What'a looking good in May

That's why a lot of people say that they prefer to buy plants from us as they are propagated from plants in our garden. So they know they suit the area. Being cheap may have some bearing on the matter as well

@silu @longk
Going back to the matter of variegated, what's the difference between variegated, bicoloured and multi-coloured?

 

@longk An interesting definition.

We have many 'variegated' plants that either have the word 'variegata' in their name or are described as variegated. Most of these have either white or yellow in their markings with a predominance of green.

Euonymus - gets covered in small white flowers and the honey bees adore them. We can sit in the bench beneath and be surrounded by bees buzzing backwards and forwards. They're not the least bit interested in us but will stop for a drink of water if we put a piece of plastic on the table with some water on it.


Arum italicum




This Cistus has variegate in its name and always starts to flower a week before the green leafed variety.


During the winter the leaves provide a very cheery glow to the garden


Variegated Sage


A couple of our variegated Hostas




We have a number of variegated Ivies but this is a marbled one (I'm not keen on it but Mrs Shiney likes it for her flower arranging


This is a variegated dead nettle that has yellow flowers


Variegated London Pride (a best seller at our Open Garden)

 

In my mind I tend to think of 'variegata' referring to the leaf whereas bicolour or multicolour refers to the flower - but then I get stuck with something like this Epimedium Ignore the Pulmonaria around it



Whereas this Erysimum 'Stars and Stripes' is, to me, variegated (another good seller and these are potted up ready for Open Day)


This variegated Box has more than doubled in size since we planted it in the new bed last May


Another puzzle on whether it's variegated or not. Summer flowering Jasmine


A really nice variegated Elderberry



Variegated Rhamnus

 

Thanks for your opinions.

It's not that I'm a fervent fan of variegated plants. It's just that they have a place in our garden - and not too large a one. Of course, I like almost all of the plants in the garden - that's why they're there

I find that having a variety of Euonymus, for example, makes for a more interesting garden. We have gold, variegated gold, green, different versions of variegated green and gold, and the silver one I posted.

Now for some non-contentious plants Want to bet?

The dainty and beautiful Bilbergia


Oxalis triangularis


Heucheras are starting to flower






So is the Choisyia


and Exochorda



This Viburnum has only just opened and I hope it lasts until Open Day. It's quite impressive with the branches and flowers being horizontal (gold and variegated gold Euonymus alongside it )


Ajugas are just flowering. The flowers are a much deeper colour than this photo shows






This Thalictrum Elin has grown 4ft in 10 days . It will reach 8ft before it flowers

 

To be honest, I haven't the faintest. @longk would be able to tell us.

It's kept in our greenhouse, unheated, and we have a number of them that have been there for decades. I've moved from talking about years to decades and am aiming at centuries.

Of course I'm not offended by you not being a fan of variegated plants. I was just showing that some are really nice when they're in the right place (our garden )

I'm prepared to forgive the Pulmonaria for not having pretty leaves (understatement but I want to spare its feelings) as the flowers bloom for at least four months and provide the bees with a very early feast. Ours started flowering in January and are still going strong.