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Perennials - Perennials 1
Perennials are a must-have in any garden!

Perennials - Perennials 1

This is the first quiz in our series about perennial plants. You will be given a chance to see if you recognize Alstromeria, Foxglove and Clematis and at the same time we hope you will digest a little about the habits and cultivation of this diverse range of plants.

Click on any of the pictures to expand them.

1 .
Why does it pay to take care around Berberis plants?
Photograph courtesy of ndrwfgg
Branches are thorny
Flowers harbour wasps
Foliage is irritating
Whole plant is poisonous
  • The picture shops Berberis Darwinii which produces masses of golden flowers in spring followed by berries in the autumn.
  • Plants are fast growing and extremely hardy.
  • Needs little care other than pruning to keep it contained to the area you require - often at the back of a shrub border.
  • Is tolerant of most soils - even heavy clay.
  • Grows quickly enough to be used as a screen.
Berberis is a good choice if you want to create an inpenetrable barrier.
2 .
No herbaceous border is complete without this beautiful plant. What is its common name?
Photograph courtesy of Pissodisevo
Foxdress
Foxglove
Foxhat
Foxsock
  • Digitalis was often used medicinally for various heart conditions. Its use is now discouraged because of its unpredictable amounts of active ingredients - too much can kill you!
  • Its name means "finger-like" because the flowers fit easily around a human finger.
  • Flowers come in a range of shades from pure white to deep purple.
  • Grows in sun or shade but in the latter it might grow very tall and need staking.
3 .
Which small tree flowers early in the Spring and has flowers like those in the picture?
Photograph courtesy of pittigliani2005
Abelanchier
Acelanchier
Amelanchier
Apelanchier
  • Sometimes known as the Shadbush or Shadwood.
  • There are about 20 different species and all are deciduous.
  • The flowers are white or light pink and these are follwed by red or puple berries which are an important food-source to wildlife.
  • In the USA some varieties are grown for human consumption but, as far as we know, this is not the case in the UK.
4 .
Penstemons are known for their ability to flourish in what type of conditions?
Photograph courtesy of M. Martin Vicente
Dry
Humid
Wet
Windy
  • The flower shape is very distinctive and the plants are sometimes referred to as "Beard-tongues"!
  • Wikipedia lists more than 250 different species and there are countless hybids.
  • In July each year the Flagstaff arboretum in Arizona hosts a famous "Penstemon Festival".
  • Some varieties are not reliable hardy in cold conditions so it pays to mulch choice plants with straw each winter.
Many of the species come from desert regions
5 .
Gunnera is sometimes known as what?
Photograph courtesy of Douneika
Dinosaur food
Elephant food
Hippopotamus food
Rhinoceros food
  • Individual leaves can be broader than the height of a man!
  • The flower-heads are in proportion to the leaves and can weigh over 10 kilos.
  • It resembles a giant rhubarb and is sometimes known as that.
  • The prickly underside of the leaves are strong enough to tear skin.
  • Best grown in a boggy area or beside a pond where there is plenty of space.
6 .
What type of soil must Rhododendrons have in order to thrive?
Photograph courtesy of Ambersky235
Acid
Alkaline
Clayey
Sandy
  • Botanically this genus includes Azaleas but gardeners usually think of Rhododendrons and Azaleas as completely different plants.
  • The Queen's estate at Sandringham is noted for its wonderful displays.
  • Some species grow so profusely that they are regarded as an intrusive weed.
  • Foliage is so dense that virtually nothing will grow in their shadow.
The plants are ericaceous and as such they will not tolerate alkaline soils.
7 .
What is the botanical name of the Peruvian Lily?
Photograph courtesy of J J Harrison
Alstroemeria
Alternaria
Anchusa
Anemone
  • There are about 120 different species and almost all come from South America.
  • Hybrid varieties are often grown in glasshouses for use as cut flowers.
  • Available in several different shades of red, yellow, orange and pink.
  • The plants grow easily in most garden soils.
  • Produce rhizomes which can be lifted every few years and split-up as a means of propagation.
8 .
What species of Euonymous is this evergreen shrub?
Photograph courtesy of Bill Barber
Forchinious
Fortanimous
Fortonia
Fortunei
  • Often called the Spindle tree.
  • There are many different varieties that come in a range of foliage colours.
  • The variety shown is "Emerald 'n' Gold" - one of the most popular varieties for winter colour.
  • Sometimes used to form low growing hedges that require little attention because of their slow growth.
  • Any green growth (non variegated) that appears should be removed as soon as possible.
9 .
From where do most species of Clematis originate?
Photograph courtesy of Qsimple
Australia
China and Japan
Europe
South America
  • There is a British Clematis Society that exists for the purpose of encouraging all gardeners to grow and enjoy clematis.
  • Plants can be grown from seed but a batch will contain both "Good" and "Bad" plants - you might be lucky enough to find a new show-stopper!
  • To propagate the varieties that you particularly like you need to take cuttings early in the year so that the new plants build up their strength before the next winter.
10 .
The plant in the photograph belongs to a genus that contains garden plants grown for both their flowers and their foliage. What is it?
Photograph courtesy of Adheds
Euonymous
Heuchera
Mahonia
Skimmia
  • Belongs to the Saxifragaceae family.
  • The plants hybridize easily and this has led to a pletheora of different types.
  • A nursery in the new forest specialize in the plants and offer a fabulous range. Search Google on the genus name and you are sure to find them!
"Heucheraholics" in the New Forest offer a splendid range of these plants for your garden. Their website is at http://heucheraholics.co.uk/

 

Author:  Colin King

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