So what is responsible for Britain’s rising demand for ‘granny plants’? Could it be memories of days spent in the garden as children, or our love of old English romantic gardens? Whatever it is, along with knitting and Victoria sponge, granny plants are back!
Once referred to by the majority of our clients as granny plants. We are seeing a comeback for some of the old fashioned varieties.
During the initial design consultation, and when asked to populate the list of ‘plants we do not like’ I could have predicted the results. “Anything yellow, Roses, Dahlias and Hydrangeas”.
It seems there has been a swing in opinion and thanks to companies such as www.neptune.com. (Who produce some of the most beautiful faux white hydrangeas for the home) the popularity of these plants have once again captured our hearts.
Our recent Chelsea show garden celebrating 500 years of Covent Garden was filled with romantic pink and white Roses, Peonies and Lupins. Our garden at Chatsworth for the Experience Peak District and Derbyshire garden was filled with Roses such as the soft pink of ‘English Miss’, the fresh white of ‘Little Pet’ and the deep sophisticated ‘Darcy Bustle’ as well as the very popular ‘Burgundy Ice’.
Over the past couple of years, we’ve also been asked to plant a lot of Hydrangea. Although we’re not quite ready to embrace the pink and blue mop head types, favouring the white ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Limelight’. Both of these varieties are not really suitable for the smaller garden. However we’ve recently fallen in love ourselves! With a beautiful white Hydrangea that only grows 50cm high, but we reserve those for only our very favourite gardens.
