jillraggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 2 September 2025

The flowers of this clump-forming perennial Veronica spicata (spiked speedwell) were contrasted against the bright yellow foliage of Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' (golden oregano, golden marjory). The latter is a reliable woody-based perennial herb forming a spreading clump of wiry stems with fragrant leaves and pink flowers. Both plants need a sunny, free-draining location.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 1 September 2025

Considered a weed of pasture land Jacobaea vulgaris (common ragwort, benweed, cankerweed, ragweed, felon weed, keddledock, Saracen's compass, St James' weed, staggerwort, starwort, yellow tops) has many common names. This upright biennial or short-lived perennial is poisonous to horses, especially when in hay where it cannot be detected, but by contrast it is an important food plant for the caterpillars of Tyria jacobaeae (cinnabar moth).

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 31 August 2025

Outside the Stromness Museum, in Orkney, is this impressive clump of Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' (double flowered meadow cranesbill). This herbaceous perennial grows in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 30 August 2025

This impressive Fuchsia magellanica var. molinae 'Alba' (white maiden's blush fuchsia, hardy fuchsia, shrub fuchsia) has grown into large shrub covered with flowers. It will bloom from summer into the autumn.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 29 August 2025

Making a great addition to this wall was the self-seeding Geranium robertianum 'Celtic White' (cranesbill, herb-robert, Robert's geranium). This white flowered form of the usually pink native Geranium robertianum is an annual or biennial . It will thrive in sun or shade in most soils.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 28 August 2025

In this border the pink flowers of what was possibly Astrantia 'Roma' (masterwort) shone out. The cultivar is a hybrid with a long flowering season from June to September.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 27 August 2025

The white flowers of Aruncus dioicus (goat's beard, buck's beard) were helping to frame this gateway. This herbaceous perennial can reach up to 2m tall, forming a clump of leaves that will turn yellow and orange in the autumn.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 26 August 2025

In this shaded, damp border was a clump of Carex acutiformis (lesser pond sedge, marsh sedge, swamp sedge, lesser bank sedge, sniddels). This is a vigorous, native perennial of ponds, streams and boggy areas and spreads to form very dense areas of greyish-green foliage.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 25 August 2025

Ideal for a summer container is the Southern Africa bulbous perennial Eucomis bicolor (pineapple lily bulb). The wavy, strap-shaped leaves appear in spring and then purple-spotted stems bearing racemes of star-shaped pale green flowers appear, topped with a terminal rosette of leafy bracts.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 24 August 2025

The species rose, Rosa glauca (red-leaved rose) makes a great addition to a border. The reddish stems contrast with the greyish leaves, and single, pale-centred, deep rose-pink flower. It is a vigorous shrub in full sun and will reach 2m in height. However, it is tolerant of poor soil, shade and a north-facing aspect.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 23 August 2025

The stars of the autumn border Anemone × hybrida (Japanese anemone) can spread readily over time and can be considered invasive. These plants require reliably moist but freely draining soil in semi-shade or sun.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 22 August 2025

The distinctive magenta-crimson flowers of Geranium psilostemon (Armenian cranesbill) with their black centres make this herbaceous perennial a useful addition to a border. This species forms a large clump of lobed leaves which will be tinted red in the autumn.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 21 August 2025

These white flowered cormous perennials were most likely Gladiolus × colvillii 'Albus' (sword lily). These bloom in midsummer with spikes of white, funnel-shaped flowers.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 20 August 2025

Growing in a sheltered, sunny location at the base of a wall was this colourful Alstroemeria cultivar (Peruvian lily). This plant requires a reasonably fertile soil that drains easily.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 19 August 2025

An evergreen terrestrial or epiphytic fern, Polypodium vulgare (common polypody, adder's fern, brake root, wall fern, word fern) has a creeping rhizome that makes it ideal for growing in a stone wall. This fern will grow in a sunny or lightly-shaded location and is tolerant of dry shade.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 18 August 2025

In this front garden the large leaves of Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans (giant blue hosta, plantain lily) provide drama and contrast with the built environment. The foliage has a puckered surface that catches the rain. The blooms are a bonus with lilac-tinged white, bell-shaped flowers in dense racemes.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 17 August 2025

A native to South Africa, Streptocarpus (Cape primrose) are a tender perennial that make an excellent houseplant. A range of cultivars are grown for their showy flowers, which come in a wide range of colours. They tend to flower more prolifically when the plants are slightly pot-bound.

Jill Raggett