1st question: perfume plants that like shade

Hi there,

did a search first but nothing came up - so maybe you can point me in the right way or throw some ideas at me.

I have a 10 foot by 3 foot area of soil that i would like to put some perfume / fragrent plants in. The area is south facing but gets irregular light as its next to a house and has tree branches over it.

Basically my skill base is learner.

Looking forward to spending time in the forum - looks great!

regards

 

Welcome to Gardener's Corner McGardiner!

Jasmine, (Jasminum grandiflorum) will climb right up through the trees and provide a wonderful fragrance. You could also grow a Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) but it would take up most of the space. You could also try a climbing rose. Plenty to chose from but a few suggestions:

AllGold A striking yellow

Aloha Nice pink

Ena Harkness Pillerbox Red, an old favourite and shade tollerant.

For a smaller shrubs at the front, English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) might be alright providing the soil is free draining, another is the Snowy mint bush (Prostanthera nivea), not related to the common mint which would take over but a must for the visually impared as the crushed leaves have a beautifull fresh minty fragrance. As for bulbs then you don't need to go further than hyacynths for an early splash and heady spring perfume

So many to chose from I'm going dizzy with the fragrances :D I'm sure there will be others with their own particular favorites

[ 19. January 2006, 08:52 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Jasminum grandiflorum - love that idea - spent quite a lot of time in india and having Jasminum grandiflorum is a scottish garden. Thats going to happen - bit worried about the frost factor though. Do you have this in your fife garden?

English Lavender - can smell it now.

Would like to have some wild garlic there - worth thinking about?

 

Wild garlic! Allium ursinum Not everyone's favorite but personally I love it. It thrives better in damp conditions though so possibly wouldn't do so well if the position is sutable for lavender. Bulbs, leaves and flowers are all edible just like its normal culinary cousin.

Jasmine does well here both inland and coastal so it should be quite happy in Edinburgh.

[ 20. January 2006, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

so far

jasmine, clematis, lavender will be planted in the next couple of weeks (weather permitting)

But I was thinking of transplanting some large (the leaves grow at least 2.5 feet during their season) from the back garden to the front. Is there anything particular I should know in digging the ferns out?

 

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Ok

just found the topic about transplanting ferns

"Cutting back and moving ferns."

 

Ferns can come in all kinds of shapes and sizes - take a look at the Painted fern for some interesting colour for that shady area. As long as its not too dry, ferns would do well.

Anemone Blanda and cyclamen and scilla should also do well there - for early spring colour.

 

Try a scented geranium. Really easy to grow and the perfume is just amazing, almost like something you would buy in a bottle!

 

Bought some
wood anemone, (Lily of the valley, sweet woodruff, wild garlic), Ligularis Dark Beauty treet ferns, Jacobs Ladder, astilbe, Mint Lavender, hostas, foxgloves

Trying to find some mature painted ferns which would be nice.

Handn't thought about geraniums, interesting. Thanks for the suggestion(s)

 

Lovely list of plants that should do quite well, except it may be a bit dry for the astilbe, which likes it quite moist during the summer -

 

Fair comment about the astilbe. I've got a couple of tonnes of wood chips from a few trees cut down last year that i've been rotting down for 4 months now. Once i finnish planting out i'll cover the area with a layer of this stuff - should help in keeping moisture in.

Bought the astilbe from poundstretchers at �£1 each which is quite a good price - unfortuately they only had red ones and not the white I was looking for - and they only had 3 of them. Guess it will work or it wont!

 

I'm rapidly gaining a lot of experience in establishing things in the Edinburgh area, including rabbit problems! Any shared problems and experiences are welcome!

Don't foret, plants like Choisya provide swcent, even if in a rather different format - and they do ok up here. How about trying Hypericum calyicinum? Not a great deal of scent, but would look good as ground cover in your photo - yellow floweres, known as Rose of Sharon

 

yup - waiting delivery of Rose of Sharon & solomons seal. Should be here sometime next week.

Transplanted some the ferns (bracken) from the back garden this week, and dug in some wood anemone (sorry can't spell it).

Also got some hostas from poundstretcher as well so hope to get them in over the weekend. keep the slugs happy if nothing else!

Guess this year will be about tending and nuturing for next year growth.

 

"I'm rapidly gaining a lot of experience in establishing things in the Edinburgh area, including rabbit problems! Any shared problems and experiences are welcome!"

Squirels for me unfortunately. They've had a good time with my bulbs and seem to be wise to my traps now.