Manor Nurseries

Herbaceous Perennials

What are they? By that we mean all those lovely summer flowers that die down each winter, and come back again the following spring. As every rule must have an exception, there are a few plants which remain evergreen all winter, yet they are still classed as Perennials.

We love our Herbaceous Perennials here at Manor Nursery, and we're happy to offer a good range of plants, including some rather unusual cultivars, in a range of sizes and prices to suit all budgets.

Summer is trying ...

The plants don't mind the weather as much as we do! Flowers are suddenly bursting out of hibernation. Trollius, Dianthus, Epimediums, Dicentra, Delphiniums. Penstemons and Salvias are about to burst ... Hostas are positively loving the rain! The beautiful coloured foliage of Heucheras looks good whatever the weather.

Don't forget our special offer on 1 litre cottage garden perennials ... mix 'n' match 4 for £10.

And check out our new Bee Friendly area at the top of the pergola, near the fruit trees ... discover which flowers the bees and butterflies really love! You'll find some surprises ...

Campanulas

Interesting random fact ... if any of you keep tortoises, did you know that Campanulas are the caviar of the tortoise world? One of our regular customers, who has three tortoises (with a combined age of 250!), says they will seek and eat every Campanula in the garden. Which is good or bad, depending on how you look at it ...

Do you have any Daisies ... ?

Please don't think we're being cheeky when we ask which kind of Daisy, because Daisies mean different things to different people. Argyranthemum and Euryops are often the hot favorites, but how about Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Erigeron, Leucanthemum, Helianthus, Helenium, Rudbeckia, and Osteospermum. All these have Daisy flowers ... even Echinacea and Asters could be described as Daisies ...

So you see ... easy question ... no easy answer!

Pineapple Lilies

Eucomis autumnalis ... hardy perennial bulbs whose flowers look like upside-down pineapples. They grow equally well in pots as in the ground. If any of you have been to the Isle of Wight Botanical Garden at Ventnor, you may have seen entire beds of them.

See some pics of Pineapples!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/sets/72157622770176437/

Lush summer foliage!

Ferns to add an exotic feel to a shady corner ... we have some new ones this year ...

Hostas add colour to a shady corner. Gunnera manicata fills that damp spot. Astilbes, Aruncus and Ligularias love to dip their toes in the edge of the pond.

Phormiums in a range of colours can be planted in the border, or are ideal in pots on the patio.

Heathers ...

Autumn and winter flowering Heathers are now here!

Alpines ...

... and we do still have a range of Alpines including dwarf Aquilegias, Saxifrage, Arabis, Phlox, House Leeks, Lewisia, and Aubretia ...

Did you know ... you can create amazing "floral sculpture" displays using Sempervivums and alpine Sedums. Many of the parks use them to great effect ... such as the beautiful aircraft done by Eastbourne last summer, to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

See it here -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/4825085288/

You can do the same thing on a smaller scale. Two wire hanging baskets fastened together to make a ball can be lined, then filled with compost. Plant the Sempervivums into slits in the liner. Or do something similar using wire topiary frames, mixing the colours artistically.

Fill an old boot, a broken pot, a hollow log! An old baked bean can, a wooden box, a teacup or a watering can that's sprung a leak ... your imagination's the limit!