Commemorating a German professor of medicine, Johann Hieronymus Kniphof, 1704-63 (Liliaceae). Red-hot pokers. These herbaceous perennials from South and East Africa and Madagascar are tolerant of wind, but dislike badly-drained soil. They are often seen in seaside gardens where […]

The pansy and the viola are very similar and belong to the same family (Violaceae). Pansies are used mainly for summer bedding, although they can be treated as perennials and increased utilizing cuttings. This is what is done to perpetuate […]

Starlike flowers, hence the name from the Greek aster, a star (Umbelliferae). Masterwort. Summer-flowering perennials with fascinating papery-looking flowers in shades of green, white and pink The actual flowers are insignificant but they are surrounded by parchment-like bracts that give […]

How to grow Bellis (bel-lis) From the Latin bellus, pretty, handsome (Compositae). The double daisy, a garden variety of one of our commonest wild plants, was cultivated in Elizabethan gardens side by side with double forms of the native buttercup. […]

How to grow Doronicum Doronicum (dor-on-ik-um) From the Arabic name doronigi (Cornpositae). Leopard’s bane. Hardy herbaceous perennials, natives of Europe and Asia, early-flowering, with long-stemmed, daisy-like yellow flowers. The sap from the root of D. pardalianches is said to be […]

How to grow Leptosyne Leptosyne (lep-to-sy-knee) From the Greek leptos. slender, describing the growth of these plants (Compositae). A small genus of hardy annuals and perennials that deserve to be better known, as they are showy in the garden and […]

Water gardens and water plants Since the introduction of fibreglass pools tremendous interest has been shown in medium-sized garden pools. Siting the pool Before constructing any pool careful thought should be given to the siting. To create a successful bog […]

How to grow Echinacea Echinacea (ek-in-ay-se-a) From the Greek echinos, hedgehog, referring to the whorl of prickly, pointed bracts close beneath the flower head (Compositae). A genus of two North American species of hardy herbaceousperennial plants. Echinacea plants E. angustifolia […]

How to grow Helianthus Helianthus (hel-ee-an-thus) From the Greek helios, the sun, anthos, a flower. (Compositae). Sunflower. A genus of tall, coarse-growing plants, annuals and perennials, gross feeders which dominate the border in which they are planted. H. annuus, the […]

How to grow Callirrhoe (kal-ir-ho-ee) Named after Callirhoe, one of the Greek goddesses (Malvaceae). Poppy mallow. This North American genus has both annual and perennial species. The flowers are saucer shaped and of red hues, which are brilliant in sunshine. […]