2.1 Herbaceous perennial - suitable for a herbaceous border Flashcards
Name
Hylotephium spectabile
Evergreen perennial with thick erect stems bearing shallowly scalloped, broadly elliptic, grey-green leaves and starry pink flowers in flat terminal clusters across in late summer
H 45cm S 45cm
Uses: low maintenance, beds, city, informal, banks, slopes, beds
Alkaline - not clay or acid soil. Well drained
Full sun south/west facing
H7
Name
Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Strong-growing deciduous perennial, with coarse, dark green foliage and light yellow flowers 5cm wide in summer and autumn, with pale yellow ray florets about a dark yellow central disk
H 2m S 60cm-1m
Uses:
Full sun, not north facing
Not sand soil, not acid
H4
Name
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
An evergreen perennial forming dense tufts of arching, narrowly strap-shaped, leathery black leaves 20-30cm in length. Racemes of small purplish flowers in summer, followed by glossy black berries in autumn
H 20cm S 30cm
Uses: city, coastal, cottage, rock garden, container, banks, beds, edging, ground cover underplaning
Full sun, partial shade, not north facing
Not chalky soil, not tolerant of alkaline soils prefers acid
H5
Name
Verbena bonariensis
A tall deciduous perennial with erect, branching stems bearing sparse, oblong leaves and numerous branched clusters of small, purple flowers from summer to autumn
Uses: informal, courtyard, gravel, coastal, prairie, beds
H2m S 30cm
Soil and pH type unfussy, well drained
Full sun, west/south facing
H4
Name
Persicaria bistorta
a vigorous rhizomatous semi evergreen perennial with prominently veined, ovate leaves to 30cm long, and dense spikes of small pale pink flowers in summer and early autumn
H 1m S 50-1m
Uses: cottage, informal, beds
Full sun, partial shade, not north facing
Any soil type any pH, thrives in poorly drained soil
H7
Name
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae
A spreading evergreen perennial to 50cm in height, forming colonies of rosettes of oblong, dark green leaves from which arise large rounded sprays of yellow-green flowers
H 30-45cm S 30-45cm
Full shade to full sun
Low maintenance, ground cover. Copes with dry shade
Name
Stachys byzantina
A carpeting, evergreen perennial, with thick, soft, oblong leaves and stems that are densely white-woolly. Basal leaves are to 10cm long, in rosettes, Flowers in summer and are purplish or pink, sometimes appearing striped
H 50cm S 50cm-1m
Uses: cottage, gravel, edging, ground cover, underplanting, beds
Full sun, south facing
Not clay soils, well drained, any pH
H7
Name
Acanthus mollis
A vigorous deciduous perennial with large, glossy dark green leaves, pinnately lobed and, in late summer, tall racemes of white flowers with dusky purple bracts
H 1.5m S 90cm
Uses: Mediterranean climate, architectural, informal, beds, low maintenance
Not clay soil, any pH. well drained
full shade to full sun
drought resistant
H6
Name
Papaver orientale ‘Royal Wedding’
Erect deciduous perennial with bristly, divided, grey-green leaves and, in summer, pure-white flowers with a purple-black blotch at the base of each petal
Uses: city, informal, beds
H 60-90 S 50cm
Soil any type, pH any, well drained
Full sun, south facing
H7
Name
Symphyotrichum novi-belgii ‘Purple Dome’
A deciduous perennial, ‘Purple Dome’ is a cultivar with an upright but domed habit. It bears semi-double, purple flowers with yellow centres in autumn
Uses: cottage/informal, beds, cut flowers
H60cm S 50cm
Full sun, partial shade, not north facing
Not sandy or chalk soils, any pH
H6
Name
Rudbeckia fulgida var sullivanti ‘Goldsturm’
Deciduous perennial with erect stems bearing narrow ovate leaves and dark-eyed deep yellow flowers 12cm across
Uses: prairi, cottage, beds, cut flowers
H 60cm S 50cm
Full sun, partial shade, not north facing
Not sandy soil, any pH (good for improved clay soils - fertile and moisture retentive but free draining
H6
Name
Helenium ‘Butterpat’
Erect deciduous perennial flowering from summer to autumn with bright golden-yellow daisy flowers to 8cm across, with dark yellow centres
H 50cm-1m S 30-50cm
Uses: cottage, prairie, wildlife, beds, cut flowers
Full sun, not north facing
Any soil type, any pH
H7
Name
Salvia ‘Amistad’
A bushy, upright deciduous plant with aromatic, slightly downy, corrugated, bright green slender leaves that have pointed ends. Profuse, large deep purple tubular flowers with black calyces are borne from early summer through to the first frosts
H 1.2m S 50cm
Uses: city, cottage, coastal, patio, Mediterranean, gravel, beds
Full sun, not north or east facing
Well drained, not clay soils, any pH
drought resistant
H3
Name
Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’
A deciduous perennial, the spiky leaves provide interest until the bristly metallic blue flowers of globe thistles appear in late summer into autumn. Cut plants down after flowering to encourage a second flush of blooms.
