HydrangeaRunawayBrideSnowWhite(2018)
A hydrangeawithnotonebuttwoUSPs:it producesitslacecapflowers
alongthelengthofitsstems,ratherthanjustattheends,andhasanunusual
weepinghabit.Tryit in borders,orin potswherethebloomscantrailoverthe
sides.Flowers:Jun-Sept.H&S:4ft(1.2m).3 standout shrubs
Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’
(2013)
Popular for their
evergreen leaves and
bright yellow flowers,
mahonias are usually
spiky characters, but
‘Soft Caress’ has spine-
free leaves. Compact
enough to be planted in
a large pot, it will lend
year-round interest to a
patio. Flowers: Aug-Oct.
H&S: 39in (1m).Iris ‘Domino Noir’
Bearded iris always look
dramatic, but this one
takes it to another level.
The contrast of black lower
petals and white upper
petals, rimmed by lavender,
took it very close to the top
spot. Flowers: May-Jun.
HxS: 28inx1ft (70x30cm).GAP
4 top runners-up
Geum‘ScarletTempest’
A prolificflowerer,this
dazzlinggeumproduces
massesofbigsemi-double
flowersfromspringtolate
summer.Heldonslender,
branchingstems,theycome
in anorangey-red.Greatfor
containers.Flowers:Mar-
Sept.H&S: 1 ½ft (45cm).Salvia‘CrystalBlue’
Thiswasin therunningfor
PlantoftheYearbecause
ofthecolourofitsblooming
spires– a shadeofpale
blueneverbeforeseenin
salvias.A reliableperformer
in a varietyofsoils,it’salso
easytogrow.Flowers:Jul-
Sept.H&S:1½ft(45cm).Dianthus Memories
Who doesn’t love the
cottage-garden smell of
dianthus? Memories suits
a front-of-the-border spot
in full sun, where you can
enjoy the abundance of
white blooms with their rich
fragrance. Flowers: May-
Sept. H&S: 1ft (30cm).30 AMATeuR GARDeNING 11 mAY 2019
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