me on the terrace in the dense shade of the Wisteria, I may try next year; If you want something large for your north facing area, you can't go wrong with Fatsia japonica, it is also very drought resistant once established. thanks for join GBFD this month Anna.
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for the suggestion Christina. The variegated fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' is already on my wish list but have to find the ideal large pot first :) Good luck with heuchera growing if you do give them a go.
DeleteAnother heuchera fan here, but I have tried, tried and tried again and repeatedly failed. I have to conclude they don't like me. Or perhaps it's the heavy Devon soil and rain and I shouldn't take it so personally.
ReplyDeleteOh what a shame Jessica. It may be worth trying them in pots. We also get a fair bit of rain in the north west :)
DeleteI am in love with the color of your heucheras. Why is it that you always want what you can't have?
ReplyDeleteI know that feeling all too well Karen and would love to be able to grow some of the plants that you can in Spain :)
DeleteGeorgia Plum is a lovely one, there are so many gorgeous heucheras about. For winter I like unusual ivies and the sort of bergenias that turn really red in winter. And for shade you can' t beat ferns. Do you have Galanthus 3 Ships? It is a nice early one that is usually in flower for Xmas day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment and suggestions Chloris. I think that a fern and an ivy may well be just what I need to fill the gap. Yes I do have galanthus 'Three Ships' which looks as if it will be in flower well before Christmas Day. I'm not sure whether to be pleased about this :)
DeleteHeucheras are such lovely plants. I've got a couple in my garden and they do very well, I have ones which are a darker shade, Palace Purple and I can't remember the other.
ReplyDeleteYes aren't they good doers Jo :) I don't have 'Palace Purple' but know of it. I wonder what your other plant is.
DeleteI love heucheras! I have a 'Georgia Peach,' which I thought might be the same plant, just with a different name in the UK. But mine is more of a peachy/bronze color, so this must be a different cultivar. 'Peach' has done really well for me, so I hope the plum is just as hardy for you. I like to plant them in containers, too, and then plant them in the ground before winter. I spend so much money on annuals for containers every year that using perennials like this makes me feel like I'm being a little more frugal.
ReplyDeleteRose, apparently 'Georgia Plum' and 'Georgia Peach' are sisters both bred on your side of the pond at Terra Nova Nurseries. It's the predominant leaf colour of each that gives rise to the names. I like your thinking :)
DeleteHi Anna, Do you think Hakonechloa Aureola would make an interesting contrast with the Heucheras.
ReplyDeleteIt enjoys similar growing conditions and does well in pots.
Thanks very much for your suggestion Brian. I already have a couple of pots of hakonechloa aureola and they will come into the equation somewhere in the courtyard :)
DeleteI love heucheras and these are especially pretty.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and for your comment Donna.
DeleteWhat a lovely colour you heuchera is. I bought a few of my recent ones from Plantagogo and have been very happy with them, they seem to like our wet Devonshire soil!
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice colour isn't it Pauline. Glad that they enjoy your wet Devonshire soil. Maybe Jessica will be able to grow heucheras successfully too.
DeleteI too have some Plantagogo heucheras bought from them at GW Live a couple of years ago and I keep dipping into their catalogue which has such a brilliant range, but so far I have resisted. I was admiring my Luzula sylvatica ‘Marginata’ before we went away and thinking what a great 'do-er' it was, looking pristine throughout the year - certainly something I would recommend. On a less positive note, I discovered last week that both my Faringdon Double and Three Ships are goners, at 2 and 1 year old respectively - harumph :(
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for your suggestion Cathy. I will investigate the luzula forthwith. Oh what a shame about your snowdrops :( Will email you shortly.
ReplyDelete