Omphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram'

[David Nicholson]

I have a nice plant of the above I've had for around 4 years and have always left it to it's own devices. The other day I moved a neighbouring plant to a new location and I noticed that the base of 'Cherry Ingram' was a mass of old leaves and stems. Maybe this is the way it likes to grow, and it has always looked good and flowered well, but am I trying to be too tidy by wanting to cut it back and tidy it up?

[Carolyn]

Mine is like that too, David. According to the RHS website, it should be cut back after flowering - much like pulmonarias, I suppose, which I do usually cut back as they often get mildew.
We never stop learning, do we? Another task to add to my list in a few weeks time.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Carolyn. Since I have recently been banned (by the household higher authority!) from anymore pruning of any kind, without detailed supervision as I'm prone to make a mess of any I do I shall leave 'Cherry Ingram' until she is available. Maybe proof of my lack of skill is shown below in my Aethionema 'Warley Rose' that I had a go at last year

[Carolyn]

Plenty of flowers on it anyway!