Gardening With Roses

T. COMPLETE BOOK OF ROSES

Podwyszynska (1996) explained practical method for overcoming shoot senescence and difficulties with rooting of rose shoots propagated M vitro. Rooting was studied in micro cuttings of two miniature rose culti 'White Gem (difficult to root) and 'Starina' (Easy to root). Increasing the concentration of Co, Mg, Fe and MN in the medium markedly improved the quality of proliferated rose shoots.

Rout et. al., (1996) white working with the problem of tissue culture in rose demonstrated chlorpromazine induced in vitro bud break in Rosa Vivian cuItivar a ndora'. Shoot segment of rose cultivar landora' were cultured on M S supplemented with BA, Kinetin, GA, or the Calmodulin antagonist chlorpromazine (CPC) at various concentration. All the tested concentration of chlorpromazine (0.25 - 5.0 mg/liter) induced rapid bud break with 4-5 mg/liter being most effective. Shoot elongation showed a sirndar response to CPZ. The other was not more effective at pH 7.0 than at 4.0 and required calcium in the medium for optimal activity.

Syamal and Singh (1996) explained about in vitro propagation of rose in detail. Results of their experiment shows that shoot and nodal segments of R. hybricia cultivar 'Crimson Glory' proliferated when cultured on modified MS medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators. Nodal segments respond more rapidly and produced more shoots than shoot tips. Proliferated shoots produced the higher number of roots when transferred to half strength basal medium. Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to pots under natural condition after acclimatization.

Salchi and Khosh-Khui (1997) studied tile effects of explant length and diameter 011 is vitro growth and proliferation rate in miniature rose cultivar 'Little Buckaroo' and 'Baby Masquerade' and 'Saurati'. Shoot length and proliferation rate were measured one and four weeks after culture. Best shoot development and proliferation rate was obtained from explant with the greatest length and diameter. In 'Little Buckaroo', a positive correlation was observed between shoot length after 1 week and proliferation rate after four week. Wardrops el. at, (1997) conducted an experiment and demonstrated that carbon dioxide gasseol fluorocarbon enhances micro propagation of rose (Rosa thinensis Incq). During the experiment the incent perflurochemical (PFC) liquid, perflurodecinin (touter PPG) was used to increase the CO, supply of the culture rose cultivar 'Baby Love" shoots. They have shown that the treatment of cultured shoot with CO, gasseol PFC also significantly reduced the accumulation of phenolic compound in roots. The total chlorophyll of aerial parts was unaffected although total protein in shoots and root was significantly lower than the control. The biotechnological implications of this novel cultural regime are discussed for the micro propagation of woody species.

Singh and Syamal (1999) conducted critical studies on the effect of growth regulator on in vitro shoot proliferation in Rosa x hybrida Lev. "Soma." for micro propagation. Singh and Syarnal (2000) determined that anti-auxins enhanve Rom hybrid:I L. micropropagation. Shoots of rose cultivars "Super Star" and "Sonia" were multiplied for 50 subcultures at 4-week intervals on solidified Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 22.19 plil ben.' aslrnimrov 1.07 pM NAA n 0.05 Of gibberellic acid. 

Design Your Garden With Roses

CONVENOIONAL METNONS OR PROPAGATION  

Pandey and Sharma (1976) reported from Allahabad that the best stock-scion combination was R. niultiflont and R. hybrid a cc. "Montezuma". Singh (1972-74) at Saharanpur, U. P. also noticed better performance of R. and tiflora rootstock. Singh (1977) further reported that R. niosoliata and R. nailti,t1ora were superior to both strains of R. bourboniana (Local and Meerut). In Bangalore, Mukhopadhyay and Banker (1982) studied the comparative performance of a thorn less rootstock as agaiut R. /nu I f (Fern and R. dice. It was reported that the largest flower were resulted when en. "Happiness" was budded either on "Thornless" or R. multi/lora. Gowda (1992) observed in Bangalore, that among the rootstocks R. multi/. lora preformed better followed by R. indica and R. Knerboniana over R. canine and R. laza.

In Scotland, Dick (1972), recommended that in heavy clay soil the use of R. ?miltiflora under stock seems to give best results since vigorous maidens with greatest performance were obtained and stock can be budded over a long period and it does not sucker. As an alternative, R. lose elm does well on a heavy clay soil that W adequately moist, however, the bushes produced are not so vigorous and have fewer blooms. Ordinary R. canine can Oct be recommended owing lathe inferior quality of the bushes, but several of its variants give better results with "Pfander's Canine' probably the most satisfactory. For standard either R. ragosa or "Pfander's Canine" can be recommended.

According to Roy Genders (1965) R. =hill are in greater use than any other form of rootstock, tend to be dwarfing M types of plants they produced. It is best understock for heavy soils and for cool conditions. R. rabiginosa is a valuable rootstock as it greatly extends the budding season, it is free from diseases and form a vigorous top growth, while its roots possess the same vigor. R. nose "Boskoop" stock of the Boskoop district of Holland is middy used for budding of standard roses and is specially suited to the roses for forcing under glass. R. inullifiora japonica, a thornless form of R. tnaltillora is unstable for use in the standard fora/ as the stem is usually too thin and brittle-iris however best for a light, sandy soil which will quickly dry out. Again both R. mill/lora and "Pollmerianestock produced plants which gave 2515 longer flowering season than any of the other rootstock. &hmidt's is also a free/flowering rootstock but suckers badly. Rasa manetti is seriously damaged by frost. P. Morale major is able to tolerate the very warm conditions, extreme heat and dry soil conditions.

Norman (1958) studied that garden roses will grow on the roots of any of the Rosa species, but only a few kinds will guarantee that the resulting plants will have a long life. Rosa mina is one of the stocks generally favored by commercial growers, usually in the form of seedlings, but sometimes grown front cuttings, and long stem obtained from hedgerows are used for standard. Rosa imilliflora both seedling and cuttings is preferred by nurserymen whose soil is light. It. rupee is mostly used as stems for standard. R. taxa seedlings and cuttings are very similar in habit tall. mina, but practically thorniest and no preferred by budders on that account.

Yadav et. al., (1989) enumerated the qualities of different rootstocks and noted that It bomber:lane is hardy, vigorous, easily propagated, grow straight and useful for budding standards. R. canine commonly used as rootstock in Europe in which buds are difficult to germinate and cuttings do not root easily, difficult to handle for existence of prominent.

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House Plant And Gifts Plant

Tr. Comrtzrc Book  Of Roses

rays on four rose cultivar viz. 'Raktagandha', 'Raja Surender Singh of Nalagarh', 'Jantar Menke and 'Neelam barii. In all six types, flower color mutants were isolated. Analysis of their pigments indicated that change in flower color was always associated with corresponding change in the cyanidin contents of the petals.

Bud wood of 35 rose cultivars viz. Hybrid Tea 22, Floribunda 9, Grandiflora 2 and Miniature 2 were irradiated with 2.4 and 5 Krad of gamma rays and budded on rootstock of Rasa indica var Murata for further growth Cultivars belong to different group were differentially sensitive to Gamma irradiation. Radiosensitivity of all the cultivars were studied in detail and it was determined from the result that radiosensitivity was genotypically different. LD,,, dose varied horn cultivar to cultivar (Data, 1991b). In another experiment bud wood of rose cultivar 'Zorina' were irradiated with different doses of gamma rays for induction of somatic flower color mutation. Data (1995a) isolated pink color mutant trans rose cultivar 'Zorina' which is Grenadine Red in color. Casts (1994a) induced creamish yellow flower color mutant from ruse cultivar Salmon Beauty' by irradiating bud wood with 4 Krail of Gamma rays.

