Plant Name

Allium christophii

(Allium christophii,
Allium albopilosum)

Common Name

Star of Persia

Soil

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Sun Aspect

Full Sun

Soil Moisture

Moist and Well-drained

Plant Type

Bulb

Height x Spread in inches (cms)
(1 inch = 2.5 cms,
12 inches = 1 foot = 30 cms,
24 inches = 2 feet,
3 feet = 1 yard,
40 inches = 100 cms)

24 x 8 (60 x 20)

Plant 15cm (6 inches) deep, 30cm (12 inches) apart.

Foliage

Dark Green strap-shaped, slightly glaucous leaves withering by flowering time.

Flower Shape, Natural Arrangement, Number of Petals and Flower Colour in Month(s). Seed

Huge globes of small, star-shaped, Pinkish-Purple flowers in May-July followed by a long-lasting seed-head

Comment

Erect Form.

"Huge globes of small, star-shaped, pinkish-purple flowers appear in summer above narrow, grey-green leaves. In bloom these fabulous globes - up to 20cm (8in) in diameter - have a metallic sheen. The faded flowerheads hold up well in the border and are useful for dried flower arrangements. Perfect for a sunny site, dotted in small groups among ornamental grasses, or as part of a Mediterranean scheme. Alliums look best planted between medium-sized herbaceous plants, which help to mask the strap-like leaves, which fade by the time the flowers appear.
Split and divide large clumps in autumn or spring." from Crocus.

"Allium are bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent, linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem.
A. cristophii is a perennial to 50cm (20 inches), with strap-shaped, slightly glaucous leaves withering by flowering time. Star-shaped, rosy-violet flowers are borne in globose heads to 20cm (8 inches) in width in early summer are followed by attractive seed-heads
Easy to grow in fertile well-drained soil. Add grit when grown in clay soils to improve drainage" from RHS.

"Remember these are very perennial so plant them somewhere permanent. Removing the tatty foliage doesn't appear to affect the bulbs.
For the vase, add a drop of bleach to the water to minimise the oniony smell or change the water regularly. They will look good for up to 2 weeks without rearranging." from Sarah Raven.

"Magnificent, spherical heads composed of glossy amethystine violet stars each with a metallic sheen. Allium christophii is the most flamboyant member of this enormous family of plants.
Allium christophii has spherical flower-heads which contain up to 80 star shaped flowers with slightly flattened petals that emphasise the perfect ball shape. As these fade, they resemble brown stars, and the complete stem will last for many weeks as part of a dried flower arrangement.

Sometimes called the 'Star of Persia,' it is a native of Turkey and Iran, and loves a warm sunny site where it will tolerate competition from tree and hedge roots. Alliums look best planted between medium-sized herbaceous plants, which help to mask the strap-like leaves, which fade by the time the flowers appear. 
Fully frost hardy, they are able to withstand temperature down to -15°C (5°F). The plants can be allowed to self-seed to make impressive clumps.
Alliums are also ideal for containers. They flower in May-June so are ideal to add colour after the tulips and daffodils have flowered and before many of the summer flowering bulbs are flowering.

Allium christophii has been awarded the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Sow at any time of year.
The seeds can be sown directly where they are to flower at any time of year, or can be sown indoors, the seedlings over wintered in the greenhouse and then planted out in the following spring.
Allium seeds need a period of moisture and cold after harvest before they will germinate, usually this is necessary to either allow the embryo to mature or to break dormancy.
If sown indoors in warmer weather, the period of dormancy can be artificially stimulated by placing the moistened seed in a refrigerator. It is best to sow them on moistened, well draining compost, seal the container in a polythene bag and leave everything in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 weeks at around 4 to 5°C (39 to 41°F). The seeds must be moist whilst being pre-chilled, but it doesn't usually benefit them to be actually in water or at temperatures below freezing. After prechilling bring out of the fridge to 13 to 16°F (55 to 60°F)
Light seems to be beneficial and so pre-chilled seeds should have only the lightest covering of compost over them, and the seed trays etc. should be in the light. Compost should be kept moist but not wet at all times. Germination should occur 18 to 21 days.
Prick out each seedling as it becomes large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots or trays to grow on. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out.

Plant out in spring into fertile, well drained soil. Add grit when grown in clay soils to improve drainage. Remember that the foliage dies back as flowering commences; you may wish to place this behind a smaller plant to disguise its foliage. When planting try to plant in groups of at least 3 or 5 as they do look much better in clumps.
Prepare the soil prior to planting by cultivating up to 30cm of soil, on heavier soils add a couple of handfuls of grit under each Allium before planting to improve drainage. Alliums grow well in most soil types but do prefer to be planted in well-drained sunny spots. The bulbs of Alliums vary tremendously in size so the best advice on planting depth is to plant Allium bulbs at a depth of three to four time their depth in the soil. On light soils, increase the planting depths to help anchor the taller varieties. The soil around Alliums should be kept moist during the flowering period.
Alliums can also be used for naturalising in grassland or similar areas, however please note that as they do not flower until late (May-June) you will not be able to cut the grass until they die back in July.

To plant in pots ensure you have a sturdy deep container (the height and weight of the taller alliums will cause smaller containers to topple over), put crocks in the bottom to allow for drainage and then add about 10cms of potting compost. Place the Allium bulbs on top of the compost so that they are not touching the outside pot or each other. Cover with at least 20cms of potting compost and firm down. During the winter months ensure the compost is kept moist but not too wet and protect from frost. When you see the first signs of growth in the spring (March-April) increasing the amount of water to ensure the compost does not dry out. " from Seedaholic.

