Good plant #138 - Agapanthus Campanulatus 'Jacks Blue'

This perennial and deciduous Agapanthus is a darker blue than usual and said to be fairly hardy.  The frosts of 2010/ 2011 (-10 centigrade) put paid to many.  To ensure success year on year, grow in pots and bring specimens indoors on frosty nights. Alternatively, provide a thick protective mulch over the crown in winter.

They thrive in sunny spots in free-draining soil.

You can divide mature plants in spring every few years.


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Good plant #137 - Viburnum 'Juddii'

Viburnums thrive here in Manchester.  In winter 2011/ 2012, many have flowered very early in the winter.  This particular variety is one of the later flowering viburnums - April/ May.   I like this deciduous (ish) variety for a few reasons.  It produces masses of fragrant clusters of flowers - almost obscuring the foliage.  Sometimes the foliage is purple in the autumn.  It is a compact variety.

This plant thrives in sun or part shade and prefers moist and fertile soil.  It benefits from a light trim after flowering to keep a nice shape.

You can take cuttings in summer.


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Good plant #136 -Uncinia 'Belinda's Find'

This is an evergreen sedge with 'wow' factor stripy foliage.  It is ideal for bog gardens, moist shady areas and near pond edges.  I think it looks amazing in a low-sided pot as a specimen too, especially next to Carex Morrowii 'Ice Dance' - another sedge.

If you do use a pot for Belinda's Find, line it with a plastic bag with only a couple of holes and fill with  a 50:50 topsoil:compost mix plus water retaining crystals to make boggy conditions.

This plant has to have moist and fairly fertile soil conditions and does not like full summer sun.

You can divide this plant in spring.

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Good plant #135 - Anthriscus Sylvestris 'Ravenswing'

Although cow parsley can self seed prolifically, this purple variety is a stunner and can seed itself where it sees fit in my opinion. It has very feathery leaves and delicate frilly white flowers.

It tends to have a biennial habit.

You can restrict its seeding habit by removing the seed heads.  If it is in an exposed site it will need staking.

It will try to grow anywhere but does best in free draining soil and sunny-ish sites.

You propagate this from seed.

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Good plant #134 - Buddleja 'Morning Mist'

I think this variety is also called 'Silver Anniversary'.  It's mainly grown for its strikingly silvery foliage which is accented by white flowers.  Unlike the more common buddlejas, this one will only get through the mildest of winters up here.  I recommend growing this in a pot and moving it indoors if there's any likelihood of frost.  Keeping it close to the house during winter will stop over-wetting.

Like other buddlejas, give it a hard prune in spring back to one or two buds per branch and remove old wood.

This plant will thrive in full sun and in well-drained soil.  A sheltered spot will do it no harm.

You can take cutting in late spring and summer.

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Good plant #133 - Chamaerops Humilis var. Argentea

This a cheeky hardy palm with blue fan leaves.  It can cope with cold and dry conditions.  This a good palm for a pot.

This plant thrives in the sun in well-drained soils.

You can propagate this plant using its suckers that grow at the base, which you just remove and plant in free draining soil.

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Good plant #132 - Fuchsia 'Genii'

This is a well-behaved, tough (generally hardy) and pretty fuchsia.  Cut it back as near to the ground in Spring and you will be rewarded with a compact, flowering shrub with golden green leaves.

This plant loves sunny-ish sites, moist and fertile soil.

You can take cuttings as soon as the new growth gets underway and these will flower in the same year.


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