Mutagenic effects of acute irradiation on Miniature roses have also been studied by the target theory approach. Miniature rose cultivar Rose hybrid bushes of 'Blue Blood' (PD),' Mountie'(MT), 'Dark Red Mountie(DM) and Tot Luck' (PL) were irradiated with 50,100 and 200 of Gamma rays to induce mutation. The relation between plant height (II) reduction and absorbed dose (D) could be described as = A. BD + CD2 in accordance with the production of the multi-hit target theory when A, II and C are constant. The total numbers of mutations were highest in Pl.. The irradiated plants remained ferkik. The range in color increased substantially for all the cultivars. The number of flowers in an inflorescence decreased for PL, BB and DM but not for MT.

CHEMICAL MUTAGEN

For use of chemical mutagens following three processes are achoped (Carla, 2006)

(i) About 2.5 cm of a budwood containing 2-4 axillary buds can be dipped in a desired concenration of mutagen for a specific period.

(ii) Axillary buds are removed and dipped in desired concentration of chemical mutagen for a disked time.

(in) Shoot apex or axillary buds are covered with cotton and chemical mutagen is applied periodically up to the desired time and then cotton is removed.

lieslot (1968) stated that chemical mutagen on vegetative buds of rose proved mutagenic in diploid and polyploid cultivars, he opines that there are better chances of high frequency of mutants in case of spontaneous periclinal chimera. Gupta and Deka (1983a) treated bud wood of rose cultivar 'Contempt,' (Orange with yellow eye at the base of petal) with 0. 025 and 0. 125% colchicines for four hours. Reduction in sprouting, survival, sprout height and branch and flower number were recorded after colchicines treatment Somatic mutation in flower color was induced. The mutant color was Tangerine Orange and Empire Yellow. Data and Gupta (19830 carefully operated eyes from bud Wooti of rose cultivar 'Contempo' and treated them with 0.2525% and 0. 12598 aqueous solution of colchkines for four hours.

The Ultimate Pleasure Of Growing Flowers

RAISING NEW ROSES

New rose varieties are obtained through natural mutation or bud sports, natural crossing, hybridization and mutation breeding. Roses ere cross pollinated in nature by insects, especially the bees. Insects are attracted by the color and the perfume of the flower. Sands farmed through natural pollination may give a variable progeny, spxxially the modern varieties, possessing a complex pedigree. By raising, these naturally cross pollinated seeds, new forms of roses may be obtained. Through proper selection new rose varieties may be obtained. The variant forms, called mutants or sports appear from time to time, on established varieties naturally, in which a plant afro existing variety putiforth a shoot, where genetical change occurred. New variety can be propagated from mutated branch through vegetative propagation. For example "Kronenburg" and "Chicago Peace" or mutants of "Peace". To develop new varieties with desirable characters crow breeding is one of the most powerful methods. The rose breeders with good judgements and probity are able to raise valuable rose cultivars through artificial and selective cross breeding. Rose hybridization is time consuming require skill, patience and sincere love for roses. As stated by J. L. Harkness in 1973, a rose nurseryman and breeder, after 12 years at breeding roses "My own estimate of our varieties is that we can at present say we have raised nnly five-first class roses out of the several hundred thousand seedlings. I hope that for all rose growers, whether breeders or not, our days among our roses will help In mold us into creatures who perform their ordained tasks in creation more perfectly".

High energy radiations including X-ray, gamma-irradiation as well as chemical rentagens have been used successfully to generate new varieties. Through these techniques, changes in color, size, form of flowers and in growth habit of roses have been recorded.

HYBRIDIZATION

Conventional breeding is little bit difficult in rose because of the nature of its sexual reproduction. The success results in rose breeding is very poor Is...cause it is known fact that rose is a complex hybrid gone through interspecific hybridization and polyploidy. Rose it high heterozygous, having very high rate of male and female sterility and blended with various types of chromosomal aberration. Difficulties in breeding is mainly due to hurdle faced by different rose cultivar in every step of breeding, right from the anthesis. pollination, fertilization, seed setting which continued up to seed germination. Germination of rose seed is difficult due to presence of hard seed coat Pericarp and testa of rose seed possesses ABA that is known to create dormancy.

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The Pleasure Of Growing Flowers

CLASSIFICATION 

   

are highly centre and open into double form of flowers. The bush is somewhat angular. Leaves are large and nerd-green (Bernet', A. France, 1897).

Belle Lyennaise Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. It is a climbing Tea Rose good for warm climate and sheltered garden. Plant growth is vigorous. Blooms are scented and large ionize. Flowers are full, flat, quartered and soft yellow fading to creamy white with age (Leers, France, 1870).

Bon Slime : Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Flowers are fragrant, fully, double and deep orange red. Blooms are produced in profusion on compact and vigorous growing plant. Stem is moderately thorny with mid-green foliage (Hardy, France, 1839).

Catharine Mermet Parentage of this oultiver is unknown. Blooms are shapely. Buds are high-centre open into semi double, Lilaopurple flowers appear on longish stems. Bush is healthy with well-foliated mid-green coppery tinged leaves. It is an excellent green house variety but equally at home in an open, sunny warat position. (Guillot Fib, France,

1869).

Clementine Carbonieri : Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. It is considered to be one of the outstanding Tea Rose. Flowers are fully double opening into flat quartered bloom. Flower color is grand mixture of orange, pink and salmon, all on a bright mustard yellow background. Blooms are freely produced. Flowers are scented. Stem is angular, dense and has dark green foliage. Steno have average numbers of thorn (Bonfiglioli, Italy,

1913).

Dean Hole : Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Blooms are large by Tea Rose standard. Flower color is combination of silver-pink, flushed apricot and gold. Plant growth is vigorous and thorny with darkish green foliage (A. Dickson U.K., 1904).

Devoniensis This cultivar is known as "Magnolia Rose". Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Blooms are very large, creamy - white with the occasional blush of pink. It is a refined rose and needs planting in a warm, sheltered position or under glass with ample light. Plant has green foliage and few thorns (Faster U.K., 1838).

Dr. Grill This msltivar of rose is a hybrid of 'Ophire' x 'Souvenir de Victor Hugo'. Blooms are exquisite pink laid with copper. Buds are high centre but open flowers are flat and full, sometimes quartered. Blooms are fragrant. (Bonoaire, France, 11386).

Duchessede Brabant Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Flowers are shapely, double, clear pink to rose. Flower shape is cupped and it is free flowering. The bush has a spreading habit and is well foliated (Bernede, France, 1857).

Done de I.yon : Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Blooms are rich golden yellow. Blooms are held on flimsy flower stalk. Bush is angular with sparse foliage. Flowers have strong scent (Guillot, France, 1884

Fortune's Double Yellow The cultivar was discovered in Chin. The cultivars brought back to Europe by Robert Fortune. Plant is best form with support. Flowers are loosely formed. Blooms are double and buff yellow in color with faint tints of orange.

Blooms are scented. Foliage is dark green and glossy. Sterns have few thorns (China, 1845).

Francis Dubrenil :Parentage of this cultivar is unknown. Buds are long and pointed.

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Rose In Garden

Section VI : Synstylae

R. ivel,bialea It is reported from Himalayas and East Asia irt 1879. It is a good shrub with long arching almost trailing, pliable shoots densely packed with small grayish blue foliage and fairly harm/em thorns. Blooms are numerous, small and soft pink flowers. A bloom has scent. Hips are small orange red and bottle shaped.

R. willosottirse : It is reported front West China in 1904. IL is a superb shrub with arching stem of a darkish plum color with grey blooms. Loaves are grey-green, fern like which makes a pleasing foil for the small, lilac pink flowers.

R. woodsii fendliers: It is reported front North America. The bush is dense, tall up to 201. Foliage is grey. Flowers are soft-pink colored; Nps are large and round, red in color.

The section contains an indeterminate number of predominantly white flowered, diploid climbers and sprawlers. All its members share the easily recognizable "beak'. to the hips, derived from the fused column of protruding styles (Allen, 1975).

