The Arboretum Trust

Kew at Castle Howard

Planting around the new pond

 
     
21/4/2010
17/6/2010
20/8/2010

The soil around the pond is mostly heavy clay which can be challenging to garden as it becomes water-logged during the winter months and in the drier summer months can harden to an impenetrable concrete-like consistency.
The plants chosen for the pond garden have to be able to put up with such difficult conditions as well as putting on a good show of summer and early autumn colour. 

Here are details of some of the plants used:

<<<<<<----- Ligularia ‘Desdemona’
A very striking large purple leaved perennial.  Flowers in late summer with tall golden daisy-like heads, held high above the foliage.  An architectural clump-forming plant, easy to grow and un-demanding once established.

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Crocosmia ‘Solfatare’ ----->>>>>>
Arching spikes of apricot yellow flowers in August and September.  Smokey bronze leaves form a delicate contrast.  A well-behaved, clump forming plant, without the rampant tendencies of its orange cousin the montbretia
 

 

 

<<<<<<----- Iris ‘Black Gamecock’
Superb dark blue flowers in late summer.  An easy marginal plant, which is happy with its feet in the water.

 

Lythrum salicaria ‘Robert’ ----->>>>>>
A cultivated version of a native perennial.  Bold pink flowers in late summer and autumn followed by great autumn foliage.  A good bee plant.

     

<<<<<<----- Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’
A clump forming perennial with a long flowering period.

Aruncus aethusifolius ----->>>>>>
Dwarf Korean Goat’s Beard.  Small clump forming plant with finely cut leaves and attractive spires of creamy-white flowers in summer.

 

 

 

 

 

<<<<<<----- Miscanthus sinensis
A bold clump forming grass with handsome foliage.  Silver flower spikes appear at the end of summer and persist throughout winter, giving it good architectural appeal.  Much loved for its seed heads by Goldfinches.

 

Lysichiton americanus ----->>>>>>
Yellow Skunk Cabbage.  So named for it’s evil smelling leaves!  Beautiful buttercup yellow spathe-type flowers in early spring.