Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: David Nicholson on September 14, 2016, 08:53:58 PM
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I've recently cleared an ericaceous bed which had become too congested with plants beyond their sell-by date. This gave me the chance to top up the soil (which had sunk substantially) using a locally manufactured loam-based ericaceous compost mixed with composted bark and liberal shovel-loads of grit.
Locally we have a plant retailer (who started as a wholesale nursery) before he decided there was more to be addled (Yorkshire expression = earned!) from humble Joes and Janes like us. So a few weeks ago we went to the nursery (and I use the term advisedly) to see what Rhodendrons he had and came away with the following, all in 2 litre pots:
Rhodendron repens 'Winsome'
R. 'Roseum Elegens'
R. 'Germania'
R. 'Dusty Miller'
........ which set me back £20.
Having kept them moist and shady until I was ready to plant them today they went into their new home.
Now the real purpose of this ramble is that I could do with some advice as to additional planting around, and as they get larger under the Rhododendrons. I'm open to any ideas, bulbous or any small growers apart from Heathers which I'm not fond off.
So that's it, a chance for you to recommend and someone else to pay. ;)
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First move - plant lots of Anemone blanda - after suitable overnight soaking of the corms to plump them up a bit - they are just lovely under rhodos.
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Narcissus cyclamineus does well for me in similar conditions.
Absolutely agree with Maggi regarding A. blanda.
Some other 'understorey' plats that do well for us on a raised ericaceous bed:
Cassiope selaginoides
Polygonatums hookeri and graminifolium
Dactylorhiza
Epipactis gigantea (rampant)
Rubus arcticus (also rampant)
Trillium rivale
Fritillaria camschatcensis
Anemone ranunculoides and x seemanii (both rather rampant)
Corydalis solida, and likely many of the blue species/hybrids.
Allium beesianum
Sorbus poteriifolia
Shortia uniflora
Iris goniocarpa (not directly under the shrubs)
Scilla melaina
Some of the dwarf Salix might also work if not too shaded: Reticulata and Herbacea do especially well we find.
There are some lovely small Saxifraga fortunei forms and hybrids now as well.
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Epipactis gigantea (rampant)
Yeah right - I WISH!!
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Yeah right - I WISH!!
Seem to recall a neighbour had a few square feet of "coarse grass" of it. Flowered sparsely, too dry and too congested. Gone now unfortunately. Maybe it likes our southern temperatures more.
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I have Polygala chamaebuxus 'Rhodoptera' planted in my ericaceous troughs as ground cover. Lovely Purple/Yellow flowers on them and they spread at a medium rate.
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I have Polygala chamaebuxus 'Rhodoptera' planted in my ericaceous troughs as ground cover. Lovely Purple/Yellow flowers on them and they spread at a medium rate.
Good suggestion.
A couple of others just occurred to me:
Leocopogon fraseri
Linnea borealis
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Yeah right - I WISH!!
In a couple of weeks we will be digging out a conifer and will be disturbing a large patch of the hybrid 'Lowland Legacy'. This is more rampant than gigantea in our garden and you are welcome to have a few bits if you like.
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Darren, I will graciously and eagerly accept your offer!
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Many thanks for all the ideas folks.
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Lots of lilies look nice in this setting David. Could try some Meconopsis if the bed does not dry out too much too. Blue Corydalis is good as well. Maybe some Dactylorhizas?