On 11/07/2011 16:18, Roger Tonkin wrote:
My local mobile post office man threw this one at me today.

He has a wooded area, mainly of cob nuts, with a carpet of bluebells
underneath. He would like to plant some contrasting flowers (red and
yellow/white) to flower with the bluebells. In spring, the canopy is
quite thin, but gets thicker during the summer, but still has light
coming through. At least 6" of the soil is just leaf mould.

What would anyone suggest?




In a similar situation, I have Leucojum aestivum and Fritillaria
meleagris. I was concerned, at first, that the Fritillaria would not be
happy, but it seems to get enough light and, when it doesn't, I manicure
the canopy. In the same area, I also grow Meconopsis cambrica, which
carries on flowering (yellow,occasionally orange) when the others
finish. It seems entirely approriate for a Welsh garden. Another
favourite with me is Aquilegia vulgaris and cvs. During the bluebell
season, blue, pink, ruby and white flowers bloom. There are a few good
yellow Aquilegias, but they tend to be later flowering.

Although it is blue, I grow Camassia leichtlinii(sp?) with my bluebells
and the plants named above. It may sound *too* blue (is there such a
thing?!), but the extra height of the Camassias and their different
stance and starry flower texture look stunning and very elegant. If you
don't fancy blue-and-blue, consider the white Camassia.

Your friend may also like to consider Tulipa sylvestris which
naturalises well. I've grown it for the first time this year (in a
different part of my garden) and it was charming. It may not appreciate
the denser shade, but may be worth trying at the woodland's edge.

The only way I've managed to introduce a really scarlet red into my
woodland garden, is to plant Chaenomeles 'Red and Gold'. It is charming
enough to pass as a woodlander. For later red flowers, consider Rosa
moyesii 'Geranium' ... or, for more subtle and native flowers, Rosa
canina. For red stems, try Cornus sibirica 'Westonbirt'.


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay