Three years ago we came across a short variety of Aruncus named Aethusifolius

Aruncus! previously my first thought would turn to the Aruncus Dioicus (goatsbeard) flowering plant which we had in the garden a few years ago.  Dioicus is a tall plant growing to a height of 6ft with elegant creamy white plumes in June.

Lets forget about that one for the time being. Three years ago we came across a short variety, Aruncus Aethusfolius, what a little gem it has turned out to be. Terrific at the front of the border in a semi shaded position. The green finely cut fern like leaves are in themselves very ornamental, and the charming white panicles of flowers in June/July make it a very worthwhile garden perennial.

We have a couple of these plants in our back garden and more recently added two of them to the back border of the front garden. This area is almost fully north facing, well the sun doesn’t get to the border until early afternoon. The Aruncus is thriving in this position.

Aruncus Aethusifolius at either side of the Aucuba Variegata, the Aucuba of course will have to be kept in check.

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Truly a plant for Spring, Summer and Autumn.  See how good it looks in the third week of September.

Height – 35cm/13″

Position – full sun to full shade

Hardiness – fully hardy perennial

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We so often hear how we should plant perennials in drifts, or at least have three of the same plant to make an impact. Well, we have tried this in the past, problem is, we have always wanted so many different types of plants we found our garden just wasn’t large enough to accommodate such mass planting.

Can the garden still look good even if your borders are a bit of a hotchpotch regarding planting? Well, what we have done in the main borders of our back garden is……  In the front area of the main border which is about 15ft in depth in total, we have created a bit of formality. We have three evergreen trees Taxus Baccata Robusta which looks good all year round, we also have two Taxus Yew balls which adds to the formality. Slightly further forward there are three brown grasses (Carex Buchananii) which don’t necessarily look so good on their own, but surrounded with other plants do indeed look quite pleasing, almost like waterless fountains. Add to this two flower carpet Amber Roses, and at the very front of the border a row of annual planting, I think you may agree this touch of formality seems to hold it together in such a way that makes it pleasingly acceptable.

The border running up the path in the back garden also has formality with the planting of Box topiary.

The two pictures above of the main area of our back garden, just to give an idea of what I am talking about, and the one below showing part of the east facing border.

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