Plants that used to be naff

Pampas grass has "escaped", along with yuccas, into many of the dunes along the coast here @Philippa and is a menace to more diminutive indigenous plants that live there.

I have never liked begonias or impatiens or orchids - find them plasticky.

Otherwise, after years of gardening I know it's far better to grow plants which like the conditions in my garden than it is to follow fashion - in or out - and have the latest introduction or trendy plant. The fun lies in working out what the good do-ers are likely to be.

 

I have several hardy fuchsias. It's the frou frou bigasyerhand blossoms on some of the annuals that I don't like

 

I used to have lots of fuchsias in pots and we inherited a hardy one here. They were in pots so I could grow them on our north facing terrace in Belgium and I've added a few here but the trailing ones have not survived this winter, despite being in the polytunnel. he upright ones aren't looking to clever just now so I'm about to re-pot the lot with fresh compost and some soil.

There's a fuchsia specialist about 50 minutes away towards Nantes if I feel the urge - or I can wait to see him again next spring at our plant fair. They have other plantes but he does expeditions to central and south America to find new varieties - Achetez vos plantes en ligne et faites vous livrer en 13H

 

That is so often the problem @Obelix-Vendée - the escapees ( whether unintentional or introduced without a thought ) do ressult in risk to or ultimate decimation of native flora. Pretty much the same applies to many species doesn't it ? Plants or animals/birds. Whilst we may have lots of things to thank our ancestors for, we've also got plenty to decry.
I've never been into "fashionable" plants - as you say it's more a case of what works for your particular site and you like it to boot.
BTW, did you have any luck with the Pass. edulis at all ? I'm having to start again after losing mine last year. Hope hens are still providing you with entertainment

 

Not a passiflora @Philippa but a kiwi and no, neither the original nor the new bisexual one we bought have done well this wet winter.

The first batch of brown hens have all died now but we picked up some white Leghorns headed for slaughter last autumn. They are generally much skittier and less sociable so are only recently running towards us when we go down with their daily treat and come to fossick about our feet now when we're weeding or planting. Funny girls. Good layers.

 

I think a plant is only naff if people know a bit about plants. The local gardens are all full of variegated "car park" shrubs but the owners don't really care and neither would I. I grow what I like and don't worry about what message it sends. This year I've grown and enjoyed some of the plants I really hated when I was a kid, like nasturtiums and the odd begonia, and tbh I'll likely grow them next year because they have done well.

The only thing I really dislike in gardens is the regimental beds of annuals.

 

Nothing wrong with Pampas grass as long as you have the space and don't mind the sharp leaves. Our neighbours have one and it looks fun.

 

It's fun in someone else's garden

 

I passed one of those on the way home from work today. A straight row of evenly spaced lobelia, and two straight rows of bright red begonias behind them. Lots of completely weed free space left between them.

 

Much like Cordylines.

I am going to stand up for lobelia here. Lovely little plants which flower profusely and come in true blue shades. Personally, I wouldn't have them in rows as they like to kinda flow, not sit regimentally straight, but if you want something with flower power, they fit the bill nicely.

 

A container with just a fountain of trailing lobelia looks really good, but you have to make sure that the centre doesn't go mouldy.

 

I hadn’t realised that Lobelia is now on the naff list. I love it, but I only use it in pots. Am also a convert to (some) begonia partly I can get loads of flowers from them in my front pots which spend quite a bit of the day in shade.

I also don’t like traditional bedding in rows

 

I tried to grow lobelia from seed this year but soi far it hasn't done well. The plants were tiny for ages and I've only recently got a very few flowers. I may buy plugs in future but I have bought plugs in the past and they turned out not to be the right variety. I do like it very much though

 

I love fuchsias, and Morrisons have them on sale every year, but with gall mites around I can't grow them, I buy, and growth gets distorted very quickly (not a surprise, neighbours have one infested). In Portsmouth I see many affected ugly plants, some get cut down, regrow and then get distorted again.
Morrisons had a plenty of gloxinia in spring. I bought a tuber immediately, but the rest was sitting on the shelves for ages, probably they still have some reduced, what's now a pay for pot thing.

 

I'm hoping this looks like fun @BB3 . It's one of the most reliable plants in my garden, evergreen, compact, well behaved and looks particularly good in winter covered in snow. It's Cortaderia Pumila, a dwarf pampas grass.