Don't Plant Anything Your Granny Wouldn't Recognise
Old-fashioned plants are the things to grow in 2016. They thrive, add colour and – most importantly – they are easy to look after
I’ve spent many weekends over the past few months digging away in the dirt with a large pickaxe, smashing metre upon metre of solid, hard-bitten clay that was formerly covered by concrete, then mixing in gypsum and trailer after trailer of compost in the hope that, one day, this will become decent soil. The soil’s starting to break down – though I’m not holding out great hope for a garden that is particularly kind on plants.
In short, we need plants that cope in tough conditions and look good too. As we worked out a planting plan, a theme emerged: our garden is alarmingly similar to that overgrown garden at the end of our street we remember from our childhood, and in fact, the gardens in our 1950s seaside ’hood have ended up being a source of great inspiration for us. We’re surrounded by huge clumping bird of paradise plants, mother-in-law’s tongue, cannas and out-of-control bouganvillea.
In short, we need plants that cope in tough conditions and look good too. As we worked out a planting plan, a theme emerged: our garden is alarmingly similar to that overgrown garden at the end of our street we remember from our childhood, and in fact, the gardens in our 1950s seaside ’hood have ended up being a source of great inspiration for us. We’re surrounded by huge clumping bird of paradise plants, mother-in-law’s tongue, cannas and out-of-control bouganvillea.
It just so happens those plants are fast-growing and often cheap – free even, if a friend or family member has them in their garden, as they tend to be easy to divide and replant. More than anything, they look great when used in a confident way: combine them with natives, edibles and subtropicals and you have the beginnings of a hard-wearing, fast growing – and beautiful – garden. There’s a reason your granny planted these on her bare new section in the suburbs back in the 1960s: they work.
Cannas
Once the stuff of roadside berms in suburban shopping centres, Cannas are fast to establish – plus they’re spectacular. Not surprisingly, cannas are making a comeback, as seen with these fantastic planter pots. Look out for Canna ‘Tropicanna’ – it has a beautiful orange flower over summer on top of maroon leaves with a gentle stripe.
Once the stuff of roadside berms in suburban shopping centres, Cannas are fast to establish – plus they’re spectacular. Not surprisingly, cannas are making a comeback, as seen with these fantastic planter pots. Look out for Canna ‘Tropicanna’ – it has a beautiful orange flower over summer on top of maroon leaves with a gentle stripe.
Dahlias
Yes. Cheerful dahlias got a reputation for belonging in overstuffed cottage gardens, but they’re actually a riot of colour that look fantastic with subtropicals and edibles (and cannas too, as you can see here). Dahlias love a sunny spot and will take to even the hardiest of corners. Plant tubers in spring when you put your tomatoes in and you’ll have flowers in late summer.
Bring your subtropical garden to life
Yes. Cheerful dahlias got a reputation for belonging in overstuffed cottage gardens, but they’re actually a riot of colour that look fantastic with subtropicals and edibles (and cannas too, as you can see here). Dahlias love a sunny spot and will take to even the hardiest of corners. Plant tubers in spring when you put your tomatoes in and you’ll have flowers in late summer.
Bring your subtropical garden to life
Gardenias
Gardenias are famous for their incredible scent. Originally they came from the Pacific Islands and Asia – they have a beautiful glossy leaf and an elegant white flower, which made them popular with suburban housewives who kept them nicely clipped or even standardised in a terracotta pot. Let them get a bit bigger – as with this fantastically tortured specimen – and put them in the entrance of your property to welcome you home.
Gardenias are famous for their incredible scent. Originally they came from the Pacific Islands and Asia – they have a beautiful glossy leaf and an elegant white flower, which made them popular with suburban housewives who kept them nicely clipped or even standardised in a terracotta pot. Let them get a bit bigger – as with this fantastically tortured specimen – and put them in the entrance of your property to welcome you home.
Citrus
There was a time when the only things growing in a suburban New Zealand back garden were a big old lemon tree in one corner and a grapefruit in the other beside the washing line. That left them with something of an unfortunate reputation.
