Questions and Answers from the HPS Advisory Service Emma Reece
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More questions and answers from the HPS Advisory Service Emma Reece From A: island of Honshu. plants come into flower, a I hope you’re the one to help The elegant, nodding time when they need extra me solve my problem with lilac-white flowers resemble cosseting. Is it possible to Anemonopsis macrophylla. I small lotuses, as suggested by provide more shelter from the obtained seed from a seed its common name – Renge- wind? This species is happy distribution scheme some shoma – which roughly in semi-shade, so using other 8 years ago, and now I have translates from the Japanese as plants for protection will be 3 plants in ‘woodland type’ ‘the lotus-flowered woodland effective as long as they don’t shade in different places in my herb with compound serrate rob your anemonopsis of garden. leaves’. This is not to be moisture. You could use trees All are bulky plants. They confused with another or shrub hedges, or perhaps look healthy until they start beautiful woodland perennial, bamboo screening, to filter to bud up, then the foliage Kirengeshoma, which has out the wind; or you could crisps and dies, and then the yellow blooms. provide a temporary physical flowering stems do the same. Having researched this barrier such as netting, In my opinion they have plenty genus I conclude that they are woven hurdles or proprietary of moisture, but it’s been not easy to place unless you windbreaks when the plants suggested that they’re not being can provide a humus-rich, start to bud up. kept moist enough. Please help! preferably acidic soil, which Check the direction They are such beautiful flowers is moist but well drained. You the prevailing wind when they open. don’t mention exactly where comes from – usually the your specimens are planted. southwest in the UK – and To A: It sounds as though you are take it from there. Aim to First, congratulations on keeping the roots moist, but reduce the wind’s speed germinating such rare and the air surrounding the plant before it reaches the plants. valuable plants. Anemonopsis, must also have high humidity. Check also for any wind the false anemone, is a This woodlander needs funnels which intensify the monotypic genus in the family shelter from cold drying wind’s speed and strength Ranunculaceae. Its distribution winds. I suggest this is the when the air is channelled is a very limited montane most important factor, between hillsides and along woodland area on Japan’s main particularly crucial when the valleys, through corridors of established trees, or between adjacent buildings. If you find it necessary to move the plants, take great care to keep them cool and ©Edrom Nurseries©Edrom moist, and incorporate some leaf mould into the planting hole prior to planting. I wish you the very best of luck – it will all be worth it when you gaze upon such exquisite blooms. Please do Anemonopsis macrophylla at Edrom Nurseries let me know how you get on. 44 From B: garden compost or manure Umbrella Bamboo, is clump- Our neighbours have had to improve the moisture- forming. It has arching, yellow/ an extension built on the holding capacity of the soil. green stems and is bushy all side of their house, and as a There are two types of the way to the ground, making result we need a tall garden bamboo: running and clump- it ideal for screening. screen. We’re thinking of using forming. Running bamboos Fargesia nitida, the bamboo, growing to 7 foot. are considered invasive and Fountain Bamboo, is a The bamboo would be require a physical barrier in clump-forming bamboo with contained within a paved area order to prevent them from purple-flushed green canes to with a brick wall on one side, straying to neighbouring 4m and slender, dark green paving in front and a wall areas and other gardens. leaves. I particularly admire behind. Our vision is narrow Clump-forming bamboos this plant. but tall! grow in tight clumps and Water your bamboos don’t tend to wander as regularly for the first year To B: enthusiastically. and during dry periods. In Here are my suggestions It sounds to me as though the spring, take some sharp – you will need to go and your site will restrain the secateurs or loppers and look at the plants in the plants. If there’s any doubt, you remove any weak, dead, flesh (or rather in the leaf) should line the side of your damaged or spindly canes, before you buy, to ensure you planting trench with a robust cutting them down to the obtain good specimens with barrier such as paving slabs, ground. You may also wish excellent colouring. The RHS corrugated sheets or a root- to thin out some of the older Plant Finder is a good tool to barrier fabric. Ideally, lay your canes so that the form and search for nurseries; you will barrier down to 1.2m deep. colour of the newer canes can find it online or in your local Phyllostachys nigra is an be appreciated. library. elegant, stylish bamboo with I hope your bamboo Whichever nursery you running rhizomes. The glossy screen will provide the decide to visit, do ring them canes are initially green but, privacy you wish to regain. first to see which plants they with time, they will become have in stock. However, blackish/brown and grow there’s considerable 4–5m tall. confusion regarding the Pleioblastus simonii naming of bamboo so don’t ‘Variegatus’ is a vigorous be alarmed if the nursery bamboo which will require Nursery©Bowdens calls them something else! restraint, and will need to I’m assuming your be thinned regularly. Its designated area provides common Japanese name suitable conditions for is ‘Medake’, meaning bamboos. They like a ‘Woman Bamboo’, which I moist, well-drained soil in imagine refers to its graceful a sheltered, sunny site and appearance and elegant won’t tolerate constantly leaves. This bamboo bears wet, boggy or extremely intermittently variegated dry conditions. Before you leaves, blue/green with white plant, I would advise you stripes. It grows 3–4m tall. to dig in some well rotted Fargesia murieliae, the Fargesia nitida Email your question to: [email protected] 45.