Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ or Japanese Silver Grass. Miscanthus can be deciduous or evergreen, depending on the severity of the winter. This popular grass grows to about 1m x 50cm wide. It has a tufted, spreading habit with erect stems with arching, linear leaves finely edged with white, thus giving the whole plant a delightful silvery appearance. From late summer and through the winter month’s terminal pinkish -bronze tinged panicles appear that mature to a fluffy cream colour. This ornamental grass prefers full sun and moist fertile soil, and once established, it will tolerate drought conditions as well as taking wind and snow in its stride. The foliage should be left standing throughout the winter months as it looks good and also provides protection for the crowns. The old stems should then be cut to the ground in late winter to early spring, when it will quickly regenerate into a new mound of fresh growth. Common Name: Japanese Silver Grass Latin name: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Tenderness Rating: Hardy down to -15C Ease of growing: Easy Position: Prefers full sun to dappled shade Soil Condition: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil
Agaves hail from desert and scrubby areas and mountainous regions in North, central and South America. They are essential for a desert garden, with many being quite hardy especial if protected from rain during the winter months. It is a truly striking Agave and one of the prettiest and most sought after Agaves available. Its shape and contrasting foliage colours gives ‘Marginata’ fantastic architectural value, having solid creamy white bands down the centre of the powdery blue-green margined leaves forming a stiff rosette. Agave americana 'Marginata' is ideally suited to hot sun-baked planting areas in dry gardens, rock gardens, though it must be protected during the wet winter months. In cold areas it is best grown as a container plant that is brought into frost free conditions for the winter months. Latin name: Agave americana 'Marginata' Common name: Variegated Agave Americana Ease of growing: Moderate Position: Prefers full sun. Soil Condition: prefers exceedingly well drained soil that gets baked during the summer months. It must be kept bone dry during the winter months. Buy Agave americana 'Marginata' - Variegated Agave Americana in the UK
This genus includes more than two hundred species of rosette-forming perennials found growing in desert and scrubby areas to mountainous regions in their native habitats. They are quintessential desert plants for the exotic garden, having a very architectural feel and adding dramatic impact whether bedded out for the summer months, or permanently planted out in the garden. Many are amazingly tough plants that can take low temperatures well if grown in exceedingly free-draining gritty soils and kept dry in winter; their biggest problem is winter wet. They are monocarpic, meaning that the main plant dies after flowering, leaving new side shoots to grow on. Intrepid gardeners in the British Isles have been experimenting with their hardiness, with good success. They are commonly seen in gardens along the south coast of England, especially into Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, where some astounding specimens can be seen. Agave americana (Century Plant) is an evergreen perennial native to north eastern Mexico, hence is ideally suited to hot sun-baked areas of your garden. It is a very good plant to grow in coastal regions as it is very wind tolerant. Although it will take lows of down to around -8C, this is only if planted on exceedingly well drained soil and is protected from winter rain, otherwise it can be grown as a container plants and brought into a dry location for the winter months. Excellent for very sandy, gravely arid areas Latin name: Agave americana Common name: Century Plant Ease of growing: Moderate Position: Prefers full sun. Soil Condition: Prefers exceedingly well drained gravely soil
This is a very cold-hardy Agave, growing to an imposing 30 x 36ins wide when mature in its native habitat, the Davis Mountains of west Texas USA where they have cold winters but very hot baking summers. Its massive, thick, bluish-grey leathery leaves have vicious spines, so keep away from pathways! It takes low temperatures exceedingly well if planted on gravely well drained sandy soils, or raised up on a rockery. In high rainfall areas it should have a cover in the winter to stop rain getting in the crown. It makes an excellent container plant that can then be protected from winter rains. Latin name: Agave havardiana Common Name: Chisos Agave - Havard's Century Plant Ease of growing: moderate to difficult outdoors Position: Full sun, well-drained soil protect from winter rains. Hardiness: Hardy Soil Condition: Well drain sandy-gravely soil
