IN THE GARDEN
As well as being useful, this plant is worth growing for its architectural size and shape. It really adds to a border in summer and autumn, and can then be left to stand through winter so the dried flowers become adorned with frost or snow.
As well as various medicinal uses, young shoots can be eaten in salads, and the stems peeled and crystallised as cake decoration. Bees and other beneficial insects will be attracted by the nectar and will cover the flowers on a warm sunny day. Plant in sun and well-drained soil. Height 2m, spread 1m.
A staple of the kitchen, chives grow well in a pot at the back door or in the herb or vegetable garden. Not only is it useful but it flowers for weeks with its vivid purple flowers and is worth growing for the flowers alone.
Once the flowers are done, cut the whole plant back to 5cm or so and in no time you will have a new crop of fresh leaves for cooking. In my last garden, I used them as a short summer hedge along the edges of my vegetable beds. Height 30cm, spread 30cm.
From rock crevices in the mountains of Italy comes this lovely trailing perennial plant. It is low growing with a compact habit, creeping along the ground with soft green foliage. The tiny flowers appear from early summer into autumn, pale purple in colour with a yellow throat, with a strong scent. A plant to enhance your rockery, between slabs and gravel areas, or as ground cover. Height 10cm, spread 40cm.
A lovely little Dianthus with pale pink flowers with a deeper stripe at the base of the petals. With that fabulous clove scent, the flowers sit over the short grey-green foliage which forms a mat over time. It is great for pots, troughs, and alpine gardens. Height 4cm, spread 20cm.
A neat, slow-growing ivy with bright, golden yellow foliage that excels in full sun and is lighter green in shade. Unlike some ivies, this is a well-behaved variety, worth growing to brighten up a fence or, as we have done in the nursery garden, over an old stone bird bath. Height 2.5m.
Known as salsify, even if you don’t eat the roots, this plant is well worth growing for the fabulous flowers and amazing seed heads. Stately, purple-rayed flowers appear in late spring and for most of the way through the summer. The flowers only last a short time but produce several over time and then the seed heads form, like dandelions on steroids, these tennis ball sized heads which are a feature in their own right. Not long lived but it seeds around so its always there, year after year. Grow in sun and well drained soil. Height 90cm, spread 30cm.
Plants at Quercus Garden Plants are propagated and grown peat-free, at 850 feet (259m) and stay outdoors all year, so are tough and acclimatised to Scottish growing conditions. Most of them can be seen growing in wildlife and environmentally friendly, inspiring demonstration gardens.
Quercus Garden Plants is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am-5pm from 8th March until the end of October at Whitmuir Farm, Lamancha, EH46 7BB.
Hear more from Rona on how she grows her hardy plants on the Scotland Grows Show.