This beautiful deciduous shrub Ceratostigma Willmottianum with cobalt blue flowers from late July till the end of September is one of those plants when once seen you just must have.
The variety is fully hardy down to minus 15 degrees Celsius, the colder winters in the north east can damage top growth, however new growth will emerge from the base in mid Spring. Willmottianum named by the great plant collector E H Wilson after Miss Ellen Ann Willmott a celebrated English gardener (1860-1934)
The shrub has an open branched habit and slender bristly mid green stems, the purple margined leaves are mid to dark green turning red in Autumn.This is one of those irritating shrubs, which does in fact survive in our Aberdeen garden. Problem is it takes so long to get going after the Winter, the plant just does not have the time to develop to the flowering stage. I did leave it in the same sunny position for a couple of years before giving up on it.
However I potted it up using John Innes compost, ensuring good drainage.I over Wintered the plant in the unheated greenhouse. where the growth started much earlier, and by the time I placed the plant in a sunny position at the beginning of May whilst still in its pot, the growth was lush. The plant flowered beautifully from the first week of August through till mid October. I will now not be without this little beauty of which the jury is out as to whether it is in fact a shrub or a perennial. For me, its a shrub!
Hardiness – Fully hardy
Soil – Any well drained fertile soil
Position – Full sun
Height – 90cm/3ft
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Whats in the garden today Thursday 7th April.
Ribes Sanguineum White Icicle. I look forward to this shrub starting to develop the flowering buds at the end of February each year.
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The Daffodil Jetfire brightens up the border on the 31st March. The soft green leaves of the Alchemilla Mollis in early Summer will give a very pleasing effect alongside other perennials and a few annuals.
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The Erythronium Lilac Wonder, a very pretty addition to the woodland area, planted last Spring. Flowering on the 1st of April this year, it has opened earlier than the yellow variety Pagoda. However Pagoda does strike me as being more robust and I suspect has a longer flowering period.
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Here the very bright and attractive Heather, Erica Carnea Rosantha only planted last Autumn, looks like it will be a very welcome addition to the Heather bed.
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Mahonia Japonica, A welcome sight in the woodland on the 1st of April. Flowers are said to have the fragrance of Lily of the valley.
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The common Ribes Sanguineum with its pale pink flowers always gives a delightful show in late March through till the end of April. The embankment which we now call our woodland area had quite a few of this particular shrub when we moved in twenty six years ago.
Apparently they had been planted 15 years before we moved in, making them over 40 years old now. They had become very woody and a few died of naturally, this is the last one standing.
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The early Spring garden just has to have at least a few Hellebores.
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Polyanthus catching the Spring sunshine in the front garden.
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Every year without fail we plant tulips in tubs. I really like this one, but as always with Tulips and Daffodils for that matter I never take note of their names.
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© 2011, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Thanks Alistair :
(1) I was looking for blue flowering plants.
(2) White icicles, I like the plant and the name. Looks like you have pink icicles too.
(3) Stunning lilac colour.
(4) People take heather for granted, but I think they are really beautiful
, especially close-up.
(5) I’ve got a Mahonia too, but I didn’t know it’s name until today.
(6) My hellebores are dying away now, good to see yours are still perky.
(7) You would never think orange and pink would go together, but it suits your polyanthus.
(8) Good idea to put tulips in tubs, saves you digging them up by accident in the borders.
Sorry – I didn’t mention the daffodils ….
b-a-g recently posted..Japanese Blossoms 04 APR 2011
Hi b-a-g, pity about your Hellebores. If you are ever looking for advice Carolyn at carolynsshadegarden is an expert on Hellebores.
Hi Alistair
As always your garden is an inspiration to me – I have to comment on your Tulips in the tub – absolutely beautiful and it helped me decide on where I’m putting my tulip bulbs next month! Your Daffodil Jetfire look gorgeous with the Alchemilla Mollis and your Hellebores – wellthey are just lovely! What a joy it is to “explore” your garden, albeit it digitally
. Thanks for the inspiration!