But citrus trees are beautiful, especially when they’re old and gnarled and properly pruned so they have a pretty canopy of glossy green leaves – and they’ve been used in decorative plantings for centuries. Here, a lemon tree perfectly sets off a Phoenix palm and a frangipani (Plumeria) in a gravelled courtyard. Plant a meyer lemon (Citrus × meyeri) for year-round juicy lemons.
There was a time when the only things growing in a suburban New Zealand back garden were a big old lemon tree in one corner and a grapefruit in the other beside the washing line. That left them with something of an unfortunate reputation.
But citrus trees are beautiful, especially when they’re old and gnarled and properly pruned so they have a pretty canopy of glossy green leaves – and they’ve been used in decorative plantings for centuries. Here, a lemon tree perfectly sets off a Phoenix palm and a frangipani (Plumeria) in a gravelled courtyard. Plant a meyer lemon (Citrus × meyeri) for year-round juicy lemons.
Ferns
Don’t forget houseplants: maidenhair ferns (Adiantum capillus-veneris) are so hot right now, and rightly so. They’re a bit tricky to keep alive, but they give back in spades with their feathery, slightly whimsical air that reminds you of the sort of thing Virginia Woolf might have in her parlour.
Keeping your indoor plants alive and thriving
Don’t forget houseplants: maidenhair ferns (Adiantum capillus-veneris) are so hot right now, and rightly so. They’re a bit tricky to keep alive, but they give back in spades with their feathery, slightly whimsical air that reminds you of the sort of thing Virginia Woolf might have in her parlour.
Keeping your indoor plants alive and thriving
Ficus
The same is true of ficus – particularly ones such as this fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) with big fleshy leaves. A ficus can be guaranteed to fill up the corner of a room beautifully.
The same is true of ficus – particularly ones such as this fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) with big fleshy leaves. A ficus can be guaranteed to fill up the corner of a room beautifully.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are popular the country over as a filler in the front of gardens and down driveways, and basically anywhere you wanted to grow plants with a minimum of fuss. The classic is Hydrangea macrophylla: once seen as fusty, people are realising that their big leaves and giant flowers go beautifully with a looser style of planting.
Hydrangeas are popular the country over as a filler in the front of gardens and down driveways, and basically anywhere you wanted to grow plants with a minimum of fuss. The classic is Hydrangea macrophylla: once seen as fusty, people are realising that their big leaves and giant flowers go beautifully with a looser style of planting.
Bougainvillea
Which brings me to my next point: bougainvillea, the aggressive subtropical climber with bright flowers and intense prickles. Keep it in an area where you don’t have to push past it – creeping up the top of a cheerful peach wall, say – and it’s a sure-fire winner. Great bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) has spectacular magenta leaves.
Which brings me to my next point: bougainvillea, the aggressive subtropical climber with bright flowers and intense prickles. Keep it in an area where you don’t have to push past it – creeping up the top of a cheerful peach wall, say – and it’s a sure-fire winner. Great bougainvillea (Bougainvillea spectabilis) has spectacular magenta leaves.
Ficus creeper
Once only found growing over dilapidated stucco houses and garages, ficus creeper, or creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a hard-working creeper that looks great in contemporary situations as well. Established plants need very little maintenance except for the odd clip, and they are thin enough that they don’t intrude on narrow walkways and spaces.
Once only found growing over dilapidated stucco houses and garages, ficus creeper, or creeping fig (Ficus pumila) is a hard-working creeper that looks great in contemporary situations as well. Established plants need very little maintenance except for the odd clip, and they are thin enough that they don’t intrude on narrow walkways and spaces.
Conifers
No, really. Though more commonly found in faux Italianate gardens of the tastelessly wealthy, conifers (Pinophyta) have a vintage look that is kind of appealing – it’s all about context and in this case, they make a playful addition to a garden filled with tussocks, stone pavers – and bougainvillea.
Outdoor surfacing ideas with a difference
No, really. Though more commonly found in faux Italianate gardens of the tastelessly wealthy, conifers (Pinophyta) have a vintage look that is kind of appealing – it’s all about context and in this case, they make a playful addition to a garden filled with tussocks, stone pavers – and bougainvillea.