Missouri Botanical Garden also has details on this plant.

"This bulb can also be used for miniature fireworks effects in Fairy Gardens" from About Miniatures.

Available from
R.V. Roger - "Our extensive range of over 16,000 plants, bulbs and seeds is here on the website for you to browse. We can take orders through the site or over the phone at the nursery. Advice sheets are also available.",
Crocus and
Sarah Raven in the UK with
Brent and Becky's Bulbs in America.

Seed available from Seedaholic in Ireland for delivery throughout the world .

Companions

Stipa tenuissima
Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland'
Astrantia 'Hadspen Blood'

Flower from Mixed Borders at RHS Wisley. Photo from Chris Garnons-Williams on 7 June 2013.

See flower photo from John Jearrard.

Number of Flower Petals

Petal-less

1

2

3

4

5

Above 5

Flower Shape - Simple

Stars

Bowls

Cups and Saucers

Globes

Goblets and Chalices

Trumpets

Funnels

Flower Shape - Simple

Bells

Thimbles

Urns

Salverform

Flower Shape - Elabor-ated

Tubes, Lips and Straps

Slippers, Spurs and Lockets

Hats, Hoods and Helmets

Stan-dards, Wings and Keels

Discs and Florets

Pin-Cushions

Tufts

Flower Shape - Elabor-ated

Cushion

Umbel

Buttons

Pompoms

Natural Arrange-ments

Bunches, Posies and Sprays

Columns, Spikes and Spires

Whorls, Tiers and Cande-labra

Plumes and Tails

Chains and Tassels

Clouds, Garlands and Cascades

Spheres, Domes and Plates

At the Commital for Marilyn Lewis 1954-April 2014 some of Marilyn's Recipes were published pre and post in the Order of Service provided for the attendees:

This is her Potato Goulash for serving to 4 Vegetarians:-

8 Ounces Onion, thinly sliced,
2 tablespoons Vegetable Oil,
2 Ounces of Margarine,
32 Ounces Potatoes, peeled and cut into 0.5 inch (1.25 cm) thick slices,
1 level tablespoon Paprika,
0.25 pint water,
2 level teaspoons Salt,
1 tablespoon Flour,
2 teaspoons Caraway Seeds,
0.25 Pint Sour Cream,
Chives, chopped,
Hard Boiled Eggs, sliced.
 

1. Fry onions in oil and margarine in large pan.

2. Add potatoes with the paprika and stir. Add the water and salt. Cover and cook slowly for 20 minutes.

3. Stir in flour (blended with 3-4 tablespoons of water) and Caraway seeds. Cook 1-2 minutes.

4. Remove from heat. Stir in Sour Cream and put into casserole. Sprinkle with chopped chives and sliced eggs.

Unfortunately; we the generation who finished their education in Britain before AD 2000 still use ounces - International avoirdupois ounces - despite the following statement - "On January 1, 2000, it ceased to be a legal unit of measure within the United Kingdom for economic, health, safety or administrative purposes". Due to the British Government overspending for the last 4 years at a rate of £3805.18 a second, there are insufficient funds to educate our illiterate about that last statement concerning the legality of using the ounce.
 

At the Commital for Marilyn Lewis 1954-April 2014 some of Marilyn's Recipes were published pre and post in the Order of Service provided for the attendees:

This is her Cottage Cheese and Chive Pie for serving to 3-4 Vegetarians:-

4 Ounces Onion finely chopped,
1 Ounce of Margarine,
4 Ounces of puff Pastry,
1 Small Egg, to be beaten,
2 Ounces Fresh Breadcrumbs,
4 Ounces Cottage Cheese,
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives,
2 Ounces Mature Cheddar, grated,
Salt and Pepper.

1. Gently fry onion in margarine until tender. Cool.

2. Roll pastry to 8 inches x 9 inches (20 x 22.5 cms).

3. Beat egg in bowl, tip 2 tablespoons into cup and place aside. Add onion and all other ingredients to egg in bowl. Mix and season with Salt and Pepper.

4. Spread mix down centre of pastry. Seal edges. Place on baking sheet, sealed pastry edges underneath. Brush pastry with egg from cup and slit top.

Place in oven at Gas Mark 7 (218 degrees Centigrade) for 20-25 minutes.

10 years later - in April 2024 - from first publishing this page,
is the following copied from the Home page:-

UK National Debt was roughly £1,080,000,000,000 in 2009,

then Conservatives came into government in 2010.
UK National Debt was £1,820,000,000,000 in 2019,
UK National Debt was £2,654,300,000,000 at the end of Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2023 with
UK government deficit (or net borrowing) was £39,200,000,000 in Quarter 3 2023, equivalent to 5.8% of GDP.
Conservative Government continues to overspend each month.

£2,654,300,000,000
£1,080,000,000,000
---------------------
£1,573,700,000,000

British 30 year Gilt is 4.379% annually on 12 March 2024.
This equals £68,912,323,000 annual charge on the money borrowed by the Conservative Government since they came to power and this is how much it is if you have all the UK National Debt on the British 30 year gilt:-
£116,231,797,000.
The number of Income Tax payers by income is an estimated 31,700,000 Income Tax payers in the UK in 2020 to 2021.
This means that
from the tax paid by these tax payers of £3666.62 annually
for their current portion of UK National Debt of £83,731.86
is used to pay for the overspending of the UK Government.
Because the UK government is still overspending
as forecast until at least
2029 in Table 1.1: Changes in borrowing since November 2023, then
that portion of their tax will increase and
their portion of the UK National Debt.

UK Goverment collected £788,600,000,000 in taxes in 2022 to 2023, an increase of 10.2% from the year before.
116,231,797,000
------------------- = 0.14739005%
788,600,000,000
0.14739005% of the tax collected in 2022-23 went on paying the 30 year gilt charge.
This % will increase each year and if the 30 year gilt charge increases, then the % will increase even faster. This means their will be less tax to pay for the public services, until all the tax collected pays for is the overspending carried out by the UK government.

"The Local Government Association recently reported that one in five councils could be in severe financial hardship within two years and a report from the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) this week reported that more than 50 per cent of councils are saying it is likely they would issue a Section 114 notice in the next five years. Medway has seen a sharp reduction in revenue support grant from government - £85million to around £7million since 2010 – despite a continuing increase in service demand and inflationary costs.
On Thursday, 29 February, the government confirmed that Medway Council was one of 19 councils across England which had been granted permission to extend its borrowing arrangements through a capitalisation direction. This allows us to borrow up to £14.742million to spread revenue costs over more than one year, enabling it to ease mounting budget pressures, put investment in place to return to greater financial stability and avoid the need for a S114 notice." SO, NOW NOT ONLY IS THE UK GOVERNMENT OVERSPENDING AND INCREASING DEBT, BUT THEY HAVE REDUCED THEIR SUPPORT SINCE 2010 TO THE POINT OF BANKRUPTY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE TO BORROW RUNNING COST MONEY, LEADING TO FURTHER INCREASES TO THE RATES TO PAY FOR IT.
THAT MEANS MORE TAX AND THEN THE 280,000 RESIDENTS GET LESS FOR IT, UNTIL LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOES TOTALLY BANKRUPT AS WELL.

Do you normally give credit to bankrupt people, government or commerce?

MIXED BORDER DESIGN GALLERY PAGES

FOLIAGE COLOUR
.Black
.Blue
(o)Brown
.Bronze
(o)Green
(o)Grey
.Other
(o)Purple
(o)Red
(o)Variegated
(o)Variegated White
.Variegated Yellow
.White
.Yellow
.4 Season Colour

FLOWER COLOUR RANGE IN 71 PARTS OF MIXED BORDER DURING
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

7 Flower Colours per Month in Colour Wheel below in the MIXED BORDERS DESIGN Gallery.

Click on Black or White box in Colour of Month.

It is worth remembering that the links to external sites were valid on the day that I created that link, but may no longer be valid as Father Time moves on!

MIXED BORDER OTHER PLANTS GALLERY PAGES

Site Map of pages with content (o)

Introduction -
which includes how not to prune and where not to position a plant in a bed

Other Permanent Plants Height from Text Border for the
BEDDING PLANT Gallery,
this MIXED BORDER OTHER PLANTS Gallery and
MIXED BORDERS DESIGN Gallery

Blue = 0-24 inches
(0-60 cms)

Green = 24-72 inches
(60-180 cms)

Red = 72+ inches
(180+ cms)

Bedding Plants Soil Moisture from Text Background

Wet Soil

Moist Soil

Dry Soil

Click on thumbnail to add the Plant Description Page of the Bedding Plants named in the Text box below that photo.
The Comments Row of that Bedding Plant Description Page details where that Bedding Plant is available from.

MIXED BORDER OTHER PLANT INDEX

Other Plant Name

with link to its Description Page
 

Flower Colour

with link to Design of East Border or
Design of West Border Page where that plant is located

Flowering Months

with link to Mixed Borders Flower Colour per Month Pages

Flower Thumbnail

Height x Spread in inches (cms)

Foliage Colour

with link to Mixed Borders Foliage Colour Page

Foliage Thumbnail

Comment

Bamboo

Bulb

Agapanthus 'Buckingham Palace'

Deep Blue

July, August, September

60 x 24
(150 x 60)

Dark Green

5 other Agapanthus in Herbaceous Perennial Gallery

Allium cristophii

Pinkish-Purple

May, June, July

24 x 8
(60 x 20)

Dark Green

74 other Allium in Allium and Anemone Gallery

Allium sphaerocephalon

Green, then Purple and ages Reddish-Purple

July, August

24 x 3
(60 x 8)

Strap-like, Mid-Green

Alstroemeria psittacina

Red and green petals spotted with black

Aug-Sep

40 x 18
(100 x 45)

Light Green

Crocosmia
'Severn Sunrise'

Opening Orange fades to Pink
Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its flowers after May 2013

August, September, October

35 x 23
(88 x 48)

Erect, narrow, sword-shaped and Dark Green

100 Crocosmia at Trecanna Nursery

Crocosmia x crocosmioides 'Vulcan'

Rich-Red

June, July, August

36 x 18
(90 x 45)

Upright, pleated, wide, lance-shaped, mid Green leaves

Galtonia candicans

should be named Ornithogalum candicans

White

July, August, September

48 x 16
(120 x 40)

Strap-shaped and Mid-Green

Other Southern African Orni-thogalum species that originate in southern Africa

Climber

Clematis
'Alba Luxurians'
(Viticella Group)

See Description Page also in Clematis Climber Gallery

White

July, August, September, October

120 x 72
(300 x 180)

Grey-Green

See 70 other Clematis climbers in Clematis Climber Gallery and further data on Clematis

Clematis
'Bill Mackenzie'
(Tangutica Group)

Yellow

July, August, September, October

120-180 x 36
(450 x 90)

Dark Green

321 Clematis at Haw-thornes Nursery

Clematis x bonstedtii (Heracleifolia Group)

Pale Blue

July, August, September

60 x 20
(150 x 50)

Dark Green

Clematis x diversifolia

Blue, Violet, Lilac, Lavender

June, July, August, September, October

100 x 40
(250 x 100)

Lance-shaped Dark Green

Clematis 'Elvan'

Lilac to Lilac-Blue

"All Clematis fall into one of 3 distinct pruning groups: No Prune (Group 1), Light Prune (Group 2), and Hard Prune (Group 3).

