Hardy Perennials (Part 1)

Whether it be in the herbaceous border or more natural settings such as the woodland garden or informal rockery, hardy perennials are the backbone of the majority of gardens. They provide colour from early spring through to late autumn and even into winter when the dead stems can add form and colour. Unless you intend to grow from seed find a good independent nurserymen, although a dying breed, they are the people who have a passion for plants and are usually all too willing to give advice gained from their experience. Garden centres are another option but they tend to be impersonal and usually quite a bit more expensive. Online buying can be a bit of a lottery, pay attention to the pot size so you know what to expect, I actually planted out my new front garden with plugs bought online and had a good display the following year. It is important to remember that the above applies to the “standard” range of hardy perennials, when it comes to something more out of the ordinary specialist nurseries are the best option.

My preferred method is growing from seed, although I normally use society seed because I know it’s fresh, for the less invested gardener it is better to use one of the smaller seedsmen such as Plant World Seeds. The method I have always followed with hardy plants is to sow under cold glass, or in my case a poly-tunnel, usually in February to allow the seeds to germinate as they would do naturally, it would be just as good to sow outside except you haven’t the same control. Sowing from seed works well with anything which comes true from seed but in the case of most cultivars (hybrids) you need to buy in plugs or plants many of which have been raised by micropropagation.

Achillea

From a traditional border plant achilleas (Yarrows) have been developed into a must have plant for the gardener, as with several genera it has been recognised by the industry as a very desirable plant and many cultivars in a wide range of colours have been produced. It will grow in most soils, is hardy and attracts insects to its flat flower heads. I can say from experience it is not fond of damp and shade preferring an open sunny aspect and is even used in prairie planting. Fashionable.

Aconitum

Monkshood or wolfsbane is an easy hardy herbaceous perennial of medium height with delphinium-like flowers that prefers a rich moist soil to do well, personally I think it does best in dappled shade rather than full sun. Easily propagated from seed, just a word, it is highly toxic to everything other than birds.

Actaea

Two totally different plants, Actaea rubra the red baneberry is an American native found in open woodland and therefore thrives in damp shady conditions. It actually forms rhizomes so should really have been included in an earlier post. The berries are toxic.

Actaea simplex (Atropurpurea Group) is an Asiatic baneberry which prefers moist soil and shade but I have found it to be quite adaptable, thriving for me in an herbaceous border. The dark feathery leaves make a perfect foil for the delicate white scented flower spikes which insects find attractive. Also known as Cimicifuga simplex.

Agastache

Known as the anise hyssop or giant hyssop agastaches make a nice plant for a sunny spot. Aniseed scented leaves and with flowers that attract insects it is a useful addition to any garden. Generally grown from seed, sometimes as a annual as it will flower in its first year, it will not thrive in a wet soil. Some of the woodier species are not entirely frost hardy.

Althaea

Althea officinalis or the Marsh Mallow Herb is a vigorous herbaceous perennial, which, to be honest, I tend to think of as more of a shrub. Definitely one for a sunny spot it does well in almost any soil and at one time was very popular but doesn’t seem to be so much now. The plant has been used in herbal medicine for years and has several remedial properties attributed to it.

Androsace

Alpines were really my first love and I built a rock garden and peat bed in the garden of my first house, I was lucky enough to have a small specialist nursery nearby who bought in from another specialist on a regular basis so I had an ever-changing supply of plants on my doorstep. The androsace genus is a member of the primula family and contains almost as many species, they are mainly high alpines originating in the Himalayas the majority of which form small cushions studded with disproportionately large flowers and make stunning specimens for the alpine house and tufa wall. They are not easy to grow but the end result is a reward in itself. I grew a couple of the ‘easy’ species but unfortunately when I was growing alpines it never crossed my mind to take pictures, I really wish I had now. The plant pictured above, who’s name is bigger than it is, was grown from seed and managed a solitary flower in its second year.

Anemone

Anemones, commonly known as wind flowers, are related to the buttercup. The genus contains something like 120 species some of which are fibrous rooted others grow from rhizomes or tubers. They are found almost worldwide and range in habitat from mountain scree to woodland. Because of their diverse habitats their cultivation varies equally, ranging from the alpine house bench to the positively invasive such as Anemone tomentosa. For further information go to my earlier post.

Anemonella

This beautiful plant is a cultivar of the single species in the genus Anemonella. A native of North America where it found in woodland and is known as the rue-anemone. This tuberous-rooted beauty would usually obtained from a specialist nursery but the specie plant can be grown from seed. Best grown in moist soil in dappled shade as you would expect from a plant found in woodland.

Anemonopsis

This beautiful Japanese plant requires a moist lime-free soil in light shade to thrive. Best propagated from fresh seed. Obtainable from specialist nurseries and society seed lists.

Angelica

Wide spread in Northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia, angelica has tall hollow fluted stems and large flat flower-heads reminiscent of cow parsley. Its edible stems and roots have many culinary uses (candied angelica), flavouring spirits and more. Easy to grow, it is a biennial and sets copious amounts of seed, in fact it self seeds everywhere which can produce some interesting results. The self-seeded plant above has the dark foliage and the lesser stature of Angelic ‘Ebony’ but has crossed with the specie plant and has contrasting white flowers rather than the dusky pink of ‘Ebony’. Goes without saying, raise from seed which is readily available, it makes a good ‘spot plant’ in the border because of its height.

Aquilegia

A traditional cottage garden plant having some 60-70 species occurring in diverse habitats in the Northern Hemisphere. The traditional easy to grow garden varieties known as Columbine or Granny’s Bonnets maintain the spurred flower shape but vary greatly in colour and height. Most aquilegias seen in gardens today are the result of much interbreeding and self-seeding through generations. The earliest introduction of a strain that I remember were the McKana Hybrids which are still available today, later saw the introduction of such as the Songbird Series of F1 Hybrids which although smaller in stature carry large flowers. They grow best in a damp gritty loam although it isn’t uncommon for them to seed into seemingly inhospitable spots but still live happily. There are a number of species from the mountains which need to be grown in the rockery or alpine house. One species illustrated above worthy of special mention is Aquilegia fragrans, not only does it make a superb specimen but, as its name suggests, is scented.

Astilbe (Spirea)

Ideal plants for a damp spot, astilbes or as they are sometimes known spireas are another plant that seems to have been around in gardens forever probably because once established they are easy to divide and share. The common name spirea is confusing because Spiraea is a genus of small shrubs. Astilbes come in all sorts of colours and heights and there are many named varieties, basically they are a good solid garden plant.

Astrantia

Astrantias are another border stalwart, many varieties have been introduced in a variety of purple and pink shades developed from the specie plant. Astrantia major ‘Claret’ is the deepest red I know. They prefer a medium loam and do not tolerate wet soils readily