Tough as old boots plants - nominations ( no prizes)

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by BB3, Aug 12, 2024.

  1. BB3

    BB3 Gardener

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    A definite youdontwantthis plant @AnniD !
     
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    • ViewAhead

      ViewAhead Head Gardener

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      I've never heard of Snowberry. :scratch: It sounds lovely. :biggrin:
       
    • BB3

      BB3 Gardener

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      Don't be sucked in by a pretty name! @ViewAhead
       
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      • ViewAhead

        ViewAhead Head Gardener

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        :biggrin: I will resist.

        Sometimes you have to ignore monikers. I hesitated over a grass called Heavy Metal and it turned out to be the most delightfully airy thing. No idea why it got lumbered with such a silly name. :scratch:
         
      • AnniD

        AnniD Gardener

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        I can never believe that I actually brought it with me from my last garden (I hadn't planted it there). I thought it would make a nice, well behaved clump in a corner. How wrong was I. Even in the coldest, darkest Winter the berries remain untouched by the birds.
         
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        • berarde

          berarde Apprentice Gardener

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          Interstingly in my experience these are all of little interest to slugs and snails, and there are more of these plants than you might think. I gave up fighting a battle that I couldn't win and using these sort of plants the garden was much admired mostly cottagey in feel.
          Simpler plants have gastropod natural resistance and breeding of plants often results in this protection diminishing.
          That is what my researches have found
          However I've gone off subject, I might???!!! just find a gastropd thread elesewhere
           
        • hailbopp

          hailbopp Super Gardener

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          Lovely I would agree but unfortunately up in the arctic circle more commonly known as Scotland it is not hardy, well not with me it is not. I take cuttings when I remember and keep over winter in a cold greenhouse and then they are fine
           
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            Last edited: Nov 24, 2024
          • Tinkerton

            Tinkerton Gardener

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            Persicarias - tough as old boots, and they spread. P. amplexicaulis 'Firetail', P. bistorta, P. amplexicaulis 'Alba' - currently taking over my patch. Gorgeous big clumps that flower for months. Look a mess once they've finished for the winter though.

            Astrantias, damned things seed themselves sverywhere, and I'm not a lover of them, but they seem to like me.

            Hostas. But you need a lot of blackbirds and thrushes to fend off the slugs and snails.
             
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            • hailbopp

              hailbopp Super Gardener

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              For me it has to be Hellebore for their ease and incredibly long flowering period when nothing much else is on the go. They are very happy with the condition in my garden.I have doubles c/o a member who sent me seed, flowering happily atm despite a week of very cold weather and a dump of snow yesterday. The doubles flower right the way through to about April. The singles start in March and conk out about the beginning of May.
              A42677D6-7328-4A0D-B4E7-68042F755D75.png
               
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                Last edited: Nov 24, 2024
              • hailbopp

                hailbopp Super Gardener

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                Isn’t! Grows like a weed and not attractive IMO. The only good thing about it is popping the white berries!
                 
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                • Allotment Boy

                  Allotment Boy Lifelong Allotmenteer

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                  More votes for Vinca, Jasmine, and pink flowered Japanese anenome, (why isn't the white one so robust?).
                  My absolute hate Alchemilla mollis seeds everywhere.
                  Helibores on the plus side though.
                   
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                  • Notwellygood

                    Notwellygood Apprentice Gardener

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                    I can't believe no-one has mentioned spanish bluebells. Yes, they make a lovely display but the bulbs snuggle down in the soil too deep to dig out and there is so much leaf it smothers the competition. I haven't found anywhere yet that they don't like growing!
                     
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                    • NigelJ

                      NigelJ Total Gardener

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                      What's wrong with the English Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta)? The Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is a mere interloper and should not be encouraged.
                       
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                      • Notwellygood

                        Notwellygood Apprentice Gardener

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                        I don't encourage the Spanish ones, and they ignore discouragement! I think there are a few English ones in there too, but as far as I can see you can only tell the difference when they are in flower.
                         
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                        • Liriodendron

                          Liriodendron Keen Gardener

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                          Spanish bluebells have much wider leaves than the native ones, @Notwellygood . I believe if you keep pulling off the top growth you do weaken the spanish ones in the end - though fortunately I don't have any in this garden. [I believe this is a technique used by @BB3 ]
                           
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