Choosing a list of frequently overlooked plants was a significant challenge! There are so many to choose from, and where to start? A shortlist was devised and writing began. There are five different plants here which I think should be planted and enjoyed far more often than they are. As it is early spring, I seem to have chosen spring plants but perhaps that means later in the year I can add to the list!
Mahonia media ‘Charity’
This hardy evergreen shrub needs little care and is often planted at the back of a border to use the prickly leaves to keep intruders at bay. The holly like leaves are spiny. The flowers, a gorgeous cluster of bright yellow scented flowers which come out between December – March and then are followed by juicy looking black berries. Early flying bumble bees enjoy the pollination opportunities and humans can love the gentle scent! Mahonia shrubs enjoy moist well drained soils and will tolerate both full sun as well as deep shade but are happiest in partial shade. They can reach 3 metres high although there are also low spreading varieties. They are hardy to minus 15C and can be described as ‘low care’. They work well with winter flowering jasmine as they flower at the same time and are the same yellow colour.
Hellebore argutifolius corsicus
One of my absolute favourite hellebores, although there are plenty of others on the list. This plant was reputedly one of Beth Chatto’s favourite plants. This is also known as the holly leaved hellebore which you can see from the image, why it is named as such. The plant is evergreen and puts it’s cluster of flowers at 60cm from January until May, flowering for a long period. The flowers are apple green cups and the stems are a delightful contrasting red/ pink. This hellebore likes moist soils in full sun or partial shade. The seedheads are pretty and can supply plenty of seed which should be sown when it is ripe in mid-summer and grown on in a cold frame or equivalent.
Erythronium californicum or the dog toothed violet
These delicate early spring flowers look exotic and if grown where they are happy spread slowly and delightfully. They are easy to grow and have mostly yellow, white or slightly pink flowers which are star shaped with swept back petals. They are woodland plants, so growing them under deciduous shrubs is their perfect environment. They like moist but well drained soil with plenty of humus or leaf mould which can be added at planting initially and as a regular spring mulch. They are perennial and one waits with bated breath for the leaves which emerge in February and flowers follow in spring. Pagoda and White Beauty are the most common varieties. They are not always commonly available and should be purchased from specialist nurseries and planted in the late summer or early autumn.
This marvellous display is at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens and show Erythronium Pagoda in style
https://www.jparkers.co.uk/ and https://www.pottertons.co.uk/ and https://www.avonbulbs.co.uk/
all list erythroniums for sale and are reliable sources.
Camassia leichtlinii
These lovely blue flowers are often used in schemes at The Chelsea Fower Show at the end of May -they have been in flower for two or three weeks by then. There are both Blue and White varieties, single and double of each, and the image was taken at East Ruston old Vicarage, Norfolk where they are grown as a naturalised meadow plant with the late Narcissus Pheasant’s Eye.
They like to be planted in sun or part shade and if planting anew, they should be planted at 12-15 cm deep, and preferably not in pots. They like their roots to be moist, so pots are generally too dry for them. They are happy in heavy clay soils which is useful, as many plants do not like these conditions. Once they are planted, they need little care. Let the foliage die down after flowering. If division is required, do this after flowering in summer.
Syringa Pubescens subsp microphyla superba
This is a dwarf bushy deciduous lilac with a delicious scent. It grows to 1.5 m. It blooms on loose panicles of scented rose pink flowers in late spring to early summer and may give a later second flowering in late summer. The shrub is happiest in moist but well drained soils in full sun at any aspect. It is fully hardy and is easy to grow. It is a mystery as to why it is not more popular, as the scent is fantastic, and it goes on flowering for weeks.
There is a huge range of plants which might fit into the category of overlooked or underrated ones. Possibly the secret to finding more of them is to explore garden centres and plant nurseries, looking of different varieties at different times of the year. When you go looking, ensure you have the space where the plant is to go identified, so you know how tall it should be as well as the shade or sunlight available. The plant labels add some information for you and the nurserymen are an added layer of potential knowledge – always happy to answer questions. Good luck with your searching.
If you’re keen to be inspired with plants check out our monthly Top 5 plants written by Sarah on our Instagram account