Saxifraga x urbium (London Pride)
London Pride, I didn’t buy it or plant it, the truth is, it was (handed down to me)
Performance in our garden
In all the years we spent in Aberdeen, we never did have London Pride in the garden. Surprisingly, as it is one of the first garden plants which I can recall.
Between the age of about seven and ten I was always fascinated with my grandparents garden. The front garden was well planted up with HT Roses which my grandfather spent a lot of time tending. Round the back was a good size patch reached by going down a small flight of steps. First thing you came across was the old Rowan Tree to the left with an equally old garden bench underneath it.
Then you would come to the lawn which grandma used as her clothes drying area. The real garden lay ahead, to the right of the gravel path they had the vegetables and fruit, all in neat rows, and to the left, were the flowers also planted in rows, as or as may not have been the habit in the early fifty’s.
Well, anyway I cant remember the names of the flowers, many of them were colourful, one day whilst in the garden with grandma, I enquired as to the name of the plant which filled one of these rows, (London Pride) she told me.
She asked me if I liked it, not really I said, I guess I couldn’t see the point of this plant as everything else seemed so large and colourful. What I do know is it stuck in my head and was one of the few plants which I could name until I reached my twenties.
Here we are, now living in Cheshire and one of the handed down to me plants is (London Pride) which today I discovered was named Saxifraga x Urbium.
In the front garden it is planted at the back of both sides of the curved bed.
Guess what, I like it, looks very healthy, flowering well and evergreen, and it is here for good.
Plant information
The small frothy panicles of pale pink single blooms are carried on slender stems reaching a height of about 30cm/12 inches above ground Evergreen rosettes of glossy foliage are an added attraction.
The flowers started to open in early May and now on the 7th of June are still looking good but reaching the end of the flowering period.
Position and soil type
London Pride performs best in full sun and will tolerate light shade. Grows in any reasonable soil that is free draining. Having said that the soil in our garden is heavy and not all that free draining. However they are planted in a slightly raised border where the soil seems to have been improved.
mail order
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We have been here for six months now and its beginning to feel like we are finally getting settled in. The garden is starting to take shape although the interior of the house is still like a battle field. Here below is a little of what’s been going on
New paving slabs have been fitted to the paths at the front, and also patio areas in the back garden. The rickety old arch fell to bits, as was expected, and we put up this new sturdy metal one in its place. The white Clematis Montana on the right hand side had to be cut right back, however its making fresh growth and I expect it will benefit from this rejuvenation.
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My mini garden shed arrived flat pack a few weeks ago. Reasonably easy to assemble although I am not all that happy with my fitting of the doors.
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The main patio area is just outside the back door, this small seating area above, we have just finished feeking up, and I am very pleased with it. At the top of the garden it catches the sun for the best part of the day.
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The back garden has been receiving a lot of attention this past couple of weeks. We have reshaped the lawn, making the borders a fair bit wider. Loads of planting has been going on with many perennials, Roses, and shrubs. Not quite finished as yet but I am happy with the progress.
If you happen to leave a comment I will be sure to visit your site and do the same
© 2014 – 2015, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Spooky or what! London Pride is the first plant I can remember learning. It grew everywhere in a neighbours garden – it lined every single path. Although I never knew it’s proper name for a good while, there is no mistaking those Saxifrage flowers, is there?
Your garden is looking great Alistair. Did you bring all the topiary with you? Or have you been let loose with the shears. Not that it matters, either way, it adds real structure to those borders. Liking what you’ve achieved so far and the path and patio look ever so good.
Also glad to read that you are both now starting to settle in, it makes a heck of a difference doesn’t it?
Hi Angie, funny the things that stick in our minds. The big Lonicera at the top of the back garden was here, just been sort of shaping it up, the box balls came with us from Aberdeen.
I have a think for saxifrage. London’s Pride is so very pretty and has nice leaves too. The garden is looking really nice Alistair, you have done quite a bit of work in a short time. The new metal arch is beautiful.
Hi Patty, Myra has also been getting stuck into the garden. I must say, I am very pleased with the arch at the front garden.
Your back garden is looking so much better now. I love the shape of your lawn too. Your hostas are looking really healthy – do you have as many slugs down there? Mine are getting eaten to bits this year.
Hi Annette, there isn’t nearly as many slugs here, find that a bit strange.
Hi Alistair, six months and you’ve done so much already, it’s a big transformation. I can already see your tell-take immaculate style in the back garden with the clipped conifers/box, rich soil and razor sharp lawn edges.
Hi Sunil, the garden is taking shape quicker than the house is, well I guess that was always going to be the case.
Your garden looks lovely already Alistair, you have done a lot of work to it! Loved the story about how you remember London Pride, I have similar memories about the first flowers I can remember, being allowed to go around with my grandfather in his garden. I was the oldest of the grandchildren, and the only one ‘let lose’ in the garden, I was so proud to be allowed to ‘help’ him. As grown-ups, I am the only one of all of us 8 cousins that are interested in gardening 🙂
And it was irises for me, I remember deciding as a 5 year old that when I grew up, I wanted irises in my garden, just like my grandfather had!
Changing the subject completely, have you decided what to do with your Clematis armandii ? I think you mentioned in a previous post that you had one and it was starting to become unruly, and that a neighbour had mentioned it had never flowered, possibly been pruned every year, do I remember right, was that you?
You see, I have the same dilemma, after 2 ½ years in the ground, my Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ is a monster! I can’t possibly leave it to grow as it wants, and I have had to snip branches here and there, sacrificing flowers next spring. I am considering cutting it down completely every other year, so it will flower only every other year, hoping that would work – any experience?