Plant growth is vigorous and its habit is climbing. It attains height of 2051 to low. Thorns are variously sized, curved sometimes sparse in some species. Leaves have 5 In 7 leaflets and in extreme cases it goes up to 9. Blooms are mostly in corynths or clusters. Styles fused together into a central column. Hips mostly small, oval or round. Sepals drop when hips ripe. In this section there are many species viz. R. anenninejlera; R. amenity; R. brunonin R. x &month; R. friaries; R. gentiliana; II. Wiener; R. hem* R longienspis; R. Incise; /2. noschata: If Inoschata nastarena R. inulliganie R. millitflora; R. intaliflora carom; R. inultiflors tathayensis; R. mein/lora grevillin R. uniniflora ivatsoniena; R. 'nullifiers luilsonin R. phoenicia R. poIniana R. sempervirens; R. sengera R. sem:Amin R. sorilirana and R. nichiiraians. This section has garden groups, which includes Ayrshire; Hybrid Musk's; floribunda roses (clustered flowered roses); modern shrubs, modern climbers; Polyanth. and Ramblers are included. Descriptions of the species are given below.

12. aeaotersrflecca: It is reported from Pastern China in 1844. It is a climbing rose. Garden fern: of it has small clusters of double white flowers. In wild forms flowers are single. Outer petals are large and many smaller one in the centre. Plant growth is vigorous with few or nu thorns. During colder climate it needs molly coddling.

arvensis : Its data of origin is unknown. It is also known as The field Rose. It is beautiful, pure white single rose with medium-sized flowers and showy olden anthers. It is ground-creeper or rambler with dark green stem and foliage and well-spaced thorns. It can be grown for hedgerows especially in southern England. There are many forms and a hybrid of R. srvials, which includes Ayrshire, rose also known as R. caprentate, R. arvensis ayesitenn and seems now to be lost to cultivation. Some of the inthortant forms of R arvensis are Ayrshire Queen, Bennett's seedling (11thresbyana), Dundee Ramb/er, Dusterlohe, Ruga (R. nip), Splendens (The Myrrh-scented [lone) and Venusta Pendula.

R. brrucarcis: It is reported from Himalayas in 1823.11 is also known as R. niosclisin Nupalensis plant is densely foliated. tins vigorous climber. Leaves are large and light grey-green in color. Plant growth is extremely vigorous with hooked thorns. The blooms are vissglr, lissuey in texture. Flower color is creamish white, which appears in clusters. A hybrid of R. brinionii includes La Mortola and R. 0 &wain.

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Propagation Of Roses

R. arkansana It is a short growing dense shrub wills a fairly long flowering season in mid summer. Foliage is heavily veined and has glossy surface. Flower size Is 5cm. Flower color is bright red with yellow stamens, usually appears in clusters. Hips are small, roundish and red in color.

R. banksiopsis, This species have been reported from China in 1907. It is a medium size shrub with small, rose-red flowers, followed by flask-shaped hips.

R. beggernina : This species have been reported from Central Asia in 1869. It has a long flowering season. Early blooms are small and while. Hips are small, round and orange. Stems are covered with lightish coloured hooked thorns. Foliage is grayish-green in color.

R. belie : This species have been reported from China in 1910. It is an upright growing rather prickly shrub with many of the characteristic of R. navesi. Blooms are single. Flower color is bright pink. Blooms are of medium sive. Fruits are flask shaped and orange in color.

R. biennia: This species have been reported from North America in 1773. It is known as Smooth Rose, Meadow Rose, Electron Bay Rose, and Lavender Resu Iris similar to R. mina except for fewer thorns and deeper pink flowers. Isis less vigorous in growth. Hips ate more pear shaped than oval.

R. califontica : This species have teen reported from North West America in 1878. It is uncommon in U.K., Plant attains height uptx 250crn with corymbs of single pink flowers which are 4cmn across.

R. californica plena This species have been reported in 1894.11 is an excellent garden shrub with lilac-pink flowers, shaped rather like the individual blooms of a semi double hollyhock. The shrub is healthy, upright in habit and amply foliated with grayish-green leaves. The wood is dark and has few thorns.

R. candida : This species have been reported from China in 1907. Isis very similar to R. setipods. It forms a dense shrub with thick, well-armed branches. Flowers are produced in large clusters. Blooms are pink, followed by flagon - shaped, bristly hips.

R. coriifolia froebelii : This species have been reported from Europe in 1890. It is also known as R. dionetorunr Iran. It is a dense shrubby rose with grey-green sexed and Foliage. Plants are moderately thorny. Blooms are white. Flips are plump but oval. Iris widely used as an under stock.

coryan a: It is reported from Cambridge Botanic Gardens, U.K., in 1926. Evolved as a hybrid of R. macrophylla X 12. rarborgaii. Isis a medium sixes shrub with leanIng towards R. roeburghii in appearance. Flowers are large, single and deep pbsk in color.

/2, corynoDa rasa: It is reported from China V11908. Plant is of medium growth, rather lax, almost thornless thin-stemmed shrub. Leaves are small with slightly hairy underside. Leaf color change from green to deep purple in autumn. Flowers are single, deep, and pinkish-red, with a white eye. Hips are of medium sized rounded and their color is red.

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Planting Roses Properly

BURNET ROSES

Many double forms of R. pin: pit: ell: folio have exited over the years since the first were introduced around 1800. The Royal Rose Society has a good and varied, representative collections of these are well worth seeing. Some of the most important double forms of Burnet rose are double white, double pink, and double marbled pink. All form of these roses has globular flowers, which are produced in profusion of tidy, well-foliated, thorny plants. Most of the member produces globular, dark, almost black hips ki the late summer and all make useful, tidy, rounded shrub or attractive thick hedge.

Double Yellow Form : Several exist with the yellow in their make up obvio.ly derived from R. pen.. The most important are R. x I:arise:tit or Harison's Yellow (Yellow Rose of Texas) - very double (USA, 1816).

William's Double Yellow' It is also called as old yellow scotch. They are coarser in growth than other color. This is more compact in growth, pleasingly scented and of very ancient origin (U.K., 1828).

Other forms and hybrid of R. pimpinellifolis are Andrewsii, Dunwid Rose, Falkland. Fruhlingsanfang, Fruhlingsgold, Fruhlingsmorgen, Fruhlingsschnee, Fruhlingstag, Fruhlingszauber, Glory of Edzell Golden Wing, Karl Foster, Maigold, Mary Queen of So. Mrs. Colville Ormiston Roy, Single Cherry, Stanwell Perpetual, and William III. Majority of them are reported from Germany, fern of them are reported from USA, China, South Europe, U.K., Holland and Himalayas.

R. primula :This rose species is known as Incense Rose. It is reported (torn central Asia and China in 1910. It is a beautiful species with strong, upright dark brown thorny stem supporting arching laterals. Foliage is glossy fern like and has a strong aroma of incense. Blooms appears early in the season, are single and soft buttercup-yellow with prominent stamens. Flowers are strongly scented. It is an interesting and most useful shrub which sometimes set small reddish fruits.

It petragonis Evolved as a hybrid of R. hugonis x R. sericea and reported from Germany in 1938. II is a medium tall shrub with broad dark red prickles similar to those of R. sericea but with primrose yellow, five petalled flowers.

It e reverse : Evolved as a hybrid of R. penduline X R. phapineIlifolin. Blooms are variable from pink to white mostly pink. Flowers are of tnedium sized oval to round, pendulous. Hips are deep red in color. Plant growth is slightly angular with purple shoots, often quite bristly (South Europe, 18201.

It : Reported from North Europe in the year 1850. It is very similar to R. a-involute. It is different in having longer flower stamens. Hips are large. Stem color is light brown. It is evolved probably a cross between R. pintpinel101ia and R. ntoius.

It sericea r Reported from Himalayas and west China in the year 1822. It is also known as R. otneiensis. It is vigorous shrub with fern-like foliage and stout branches around with large, hooked thorns and numerous small spines. In young stage thorns are translucent red. Blooms are white with pronounced pale yellow stamens. Unlike any other species of the genus, these are comprised of four petals only. Hips are bright red almost oval but slightly pear-shaped.

R. xarithia : Reported from China in the year 1906. It is an angular shrub with dark sterns and thorns and dark green fern like foliage. Flloorns are small, loosely and raggedly semi-double, uarlet, rich yellow, produced early in the season.

R. sericea en-poem-pa:It is reported num Himalayas but actual date of introduction is not known. It is sante in all the morphological characters in all respect to R. urices except that its fruits are bright yellow.

Some of the important forms and hybrids of R. scrims are R. seneen pernessilts, R. onwiensis peer...the, R. seriatt ptersearalin at...guinea, Red wing, Heather Muir and Hidcote Gold. Most of these forms are reported from U.K.

R. santhina :Ills reported from China in the year 1906.11 is an angular shrub with dark stem and thorns and dark green fern-like leaf. Flowers are small, loosely and raggedly aeon-doable, scented, rich yellow. Produced early in the season.

Forms anal hybrids of 12, zonthina

Canuy Bird : It is also known as R. =thins sposlases and reported from China in the year 1908. Plant is tall, angular with dark wood and thorns. The shrub has dark green, fern She foliage. Plant produces lateral of a graceful, pendulous habit on which the flowers are borne, making it a useful standard rose in good soils. Blooms are single, rich creamy yellow with prominent stamens. Floes are are well scented. Blooms sometimes appear intermittently in the autumn.

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Orchid For The Intermediate Greenhouse

 Orchids for the intermediate greenhouse

O. maculatum

has many scented, pale yellow flowers with brown spots; the lip has a red crest.

O. pulchellum

See Tolumnia pulchella.

 o. tigrinum

is a Mexican species with large, flat pseudo bulbs and an un branched spike growing to 40cm (16in) long. The yellow winter flowers have red-brown bars on the sepals and petals.

O. variegatum

See Tolumnia variegate.

Sherry Baby a famous hybrid with red flowers with white on the lip.

'Sweet Fragrance' is chocolate-scented.

Oncidioda

(Cochlioda x Oncidium)

These hybrids have multicolored flowers with narrow sepals and petals. Charlesworthii Branched spikes with many small red flowers with a pink and yellow lip.

Ornithophora

This genus contains two species of dwarf epiphyte from Brazil with pseudo bulbs set well apart on the stem. Because of this spreading habit, they are better in a small basket than in a pot; they like good light and plenty of air movement.

O. radicans

(synonym Sigmatostalix radicans) An attractive and reliable little plant with lots of small white flowers with a maroon column and yellow anther cap, in late summer.

Paphiopedilum

Slipper orchids have always fascinated growers and their popularity is steadily increasing, not least because of some spectacular new discoveries in recent years. About 70 species are known from South East Asia, from India to the Pacific Islands; most are terrestrial but some are epiphytic or grow on rocks. Although they are sympodial orchids, they do not have pseudo bulbs. The leaves are plain green or mottled, the latter often purple below.

In most species the 'flowers are borne singly but in some, there are several flowers on a spike; in that case, the flowers may open all at once or in succession. All have large flowers with the characteristic pouched lip. The petals are spreading or pendulous, sometimes twisted or with hairy warts along the edges.

All paphiopedilums need a free- draining compost — more die from a soggy medium than from any other cause. But as they have no storage organs, they should not remain dry for any length of time and benefit from being repotted every year. A great variety of composts can be used; all growers seem to have their own favorites. Many find rock wool successful, in particular a mix of absorbent rock wool and horticultural foam or coarse perlite. Another widely used mix is three parts of medium bark, one part of peat or peat substitute, one part of coarse perlite, with about half a teaspoon of dolomitic limestone added. Others include a mixture of equal parts of medium and fine bark with ten per cent perlite; and a mixture of medium and fine bark with chopped sphagnum moss.

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Orchids For The Cool Greenhouse

Orchids for a cool greenhouse 

Promenea

There are about 15 species of these dwarf epiphytes found in Brazil. They have small, clustered pseudobulbs, grey-green leaves and relatively large, fleshy flowers. Pot in a free draining compost.

Rossioglossum

This genus contains six species from Mexico and Central America, closely related to Odontoglossum. The flowers are large and showy, usually yellow with brown markings. Grow in a standard compost in a shallow pot or basket. Give plenty of water and fertilizer while in growth but keep drier and cooler in winter.

R. grande

(synonym Odontoglossum grande) is called the clown orchid. The flower spikes are about 30cm (12in) long, each with about eight flowers. The flowers are 15cm (6in) in diameter with yellow sepals, barred and dotted with chestnut brown. The petals are yellow with a brown base and the lip is cream or pale yellow, banded with red and brown. The yellow and red callus is supposed to resemble a clown. Flowers appear in autumn and winter.

 

P. guttata

is less than 8cm (3in) tall; the flowers are bright yellow barred with red, the lip is dark purple at the base, and the tip yellow.

P. stapelioides

has cream to beige flowers, heavily banded with maroon, with a purple lip, in summer.

P. xanthina

(also known as P. citrina) has primrose yellow flowers with a bright yellow lip, in summer.

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Propagation Of Orchids

Propagation

Sometimes flasks are bottles of various kinds, and these have to be broken before the seedlings can be extracted. The simplest way is to wrap the bottle in a towel and hit it with a hammer, using just enough force to break the glass but not enough to squash the seedlings inside. Then, wearing gloves, open the towel, pick off the pieces of broken glass and treat the seedlings as before.

We now 'have seedlings, often with long tangled roots, lying on a piece of absorbent paper. At thiS point they can be sprayed with a dilute solution of a fungicide/bactericide such as Physan. This is not essential, but it helps to protect the still vulnerable seedlings from infection. The young roots that have grown into the agar never (or hardly ever) turn into adult roots; these grow later from the base of the stem. So the young roots should be trimmed with sterile scissors as otherwise they l'ot easily, forming a focus for infection, and may also interfere with the growth of the adult roots. Trim the roots down to 2-3 cm (1 in) in length, removing any that are very thin or that coil up under the plant.

Community pots

Often the seedlings will be mixed in size and they should be sorted out into more or less matching groups. Plant as many seedlings from each group as possible into one pot because they grow better close together in the early stages. This is known as a community pot.

Now the seedlings must be hardened off before they go into the greenhouse to gradually get them used to the change in climate. A propagator is useful here; they are available in a vanety of sizes and most have vents in the lid that can be closed to start with, then opened gradually. Failing that, the community pot can be put into a polythene bag which is sealed at first and then gradually opened to let in air. Results are likely to be much better if seedlings are deflasked in spring or summer, when they grow on quickly.

Seedlings can be left in the community pots for quite a long time. It is usually obvious when they need to be moved on. Either they start to climb out of the pots, with roots waving in the air and finding their way into other pots, or else they stop growing and need the boost that repotting often gives. When they come out of the community pots, they can either be mounted on a bark slab or potted individually. With luck, you will not have to wait too long to see them flower.

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All The basics About Orchid

Where to grow orchids

A small orchid collection can be grown entirely in this way, and people with larger collections sometimes use them for difficult species that need carefully controlled conditions, as well as for their decorative effect. Few, if any, firms still make orchid cases, but they are still occasionally available secondhand. Otherwise, it is not too difficult to have one made; a number of firms could supply the necessary controls. A typical size is about 1.5m (5ft) high by 1.2m (4ft) wide and 60cm (24 in) deep — these are the outside measurements; the growing area is slightly smaller. The floor of suchcases usually consists of a waterproof tray with aggregate granules under which there is a heating cable set on a wooden base with a movable grill to control air flow. The wooden roof has vent holes but a small fan may also be necessary as good ventilation is essential. For a cabinet of this size, three 40-watt fluorescent tubes should be sufficient; they can be controlled by a time switch set to give 12-14 hours of light a day Keep 2.5cm (1 in) of water in the tray to keep the humidity high.

Plants to grow in an orchid case

 Aerangis, most species

Angraecum, smaller species

Cattleya, small hybrids

 Dendrobium bigibbum

Dendrobium hybrids

Dracula species

Ludisia discolor and other jewel orchids Paphiopedilum, most species and hybrids

Phalaenopsis species and hybrids Pleurothallis species

Shade houses

Shade houses are used for growing orchids in tropical and subtropical climates where the problem is one of too much heat and light, rather than cold. They are usually simple structures made from poles with a thatched or shade-cloth roof, often with shade-cloth or polythene curtains on the sides that catch the sun. They have the great advantage of being easy and cheap to extend when the need arises.

