Superplants!

I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where we post pictures of a favourite plant, could be something that you have recently discovered, or an old favourite and why you especially like it. What's good about it? Maybe some cultivation tips, what it looks nice with, whatever.

I'll start it off with Teucrium fruticans, also known as shrubby germander. I discovered this plant only last March when I saw it growing and in flower Provence. I was instantly drawn to it's silvery grey foliage and, did some research to find out what it was and on my return to the UK I was lucky enough to find one in my local nursery. I planted it last April and it has had flowers in every month so far (although the recent frost has stopped it). It's put on a lot of growth and is now nice and bushy and about .6 m high. It's a real winner! And the bees love it.

The first two pictures were taken in Provence and the third is the one I planted in my garden.

 

My superplant is Linaria Purpurea. It's nothing fancy but I love it. It's dead easy from seed and it does like to re seed itself about. I really like it's foliage and the little purple flowers. It carries on flowering for yonks and there are always bees all over it which is another reason for liking it. I have both the white variety "Springside white" and the pink variety "Canon Went" too. Both of these also hum with bees all Summer long. It's a perennial and grows to around 90cm.

(Pics are off the net)

 

I presume that we're talking about hardy plant so for me it has to be Lobelia tupa..................


Just the one plant is all that is needed as it will get huge.................


Flowers from lateJune/early July right through to the first frosts. Despite its reputation of being borderline I find it completely hardy here in the Cotswolds which is on a par with Yorkshire for cold in the winter.

 

I've heard this is a really good 'wild garden' plant, Fern. I think I'll try it this year.

 

Yes, it's a very good plant for a wildlife garden

 

Oh No! In the 70mph gales we had on Monday my Teucrium blew away! I was shocked to find it snapped off at the base and it had blown away across the garden like a tumbleweed. I'm so sad; I've taken some cuttings but will probably buy another one as well.