Biennials

Question 1

Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove)

Answer 1

biennial or short-lived perennial

freely self-sowing, with a rosette of softly hairy, oval leaves

tall one-sided spires of pendant, tubular, bright rosy-purple flowers 6cm long, spotted within, in summer

Mixed or herbaceous border, wildflower meadow, cottage/informal garden, woodlands

All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested.

h 1.5 - 2.5 m. s 0.1 - 0.5 m

Prefers a humus-rich soil in partial shade but will grow in full sun.

Question 2

Erysimum cheiri (wallflower)

Answer 2

short-lived, evergreen perennial grown as a biennial

dark-green foliage and four-petalled, sweetly-scented, bright yellow-orange flowers produced in short spikes in spring. Cultivars are available in a wide range of colours from cream to dark red

Mixes well with spring bulbs in either borders or containers

h 0.1 - 0.5 m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral or, ideally, alkaline soil; full sun is essential

Question 3

Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)

Answer 3

robust biennial or short-lived perennial

Grows to 2m or more, with shallowly lobed, rounded leaves and long erect racemes of open funnel-shaped flowers to 10cm across, which may be pink, purple, red, white or yellow

Used in mixed or herbaceous borders. cottage/informal gardens

h 1.5 - 2.5m, s 0.5 - 1.0m

Grow in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Stake on exposed sites

Question 4

Myosotis sylvatica (forget-me-not)

Answer 4

hairy perennial.

It flowers between mid-spring and mid-summer, bearing small, bright blue, 5-lobed flowers with white or yellow centres. Nectar and pollen is enjoyed by bumble bees and butterflies

mixes well with spring bulbs in borders or containers, cottage/informal garden, underplanting of roses and shrubs

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

Content in many garden conditions, a native of woodland and rocky places. Partial shade

Question 5

Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William)

Answer 5

biennial or short-lived perennial

prostrate rosettes of wide, lanceolate green leaves and stiff, erect stems, thickened at the nodes, to 40-60cm tall, bearing many-flowered, terminal, flattened heads. Flowers come in many colours from white to darkest red, often in bicolour combinations.

Good bedding plant and useful as a cut flower

h 0.1 - 0.5m, s 0.1 - 0.5m

well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil in full sun

Question 6

State the meaning of biennial

Answer 6

Sown in one season but does not flower until the next