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Landscape Gardening And Garden Designs

Finishing touches

Left: Steps must be functional and safe, but there is no reason for them not to be decorative as well. Make the most of the un trodden areas at the sides with ornaments such as this imaginative collection of spheres, which creates a contrast of shape as well as color. Pots of plants can also be employed to cheer up a dull set of steps, but make sure they don't make the tread area too narrow.

Right: Permanent garden furniture will make an obvious place to pause - to relax, sit, talk or eat. Make sure that its size is In proportion to the garden as furniture shouldn't overwhelm the available space. A number of different colors might have been chosen for the table and chairs In this rooftop garden, but natural colors and neutrals provide a smart, classic look that will never date.

Below: A plain garden bench is transformed from understudy into star with a coat of bright paint and a couple of pots of begonias burgeoning with apricot- colored blooms. Bring about a yearly transition with a simple piece of furniture such as this that is quick and easy to paint.

Right: The shimmering qualities of this mosaic wall create a semi-exotic backdrop to a border of fragrant plants that includes catmint, lavender, and the striped Bourbon rose 'Ferdinand Pichard'. Harmony Is everything - without the sumptuous blue glazed pots to echo the mosaic color, it could look rather out of place. Mosaics need not just be of this classic design; make your own using broken pieces of colorful kitchen plates.

How To Make And maintain A Garden

Early summer

As the days lengthen and spring moves seamlessly into summer, the dominant colors of the garden become warmer and richer in tune with the strengthening rays of the sun. Now that the passionate explosion of spring color has spent itself, the summer occupants begin to exert their influence with colors that are mostly soft and subtle, though with the occasional sparkling of roses and clematis in jewel- like shades as an overture to the brilliant colors that are soon to come. All the colors of early summer work well together in their pastel shades. When it comes to brighter shades, a little segregation into contrasting pairs is advisable, along with plenty of silver and grey foliage to act as a buffer.

Pink

Pink becomes more vibrant and sociable with the arrival of summer, compared to the ice- pinks and sugar-pinks of spring.

Alliums are summer-flowering bulbs that have a tremendous amount to offer, though too often they are forgotten in the rush to plant bulbs for spring. Al//urn hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' is one of the, most striking, with large, rounded heads that look wonderful towering over Oriental poppies, particularlya variety in a complementary shade like the crushed-strawberry pink of Papa ver orientale 'Patty's Plum'. In a cottage-garden-style' border, peonies and the double-flowered Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow' make a delightful partnership. While Clematis montana varieties are still blooming well, the early large-flowered hybrid clematis begin to open their plate-sized blooms: 'Comtesse de Bouchaud' and 'Hagley Hybrid' are both interesting shades of pink.

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Exploring Colour Combination Of Your Garden

Silver and blue foliage plants

Artemisia 'Powis Castle' Always a favourite choice for a silver shrub, this forms a good-sized hummock, and it’s finely cut leaves are a good, bright silver - some other artemisias are distinctly grey in comparison.

Ballota pseudodictamnus A pale silver- green little evergreen, softly furry all over its stems and leaves.

Festuca glauca A neat, tufty grass with a distinctly blue tinge to its blades. The tussocks remain all year and look brilliant after a frosty night, but festuca is at its bluest when its new growth has colored up in spring.

Helichrysum petiolare This tender little plant is apt to sprawl, which makes it very popular for summer containers and baskets. Its all-over furry grayness is appealing in the sun but it looks very sad in grey weather

.

Hosta 'Halcyon' One of the bluest-leaved of all hostas, its ribbed leaves keep their color best in the shade.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Glauca' The smoky blue of blue conifers is a good mixer, and this one makes a low, spreading mat that looks at once solid and cloudy.

 Onopordum nervosum There is no mistaking this spiky, spiny giant thistle. Stem, prickly leaves and flower buds are all covered in white felt, which makes it a real eye-catcher.

Rhamnus alaternus

'Argenteovariegata' Buckthorns are useful hardy shrubs, but this one is far more attractive than its workaday cousins. Its grey- green leaves are edged with a broad white margin that gives it much greater style and appeal.

 Ruta graveolens `Jackman's Blue' Rue makes a neat mound of sea-blue leaves, each finely cut but with noticeably round ends. A very pretty little herb, and highly aromatic, but not one for the kitchen. The yellow flowers are not much of an attraction.

 Santolina pinnata subsp

Neapolitana A dense mass of wispy stems gives the impression of a rounded silver cloud. Santolinas look good planted enmasse and are at their most silvery on poor soil.

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Approaches To Planting Flowers

 PLANTS FOR THE FLOWER GARDEN

 HESPERIS

(Cruciferae) southern Europe, western Asia

H. matronalis (damask violet, dame's violet, sweet rocket) is a cottage-garden perennial to mass in informal borders. Evening-scented white, pink and mauve cruciform flowers are borne in loose clusters above narrow dark green leaves in early summer. Dead-head to encourage further flowering. Freely self-seeding. Grow as a biennial, since older plants deteriorate to woodiness. Sun.

H: 60-120cm/24-48in s: 45-60cm118-24in - z: 3[3-9]

HEUCHERA

(Saxifragaceae) alumroot, coral flower N. America H. x brizoides hybrids form perennial mounds of rounded scalloped hairy leaves, mottled grey and green, which are evergreen except in very cold areas. Woody roots spread to make good ground cover in well-drained soil - in full sun for best flowering performance and in part shade for foliage only. Slender panicles of flowers held well above the foliage on Wiry stems appear in early summer. Choose a named form to harmonize with neighboring flower and foliage color. H. x b. 'Coral Cloud' has coral-pink flowers.

H: 45-60cm/18-24in s: 30-45cm/12-18in z: 3[3-10]

H. micrantha 'Palace Purple' is a perennial grown for its handsome bronze foliage with rich deep red undersides.

HEUCHERELLA

(Saxifragaceae)

x H. tiarelloides is an evergreen perennial hybrid between heuchera and tiarella with tiny pink flowers in early summer and soft green leaves without the typical heuchera marbling. Grows in similar conditions to heuchera and is an excellent border plant.

H: 45cm/18in s: 30-45cm/12-18in z: 3[3-10]

HIBISCUS

(Malvaceae) rose mallow

H. moscheutos (swamp rose mallow from USA) is a handsome perennial species with toothed slightly lobed ovate leaves. The satiny wide-open mallow-flowers may be 15-20cm/6-8in across and are white, pink or crimson, borne in summer. Sun and moist rich soil. Easily raised from seed.

H: 0.9-1.5m13-5ft s: 0.9m/2ft z: 4[4-9]

H. trionum (flower-of-an-hour from Africa) is an annual with dark green serrated leaves. Large cream mallow-flowers with purplish-brown centres appear in late summer, typically opening only in the morning. Sow seed each spring. H: 75CM/30ill s: 30cm/12in ANNUAL

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Plants Breeding and Selection

ARGYRANTHEMUM

(Compositae)

These tender chrysanthemums, which are easy to overwinter from cuttings taken in late summer, grow into attractive shrubby plants that flower prolifically. Ideal as focal points in large pots on a wall or terrace in full sun.

A. foeniculaceum (formerly Chrysanthemum foeniculaceum; marguerite, Paris daisy from the Canary Islands) is an evergreen perennial with deeply divided silvery-grey almost glaucous foliage and white daisy-flowers in summer. A. 'Jamaica Primrose' bears lovely pale yellow single flowers, complemented by deeply cut green leaves.

& s: 60-90cm/24-36in z: 9[9-10]

ARTEMISIA

(Compositae)

Shrubs and perennials grown for grey and silver leaves that make an attractive foil for other plantings. Survive low temperatures in full sun and well-drained soil.

