We hope you are enjoying a walk around the walled gardens at Charlton House! This month, look out for:
Turkish sage (Phlomis russeliana)
A herbaceous perennial in the Mint family, native to Syria and Turkey. The name ‘Phlomis’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘flame’. Heart shaped leaves of some species were used as lamp wicks in ancient times. The stiff upright stems carry yellow flowers, which look good as seed heads in winter and provide shelter in winter.
Woodland sage or Balkan Clary (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’)
A bee magnet because it offers both nectar and pollen, this a hardy herbaceous perennial with dazzling violet flowers. Susceptible to slugs and snails sadly, but luckily we don’t get too many of those in the Old Pond Garden.
Catchfly (Silene armeria ‘Electra’)
Blue-grey leaves and hot pink flowers for weeks on end. An annual which self-seeds prolifically. It is called catchfly because there is a sticky area on the stems just below the flowers, which greenfly and small insects get stuck to. Feel it gently with your fingers!
Penstemon ‘Garnet’
One of the longest-flowering plants in the Old Pond Garden, and wonderful for pollinators, especially bumble bees. It has small, dainty, foxglove-like tubular flowers in a deep red-pink. Very drought tolerant in a sunny spot, but will also thrive in light shade. A good do-er!
Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
Lamb’s-ear or woolly hedge nettle, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, native to Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. Very drought tolerant. Loved by the wool carder bee, which combs or ‘cards’ the leaves to make a hairy nest to lay her eggs.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
A hardy geranium whose open, blue flowers are loved by bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects. It was voted ‘Plant of the Centenary’ at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2013 and is very, very popular with gardeners as well as pollinators!
Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society 