Group 1: Early Flowering. Typically blooming in winter and spring, these varieties flower on the previous year's growth only, so if you need to remove damaged stems or control the size of the plant, the best time would be as soon as they have finished flowering. Included in this group are Alpina, Macropetala, Montana, and Evergreen varieties.

Group 2: Large Flowers. Typically larger flowers grow out on new shoots from last year's growth in late spring and summer. Some of these will occasionally display a second bloom at the tips of the current year's growth in late summer and autumn. These varieties should be pruned in spring, right back to where there are strong and healthy buds, before they start their active growth period. New flowering stems will be produced from this architecture of previous growth.

Group 3: Late Flowering. Group 3 Clematis only flower on current year's growth. These blooms tend to display from summer through to late autumn. These varieties are arguably the easiest to prune, as you basically cut it right down to about 20cm (8ins) above ground level in spring before they begin their active growth period, removing all of the previous year's growth." from Primrose who have produced a new method of raising "Kids in our planters".

If this climber flowered after May 2013, then I could not identify it or see its Plant Label. See Clematis 'Elvan' Des-cription Page in Clematis Climbers Gallery

Clematis
'Etoile Violette'

Deep Purple

If this climber flowered after April 2013, then I could not identify it or see its Plant Label. See Clematis 'Etoile Violette' Des-cription Page in Clematis Climbers Gallery

Clematis 'Fukuzono'

Purple fades to Blue

June, July, August, September

60 x 60
(150 x 150)

Dark Green

Where is the American Clematis Society?

Rogerson Clematis Collection

Clematis 'Jackmanii'

See Description Page also in Clematis Climber Gallery

Violet-Purple

July, August, September

168 x 36
(420 x 90)

Pale to Mid-Green

Clem-atis.com focuses on Clematis varieties which are available and suitable for the North American garden including this variety

Clematis 'Kaiu'

White with Pink tinge

July, August, September

72 x 36
(180 x 90)

Dark Green

British Clematis Society awarded 'Com-mended Certificate' to this Clematis

Clematis 'Kermesina'

Crimson-Red

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 4 March 2013

Estonian Clematis Society

Clematis 'Madame Julia Correvon'

See Description Page also in Clematis Climber Gallery

Red

July, August, September

96-120 x 36
(240-300 x 90)

Dark Green

Sag-amihara Green Association for Clematis in Japan

Clematis 'Pink Ice'

Deep Pink

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 15 May 2013

Fact Sheet on Clematis from Gardening in Australia

Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans'

Dusky-Purple

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 13 April 2013

Chelone glabra black plant label on left and Clematis 'Purpurea Plena Elegans' black plant label on right

Clematis Nomen-clatural Standards List from the Inter-national Clematis Society

Clematis Rosemoor 'Evipo002'

Purplish-Red

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 13 April 2013

Hemerocallis lilio-asphodelus black plant label on right and Clematis Rosemoor 'Evipo002' black plant label in middle

Clematis
'Royal Velours'

Red-Purple

July, August, September

180 x 60
(450 x 150)

Mid-Green

Clematis 'Ruutel'

Red

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 4 March 2013.

Since its Birch Branch Support structure has not been replaced, It may be that this climber position was not going to be there in 2013 summer season.

Clematis 'Viola'

Violet Blue ages to Purple

June, July, August, September, October

120 x 60
(300 x 150)

Dark Green

Clematis x aromatica

Violet-Blue

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 15 May 2013

Dactylicapnos macrocapnos

Yellow

June, July, August, September, October, November, December

80 x 40
(200 x 100)

Pale Green

Lathyrus latifolius 'Rosa Perle'

Purplish-Pink

June. July, August, September

80 x 36
(200 x 90)

Grey-Green

Conifer

Dediduous Shrub

Buddleja daviidii nanhoensis
'Nanho Blue'

Pale Lilac-Blue

June, July, August, September

60 x 60
(150 x 150)

Grey-Green

Buddleja davidii nanhoensis
'Nanho Purple'

Deep Purple

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 15 May 2013.

The Trials Report of 2008-2010 on Buddleja davidii and its close hybrids of the RHS provides useful data including the require-ment for hard pruning. The Panel co-opted three genus special-ists, who are all national collection holders of Buddleja. They were; Peter Moore (Long-stock Gardens), Anita Allen (Shap-cott Barton Estate) and Andrew Bullock (The Lavender Garden).

Buddleja davidii 'Nanho White Monite'

White

Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 15 May 2013.

Buddleja davidii 'Peacock'
('Peakeep' is the Trade name)

Pink to Purple-Pink

June, July, August, September

60 x 60
(150 x 150)

Medium Green

Cornus alba 'Aurea'

Cream

May, June

120 x 120
(300 x 300)

Large crisp Golden-Yellow leaves in spring.
If grown in a shady position the leaves tend to change to a beautiful Lime-green colour.

