Good plant #162 - Cercis Siliquastrum

This deciduous, bushy and small tree performs well throughout the seasons.  It has pink flowers, followed by bronzey foliage in spring.  Its heart-shaped leaves turn green for the summer; then yellow in autumn.  It has purple-ish seed pods in autumn too.

It will grow in almost any soil provided it is in a sunny or part shady spot.

You can propagate from seed.

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Good plant #161 - Alyssum Montanum 'Tekara'

This is an evergreen and spreading/ trailing perennial alyssum that flowers in spring. It's worth giving it a light trim after flower to tidy it up.

It likes a sunny spot and thrives in well-drained soil. It will do well in a well-drained pot on a patio and will cascade nicely over the edge.

You can propagate by taking cuttings in summer.

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Good plant #160 - Anaphalis Triplinervis

This is a spreading and low-growing herbaceous perennial that is great for the front of a summer and autumn flowering border.

It likes free draining soil and prefers full sun but will tolerate a little shade.

You can divide it in spring and it will spread itself by seed too.

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Beautiful garden

A wet-ish garden following a trill. Lovely.

Good plant #159 - Prunus 'Shirotae'

Who can ignore a cherry tree in full blossom? I like most of them but this spreading type is one of my favourites. This deciduous tree also has orangey/red leaves in autumn.

It prefers a sunny spot and will thrive in any soil provided it has goodish drainage.

You can take cuttings in late summer.

For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
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and check out the archive at the bottom of the page.

Good plant #158 - Prunus x Subhirtella 'Pendula Rubra'

Who can ignore a cherry tree in full blossom? I like most of them but this weeping variety is a favourite. This deciduous tree also has yellowy leaves in autumn.

It prefers a sunny spot and will thrive in any soil provided it has good drainage.

You can take cuttings in late summer.

For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
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Good plant #157 - Sedum Kamptschatium

I saw this beautiful sedum (could be Ellacombianum) strolling through Dartmouth in spring 2012, growing down a wall. It cascades very compactly with bauble-like clusters of flowers.

It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It will do much better in neutral and alkaline soils, which in Manchester usually means adding a bit of lime to the soil or using a mushroom compost.

You can divide this in spring or do cuttings in summer.


For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
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Good plant #156 - Berberis Darwinii

This is a very popular, evergreen and spring-flowering shrub. It is quite often used for defensive planting because it of its dense prickly foliage. It can also be used as a hedge. Blue-ish coloured berries (inedible) follow flowering.

It doesn't need pruning other than trimming unwanted stems after flowering.

It will grow almost anywhere in any soil.

For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
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and check out the archive at the bottom of the page.

Good plant #155 - Rhus Typhina

This popular, deciduous and architectural tree is mainly grown for its attractive autumn leaves and large ornamental (inedible) fruit (on the female tree).

This tree produces suckers which should be removed.

It prefers moist well-drained soil and will do the best autumn leaf show in full sun.

For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
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Good plant #154 - Ribes Sanguineum

This is a vigorous and rapidly spreading deciduous shrub. I came across an incredible specimen of this ornamental currant in Dorset whilst staying there in early April 2012.  It has masses of flowers in March and April (followed by inedible berries) and very pungent leaves.

This plant will thrive almost anywhere and in any soil and will produce more flowers if you completely remove congested, weak, old and unwanted stems after flowering is finished. Strong stems produce more flowers.


For more good plants and gardening tips click here:
 http://greenshootsgardeningandhorticulture.blogspot.com/ 
and check out the archive at the bottom of the page.