Plant ID Week 7

Stipa tenuissima 'Pony tails' - feather grass

An elegant tufted and densely-packed grass with oat-like flowers in soft, feathery plumes. Useful for natural planting schemes, as ground cover and for cutting and drying. Looks particularly impressive in mass plantings.
Size: 75x60cm

Cultivation notes:
[Grasses:] Soak rootball thoroughly before planting and add an organic soil improver as well as a general fertiliser. Water in drought conditions. Cut back in early spring.
Grows best in poor soil in sun; becomes floppy in rich soil.

Thuja plicata - western red cedar

A tall conifer suitable for use as hedging and screening in large gardens, or as a specimen tree
Size: 20-35x6-9 m

Cultivation notes:
[Trees:] Planting hole 1.5 times width of rootball, add organic matter and support(s). Add a 5 cm layer of mulch around the base and keep well watered until established.

Vs. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana: crushed foliage has a fruity scent.

Choisya ternata - Mexican orange blossom

An evergreen shrub with glossy, palmate, aromatic leaves and scented spring/summer flowers. Best suited for shrub borders.
*RHS award of garden merit
Size: 2.5x2.5 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.
Prefers fertile well-drained soil in full sun.











Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' - upright or fastigate hornbeam

Dense trees with pointed, oval, serrated leaves that give a good autumn colour. The compact crown makes this var. useful for street planting, parks and avenues as well as small gardens. Also excellent for hedging.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 15x12 m

Cultivation notes:
[Trees:] Planting hole 1.5 times width of rootball, add organic matter and support(s). Add a 5 cm layer of mulch around the base and keep well watered until established.
Can take very hard pruning.

Lonicera pileata -privet honeysuckle

An evergreen low and spreading ground cover shrub with small glossy leaves. Tolerates shade and seaside and can also be used for low hedging.
Size: 60 cm x 2.5 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.
Sprouts again quickly after pruning, perhaps not the best choice where a very tidy hedge is desired.





Elaeagnus x ebbingei - oleaster

A fast-growing, tall evergreen shrub with leathery leaves. Young shoots and undersides of leaves are silvery. Shrubberies, tall ground cover, hedges and especially shelter for windy coastal conditions.
Size: 4 x 2 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.
Fertile well-drained soil, can grow well in partial shade.

Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Limelight' - variegated oleaster

As the non-variegated form; somewhat less vigorous.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 3x3 m

Cultivation note:
Liable to revert.













Salix viminalis - common osier willow

A fast-growing small tree that thrives on wet, exposed sites and coastal situations. Many traditional and modern uses, including coppicing, basket and hurdle making and biomass production.
Size: 6x5m

Cultivation notes:
Can be propagated from switches simply pushed 30 cm into the soil. If planting a containerised specimen, dig a planting hole 1.5 times width of rootball, add organic matter and support(s). Add a 5 cm layer of mulch around the base and keep well watered until established.
5-7 year coppicing rotation.








Hypericum 'Hidcote' - rose of sharon
 

A semi-evergreen shrub with large yellow flowers produced with gay abandon from midsummer until end of season. An easy to grow hedge or ground cover for semi-shade.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size 2x2.5 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.











Berberis darwinii - evergreen barberry

A fiercely spiny vigorous shrub with small evergreen, shiny, spiny leaves. Masses of tiny orange flowers in late winter/early spring on hanging racemes. Most suitable for hedging and barrier planting.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size 3x3 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.










Euonymus fortunei var. radicans  'Emerald Gaiety' - spindle

Evergreen compact and bushy ground cover shrub with white-green variegated leaves.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 1 x 1.5 m


Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.
E. fortunei vars are best grown in poor soil in full sun. They can also be supported to be trained against a shady wall or tree, where they can reach the height of 5 m with indefinite spread.
A very popular/common shrub.

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold' - variegated sedge

A tufted evergreen sedge, variegated with bright yellow stripe. Excellent for edging and ground cover.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 30x35 cm


Cultivation notes:
[Grasses:]Soak rootball thoroughly before planting and add an organic soil improver as well as a general fertiliser. Water in drought conditions.
Cut back in early spring every 2-3 years. Prefers fertile and moist yet well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.
(syn. C. hachijoensis 'Evergold', C. morrowii; sedges are a promiscuous lot)






Acer campestre - field maple

A medium tree often used in hedgerows, also in parks and large gardens. Autumn colour.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 5x5 m

Cultivation notes: Sun or partial shade, fertile, moist & well-drained soil.

Prunus laurocerasus 'Otto Lukyen' - cherry laurel

Small evergreen ground cover shrub. Erect and shiny dark green leaves, flowers profusely.
*RHS award of garden merit.
Size: 1x1.5 m

Cultivation notes:
Plant November to March, add a 5 cm layer of mulch and water in drought conditions.











Primula vulgaris - bedding primrose

A popular winter bedding plant used in containers and baskets as well as beds in semi shade. Has a very wide colour range.
Sixe: 20x35 cm

Cultivation notes:
Not very sturdy and does better under cover.