In autumn; the new stems turn crimson and remain to brighten up the winter months.

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima'

Small, Creamy-White, in flat heads. Unable to see its flowers in May-June or even later in the year.

The 3 cornus at the back of the bed are starting to create their spring foliage on 15 May 2013

Spring pruning at Beech-grove Garden helps you to create what you want to see from a plant.

The 3 cornus at the back of the bed are now over 6 feet high on 29 August 2013. The plants in front obstruct the view of the cornus behind and thus no photos of the flowers of this cornus were taken in 2013. As a backdrop of variegated green/yellow it may be fine, but in that case why not replace that section of hedge behind it instead.

Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple'

Pink

July, August

200 x 200
(500 x 500)

Dark Red-Purple oval leaves and, when the temperature drops, the leaves develop a bright-pink margin before becoming scarlet.

Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple'

Scarlet Sepals and Purple Petals

June, July, August, September, October

44 x 44
(110 x 110)

Slender deep Green

Hardy Fuchsia List for the Showbench from the Fuchsia Societies in the UK

Fuchsia 'Riccartonii'

Scarlet Sepals and Purple Petals

June, July, August, September, October

80 x 120
(200 x 300)

Bronze-tinted Dark Green Spring Foliage becomes Dark Green Foliage in the Summer

There is the American Fuchsia Society , the Australian Fuchsia Society Inc the National Fuchsia Society of New Zealand and there was the Greater Victoria Geranium and Fuchsia Society in Canada

Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart'

White with Red base

June, July, August

96 x 60
(240 x 150)

Lobed Dark Green

Inter-national Hibiscus Society list of registered and non-registered cultivars

Hydrangea arborescens
'Astrid Lindgren'

White

July, August, September

52 x 60
(130 x 150)

Dark Green

American Hyd-rangea Society with the story of the big Hydrangea that wouldn't bloom.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kyushu'

Creamy-White

August, September

200 x 100
(500 x 250)

Toothed Mid to Dark Green

The Best Books on Hydrangeas

Leycesteria formosa 'Purple Rain'

Burgundy, Pink and White

June, July, August, September

100 x 80
(250 x 200)

Dark Green

Paeonia lutea var. ludlowii

Golden-Yellow

Without the 50 x optical zoom on my current camera, I was unable to take photos of the flowers which were on this shrub on 15 May 2013. This shrub is too far back to enjoy its flowers with the naked eye.

The Peony Society has further details on peonies.

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Dart's Gold'

White often tinged with Pink

May, June

60 x 60
(150 x 150)

Golden Yellow

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo'

Pinkish-White

June, July, August

96 x 96
(240 x 240)

Dark Purple ages to Green

Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Guincho Purple'

Pink and White

The Plant Label in the middle of this photo of January 2013 is unreadable.

The Plant Label has been expanded below.

The photo taken on the bottom right on 15 May 2013 shows that the Sambucus plant label is facing the front.

The Yellowish-Green juvenile foliage on the bottom right belongs to Cornus alba 'Aurea' - you can see from its page that it grows quite high and hides the side view of this Sam-bucus Plant Label when that plant is in flower. Since the plant label is difficult to read from the front lawn, this indicates no identity of this plant took place when it was in flower.

Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla 'Gerda'

Pinkish-Purple

When you look at the panorama photos in East Border Part 19 you will note - by 19 September 2013 - that purple flowers could be seen on the Sambucus but its plant label could not, because of the yellow foliage of the Cornus in front of it.

This photo taken on 15 May 2013 shows the plant label for this burgundy-leaved Sam-bucus in the middle and facing the lawn between the 2 Mixed Borders.

The orange juvenile foliage on the left is from Cornus alba 'Aurea'.

Deciduous Tree

Catalpa bignonioides 'Aurea'

White

Since no flowers were seen, then no photos of its flowers could be taken in Wisley.

This photo from Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden on 15 June shows no flower bud formation for flowering in July.

This photo on 21 August 2013 from East Border Part 25 shows no indication of flowers during July or August. The panorama photos in that page do not indicate any evidence of flowers during 2013

Paulownia tomentosa

Lilac-Purple

Photo from 4 March 2013 followed by photo of 1 July 2013 with no flowers seen before or afterwards.

Evergreen Perennial

Hemerocallis
'Green Flutter'

Greenish-Yellow

June, July, August

20 x 40
(50 x 100)

Narrow, upright Dark Green

Hemerocallis
'Little Grapette'

Grape-Purple with Golden-Yellow throat

July, August, September

30 x 24
(75 x 60)

Narrow, strap-like, Dark Green Evergreen Perennial

Heuchera 'Obsidian'

Cream

Unable to get clear photos of flowers in 2013

June, July

18 x 12
(45 x 30)

Jet black-maroon Evergreen Perennial

Heuchera
'Plum Pudding'

Pale Pink

Unable to get clear photos of flowers in 2013

June, July, August

26 x 20
(65 x 50)

Marbled, Plum-Purple
Semi-Evergreen Perennial

Evergreen Shrub

Abelia x grandiflora

White flushed mauve-pink

June, July, August, September, October

120 x 300
(300 x 400)

Dark Green

Semi-Evergreen Shrub

Artemesia
'Powis Castle'

See further details in East Border Part 14 about lack of record keeping leading to this plant being overgrown - linkstakes in front of the Pennisetum would have provided a temporary solution from May 2013 onwards.

Yellow
See flower photo from June 2012 from PbmGarden

Although these plants were in front of the bed next to the path and in front of Pennisetum orientale 'Shogun'; the Pennisetum overgrew them.