Christine @ The Gardening Blog recently posted..Eye-Candy provided by Vireya Rhododendrons
Hi Christine, thanks for your kind comments, I find this this on line thing which we do very surreal yet enjoyable.
So many lovely plants, most of which probably aren’t hardy here… great pictures you’ve shared! Spring has finally hit here and 80 degrees this p.m. with threats of severe weather including possible hail and tornado risks, followed by 60 degrees for the next week. Spent about eight hours gardening yesterday and loved every moment although my shoulder doesn’t necessarily agree! Larry
Larry recently posted..Spring may be slow but there are a few welcome blooms
Hi Larry glad to see Spring has arrived in Wisconsin. Tornado! batten down the hatches and don’t over do it with that shoulder of yours.
You have so many beautiful blooms in your garden. I love that cobalt blue flowers of Ceratostigma Willmottianum…thats a mouthful!
p3chandan recently posted..Todays flowers – Red- Yellow and White
P3 chandan, it is indeed a mouthful, I have to take care with the spelling.
I do love the cobalt blue color and any flower having that is welcome in my garden.
Donna recently posted..Nesting Canada Geese
Yes Donna the colour is memorable unlike the name as suggested by p3 chandan.
Pretty images, and I am really taken with your blue shrub! “Once seen you just must have” – Bingo! I’m really going through a ‘blue’ stage this year in my garden! Thanks for highlighting this plant.
We all seem to have a thing about blue plants Holley.
I rarely note the names of the daffs and tulips either…I plant them for their color and early beauty so to me it does not matter their name…love the shrub and the blue flower is gorgeous….
Donna recently posted..Garden Journal-As April Begins
Yes Donna, I think most of us are the same with these bulbs.
You have some beautiful things happening in your garden right now Alisatair! I love the dark stems on the Ceratostigma, wonderful contrast to the flowers. My mahonia is a winter flowering one, but if I had room I would add one like yours in too, so wonderfully architectural and the flowers are beautiful. Great photo too! BTW, I keep losing my email subscription to your blog – one of the reasons I’ve not been by in a while, as it isn’t on my google list as a “no email subscription” blog… Am going to try again, I seem to have missed lots of interesting stuff…
Janet/Plantaliscious recently posted..Living Betwixt and Between
Thanks Janet, I think my subscription thing works now.
Funny, when I saw your first picture, I thought, like you, that I have to have it:). I am glad it is doing well for you after all the trouble you have taken.
You have so many beautiful plants in your garden. Your woodland area looks wonderful, thank you for showing all the beauty.
Masha recently posted..On the Cusp
Thanks Masha, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you, your comment went in my spam. I will Have to check it out.
Fantastic spring shots Alistair, lovely to see what’s in bloom in your garden!
Mahonias are such underrated plants. Maybe because it is widely available here but they do perform well and are very reliable, not to mention good looking plants!
Mark and Gaz recently posted..The Devon Inside
Thanks guys, I like to take advantage of plants that perform well, common or not.
Your Erythronium looks very nice, similar to E dens-canis. I’d say that E oregonum is nicer than E ‘Pagoda’, which is more commonly offered in Seattle, too. I’d send you some bulbs, if I thought it were legal.
Thanks Jordan, I fully agree with your opinion
You’re right about that Ceratostigma – so slow here and by the time it flowers it’s nearly winter! Oh just look at your icicle Ribes – mine is getting dug out today as it died over the winter and my 8 foot Mahonia got chopped down last weekend as the last 2 winters have now just about killed it. I love that pink epimedium……….. I must look out for that as I have little room in my garden now except for choice plants like those and trilliums……….. I would like some of those! have you any Alistair?
Lost your ribes Rosie that is a pity, they are generally so hardy , I also get mixed up at times with the Epimediums and the Erythroniums, the Lilac one which is on my post is an Erythronium. We also like the Trilliums, the Grandiflorum is in full bloom at the moment, we also have a red one and a white double which I will show when they come in to flower. Thanks for the visit, I always appreciate your comments.