Francoa
Sometimes known as the Wedding Flower, Francoa is an evergreen hardy perennial from Chile which flowers mainly during late summer. Does best in a light soil in partial shade. In colder areas the foliage may die back during the winter months.
Gallium
Sweet Woodruff, Gallium odoratum, is a useful plant to use for ground-cover under trees and shrubs, in fact any shady spot particularly in wet soil. A British native it bears its small white flowers from late spring.
Gentian
When I used to specialise in alpines gentians were one of my go-to genera, The blue is only rivalled by such as meconopsis, and plants like the popular Gentiana sino-ornata and Gentiana acaulis were a must. In the border Gentiana asclepiadea displays the same striking blue trumpets but born on 12′ arching stems. It is a native of open woodland and meadow in Central Europe so prefers a moist soil with a little shade.
Geum
Avens make ideal plants for the front of the border and are a staple of cottage gardens. Geums are another genus which the plant breeders have exploited to the full developing many attractive strains from the colour palette of shades of yellow, orange, pink and red. Grows in any good border soil in a sunny position. Herb Bennet or Geum urbanum is a pernicious weed and one-time bane of my life, it seeds itself into the garden and is difficult to eradicate once it has established itself in some shady moist corner, does not pull up easily and has to be rooted out.
Gunnera
Gunnera manicata or Giant Rhubarb is typical of the genus, large specimen plants which do well at the waterside. I have seen these following the line of a stream in Southern Ireland and at over 6′ in height they are quite an impressive sight. Just the opposite is Gunnera manicata, a low growing creeping rhizomatous plant with rounded glossy green leaves which hails from the southern countries of South America and the Falklands. Its common name is Devil’s Strawberry from the red fruits it bears , however this never happened for me.
Helianthemum
Helianthemums or Rock Roses are a valuable addition to the front of the border or large rock garden. Helianthemums are in fact low-growing shrubs but I thought I would include them in this section. It is a native of Europe, the specie plant is usually found growing on chalk in full sun where it thrives. An evergreen plant it can be cut back during the growing season if it gets out of hand.
Helianthus
Obviously an annual, but included here because they are excellent border plants, Sunflowers are easy and fun for both children and adults to grow. The ‘Moon Walker’ shown was just under 9′ in height. A bit of trivia, they are a member of the aster family which surprisingly includes the Jerusalem artichoke.
Hellebores
One of the best and most showy plants for under-planting trees and shrubs or any shady spot with moist well-drained soil. The species such as H.argutifolius, the Corsican Hellebore, (syn. Helleborus corsicus) and H.foetidus, the Stinking Hellebore are easily raised from seed and will in fact seed themselves around, however the cultivars of Helleborus orientalis, which result from micro-propagation, must be bought as plugs or plants.
Hemerocallis
Daylilies are east to grow on virtually any soil type in sunshine, flowers are produced from June to September and although they only last a day, follow in quick succession. This is another plant which has been a subject of intensive plant breeding and thousands of cultivars are available.
Hesparis
Hesparis matronalis, Sweet Rocket or Dame’s Violet is a biennial or short-lived perennial member of the brassica family and a useful cottage garden plant. It has scented flowers which are also attractive to bees and insects and will seed itself forming a naturalised drift in an informal setting
Heuchera
Coral Bells or sometimes Alum Root is a valuable semi-evergreen foliage plant for the border and containers. The flowers are largely insignificant but they come in a large range of leaf colours and shapes. They are woodland plants from North America so are best suited to a moist light soil in partial shade, one thing I have discovered is that they do not like being crowded. Their number one pest is vine weevil which seems to find them particularly attractive.
Heucherella
Heucherella is a garden hybrid between two genera, that of Heuchera and Tiarella. They are evergreen and grown for their foliage requiring much the same conditions as Heucheras, moist soil in partial shade.
Hieracium
Hieracium aurantiacum, Hawkweed is fine in poor conditions where its growth can be restricted, I had it in my old garden where it brightened up a shady spot on very poor soil where it was fine, but never, ever, let it loose in a good border! I am currently trying to eradicate it from my front garden where it appeared two years ago, it is not easy! Spreads with runners (stolons), hence another common name fox-and-cubs, and wind-borne seed. Reclassified as Pilosella aurantiaca.
Hosta
Hostas or Plantain Lilies are versatile Asiatics which will grow in shade and damp conditions although most are happy in full sun as long as they are kept moist. They come in a range of colours and sizes from the tiny ‘Mouse Ears’ to the giant ‘Empress Wu’. Hostas rose to popularity during the 2000’s when they caught the attention of the plant breeders and consequently many cultivars are available. Not only do they make an excellent plant for the open garden they are also ideal for growing in large containers. Number one enemy is slugs.
Houttuynia
Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’ is generally the form which is grown, an attractive and unusual low-growing perennial it is ideal for ground-cover in large boggy areas but beware, anywhere else, it becomes an out and out thug!
A Plantsman's World 