Ligustrum quihoui

This image is part of the unreduced original photo taken on 24 July 2013. These plants were at the back of a 240 inch (600 cms) deep bed and the flowers were too small.

White

Without the 50 x optical zoom on my current camera, I was unable to take close-up photos of the flowers which were on these shrubs on 24 July 2013. These shrubs are too far back to enjoy their flowers with the naked eye.

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'

White

April, May

108 x 108
(270 x 270)

During the growing season all new flushes of growth are brilliant red, turning to bronze by late spring then to Dark Green

Evergreen Tree

Fern

Grass

Arundo donax

Purple

September

Very rarely flowers in Britain

240 x 160
(600 x 400)

Grey-Green

See other
9 Bamboos and 4 Grasses in their Galleries with native to UK Bamboo , Grass ,
Soft Bromes, Parnassus-Grass , Rannock-Rush , Reedmace , Wood-rushes , Saltmarsh Grasses , Sedges-Rush-Like and
Sedges Carex Families in the Wild Flower Galleries.

Grass-Base - The Online World Grass Flora from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.
This site presents good florastyle des-criptions for all grass species.

Calamagrostis brachytricha

Silvery-grey with Pinkish-Purple tints becomes Golden-Brown

June, July, August

60 x 36
(150 x 90)

Grey-Green

Cortaderia selloana

White

August, September

120 x 60
(300 x 150)

Deep Green with razor sharp edges and midrib

Cortaderia selloana 'Pumila'

Silvery-Yellow

August

60 x 48
(150 x 120)

Dark Green with razor sharp edges and midrib

Eragrostis curvula

Grey-Green

August

60 x 40
(150 x 100)

Dark Green

Miscanthus sinensis 'Gracillimus'

Reddish-Copper

September

52 x 48
(130 x 120)

Dark Green with White stripe down the leaf centre

Miscanthus sinensis 'Grosse Fontane'

Pink ripens to Silver.
Missed taking photos of its Pink Inflore-scences

August, September, October, November, December

100 x 60
(250 x 150)

Dark Green

Miscanthus sinensis 'Kaskade'

Rosy-Pink
Missed taking photos of its Pink Inflore-scences and its foliage turning Bronze in the Autumn

July, August, September, October

Note that the Pink Spikelets were visible on the panorama of West Border Part 68 of 19 Sep-tember but its label was hidden by the plants in front

100 x 40
(250 x 100)

Dark Green with White Midribs

Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light'

Grey/ Silver and Pale Pink
Missed taking photos of its Pink Inflore-scences

September, October, November

40 x 36
(100 x 90)

Dark Green with White midribs and edges

Miscanthus sinensis 'Roland'

Pink turning to pure White Unable to locate plant label to take photos of its foliage or flowers after 15 May 2013

August, September

56 x 40
(140 x 100)

Dark green

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'

Pale Pink

Missed taking photos of its Pink Inflore-scences

August, September

48 x 18
(120 x 45)

Horizontal Cream bands on Dark Green arching foliage

Pennisetum orientale 'Shogun'

Pale Pink

June, July, August, September, October, November

48 x 32
(120 x 80)

Flat, linear, Blue-Green leaves, turning Yellow-Brown in autumn

Stipa calamagrostis

Pale Green ages to light buff

June, July, August, September

30 x 18
(75 x 45)

Dark Green

Stipa gigantea

Purple ripens to Gold

June, July

100 x 48
(250 x 120)

Slender Grey-Green

Stipa gigantea
'Gold Fontaene'

Plant removed after 20 January 2013

Straw Yellow

Photo taken on 20 January 2013 in West Border Part 63

Hedge

Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)

Green

as background hedge to all 71 Parts of Mixed Borders

May

480 x 320
(1200 x 800)

Mid-Green with Brown Autumn and Winter dead foliage

Herb

Odds and Sods

Biennial - Onopordum acanthium

Purple

In the late 19th century, it was introduced to temperate regions of North America, South America, and Australia as an ornamental plant, and is now considered a major agricultural and wildland noxious weed. I would not recommend growing it in your garden, orchard or fields.

Sub-Shrub -
Artemesia abrotanum

Having such a small area of plant, I was unable to find its flowers from 29 August to 30 December 2013.
Is this because this plant rarely produces flowers in British gardens?

Yellow

September, October

Photo taken by H. Kavanagh on 21 August 2013 with the Artemesia being the wide area of green foliage next to the path.

Rhododendron/ Azalea/ Camellia

Rose

Rosa Bonica 'Meidomonac'

Retail name in UK should be
Rosa 'Bonica'
(Meidomonac) as used by David Austin Roses

Pink

July, August, September

36 x 44
(90 x 110)

Glossy, Mid-Green

See WISLEY WISLEY Rose Classification System Page for details on this Rosa Retail Name 'Trade Name' RHS naming system.

Rosa glauca 'Carmenetta' and Page in RHS Wisley Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden Roses

Pink

May, June, July, August, September, October

78 x 78
200 x 200)

Green with Grey reverse

Soft Fruit

Top Fruit

Vegetable

Wildflower

Pincushions - The pincushions of plants such as scabious (Scabiosa columbaria from BritishFlora) are in reality compound flowerheads, with a dome of central florets surrounded by larger florets.

I am attempting the same free link to mail-order nurseries for the people of Europe, Latvia, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and China.

