Hi and I.D. of 2 plants if possible!

Hi all,

very amateur gardener here but keen to learn. We've just bought a house with a small back garden and I'm keen to look after the plants best I can. I've attached two pictures of plants I need identifying if possible so if anyone can help that would be great. Here's the first..

..a large perennial it seems. Green woody stems but no leaves just yet just a couple of these beautiful yellow flowers. Seems a bit overgrown? I'm also intrigued by this..


To my amateur eyes the large green leaves appear to be last years growth whilst in the centre the grey/green is the new growth coming through? If so any ideas what this is and should I now be removing the leaves from last year?

Thanks in advance for any help. I hope to be sticking around these forums now and losing my gardening L Plates!

Sean

 

Another amateur here but first one looks like a winter jasmine and second could be a peony. Someone more knowledgeable will be along soon I'm sure (hope!)

Welcome to Gardeners Corner btw

 

1) kerria japonica

 

It look like a hellebore in the centre on picture 2

 

Hi Sean and welcome! Once the Kerria japonica has finished flowering, you can cut out as many of the old, flowery stems as you want to rejuvenate it.
With the oriental Hellebore, cut off the old, tough dark green leaves and just leave the flowers and soft new leaves. That way, if there is any fungal disease, you get rid of it!

 

Thank you for the swift replies everyone that's really helpful. Noisette - the Kerria looks seriosly overgrown would it survive cutting right back at the end of spring?

 

That's the problem with it. It can become invasive - ok if you have the space.

 

It's a small garden so I'll need to do something with it I think. Once it's finished flowering this spring I intend to cut it right back unless anyone here tells me otherwise. It is very pretty I think.

The whole garden appears (to these amateur eyes) to not have been particularly well maintained especially regarding pruning. Everything seems a bit leggy and in need of reinvigoration so I'll see what comes up over spring and summer and, no doubt, be in here looking for advice.