H 90cm S 45cm
Uses: cottage, gravel, wildlife, low maintenance, beds, cut flowers
Full sun, partial shade, not north facing
Not clay soil, well drained, any pH
H7
Name
Primula vulgaris
A semi evergreen perennial forming a rosette of tongue-shaped leaves, with many scented, usually primrose-yellow in early spring
H 10cm S 10cm
Uses: woodland garden, cottage, wildlife, banks, borders beds rock garden or naturalised in grass
Full sun, partial shade, any aspect, sheltered, unfussy
Any soil type, any pH
H7
Name
Erigeron karvinskianus
perennial forming wide mats to 15cm in height, with narrow, hairy leaves and daisy-type flower-heads 15mm in width, opening white but soon turning pinkish-purple
H 15cm S 50cm +
Full sun well drained
Cottage garden
Name
Campanula carpatica
A clump-forming perennial to 30cm, with long-stalked, rounded leaves and solitary, violet-blue or white, open-bell-shaped flowers to 3cm in width
H 30cm S 30cm
Full sun/partial shade
Name
Brunnera macrophylla
A deciduous herbaceous perennial forming a clump to 45cm, with broad sprays of small, clear blue flowers resembling forget-me-nots, followed by large heart-shaped, long stalked leaves
H 60cm S 60cm
cottage, low maintenance ground cover
Cool partial shade - shade
Name
Bergenia ‘Silberlicht’
@Silberlicht’ is an evergreen perennial forming a low clump of leathery, oval leaves, with erect, red-tinged stems bearing clusters of white flowers often ageing to light pink; prominent red calyces
H 45cm S 45cm
Sun or partial shade
Ground cover, low maintenance
Name
Alchemilla mollis
An herbaceous perennial forming a clump of softly hairy, light green leaves with scalloped and toothed edges. Small, bright yellow flowers are borne in large sprays just above the foliage
shade tolerant
H 60cm S 75cm
Cottage/informal, wildflower, garden edging
Name
Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’
A spreading deciduous perennial to 20cm in height, forming a wide mat of heart-shaped silvery leaves, narrowly edged with dark green. Two-lipped white flowers in clusters forming a short leafy spike
H 15cm S 60cm
Ground cover for deep or partial shade
Name
Vinca minor
Pretty, pale blue or blue-violet flowers from April to September and lance-shaped, dark green leaves. This pretty, prostrate, evergreen shrub is excellent groundcover for the smaller garden
H 20cm S 50cm
Sun or partial shade
Ground cover for smaller garden
Name
Ajuga reptans
A spreading evergreen stoloniferous perennial to 15cm in height, forming a wide mat of dark green obovate leaves, with erect spikes of dark blue flowers in late spring and early summer
H 15cm S 90cm
Cottage, wildflower, wildlife, low maintenance, ground cover
Name
Geranium macrorrhizum
A mat-forming, semi-evergreen perennial growing to 45cm tall. Its rounded, divided, lobed and toothed leaves are sticky and aromatic and can turn attractive shades in the autumn. In summer, magenta-pink flowers, up to 3cm across, are held above the foliage on more or less upright stems
H 50cm S 60cm
Full shade to full sun
Ground cover
Name
Delphinium ‘Faust’
Delphiniums bear tall upright spikes laden with intense blue double flowers, with a dark centre. It’s ideal for growing en masse towards the back of a sunny border. Adds drama. Requires staking
Although their flowering season is quite short, delphiniums can often be coaxed into producing a few later flowers if the flower spikes are cut down as soon as the blooms are over.
H 2m S 1m
Full sun, back of border, fertile, well drained, stake well
cottage garden
