Coleus ‘Electric Lime’.


ground. In its native Australia, it will reach 20 feet tall. I cut it in the fall and take in the branches for a fresh smelling vase of green- ery. It may have been particularly happy due to the very warm weather, but it is worth planting again and it would be fun to over- winter if you have the room and the light.


Trailing pansy


Recently introduced have been the trail- ing pansies. They were happier than their more stay-in-place cousins during the heat of summer. But they also came back with a vengeance once the temperatures dropped, blooming even more madly than in spring- time. Very frost tolerant, this is a great plant for the cooler weather, rewarding the gar- dener at the hump ends of the season.


Wisteria I planted a Wisteria ‘Blue Moon’ this year


at great expense and while it put out about 15 feet of green growth, the proof will be in the winter pudding; it is zone 3 (some say zone 4). I will mulch it well this fall for insurance and hope for blooms next year. I say “hope” advisedly. It seems that this vine


Phlox ‘David’, always a winner.


can be temperamental, without putting out any flowers.


Carex Carex is a tender grass plant, but well


worth growing as an annual. I am in love with the Carex ‘Red Rooster’. There was only one in my garden, in an obscure pot at the bottom end of the pool, but it charmed me all summer. The leaves are very light and airy, curling beguilingly at the tops, and the rusty red colour is a nice relief from green without being too obvious


Coleus This year there was a lovely coleus, ‘Twist


and Twirl’. It impressed me with its splotch- es of red, green and gold – quite different from many other coleus. Coleus ‘Electric Lime’ was very well be- haved, It’s chartreuse leaves, lightly stroked with gold, adding a touch of light to a semi- shaded container and not going crazy like some of the lime-coloured coleus do.


Fleece Flower


It is only the first year for my Persicaria polymorpha or fleece-flower, which, if it sur-


Petunia ‘Purple Picotee’ was long blooming, aphid resistantant and needed no special attention.


Fleece flower, making its way into more gardens.


vives its ill treatment this year, will be a win- ner already. So far it is only one foot tall by one foot wide, but I hear it needs a second year to take hold. Once happy, I have seen it in its glory at six feet by six feet and then some. This amazing plant bears masses of creamy white plumes similar too, but much more prolific than, goatsbeard and the flow- ers last for months.


White ‘David’ Phlox Masses of long lasting white blooms cov-


ered the David phlox this year, while all the other phlox barely bloomed and lost their flowers early thanks to the hot dry conditions. ‘David’ was perennial of the year in 2002, a much deserved award. The clump after eight years has spread to three feet in diam- eter with no signs of centre dieback yet.


Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’


This year’s perennial plant of the year, Brun- nera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost”, is another win- ner with gorgeous silvery, heart-shaped foliage, highlighted with green veins. Deer and rabbits turn their noses up at this plant which makes a perfect companion for hostas and ferns.


The round leafed eucalyptus was very strong in 2012.


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Beautiful Gardens 2012 • 21


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