A. absinthium lambrook Silver', a cultivar of the European absinthe or common wormwood, is a semi-evergreen sub-shrub with woody stems bearing silver-grey dissected leaves. Pale yellow flowers appear in summer.

& s: 90cm/36in z: 4[4-10]A. ludoviciana (white sage from N. America) is an herbaceous perennial with silvery-white felty leaves and silvery-grey flowers in summer. Suckers freely and may be invasive.

H: 120cm/48in s: 60cm/24in z: 5[5-10]

A. pontica (south-eastern and central Europe) is a suckering perennial that has smoky-grey feathery foliage and makes good ground cover or pathway edging in sun.    -

H: 45-75cm/18-30in s: 45cm/18in z: 5[5-10] A. 'Powis Castle' is an evergreen sub-shrub, making a sturdy pewter-toned cushion of fine-cut leaves.

H: 60cm/24in s: 45cm/18in z: 8[8110]-

A. schmidtiana 'Silver Mound" is a perennial that makes 'low mounds of silvery grass-like silky' foliage.

10cm/4in s: 25cm/lOin z: 4[4-10]

 

ARUM

(Araceae) south-eastern Europe

A. italicum pictum (correctly A. 1. marmcrratum) has leaves that unfurl in autumn and grow to full lushness in spring - glossy arrow-shapes veined in creamy-white. Spikes of red berries take the place of leaves in late summer. Seeds true. This tuberous perennial makes attractive ground cover in sun or part shade.

H: 38cm/15in s: 30cm/12in z: 6[6-10]

ARUNCUS

(Rosaceae) goatsbeard northern hemisphere A. dioicus is a deciduous perennial that makes an attractive clump of elegant fern-like foliage.

ASARUM

(Aristolochiaceae) wild ginger

A. europaeum (Europe) is an evergreen rhizomatous perennial that makes creeping ground cover in moist shade or part shade. Handsome dark green glossy leaves, shaped like a rounded heart, hide inconspicuous greenish-brown flowers in spring. Attractive to slugs.

H: 12-15cm/5-6in s: 20-30cm/8-12in

z: 4[4.-8]

ASPHODELINE

 (Liliaceae/Asphodelaceae) Jacob's rod Mediterranean

A. lutea (king's spear, yellow asphodel) makes architectural perennial clumps of stiff stems clad in semi-evergreen grey-green grassy leaves. Tall racemes of shiny yellow starry flowers in early summer are followed by attractive seed-heads. A. liburnica is a shorter form. Rhizomatous rootstock increases slowly. Sun or part shade and well- drained soil.             -

41: 90-120cm/36-48in s: 30cm/12in z: 6[6-10]

ASTER

(Compositae) N: America

'Herbaceous perennials grown for daisy-like flowers. Sun or part shade and rich but well- _drained soil, -

A. divaricatus (white wood aster) has sprawling wiry black stems that bear a profusion of little white starry' frower-heads in late summer to autumn. Tolerate i dry shade.

& s: 45-60cm/18-24in z: 3[3-9]

A. x frikartii is one of the best later-flowering plants, with freely borne yellow-centred lavender- blue flowers from late summer onwards. A. x f. 'Meech' is the best.

H: 60-90cm/24-36in s: 38-45cm115-18in

z: 5[5-10]             -

A. lateriflorus 'Horizontal& has compact twiggy stems that bear small dark green leaves with distinctive horizontal habit. Is crowned with a hedge-like mass of tiny palest silvery-lilac flowers with browny-pink centres in autumn.

H: 60-90cm/24-36in s: 30cm/12in z: 3[3-10] A. novae-angliae "Andenken an Alma Potschke' (Michaelmas daisy, New England aster) bears

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Plants For The Flower Garden

Trees and shrubs for structure

A number of shapely evergreen shrubs provide the border with winter structure and, planted at regular intervals to give a definite rhythm, hold the border design together throughout the year. Their shapes and foliage contribute more than their flowers, and they set off the flowers of neighboring plants. Conifers such as tall junipers, feathery chamaecyparis, Irish yews and, in milder areas, Italian fastigiate cypresses all give this emphasis.

Some shrubs may be pruned into topiary shapes and figures to give a more formal air to a planting scheme. Traditional topiary subjects are evergreen bay, holly, Portugal laurel and yew (both English and Irish at Hidcote trimmed English yews give border structure in the famous Pillar Garden). The neglected phillyrea (especially Phillyrea angustifolia and the tree-like P. latifolia), pyracantha, Quercus ilex and box may also be trimmed into many different outlines. Silver- and grey- leaved shrubs may acquire a formal air by tight clipping — indeed many that grow woody with age benefit from a spring cutting.

Small deciduous trees with green or colored leaves and a naturally regular outline are also effective design plants. Mop-headed and umbrella-shaped trees are especially useful when space is limited as neighboring plants can be grown up close to the trunk. Robinias. 

PLANT BREEDING AND SELECTION

Surprisingly few of the palette of plants available in nurseries and garden centre are original species. Most have been 'improved' by special breeding programmes in search of more desirable and robust qualities in flower, leaf or form. Sometimes these changes are just to obtain shorter or longer flower-stems, but all are aimed at enhancing the gardening possibilities. This breeding for improvement is a sexual process, not a vegetative one whereby cuttings are taken or grafts made to reproduce a particular plant such as one that has attractive gold and silver foliage.. To be certain of obtaining the same'freak' appearance, it is not possible to use a sexual process.

In breeding, the main objective is to exaggerate features considered useful or decorative and to lose others less obviously desirable. The results of breeding and hybridizing are complicated. In the past breeders would spend years looking for one desirable seedling that demonstrated a noticeable improvement in quality. Today, in theory, the selector or hybridizer chooses two good wild or garden forms (species or cultivars) of a genus and breeds from them, deliberately hoping to produce a strain that inherits the best characteristics of both 'parents'. Of course it may still take time to find the desired combinations, and breeding is aimed not only at producing plants that look good but also at producing those that are disease-resistant, have extra hatdiness or some such other more 'hidden' qualities. For final marketing of new hybrids a crucial discovery has been made: that first generation hybrids (called F1 hybrids on the nurseryman's seed packet) are both uniformly reliable and possess the benefit of hybrid vigour. Such a discovery has transformed the horticultural trade and means that, once a strain is chosen, garden perennials and annuals may be produced by annual cross-breeding from two chosen parents. An additional marketing 'plus' is that the amateur does not find the same uniformity in saved seed but has to buy fresh F1 hybrid seed each year.

Sometimes scientific breeding alters an harmonious natural balance, and highly bred 'improved' plants, selected for certain exaggerated characteristics such as flowering potential, lack the simple grace of their wild parents. Personally the more I garden, the more I prefer the elegant natural proportions of true species, even though I know that their performance is muted. With trees and shrubs such reticence would cause no problem, but in the flower garden my choice of perennials and annuals wood be more limited and less satisfactory without 'improved' plants. However I do think it would be interesting to lay out a whole scheme using true species alone. I would certainly do this if I had a woodland garden in parts of the United States, where nature's 'produce' can hardly be bettered. But in general we use and are grateful for the thousand and one 'possibilities' provided by the dedicated breeders; from amongst their products we can choose plants exactly suited to any garden scheme. In 'natural'-type gardening, true species often look appropriate; in the formal border we need plants that give precise effects, and those specially bred for longer flowering periods.

The Flower Border Style And Framed Garden

Annuals and biennials

The jungle effects created by the free-style planting of woody plants, hardy perennials and bulbs are further enriched by biennials and annuals that are encouraged to seed themselves in haphazard groups and drifts to colonize any patch of bare soil. The crafty gardener may well direct events by scattering seed (never using a hoe or hand-cultivator) in available spaces.

In spring, biennial honesties (forms of Lunaria annua — known as the silver dollar plant in North America) will thrive and spread in the dappled shade of a fruit tree or ornamental cherry. Its mauve flowers make a striking color contrast to the pale yellow bracts of the almost evergreen perennial spur uphorbia amygdaloides robbiae, or the smaller . cypar sias, both of which spread in similar sites. A white-flowered honesty (Lunaria annua alba) may flower at the back of beds where shade-loving perennials take over later in the season and if isolated comes true from seed.

