Shame, shame, shame on me for not writing my journal this year. Things did not stay still, they never do in the garden, but now it is getting quiet. Today is a wet, cold November day, and I can write up a few notes about the new plants which I have bought – hoping to improve my garden by adding some exciting shrubs.
After a couple of years of having 2 roses against the walls, I wasn’t too keen. One, red, has too much shade in summer and doesn’t effectively cover the grey concrete wall. Another, white, has a lovely exposed brick wall, but with a wrong exposure, the rose is not growing in balance.
For replacement, I got 2 Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’. Also known as silk tassel, it is supposed to do well in shady conditions. Its flowering period is in winter which is perfect as the persimmon tree then sheds the leaves and the spot gets more sun. ‘James Roof’ has drooping grey-green catkins to 20cm in length, it is evergreen (important to cover the grey concrete wall!). It grows up to 2,5-4 m with the same ultimate spread, within 10 years. It as the AGM award from RHS. Here’s more from RHS.
I moved the red rose to a sunnier spot. The white rose will stay in its place until garrya grows bigger. Both garryas are small, about 20 cm in height, but I hope they grow vigorously.
I couldn’t find the garrya in Italy, but I found an excellent German nursery that sells through Ebay. So along with garrya I ordered a few other things. Mostly they are for the lower terrace. The problem there that it is too hot. I had two azalias, both were suffering and were moved. Here’s what I got.
Firstly, Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’. It will be the centrepiece. This small tree, known as kousa dogwood, loves the sun and has low maintenance, as long as the soil is rich enough and it is watered regularly in summer. It has showstopping large pink flowers in late spring-early summer. The tree has a wide spread, up to 4 m, and grows to the same height, though I might keep it lower. It is deciduous. There are good notes about it from Missouri Botanical Garden.
Next, Sambucus nigra ‘Laciniata’, or cut leaved elder. It is very hardy and has leaves which are similar to that of a cut-leaf Japanese Maples. Wide clusters of creamy-white flowers appear on the branches in early to mid summer and stand out well against the dark green leaves. Grows up to 3 m with a spread of 2,5 m. Another AGM winner from RHS. More info here.
Next to the elder I planted 2 Syringa afganica. This is a hardy, dwarf lilac growing up to 80-120 cm. It has a high ornamental value with highly scented purple flowers in spring and finely slotted leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Read here.
I also bought a pair of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Mouillere’. This deciduous shrub needs partial shade, but resists sun if well watered. It grows up to 180 cm, with the same spread. It blooms for months from summer to autumn with big white balls of florets. Has an award of garden merit from RHS. Nice description on Gardenia.
Last, but not the least is Deutzia Yuki Cherry Blossom. This deciduous sun loving dwarf shrub grows up to 30 cm. Its gently arching branches are covered by flowers in late April and early May. Important details, also on pruning, are here.
#cornuskousasatomi #sambucusnigralaciniata #syringaafganica #hydrangeamacrophyllamadameemilemouillere #deutziayukicherryblossom
Crown&Tears 