If all else fails for you to understand how to use this educational website; with one of approximately 0.0023% of the site visitors, you might also find it worthwhile reading the instructions in the red text on the
Welcome Page and the entire following page:-
Website Structure Explanation and User Guidelines but again you might not want to.

Copied from

Ivydene Gardens Mixed Border Other Permanent Plants Gallery:
Introduction

The Other Permanent Plants from the Mixed Borders in the Garden at RHS Wisley in this Gallery are neither their Bedding plants nor their Permanent Herbaceous Perennials.

All the Permanent Plants in a bed are their to provide a structure where all of its plants when they are in flower can be seen and identified when in a garden that is displayed to the public.

This Buddleja davidii nanhoensis 'Nanho Purple' plant is in the West Border Section 7 Part 57 and you can see it in flower in the photo below taken 19 September 2013.

It has the purple flowers at the back of the border in the middle of this panaroma shot of that section.

We will now expand this photo to find its plant label.

Unfortunately we cannot see its label.

The above photo was taken on 4 March 2013 and shows that the Miscanthus in front of it is still higher than the Black Plant label for this Buddleja. If that plant label was not elevated that could be the reason why no plant label for that buddleja was seen in September 2013. What is the point of having plants in a display garden, that visitors cannot identify when they are in flower.

This buddleja had its crown reduced in height by the staff at RHS as shown by the following photo taken on 20 January 2013

and the following shows the right hand side:-

If one leaves this amount of young branches in such a confined area then summer growth will become a congested mess.

The Pruning of trees, Shrubs and Conifers by George E. Brown published in 1977 in Faber Paperbacks - formerly Assistant Curator in Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew - was recommended as one of the books from Hadlow College where I took a course for a year from 1990-1991 to learn about horticulture. The following is what it states about pruning Buddleja daviddii :-

"Those which flower terminally on the current season's wood.

With these, the habit of growth and flowering is such that the late spring and early summer are devoted to the formation of shoots which are often 100 or 200 cms (40-80 inches) in length. These are eventually terminated by the inflorescence, which opens and sets seed all in the same season, as that in which the growth is made. Buddleja davidii Franch. and the various cultivars of this species all have this habit. Left unpruned, they develop into large spreading bushes full of dead wood and small branches which blossom poorly. Hard pruned annually in the spring, taking each shoot back to the lowest growths, the vigour is channelled into fewer shoots which as a result are strong with corresponding panicles of blossom. The pruning may either be carried down to ground level or to a main framework of a few branches about 90 -120 cms (36-48 inches) in height according to vigour. The need for a larger framework is indicated when the growths are excessively vigorous, especially at the top of the bush, and in order to achieve it, selected, well-positioned growths should only be pruned to half their length for the first 2 or 3 years after planting.

All buddlejas are sun lovers. The soil should be well-drained but they are strong growers and require feeding and mulching. This is especially true of those which are pruned hard each year. They all respond well by growing from really old wood if the shrub is cut back hard."

In the start of winter, when the current season's growth has finished and the new growth has just started; then I would prune buddlejas down to a maximum of 24 inches (60 cms) high and reduce each branch to an outward facing new shoot. I would also remove a third of the oldest trunks to ground level, so that I would end up with 1 year, 2 year and 3 year old trunks. I then had buddlejas with their flowering height at about the height of client's eyes each year.

The following shows the foliage of the Buddleja davidii nanhoensis 'Nanho Purple'on 15 May 2015:-

but no further photos where this buddleja could be identified were taken after 15 May 2013. It does not seem to have been mulched to provide its nutrients and all its trunks are very mature; perhaps over 10-15 years old.

The same pruning problems have occurred with the Buddleja daviidii nanhoensis 'Nanho Blue' (Photo taken on 15 May 2013)

and the Buddleja daviidii nanhoensis 'Nanho White' (Photo taken on 15 May 2013) in these Mixed Borders

These Buddleja davidii 'Peacock' were blown out of the ground by the storm before 10 November 2013:-

and then replanted as shown in the Lost Flowers Page. Since half its roots had been broken for it to be blown over and because of its age, this buddleja should have been replaced.

I do realise that because the Royal Horticultural Society is suffering financially in these austere times (over £19,000,000 excess income over expenditure in 2012-2013) and lack of visitors to this garden (1,000,000 in 2012-2013), that donations should be sent to the RHS Garden, Wisley Lane, Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB:-

• for The Plant Replacement Fund to the RHS Garden Maintenance Staff using recorder delivery and include a banana to provide it with some nourishment when they plant it (Recorded Delivery by the Royal Mail in the UK is not counted as late if arrives within 15 working days from the working day that it was sent - if you pay an extra cost; then it can be delivered the next working day)
• for the Person and Dog Path Maintenance Team to provide safe paths for visitors and wheelchair users which have the correct depth of foundations as shown in Case Study 3 to replace those paths; which are slabs laid on the earth as shown on the Lost Flowers Page. Use recorder delivery to send the cheque or postal order and include a banana to then provide that person with some nourishment when he/she executes this safety work 6 months later. if you wish to be kind to the Dog, then include Dog biscuits - the dog can drink from the rain puddles as a further cost-cutting expense.

Including the banana and/or the Dog biscuits might get the RHS to take note.

Photo taken on 24 March 2014 of existing path alongside current Tulip Trial.

Above Photo of same path section taken on 15 June 2013. Safety issue?

Pavement repaired with sharp sand. Photo taken 10 November 2013.

Photo taken 24 March 2014. The sand used between the slabs and their neighbours appears to have become soil.