Outdoor surfacing ideas with a difference
Bird of paradise
Among the perky birds of paradise, Strelitzia reginae is the most common varietal – this flower brightened up many a front garden in the 1950s. With their spectacular red-and-orange flowers they’re brilliantly tacky. They’re almost impossible to kill and left to their own devices they will clump up – meaning you either have a very large plant, or an ongoing supply of new ones if you break them up every few years.
Among the perky birds of paradise, Strelitzia reginae is the most common varietal – this flower brightened up many a front garden in the 1950s. With their spectacular red-and-orange flowers they’re brilliantly tacky. They’re almost impossible to kill and left to their own devices they will clump up – meaning you either have a very large plant, or an ongoing supply of new ones if you break them up every few years.
Mother-in-law’s tongue
Redolent of Palm Springs and everything 1950s, mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) looks fantastic as a mass planting, either against a wall or with a backdrop of something different – such as these wispy grasses.
Redolent of Palm Springs and everything 1950s, mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata) looks fantastic as a mass planting, either against a wall or with a backdrop of something different – such as these wispy grasses.
Aloes
Similarly, aloes are a must-have. Drought-resistant (they store water in their trunks and leaves) they’ll grow quite happily even if you just cut off a branch and leave it on the ground for a few months – like many of these plants they sprout pups which you can remove and plant out on their own.
I’m a big fan of short-leaved aloe (Aloe brevifola), which looks like some kind of strange reptile, all spiky leaves and – occasionally – a bright pink flower on a stalk. Though I have a real soft spot for fan aloe (Aloe plicatilis), which has wide, tall leaves and eventually a short stumpy trunk – it looks like something prehistoric.
Design ideas for sculptural succulents
Similarly, aloes are a must-have. Drought-resistant (they store water in their trunks and leaves) they’ll grow quite happily even if you just cut off a branch and leave it on the ground for a few months – like many of these plants they sprout pups which you can remove and plant out on their own.
I’m a big fan of short-leaved aloe (Aloe brevifola), which looks like some kind of strange reptile, all spiky leaves and – occasionally – a bright pink flower on a stalk. Though I have a real soft spot for fan aloe (Aloe plicatilis), which has wide, tall leaves and eventually a short stumpy trunk – it looks like something prehistoric.
Design ideas for sculptural succulents
Fruit trees
Ever practical, a good granny’s garden ideally included a plum tree for shade and fruit over summer – why have a tree that was only ornamental? Not much has changed: fruit trees, especially the likes of figs (Ficus carica) and plums (Prunus) are lovely in a garden. Consider espaliering them along a wall if you don’t have room for a full tree – or if you’re in a warmish area, go full retro and plant a mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens), which is tall and skinny and has a subtropical leaf.
Ever practical, a good granny’s garden ideally included a plum tree for shade and fruit over summer – why have a tree that was only ornamental? Not much has changed: fruit trees, especially the likes of figs (Ficus carica) and plums (Prunus) are lovely in a garden. Consider espaliering them along a wall if you don’t have room for a full tree – or if you’re in a warmish area, go full retro and plant a mountain papaya (Vasconcellea pubescens), which is tall and skinny and has a subtropical leaf.
Hostas
Hostas were loved by the Victorians and somehow got a reputation for being the kind of thing you’d put in a cottage garden. Put them with something more sculptural and they start to look a lot more interesting. Better yet, they really like shade so they’re great to lift those darker corners of your newly planted Granny garden.
TELL US
What have you planted that your Granny would love? Tell us in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Superstars of the Subtropical Garden
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece
Hostas were loved by the Victorians and somehow got a reputation for being the kind of thing you’d put in a cottage garden. Put them with something more sculptural and they start to look a lot more interesting. Better yet, they really like shade so they’re great to lift those darker corners of your newly planted Granny garden.
TELL US
What have you planted that your Granny would love? Tell us in the Comments section.
MORE
12 Superstars of the Subtropical Garden
Top 10 Plants for Minimum Effort and Maximum Impact
How to Turn Your Garden Into a Masterpiece