Seeing Red
20/09/2007I know that I must have planted them at some time but one group of plants in my garden has really taken me by surprise this late summer.I have watched with delight as the scene unfolded over several weeks, my reaction one of awe at the amazing qualities of plants rather than smug satisfaction, although I must admit to that feeling from time to time, I am only human! Unlike the clever garden designers my plant combinations are built up rather haphazardly over time, hence the unexpected impact.
The linchpin of this particular group is a handsome 90x75cm mound of Persicaria amplexicaulis "Firetail" planted as a small specimen three years ago. These persicarias can certainly 'motor on" so I will be putting the spade in soon, before it claims the whole bed. The erect tails of bright pink/red flowers have been on the go since early August and will continue until November, the good autumn leaf colour adding interest in October.
Rising up behind is a 2.5m high Euonymous europaeous "Red Cascade" sporting a fantastic range of red-toned leaves spot on with the persicaria's flowers. An end of season bargain last year, it is thriving but, disappointingly, has not developed startling red and pink berries for which it is valued, despite a good flowering. I now understand that it needs another europaeous cultivar nearby to encourage berrying and Bluebell Arboretum and Nursery suggests that if space is a premium, two plants can be planted in the same hole. I am now sourcing an E.e. "Purpureus" to plant nearby. This has reddish-purple foliage all summer and good displays of fruit. These quite large shrubs can be hard pruned and grown in sun or part shade although they colour best in sun.
Weaving through the persicaria is Potentilla nepalensis "Ron McBeath" whose pretty upturned faces are exactly the right shade of pink. They were made for each other! Nearby is another plant with long season interest; the short sturdy Sedum telephium "Munstead Red" with a good dark red flower, quite unlike any other sedum I know, and a good match for this group.
Panicum virgatum "Rostrahlbusch", is a warm season switch grass, beginning growth in late spring, growing strongly in the heat of summer to 1m tall, and starting to flower here in September with gorgeous airy panicles, entancing when shimmering with Autumn dew. P.v. "Rostrahlbusch" is one of the red group with first leaves and then flowers of an attractive burgundy red, adding colour and movement to the planting. Panicums need full but thrive in moist soils, giving winter interest until cut down in red early spring. They are grasses to look forward to at the end of the season and I love them.
The final contribution of colour came from the red flowers of Schizostylis coccinea "Major" that took me rather by surprise as I have no recollection at all of buying it! I have plenty of the smaller S. coccinea whose more pinkish hues would probably suit the theme better, but I am leaving well alone for the time being.
Colour is important to me, I am excited and fascinated by the effect it has, but it goes hand in hand with a feel for shapes and textures too. Colour is a very personal thing, and Piet Oudolf gives some good advice on colour schemes in "Dream Plants for the Natural Garden" He writes: " We think that it is absurd to regard the colour of the flowers as the prime consideration when putting plants together. The shape of the bloom, the height of the plants, the leaf shape, the flowering season and last but not least, their appearance after they have finished flowering are all equally important"
