Flowers now and fab foliage too !

[Maggi Young]

Thought a little thread for these beauties might not go amiss! The family ericaceae is one which is happy to grow in our NE Scottish conditions, which may be the reason I am so fond of them! Many of this family are most obliging souls, eager to please us with their flowers, often so generously provided and also willing to extend their appeal by having attractive evergreen foliage which also colours well in the new stage of growth, too. Real value for money plants
Vaccinium nummularia is a super shrub, which grows to around four feet, 1.30m after twenty years or so.
The ovate leaves with hairy edges are a deep shiny green but the new growth can be pink to red which is very pretty and echoes the colour of the buds and red calyces.
Vaccinium nummularia , whole plant

A mid-view of the flowers

See how bright the buds and calyces are.. this fat bumble bee appreciates it!

[Maggi Young]

Pieris is one of those plants that I believe everyone should grow. There are lots of cultivars about nowadays, some have been shown elswhere inthe forum, with red flowers  and so on but I think it is hard to beat the white/creamy flowered types.
This is the form of  Pieris forrestii which is reputedly that collected by George Forrest. The flowers are held up in neat bunches and the new foliage begins a very deep wine- bronze before shading through to a deep dark glossy green






This is the form 'Wakehurst', quite large growing, lovely gnarly bark and stems and prepared to cover itself in cascades of sweet smelling flowers. The new foliage can be frosted  but if this happens we just pinch it off and in few weeks the plant has kindly made another batch of fresh leaves. These new leaves begin red, turn through all shades of pink before becoming creamy and finally mid-green. A very long season of interest.

 

[Paddy Tobin]

Maggi,

That vaccinum is a beautiful plant. I haven't seen it previously.

Paddy

[johngennard]

I agree with Paddy on the vaccinium,it looks a fabulous plant.I seem to remember having it but it didn't perform for me.Perhaps I had it in the wrong place,my soil is just about neutral and I have had to work very hard on specific areas to grow the acid -lovers.I will certainly seek to plant another one.
I also love the pieris and grow several.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great stuff Maggi ! Love that Vaccinium too.

Here's a nice Pieris combination from me - don't remember the names though.

[Lesley Cox]

These are really good plants. What a joy when beautiful flowers and fine foliage are combined in a single plant. Two for the price of one!

[Maggi Young]

Lovely combo, Luc, what a show!

[Ian Minty]

Maggie, yet again your garden never ceases to amaze me. You have a beautiful garden and some plant collection.

[Maggi Young]

Thank you, Ian. I have to tell you, though, that I am thinking of running away from home to move in with John Gennard.... now that's some garden! Not sure if there is a Mrs Gennard, or what the BD will say, but it is the lure of all those big rhodos, how could a woman resist?  I haven't broken this news to John, yet, either... I hope he hasn't got a nervous disposition

[johngennard]

Maggie,there certainly is a Mrs.Gennard of just short of fifty years but I am sure she would make room for you.A third pair of hands would be very useful,particularly with your knowledge and enthusiasm.

[Maggi Young]

Very kind of you, John. At this time of year I could just doss down under a scented rhodo, I'd be very little bother. Rhodo dead-heading is one of my favourite occupations so I could be useful..........