Looking for hardy plants for a whisky barrel
nadine12
Posts: 45
we are around half a mile from the sea on the west coast
of Scotland and I'm struggling to find anything to survive in 2 half whisky barrel planters. one gets dappled sun and the other is shaded totally. Should I cut my loses and move the shades one? I've tried a few ideas like buxus, small conifers, but nothing survives. Our garden is quite exposed to wind. Its right in front of a window so would love to make it a feature.
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Hardy fuchsias are usually OK with wind and shade. But some are hardier than others in winter.
Geranium sanguineum is quite tough.
Most of the others I can think of that survive windy, coastal conditions like sun. Such as Pinks, Sea Holly, Santolina, dwarf Buddleias such as "Buzz", Erigeron, Centranthus ruber.
nadine......same position but one mile from the sea.
I have a potentilla underplanted with spring bulbs in one half barrel and hakenochoa in another. They get the full force of the wind..There is an azalea in a pot in the same position which has stood up to what the weather throws at it.
How about Rose 'Glenfiddich' or 'Whisky Mac'?
Right plant, right place and all that
Thank you! I'm a complete novice so any advice is helpful. I think I'll try the Buddleia as it's worked elsewhere. Also Joyce the Hakenochoa looks perfect for my shady corner. Love the azalea too!
If you have a bit of sun, Rosemary and Sea Thrift, Armerias Maritima are very capable of standing up to the wind. Low matt forming plants like Erigeron Karvinkianus. The key is to look into plants with small leaves and stiff stems.On the shady areas, try prickly heaths, Gautheria Mucronata. Plenty of interest throughout the year and can be kept in check through easy pruning.
I have hostas in a position like that because my slugs eat all the ones in the ground. I put them in an unheated greenhouse in winter and divide them regularly because they grow very vigorously. They don't seem to mind the sea gales at all.
Ivy will grow just about anywhere, and before you groan, it needn't be sombre, there are some gorgeous variegated types that will give you colour all year round. Have a look at a nursery called Fibrex, I bought seven different ivies from them three years ago. Good quality, value for money and customer service.
Oh yikes... the garden was overgrown with the stuff when we bought the house - you could actually swing from the vines! Think it's scarred me for life!