Alan Titchmarsh names the seven plants he’d have in any garden
Alan said the task was “ridiculous” for a lifelong gardener (Image: Getty)
Alan Titchmarsh has whittled the countless plants available in the world down to just seven that he says he’d happily grow in any garden. The former Gardeners’ World star admitted it was far from easy, calling it “ridiculous” to expect a lifelong gardener to choose only seven, so he also included a couple of honourable mentions: peony and agapanthus.
He shared the list on a recent instalment of his YouTube channel, Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh. Opening the video, Alan said: “You know, people often say to me, ‘Alan, if you could only have a handful of plants in your garden, which plants would they be?’ Oh, it’s an impossible question to answer, isn’t it, really? But having thought about it, here are
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time.
He shared the list on a recent instalment of his YouTube channel (Image: Getty)
7. Azalea ‘Snow White’
An evergreen shrub that thrives in acidic soil, the Azalea ‘Snow White’ will be “wreathed in glorious white flowers” by spring, Alan says. He calls them “great little shrubs” that work well as “background plants”.
However, he notes they are shallow-rooted and can suffer quickly in drought, so keep the soil around them moist. He also warns you should “never” plant them too deeply.
6. Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’
Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ is a deciduous shrub that’s “glorious in summer” and produces creamy white flowers in “frothy heads”, as Alan puts it. He explained there are two things the plant doesn’t like: dry roots and a “lack of support”.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Alan advised us to thin out the stems each winter, but leave the flowers alone as they will fade and “go papery”. He notes that they’re “quite pretty” in a winter garden.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
Alan selected Japanese Maple as his top plant (Image: Getty)
5. Verbena bonariensis
Verbena bonariensis is a herbaceous perennial Alan describes as a “real old favourite”. He said: “Now, once you’ve planted Verbena bonarensis, it will be with you forever because it seeds itself about, but it’s great.
“You can pull up the ones you don’t want, but what it loves is well-drained soil and full sun.” He added that it’s also loved by bees and butterflies, and is “awash with nectar”.
4. Geranium ‘Dreamland’
Alan says he’d “never be without” this herbaceous perennial, which comes in a variety of colours. He notes that geraniums can work with poor soil once they’ve established themselves and make “great ground cover”.
It’s worth checking the height and colour of the geraniums you’re buying to ensure they will fit in with your garden. Alan says: “And then you’ll discover that no garden can be without geraniums, the hardy varieties. Smashing.”
3. Hosta ‘Happy Dayz’
Hosta is a clump-forming perennial that dies down in winter, but erupts with a great “fountain of leaves” come spring. Alan explained that his ‘Happy Dayz’ variety will get “bigger and fatter” over the years.
Calling it “gloriously statuesque”, he said it needs watering in its first year to get established. Once it is, the “fabulous” plant will “seek out the moisture”.
2. Pelargonium
Alan said: “We call them geraniums, but they are, strictly speaking, pelargoniums to differentiate them from the hardy geranium, because this is a tender plant. It won’t cope with frost.
“In London, you can leave it outside because the city heat keeps it going through the winter. But this is a plant for bright sunshine and it flowers like this from one end of the summer to the other. You can see loads more coming. It’s a glorious plant.”
1. Acer palmatum ‘Emerald Lace’/Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple is a “finely cut” variety with “greenish” leaves that become burnished with bronze as the summer ends, Alan says. But he explained that the plant secured the top spot not only for its variation in leaf shape and colour.
“They colour up in autumn to wonderful shades of scarlet and crimson and butter yellow. So, you get that aspect. You get the different habits and you get the fact that it’s great in containers.
“Find a large flower pot if all you’ve got is a doorstep and plant a Japanese maple in a pot and you’ve got this wonderful statuesque plant from spring right the way through to autumn.”
