Monty’s Going Native

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July issue of BBC Gardener's World Magazine

In the July issue of Gardeners World Magazine Monty Don looks at the plants that have become the backbone of British Gardens giving them a sense of identity and place.

“The British gardening tradition is based on a wide range of flowering plants from all over the world”

Many species have been brought to us by plant hunters over the centuries from China, Aftrica and new Zealand, not to mention the diverse collections brought over by the romans.

Monty says that “our British gardens are invariably a rich tapestry of colours textures and fragrances, and with our enviably mild climate, the range of plants we can grow in a sheltered garden is greater than anywhere else in the world.  This gives our gardens a sophistication and depth that can make them endlessly fascinating, whatever the season”.

Included in Monty’s pick of natives for the garden are Crab Apple, Silver Birch and Wild Cherry with flowering plants including native Bluebells, Lilly of the Valley, Sea Holly and Wood Anemone.  For those shady areas, look out for ferns such as Hart’s Tongue and Lady Fern.

For a list of plants native to your local area, log on to the Natural History Museum’s POSTCODE PLANTS DATABASE.

You may also be interested in:

• World Cup Flowers
• Holker Show 2010
• Peonies as cut flowers
• Ever popular Chrysanthemum
• Kilcoan Gardens in Northern Ireland