Photo taken on 24 March 2014 looking at temporary visitor viewing path to see part of Tulip Trial. I wonder what would happen when a wheelchair being pushed by its carer uses this - after it has rained.

This section details what I consider as errors in design carried out by the staff at the RHS garden in Wisley:-

Mixing all the primary colours together for the flower colours used in many of the 71 parts of these Mixed Borders
This Mixed Border scheme has deciduous climbers, trees, evergreen and deciduous shrubs with bulbs as its other permanent plants to provide a permanent structure - see Permanent Herbaceous Perennial Plant Index and the Permanent Plants in the table on the right; which is backed by a deciduous hornbeam hedge.

This mixture provides a foliage and flower foil against which these other permanent herbaceous perennials can provide new growth from the ground each year, with the different colours of foliage from juvenile to mature to dying off in the autumn and then an easy maintenance during the months of December-March for removing most of the growth above ground and replacing the plant supports to provide a neat bed in a series of large ground areas.

The bedding plants - see Bedding Annual Plant Index and Un-labelled Bedding Annual Plant Index pages - provide the icing on the cake at different flowering time periods between May and November to enhance the overall flower colour scheme. The new bedding each year can provide opportunities to vary the look of these beds.

It was disapointing that I did not see the flowers during 2013 of more than 25% of these Permanent Herbaceous Perennial Plants - possible reasons shown in Lost Flowers Page with 'Walkabout' Plants and 'Stateless' Plants Page.

A table for each month - May, June, July, August, September, October, November - shows the flower photos for each of the 71 parts of the Mixed Borders split into Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, Unusual Colour, White, or Yellow for all the plants. Besides that, you can see from the table below that Red and Pink with Unusual Flower Colours seem to be predominant as flower colours and that these are spread throughout the beds.
Not having the knowledge of a fully qualified Royal Horticultural Society gardener, I am failing to see either

• a colour scheme from pastels to bright colours and then back to pastels to accentuate the middle area of the entrance to the Plant Centre or exit path to the Bowes-Lyon Rose Garden on the other side or
• the Red, bright Blue and Bright Yellows being closest to the garden entrance with the pastels at the furthest point of Battleston Hill to provide a visual extension to these beds or
• the duplication of the same plant throughout the beds to provide continuity (there are 14 Phlox varieties which provide some kind of continuity in the bed in using the same family with the same kind of plant form). Each of the Permanent Herbaceous Perennials normally only occurs in 1 patch in these Mixed Border Beds - rarely twice and even more rarely in 3 patches. Each of the parts of the Mixed Border beds overlaps the adjacent parts, so depending on how wide on the ground is that patch of a collection of a plant, then it depends on how many parts of the 71 parts that it is on.
  or
• change of flower colour from for example Yellow in May to Red in September to coincide with the possibility of the herbaceous shrubs/trees/hedge foliage becoming Brown/Red in the Autumn, in this Mixed Border or background hedge.
  or
• how the following distribution of flower colours from the Permanent Herbaceous Perennials in these beds comes from a restful to the eye and mind, coordinated and planned flower planting scheme:-
  Red or Pink flowers occurs in
  35 parts (17 Pink + 20 Red - 2 Pink and Red) in June,
  53 parts in July,
  59 in August and
  60 in September.
  Multi-coloured or not Blue, Orange, Pink, Red, White or Yellow flowers occurs in
  35 parts in June,
  53 parts in July,
  57 parts in August and
  47 parts in September.
  Mixtures of 2 or more colours is
  29 in June (16 of 2 colours + 17 of 3 colours + 2 of 4 or more colours - 6 of White and other Colour),
  52 in July,
  55 in August,
  50 in September.

I have added the BEDding (started January 2014 - completed March 2014) and then the OTHer Permanent Plants (started March 2014 - completed May 2014) to the table below to show the flower colour planting scheme of the Bedding and the Other Permanent Plants and then its combination.
"Bedding Plant in Unknown Section" top data row in the Flower Colour Range months pages refers to the lack of a photo taken by me or H. Kavanagh of that bedding plant with the label in the same photo of a Permanent Herbaceous Perennial or Other Permanent Plant whose location in 1 or more of the 71 Parts of those Mixed Borders can be identified.

If I had produced this planting design with its mixture of flower colours in almost every part - or maintained these beds in this way - in 2013, I would be deeply ashamed.

As a nation of gardeners in Britain; the Royal Horticultural Society being at its pinnacle, with the tradition of excellence by our previous head gardeners and their staff during the Victorian era, I had thought that the staff at the RHS Garden at Wisley would not need a lecture.

Another Possible Solution for lack of coordinated Flower Colour Scheme

If you want the garden to be restful to the eye, then you can provide a colour scheme using the harmony of adjacent colours. If you prefer to shock the visitor, then use the contrast of opposite colours, but I am not favourable of the above partial use of the harmony of triads as shown by the Colour Wheel Page of Garden Design.

Very Poor Plant Labelling

After reviewing the situation that 102 plants were missing their identity when in flower in 2013 out of 348 (29.31% of the plants) in 768 square metres of Mixed Borders garden beds:-

• for the Permanent Herbaceous Perennials of the Mixed Border beds in the
  Lost Flowers Page with the
  'Walkabout' and 'Stateless Plants' Page ,
• for the Other Permanent Plants of the Mixed Borders in the Index above
• and the Bedding Plants of the Mixed Border beds in the
  Bedding Plant Index Page
  and Un-labelled Bedding Plant Index Page

I am tempted to state:-
'There is room for improvement in the Mixed Border'.