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Old 19-06-2011, 09:55 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Stewart Robert Hinsley Stewart Robert Hinsley is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,811
Default Long-flowering plants

In message , Bob Hobden
writes
"Pam Moore" wrote

I think we have discussed this before but though I have selected
threads back to 1999 I cannot find this one.
What plants do urglers have which flower for a long while. So many
things are ephemeral. My Patty's Plum came into flower, but the wind
demolished the flowers in no time.
The same happerned with my wisteria, iris, etc. Go away for a few
days and you've missed them.
I want things to give colour for months. Fuchsias and clematis do a
good job.
My favourite plant is oxalis articulata. I have plants which came
from my 2 preceding gardens, and thence from my father's and
grandfather's gardens. It flowers all summer and the only attention
it needs is replanting every 5 years or so, as the new corms grow on
top of the old, thus moving nearer the surface.
Any good recommendations?

Looking around our garden....

Alstromerias are wonderful at providing colour in all but the depth of
winter, if they like the position they will bulk up, even take over or
just move around but in the nicest possible way. Come in various
heights so be careful which you buy. The two in our front garden have
been there years and coped with the last two bad winters without any
sign of stress. Make excellent cut flowers too.

The little Patio Roses seem to be always in flower for me and are no
trouble at all, quite changed my view on roses. Their size makes them
suitable for many places, even the front of a normal herbaceous border.
Take a few years to give their best.
http://www.wychcross.co.uk/section.php/10/1/patio-roses

Perennial Wallflowers also seem to be permanently in flower, at least
my yellow one does. Have to be brutal with it to keep it looking
compact though.

Tuberous Begonias stay in flower once they start but need frost free
winter protection, a shed will do, last for ever too.

Zonal Pelagoniums are the same but do need a greenhouse for the winter
as they need light.

Hibiscus syriacus are late into bloom but don't stop for a long time.
Just need a winter prune to keep in shape and can be kept quite small
or made into a hedge.

Lavetera 'Rosea' and 'Barnsley' come into flower at the start of July,
and I've seen them still flowering the following February. (Typically
they keep going until the frosts.)

Not all cultivars behave the same way - 'Bredon Springs' has a
relatively short flowering season.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley