Amateur Gardening – 20 July 2019

30 AMATEUR GARDENING 20 JULY 2019

Angelica archangelica

A gorgeous triffid of a plant, in summer this herb has generous umbelliferous

balls of green flowers on tall stems. Grow as a hardy biennial, in moist, well-

drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 39in-6½ft (1-2m).

3 flowering giants

Cynara cardunculus AGM

You can’t beat cardoons

for adding height and

drama to a border.

Emerging from a mass of

silver leaves, big purple

thistle-like flowers bloom

on tall stems. Grow in well-

drained soil, in sheltered

sun. H: 5-8ft (1½-2½m).

Arundo donax

You can’t fail to be impressed

by these grey-green strap

leaves of giant reed grass,

which are held on sturdy

stems. It forms clumps with

vigour and is best grown in a

pot in full sun. Cut stems right

back in winter. H: 13ft (4m).

4 tall guys for pots

Ficus carica ‘Brown

Turkey’ AGM

An iconic shrub with big,

beautiful lobed leaves and

fruit that’s produced in

early autumn. Grow in

well-drained soil, in sun, or

in a container to restrict its

size. H: 6½-13ft (2-4m).

Begonia luxurians AGM

This gorgeous foliage plant,

known as palm leaf begonia,

pairs its big, palmate leaves

with white flowers – on red

stems! One for well-drained

pots in sheltered semi-

shade. Overwinter indoors.

H: 5-8ft (1½-2½m).

Phyllostachys aurea AGM

The golden bamboo is a

graceful evergreen with

green canes that yellow with

age. To prevent it becoming

invasive, grow in a well-

drained container positioned

in sheltered sun or semi-

shade. H: 13ft (4m).

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