Tag Archives: alba garden

Spring-Tips Scotch Heather / Calluna vulgaris

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

Calluna vulgaris ‘Copper Splendour’ – This sport of ‘Manitoba’ features golden-orange foliage (bronze highlights in winter) with bright reddish-copper new growth in spring. ‘Copper Splendour’ has an erect growth habit and bears mauve flowers from August to September. Scotch heather … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Alba Woodland Perennials II

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

Dicentra formosa ‘Aurora’ – This pacific fernleaf bleeding heart bears plump pure white heart-shaped flowers from late spring into early summer, and often re-blooms in the fall. ‘Aurora’ may go summer dormant if allowed to go dry in the heat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Perennials | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fragrant Houseplants

Posted on April 18, 2012 by

Citrus limon ‘Meyer’ (syn. Citrus x meyeri) – A compact hybrid lemon (possibly crossed with mandarin) that bears up to 2″ wide fragrant white blooms emerging from purple-tinted buds. It is self-fertile and produces edible rounded lemons that are thin … Continue reading →

Posted in Houseplants | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Summer Bulbs

Posted on March 11, 2012 by

Galtonia candicans (syn. Hyacinthus candicans) – Summer Hyacinth is a true bulb with tall spikes (3 to 4′ high) of pendant white waxy flowers (often with green bases) with some fragrance. This RHS Award of Garden Merit winner blooms from … Continue reading →

Posted in Bulbs | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Irish Heath / Daboecia cantabrica

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

Daboecia cantabrica ‘Arielle’ – A newer more compact form of Irish Heath with large bell-shaped blooms of a brilliant glowing magenta. These are borne from summer into early autumn (July to October), being held well above the dark green foliage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowering Shrub | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Winter Heather III / Erica

Posted on March 5, 2012 by

Erica carnea ‘Nathalie’ – An RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with intensely coloured reddish purple blooms that really stand out in the dull winter weather. The flowers are borne from midwinter through to early spring over dark green foliage … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowering Shrub | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Daphne

Posted on February 27, 2012 by

Daphne mezereum – February Daphne is a small deciduous shrub that bears intensely fragrant purplish-pink blooms on bare stems, before the leaves emerge. As the name implies, these can be borne as early as late winter and are followed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Flowering Shrub | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alba Woodland Perennials

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Smilacina racemosa (has been renamed Maianthemum racemosum) – False Solomon’s Seal is native to coastal BC and eventually forms dense colonies from underground rhizomes. It bears creamy-white terminal racemes starting in May (through to June or early July), followed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Perennials | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Alba Garden Shrubs

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Philadelphus x ‘Snowbelle’ – A dwarf form of Mockorange which bears very fragrant double white blooms in late spring. It forms a compact, mounded deciduous shrub which is much more suited to urban gardens than the taller old-fashioned cultivars. ‘Snowbelle’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Ornamental Shrubs | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Alba Garden Perennials

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Cerastium tomentosum – Snow-in-Summer is a rather aggressive perennial that is best used scrambling over rock walls in hot, full sun exposures. That said, it is drought tolerant and the evergreen silver foliage is a great foil for the May … Continue reading →

Posted in Perennials | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment