This Spring we are offering a wide range of perennial plants and shrubs for the garden. From the beginning of this month we have roses and evergreen shrubs such as camellia. In March we will be adding dormant perennial plants like hemerocallis, and in April we'll be introducing deciduous shrubs, including scented varieties such as jasmine and philadelphus. Old favourites achillea and veronica are just two of the range of potted perennials which arrive in the shops in May, together with brugmansia, otherwise known as angel's trumpet, and other tender patio plants. Each pack has a photograph of the plant in flower and full growing instructions. The range offers something for all gardens, big or small. Below are some of our recommendations for different types of soil and growing conditions.
Acid soils
Azalea, camellia, hydrangea, lupin, magnolia, pachysandra and rhododendron.
Damp and wet soil
Astilbe, hemerocallis, hosta, Iris sibirica and trollius.
Dense shade
Hosta, pachysandra, rhododendron and vinca.
Dry shade
Hedera, holly, pachysandra and vinca.
Heavy clay soil
Chaenomeles, digitalis, forsythia, hedera, hemerocallis, Viburnum tinus and weigela.
Hot, sunny, dry soil
Achillea, cistus and cytisus.
Shallow soil over chalk
Achillea, buddleia, cistus, coreopsis, cotoneaster, deutzia, forsythia, hedera, hypericum, kniphofia, papaver, philadelphus, potentilla, vinca, weigela.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in February 1999.