WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD IN FEBRUARY 2018

Have you decided what to replace them with? I don't think bottle brushes like cold weather

 

My two Bottlebrushes have been very neglected by me I'm sorry to say and treated to an Anglesey winter - which have been a bit of a shock to them . I was looking at them earlier ( funnily enough ) following on from @Gail_68 post about hers. I'm trying to find a permanent place to put them. I have a sheltered spot but its light shade in summer and dark shade in winter. They may have to stay in pots.

 

Hi @Fern my back garden ones always did fine but this winter with the weather all over the show as affected them...I checked both back and front today, to me they've had it excuse the expression ...Verdun told me to wait in case they do pick up so I will do that until the end of march and if they do get replaced they will be with grasses, as Verdun gave me a good list which I noted and if they need replacing that's going with me to the garden centre

 

@luciusmaximus the only trouble with bottle brushes in pots they out grow them to quickly...i'm keeping my for the both of us...I've had some lovely comments off people when they've saw them in flower but they do love heat being an Australian plant originally

 

You might be better off with grasses if they don't pick up....it's going to be cold again overnight this week

 

I have some very large pots I can use, but ideally want them in the ground. Also have a very large wooden crate that I have been thinking of turning into a flower planter. We saw a lot of them in Skopelos last year ( not the dwarf kind ), such lovely flowers and absolute Bee magnets .

 

Yes I like the grasses now since having my last two blues and it's going to be -1 here tonight

 

I had to google bottle-brushes with all this talk about them, wondered what everyone was going on about , i can see how they get there name .

 

They are stunning when in full bloom and covered with Bees . We bought two to plant as memorials to my uncle and Roger's mum who both died last year. They can be expensive to buy but we got ours from B&M reduced from £12 to £5.

 

Crocus sieberi "Tricolour"

Galanthus ikariae

Crocus vernus

Scilla mischtshenkoana

Crocus malyi now fully open and honey scented in the warm sun

 

Concerning grasses, associating them with compatable perennials enhances both. Sanguisorbas like Red Thunder, persicarias like Fat Domino, and thalictrums like Thundercloud can make an exciting, "moving" low maintenance and long lasting summer spectacle

What looks better in Feb onwards than hellebores? Locally, well known hellebore breeder Wendy Perry at Bosvigo Gardens will be presenting masses of hellebores for sale on Sat Feb 24. Last year I picked up a couple of superb varieties so worth a visit

 

@martin-f they adore the sun and warmth and can stand winters with snow but it looks like how this winter plus temps going up and down they can't handle it and I think I've lost all 5 ...they're stunning flowers with gold tips that shine

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Many thanks i like them i will keep a lookout for one when i am on my travels.