5 great garden plants with large flowers

 

There are few things as gratifying as admiring a huge, beautiful flower in your garden. Flowers bring colour, life, and beauty to any garden, and it’s always exciting to see them bloom.

If you’re looking to add some flowers with serious impact to your garden, look no further than these five varieties. From towering sunflowers to huge roses, these flowers will definitely make a statement.

Giant Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

As its name suggests, the giant sunflower is an incredibly large variety of sunflower. These flowers can grow up to 12 feet tall and produce blooms that are over a foot in diameter.

If you have the space to accommodate them, giant sunflowers are a bold addition to any garden. They’re also relatively easy to grow, making them a great choice for gardeners of all levels of experience.

Tree Mallow (Lavatera arborea)

Tree mallows are a type of hibiscus, and they’re known for their huge, showy flowers. These flowers can reach up to 8 inches in diameter and come in a variety of colors, including pink, purple, and white.

Tree mallows are fast-growing plants that are relatively easy to care for. They’re also drought-tolerant, which makes them a good choice for gardens in dry climates or where watering the garden often, is not practical.

Giant Allium (Allium giganteum)

Giant alliums are a type of ornamental onion that produces huge, globe-shaped flowers. These flowers can reach up to 12 inches in diameter and are typically a deep purple colour.

Giant alliums are relatively easy to grow and make a dramatic statement in any garden. They’re also deer-resistant, which is a bonus if you live in an area with a lot of deer.

Giant white arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

Giant white arum lilies are a type of calla lily that produces large, white flowers. These flowers can reach up to 12 inches in diameter and have a beautiful, trumpet-shaped bloom.

Giant white arum lilies are relatively easy to grow and make a beautiful addition to any garden. They’re also deer-resistant, making them a good plant if you live in an area with a lot of deer.

Giant rose (Rosa gigantea)

Giant roses are a type of rose that produces large, showy flowers. These flowers can reach up to 12 inches in diameter and come in a variety of colours, including pink, red, and white.

Giant roses are relatively easy to grow and add beauty and colour to any garden. They’re also deer-resistant.

Images:

Creative commons;

1st image - Giant white arum lily / Joaquim Alves Gaspar  - Wikimedia

2nd image from the top - Tree mallow / Jean Tosti - Wikimedia

First published. 29th December, 2022

6 Native British Trees for Small and Medium Sized Gardens

Here are six trees that are native to the British Isles that are suitable for small and average sized British gardens. As well as being great for wildlife, they will also look beautiful as they mature. When you think of native British trees, you might think of trees that grow huge, such as Ash, Beech and Oaks, but as you will see in the video below, there are certain trees that aren't so big, and can also be pruned to ensure they don't block paths etc. Help turn your street into a mini woodland, by planting one in your garden. Imagine if every house in your street planted one in their front garden!

Buy a Holly tree (Ilex Aquifolium) from Thompson and Morgan HERE

English countryside mid August.

 

English countryside late summer.

Stone owl garden ornament

 

During the day the owl turns to stone. At night it comes to life and flies over the fields and woodland. At sunrise it lands back on the wall and turns to stone again.

Giant Sequoias in Britain

 

Interesting fact. In 2024, a study found that there is more redwoods growing in Britain, where they were only introduced in 1853, than in their native range of the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. It estimated that there is 500,000 Giant Sequoias and Coastal Redwoods growing in Britain, compared to 80,000 trees in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The big difference is that the trees in the USA are much older and larger than the British Redwoods, which are all less than 200 years old. However, as you can see from the photo, despite their youth, compared to the ancient American giants, they are already very large trees.

Climbing roses

 

A beautiful addition to any garden. Grow up house walls, fences, garden walls, and train on rose arches, over garden paths and front garden entrance gates.

Buy Climbing roses (various types) from Thompson and Morgan HERE

First published. 27th June, 2022

10 roses for a Victorian rose garden

If you live in a Victorian terrace or larger Victorian home and are looking for garden ideas, why not create your own beautiful Victorian rose garden, border, or even just a few pots on a balcony or steps, using roses that were popular during the Victorian era. Many of the modern rose cultivars have only been developed in recent decades. The roses below are old roses, that were all either already in existence when the Victorian era began, or were bred during the 19th century.

1. Duchess de Brabant Rose - This rose is a beautiful shade of light pink and has a delicate fragrance. It was first introduced in 1857 and is considered a classic Victorian rose.

2. Madame Isaac Pereire Rose - A deep shade of pink, this rose has a strong, spicy fragrance that was favoured by the Victorians. It was introduced in 1881 and is still a popular choice for gardeners today.

3. Alba Maxima Rose - One of the oldest roses still in cultivation, the Alba Maxima has pure white flowers with a subtle fragrance. It is a vigorous grower and is often used for hedging.

4. Mme. Plantier Rose - This rose is a pure white and has a sweet fragrance. It was introduced in 1835 and is still popular in gardens today for its hardiness and long blooming season.

5. Mrs. John Laing Rose - A deep pink rose with a strong fragrance, the Mrs. John Laing was introduced in 1887. It has large, full blooms and a long blooming season.

6. Souvenir de la Malmaison Rose - A pale pink rose with a strong fragrance, the Souvenir de la Malmaison was introduced in 1843. It has large, full blooms and is named after the Château de Malmaison, the home of Napoleon Bonaparte's wife, Josephine.

7. Charles de Mills Rose - A dark red rose with a strong fragrance, the Charles de Mills was introduced in 1790 and is one of the oldest known red roses. It is a vigorous grower and is popular in cottage gardens.

8. Baroness Rothschild Rose - This rose is a pale pink with a strong fragrance and was introduced in 1867. It has large, full flowers and is named after the famous Rothschild banking family.

9. Comte de Chambord Rose - A pale pink rose with a strong fragrance, the Comte de Chambord was introduced in 1860. It has large, full blooms and is a good choice for use in floral vase arrangements.

10. Zephirine Drouhin Rose - This rose is a deep pink colour and has a strong fragrance. It was introduced in 1868 and is known for its thornless stems, making it a popular choice for use in gardens and for cutting for bouquets.

 First published - 4th August, 2023

IMAGE

Creative commons

Rose Zephirine Drouhin - WIKI / T.Kiya