Biennial forget-me-nots (forms of Myosotis sylvatica) may be allowed to seed freely after flowering each spring and will happily multiply in any shady corner. Plants can be pulled up after flowering is over. Brighter blue flowers and sturdier plants are obtained in named seed packets; they should be sown in early summer and transferred to their flowering sites by autumn.

Biennial foxgloves, for sun and shade, are excellent in an informal garden. The ordinary Digitalis purpurea has a dingy pink flower, but white-flowering seedlings, as at Knightshayes Court, may be selected to add grace and interest to a border. The southern European D. ferruginea, with coppery-yellow flowers, looks exotic but is not too glamorous for the natural garden. Although a perennial, it is best treated as a biennial.

In open situations statuesque angelicas, evening primroses, tall silvery thistles (forms of onopordum), silybums with green leaves veined with white, and thistle-flowered Miss Willmott's ghost are all worthwhile biennials that mix well with groups of permanent shrubs and perennials; all are species and come true from seed.

The floppy horned poppy (Glaucium flavum) with greyish foliage and bright yellow papery flowers will sprawl at the front of a sunny border. Some of the biennial mulleins seed as single specimens between groups of perennials. They provide height, while prolifically seeding violas and verbenas carpet the ground, filling up space at the front of borders.

The Natural Garden

Pure and tinted whites

An unrelieved laundry-white invariably draws the eye and may attract undue attention. The annual Lavatera trimestris 'Mont 'Blanc', Rosa 'Frau Karl Druschki', white Japanese anemones and groups of white ox are all flowers of this perfect whiteness, but fortunately these flowers are seldom seen in isolation; they are almost always accompanied by leaves and other floral or foliage color, which tends to shadow and soften their extreme whiteness.

In fact, few white flowers are pure white. More often they are faintly tinged with lavender, cream, pale blue or green, or — when set among leaves of strong green — seem suffused with a pinkish tint. The whiteness of others is modified by their shape and texture. Whites such as those of Rosa 'Iceberg' and tulip flowers have a solid, three-dimensional mass with glowing white petals moulded by highlights and shadows. Other whites such as poppies and romneya produce papery almost see-through fragile petals around central stamens, while Clematis recta, gypsokhila and crambes bear small starry flowers held on branched stems togive misty cloud-like diffused color effects. I much prefer to use the tinted whites: the more glaring laundry- whites are dazzling and seldom restful.

To counteract their potentially eye-catching properties, white flowers are best matched with pastel tints and grey, and silver-leaved foliage, gentle color values that blend with the whiteness to make gradations of—tones, rather than being juxtaposed with dark or bright foliage which emphasizes the strong contrast. For more contrived schemes, the arresting quality of blocks of white flowers may be deliberately exploited to make architectural points, most effectively as repeats along the edge or centre of a border scheme.

White flowers become luminous at dusk and even glow through the night, and so are perfect for beds that may be viewed only at the end of the day. With white- variegated foliage, they will lighten a shady corner.

Neighboring colors retain their truest appearance when placed beside white flowers, and are optically deepened and enriched, so whites can be used to separate colors that might otherwise clash. Tinted whites do this more gently. The 'white' of the white flowers becomes tinted with the complementary color of its neighbor. Cream flowers seem perfect companions for all garden flowers. They set off blues, soften harsher yellows, oranges and reds, and are -cool and restful.

 

Achieving The Natural Look Of Garden

Stalwart companions

A handful of good perennials provide long-term underpinning in border schemes, partnering a series of less enduring plant stars. Leathery-leaved bergenias with creeping rhizomes flower as winter turns to spring. Most are an undistinguished purplish-pink, but B. `Silberliche bears white flowers tinged with pink as they age. Mainly evergreen, with the leaves of some forms suffused with purple tones after frost, bergenias give good winter ground cover and may be planted in drifts or even as edging, formally setting off neighboring flower groups of hellebores, Brunnera macrophylla, perennial or biennial honesties and overhead canopies of flowering cherries. Gertrude Jekyll Used bergenias in many of her planting schemes. In the Great Plat at Hestercombe, B. x schmidtii lines flower beds set in the mown grass where roses, lilies and delphiniums flower later in the season. For early-autumn effects Miss Jekyll allowed Aster divaricatus with starry white daisy-flowers on floppy black stems to cascade over bergenias along the edge of a north-facing bed.

Many perennials grown for -beautiful flowers contribute foliage interest over a much longer period. The grass-like leaves of day-lilies make a good foil to neighboring plants: those of the old favorite Hemerocallis fulva 'Fiore Pleno' emerge golden-yellow in spring. Such leaf colors look wonderful against sweeps of blue-flowered bulbs or forget-me-nots. Earliest to flower is H. hlio-asphodelus (until recently more familiar as H. flava) with clear yellow flowers: although each flower lasts only a day, a succession of blooms ensures a long flowering period. Mid- to late-summer species and cultivars produce coarser leaves and lemon-yellow, bronze or orange flowers, which are attractive with neighboring blues or more startling in 'hot' red and yellow schemes.

Herbaceous peonies flower at the same time as the first roses, to give a border early summer color and interest, and also look good under the skirts of gracefully arching deciduous shrubs. Both the old-fashioned Paeonia officinalis, with its blowzy heads of cottage- garden luxuriance, and the more aristocratic P. lactiflora hybrids have valuable foliage that remains decorative — especially if sprayed at intervals against botrytis — through the summer months.

Some of the hardy cranesbill geraniums are more suitable for massing, but the less vigorous associate well with shrub roses and may be planted to make front-of border drifts in sun and shade. Cutting back after early flowering produces new leafy growth that remains attractive all summer and sometimes colors with the first frosts. Geranium renardii has gray-green leaves and white flowers veined appealingly with streaks of maroon. Revelling in full sun, it contrasts with the more architectural leaves of irises. G. x magnificum has deeply cut hairy green leaves, which tint red in autumn, and violet-blue flowers. It grows well under the arching branches of the pale yellow Rosa Triihlingsgold' and around the base of some of the fan- shaped Hybrid Musks such as pale pink R. 'Penelope' or subtle apricot-tinged R. 'Buff Beauty'. The taller more upright Geranium psilostemon also has leaves that color, but we grow it for its glorious black-center magenta flowers, which glow next to silvery-leaved artemisias or tower above neighboring frothy- flowered alchemillas.

Both their light green leaves and their feathery lime- yellow flower-sprays make alchemillas indispensable as low-profile companion plants over a long season. They perform at the same time as pink- or red-flowered heucheras and heucherellas, creating garden pictures when combined with tall glaucous-leaved Thalictrum flavum glaucum with fluffy yellow plumes, and groups of blue-flowered delphiniums. Sedums also furnish sunny front-of-border situations with handsome gray-green foliage and have flower-heads composed of a myriad small stars, which are much beloved by butterflies. They look attractive when bronzed by frosts in winter. Above decorative fleshy leaves, the stiff stems of Sedum `Herbstfreude' hold large pink flower-heads which later turn coppery-red.

The Palette Of Flowering Plants

The Attraction Of Flowers

The stamens — the male organs consisting of filaments topped with pollen-carrying anthers — are also often decorative features. In winter-flowering shrubs such as hamamelis, winter sweet (Chimonanthus praecox) and sarcococcas the flowers are little more than bundles of scented stamens, less susceptible than soft petals to frost and rain damage. Australian trees -and shrubs including acacias and callistemons also have flowers in which stamens are most prominent.

Stamens are modified into petals in some plants, resulting in 'double' flowers. These are less likely to produce fertile seed; in the wild they would not reproduce, and in the garden they generally have to be propagated from vegetative cuttings. (For the gardener this is a mixed blessing. A double-flowered Rugosa rose is less likely than a single one to produce the autumn bonus of attractive hips; on the other hand double flowers usually last many more days than single ones, since they are not hurrying to form seed.)