Hi Helene, I think quite a few of us inherit our interest of gardening from grandparents. Clematis Armandii!! well! things were not as they seemed. There is actually two of these giants in the garden, one in the side path leading to the back garden. Anyway, in Winter we kept waiting to see if it would produce flower buds, however come Spring buds started to appear and they were clearly not Clematis, in fact turns out to be evergreen honeysuckle, duh! This will be the subject of my next post.
Glad things are coming together Alistair, your garden is looking well. The much maligned London Pride also reminds me of my childhood when it seemed to be everywhere and it also reminds me of privet hedges for some reason, maybe because it did seem to tolerate the conditions found adjacent to them. I still have some today but rarely see them as they have colonized an area between some shrubs and the front beech hedge but last time I saw them they were fine. Although I quite like them I don’t think I would buy one if I had not “inherited” them like yourself.
I dont suppose I would have gone out of my way to buy London Pride either Rick, but now that we have it I can kinda see why it was popular.
Oh Alistair now I can see your garden vision taking glorious shape. It looks magnificent, already! I see the lovely lady kneeling on the patio stretching into the welcme sun. It is 11C 52F here at midday shudder.
Diana, it is satisfying to see the garden taking shape, and the Summer weather is definitely kinder than that of the North East of Scotland. Hope you are not feeling too cold in 11c, I have a feeling that may be a little cooler than your normal Winter daytime temp.
Hi Alistair
I used to grow London Pride too. It’s been missing for some years and I’ve no idea where it went. To your garden perhaps. I love the name and its habits and I would be most happy to purchase another start of it– I must keep an eye out in nurseries. Your land is transforming at such a pace, I wonder if you are using magic. (I’ve always kind of suspected….) The stonework and also the metal archway are wonderful additions. Your widening of the beds which edge the lawn reminded me of me.
I am happy with the way the garden is coming along Linnie, you wouldn’t want to see indoors at the moment, not one job has gone smoothly.
Just this week I had a lovely conversation with a very elderly client about London Pride. Her front garden was covered in about 2 square metres of the plant & I was sitting among it removing the spent flowers. She was telling me about all the old plants that she just doesn’t see anymore, inc LP & I was thrilled to say I had all of them in my garden.
Bravo you on the big shout to the humble London Pride…worthy of a post of its own.
One of those plants which stir up memories Jane.
Alistair your garden is really coming together and looks just lovely. You must be so pleased.
I live in the northeast of the US and I am not familiar with your London Pride. But it seems to be a sweet shrub. And I love your story of it from your childhood.
Debra
Thank you for dropping by and leaving a comment Debra
your garden improvements look great Alistair, you have been working hard and it has all come together, I hope the inside will ‘come together’ soon too,
I find it a bit interesting that as a child you ask the name of a plant you don’t like rather than one you do like, your grandparents garden sounds a lovely place for childhood memories how wonderful, I never knew my grandparents as 3 died before I was born and my father refused to go back to south Wales to see his Mum, I hope your grandchildren will have as found memories of your garden too, Frances
I was a mixed up kid Frances, still have a leaning towards this affliction.
My maternal grandparents were no longer with us when I was born, an area that is filled with mystery. In fact something really strange happened only yesterday. I had never seen a picture of my mothers mum. A cousin of mine came across very old photographs after her mother had died recently, she came across a picture of my maternal grandmother taken in the late 1920s Fascinating to see.
I was very interested in reading your post as I have almost finished a post on London pride and some other saxifages. Here in Canada, I would say that London pride is uncommon (I have never seen it an in other gardens). Mine is the variegated form.
I also have good memories of my grand-parent’s garden (a vegetable garden). We would arrive there from a long trip and my parents and siblings would file into the house while I made a bee-line for the garden where I would make myself a sandwich (one carrot between two leaves of lettuce).
Your garden looks beautifully neat and well organized.
Thanks for dropping by Alan and leaving a comment I will look forward to dropping by and seeing how things are in your part of the world.
Alistair all I can say is wow…I love what you have done in the back with the lawn, beds and little patio and the side walk and arch. This plant, London Pride, is very unique and I love how it rises from the lovely foliage…I had never heard of this plant before but can see why you like it!!
Thanks Donna, its good to be making some progress.
My mother and grandmother grew London Pride, but I haven’t been able to find it here. It was never my favorite, either, but being away from England I feel differently about it. Your new garden is progressing beautifully, Alistair. P. x
I was never keen on Londons pride either and only really used it as a gap filler – after all if it survives up here it deserves a place in the garden, Then last year I took a reall look at those flowers and thought them the prettiest little things I had seen in a long long time. I love it now.
Loving the colour of your fenceing – is it Cuprinol?
Patio is looking fabulous too, such a relaxing place 🙂
Hi Linda
I dont know how often I have changed my mind regarding plants which I was once not so fond of.
I did use Cuprinol shades! (Wild Thyme)
Beautiful yard and gardens, love all your plants especially the hosta you have added! 🙂 I enjoyed visiting your site!
I posted today that I have Lemon Lime hosta for trade!
Michael
http://michaelswoodcraft.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/plant-exchange/
Hi Alistair, I saw your link on Helene’s blog and realized it has been way too long since I last paid your blog a visit. I see you have been really busy. Such a transformation you have made of your little back garden. Though you haven’t finished it already looks wonderful. Hopefully the house will come together soon.
Thanks for dropping by Jennifer. Everything is taking shape, struggling to find time for bloggtng at the moment.
Hi Alistair, I hope you are having a great summer. You have accomplished so much in your garden. Soon it will be just as lush and wonderful as your old one. I love the color of your new fencing and trellis! And your new patio area is completely charming. I hope you are finding time to use it! Best wishes, Deb
Hi Deb
Good to hear from you. The garden is now looking much more lush, time I got myself sorted out and started posting again. Summer has been great here in Cheshire, hope all is going well in your part of the world.