Potentilla

I just wanted to ask if anyone has grown these? J Parkers have them on offer and as its my birthday next month, I'm thinking of asking people to get me plants instead.

As usually I'm very grateful for the advice.

Tracy

 

Well now, are they Potentilla fruticosa, the shrubby ones or are they the herbaceous ones?
If the former then we have a few and they are good growers if a bit boring in winter. The herbacous ones are good border plants except for one called Potentilla recta or warrenii or any combination of the two. This one is a tallish yellow flowered seed weed of the worst kind. Plant out once and weed out forever!

 

Potentilla Monarchs Velvet
Potentilla Ron McBeath

I'm not sure if they are shrubs or what. I need something to line a long wall on our verge- the ground is quite dry and sunny. I'm not too worried if its boring without flowers because it faces the neighbours and not us LOL! I like the idea that it may attract bees and butterflies.

Thanks!

 

Oh what about Monarda- Bergamot- would this be better/easier?

 

Both the Potentillas are herbaceous ones and gorgeous and easy to grow. Got pictures of them somewhere!
Monarda is taller and needs a wetter soil. We do not have much success with Monarda, possibly because our area is very dry in most summers and the soil is extremely well drained. Nice plants if you can grow them though.

 

I think both the Potentillas are herbaceous ones. I've grown Monarch's Velvet. They are fairly low growing, but flower for a long period of time.

As Palustris says Monada is much taller, but it won't like a dry area. In my opinion its not quite as reliable as some border plants. I had a couple of patches of different ones and after doing wonderfully for two or three years both patches decided to die off at different times.

What sort of plant are you looking for, a low shrub with some presense in winter or herbaceous plants that will flower in the summer but be non existant in winter, and what sort of hight?

A herbaceous plant you might like to consider is Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian). Its one of my favorites. It loves full sun and dry areas, its pretty, but what I really like is that it flowers for anything up to 6 months a year. It grows from seed really easily, and self seeds, so lining a long wall wouldn't take long.

 

Palustris- thanks-thats good news, I'll not bother with the monarda then.

Peter, I can always count on you coming to my aide. I'm sure you must be sick of me by now.

Let me explain, we have a newish house, where the previous owners did absolutely nothing apart from plant a couple of trees. Everyone else on the estate just well manicured low maintence gardens (read grass only) but no flowers whatsoever. So basically I have inherited nothing so need to start from scratch.

I've been looking at mainly perennials because I thought that they would be easier to maintain in the long term. However I'm learning fast that this isn't always the case.

The area that I had in mind for these plants, is for a wall parallel with the road, against our border wall. Technically we own this verge, its about a metre wide so cars are tempted to park on it and ruin it.So the idea was that if we planted it up it would stop all that. I guess 'a low shrub with some presense in winter' sounds perfect.

I like the sound of Red Valerian- I've been googling and it looks just right for that space. If it flowers for 6 months that would be fantastic!

Thank you so much for your help!

 

Lots of things would do well in a warm dry situation like that. Thyme would love it as would Dianthus, both low growing and would survive the occasional parking on. Alpine phlox would grow there too and they come in every colour except yellow and they are cheap too usually.

 

Ethansmum, if you have what is commonly known as a clean canvas, then go to your local garden centre next month. Look at the plants and buy whatever takes your fancy. If it doesn`t work, then don`t buy it next year. Don`t go by the book, go by what you like. :D

 

As Palustris says there are lots of plants that would do well under those conditions, and be pretty low maintenance. There is nothing to say that it must be the same plant all along the wall, so why not try several different plants and see what you like and what does well. Its a good way of learning a bit more.

I think it is a very good idea of having a nice looking verge as a way of keep cars from parking there.

 

Well, the kids are going on a school trip next term and I have been roped in to help. Its to a garden centre/fuschia growers, so I guess I'm going to be in my element!

I that a 'thing' about having matching plants and symmetry- who knows why because I'm such an untidy person and not having patterns is more natural anyway.