In other flowers it is the female organs that have evolved into a particularly decorative form. In the bearded iris, for example, the true petals are the three 'falls' and the three 'standards Each of the three innermost 'petals', however, is actually a female style modified into A flattened petal-like form, with the frill);'crest'- arching outwards to, protect its fertile stigmatic surface.

Bracts are a form of modified leaf at the base of a flower stalk or on the stem of a cluster of flowers. When the bracts are bright and decorative they are generally grouped around clusters of very small flowers that have no petals. The pocket handkerchief tree (forms of davidia), all euphorbias (including the exotic-looking poinsettia) and many dogwoods as well as the tropical bougainvilleas have sterile bracts instead of petals. The small flowers are fertile, but the sterile bracts provide an insect- or bird-attracting display. With lace-cap hydrangeas what are loosely identified as decorative flowers are in fact large flattened corymbs of fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of more conspicuous infertile ray florets. In the familiar mop-headed hortensia hydrangeas all the florets are sterile.

The 'flower' of members of the arum family is really a showy bract or spathe, with an interesting role in the pollination mechanism.- The actual flowers Are enfolded in, the swollen base of the spathe, clustered around the central spadix, the lower female ones maturing earlier than the male ones higher up. The spathe's inner surface is lined with minute downward: slanting hairs: these trap flies that have crawled or fallen in, lured by the nectar, for long enough to fertilize the receptive females with pollen brought from a previously visited flower. Gradually the hair wither and allow the flies to crawl upwards and escape — on their way passing the now-mature male towers, and so becoming dusted with the pollen, which they may transport to a new flower.

In some species coloring and patterning such as spots or lines, as in horse chestnut, mimulus and eye- bright, are designed to provide insects with a route to the nectar. Not all these signals are perceived by the human eye. Bees, wasps, beetles and birds have slightly different vision. Bees, for instance, perceive short wavelengths of light in the ultraviolet range invisible to humans (stamens are often 'lit up' in this way) but cannot distinguish longer-wavelength reds. Birds possess excellent color awareness, though they lack a sense of smell. Despite their poor sight, beetles can locate large white plants and strong scents.

Having achieved their role in attracting a pollinator, petals normally .start to wither, but some, such as those on double flowers, being sterile are not transformed by fertilization. Those flowers with fragile petals are very transient: rock roses and cistus, day- lilies and giant water lilies last only for a day, while morning glory flowers shrivel by afternoon. Many flowers that open at specific times perform only for their pollinators: marvel of Peru is called the four o'clock plant for this reason. Most of these plants produce a succession of short-lived flowers, and this quality assures them a place in the garden.

Some of the longer-lasting flowers change appearance dramatically during the flowering period. Buds about to open are often very different in color from open petals; fading blossoms are tinged with a new range of tones. Some flowers actually change color once effectively pollinated, usually becoming less rich and vivid as the need to attract pasns; leaves also, especially those of crisp grey or silver plants, fade after the flowers have been fertilized.

Choosing Stunning Colour Combinations For Your Garden

Spring top 5

1. Akebia quinata Few climbers provide such fresh-looking foliage so early in the season, and the vivid green makes a lovely backdrop to dark purple-red blooms. Shelter is needed to avoid late frosts doing their worst.

2. Berberis thunbergii 'Red Chief' Startlingly deep-colored leaves can be used to make a striking contrast to numerous spring bulbs, particularly as the arching branches are excellent for showing off the tall stems of daffodils and tulips.

3. Crocus Many of these easy spring beauties have globes of gleaming, rich purple flowers.

4. Sambucus nigra 'Black Beauty' The dark purple leaves of this elder look lovely with a skirt of pale spring bulbs beneath. Later, clusters of pinky purple flowers create a self- contained harmony.

5. Viola riviniana Purpurea Group Color contrasts can work right down to the smallest plant, and little clumps of the purple- leaved violet will thrive almost anywhere, even in dry shade.

Purple and lime green

Alchemilla mollis An easy plant for ground cover and edging. Its scallop-edged lime-green leaves look handsome in their own right and in early summer the plant erupts into a froth of lime-yellow flowers.

Helleborus foetidus Despite its name, this evergreen hellebore does not stink! Its long- lasting pale green bells open early in spring, and each has the thinnest rim of purple, which will provide a subtle tie to red or purple neighbours.

Milium effusum 'Aureum' Bowles' golden grass, a broad-leaved grass that's easy to grow and easy to place. Its color lasts all year, clear sunny yellow in good light or more limy in deeper shade.

Purple and blue

Ajuga reptans Easy and excellent ground cover with spires of blue flowers above a carpet of glossy foliage. Grow the purple- leaved 'Atropurpurea' to intensify this color partnership even further.

Brunnera macrophylla The deep blue perennial forget-me-not is happy in shade, so grow it beneath purple-leaved shrubs where its blooms twinkle through the dark foliage.

Scilla sibirica Heavenly deep blue flowers pop up as if from nowhere from this little spring bulb. Scatter it in a whole carpet - once you've grown ten, think what a hundred or two hundred would look like.

Tips Of Growing Healthy Flowers

Harmonies

To build up a harmonious planting combination, begin by choosing a key color on which to base the scheme. Decide on whether you want a hot, vibrant color such as red, orange or yellow, or a cool, calming one like blue or green. Then, choose from the adjacent colors on the color wheel. Weave through greens and neutrals to make up a beautifully balanced scheme. The following examples are based around the three principal or primary colors, though there can be endless variations on color harmonies. Subtle and restful, blue works well in many combinations and there is a plentiful range of plants to choose from. As buffer colors, choose silver-green and blue-green foliage plants which pick out the tones in the flowers, as well as plenty of plain green leaves.

• Blue, mauve and purple make a delightful mix of cool summer color. Try the drumstick heads of the decorative onion Allium 'Purple Sensation' with Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' and the perennial wallflower Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'.

•Shades of blue along with silver and grey foliage create a very soft and laid-back planting. Try a blue-green hosta such as 'Halcyon' with the ornamental grass Elymus arenarius and blue primulas or the deep azure Veronica peduncularis 'Georgia Blue'.

•Pink and blue in soft shades is a classic combination. Try catmint (Nepeta x faassenii) with Lavatera x clementii 'Blushing Bride'

•Strong pinks and blues look much warmer and eye-catching. Try Anchusa 'Loddon Royalist' with a deep pink rose such as 'Gertrude Jekyll'.

Harmonies with yellow

The sunny associations of yellow make it a popular choice for color schemes. As a buffer, weave through plenty of light to mid- green foliage but avoid dark evergreens that would give a rather sombre touch.

•Pale yellow makes a glowing harmony with soft peach and apricot. Try Anthemis tin ctoria 'E.C. Buxton' with one of the many peach- coloured roses, such as 'Sweet Dream'.

•Bright yellow with orange and lime-green combine in a lively and upbeat harmony. Try yellow argyranthemums (marguerites) with the lime-tasselled Amaranthus caudatus and orange gazanias.

•Combine yellow flowers with golden or green-and-gold leaves for a warm and sunny planting. Try Coreopsis grandiflora 'Calypso' with the shrubby honeysuckle Lonicera nitida 'Lemon Beauty'.

Harmonies with red

Hot and lively harmonies create high drama in the garden. Green foliage plays an immensely important role in a hot harmony by acting as a buffer among so many brightly colored flowers, while yellow-green foliage introduces a lighter note.

•Dark reds marry well with purple or maroon, although it is best to restrict this powerful combination to a small scale to avoid too sombre a look. Try the chocolate plant, Cosmos'atrosanguineus, with Sedum 'Purple Emperor'.

•Dusky purple leaves look wonderful with red if used in moderation, although gloomy in excess amounts. Try Physocarpus opulifolius 'Diabolo' as a backdrop for red dahlias.

•Clear red and bright orange positively sing with warmth and life. Try partnering orange lilies with bright red Crocosmia 'Lucifer'.