Plant for an unusual location
Richard Parkes2
Posts: 1
in Plants
We recently buried a relative's ashes, and want to put a shrub over the site. The shrub needs to be:
Low maintenance, not too big, able to survive at 1500 feet in the Pennines in a fairly exposed position, in peaty soil over the relatives ashes.
Would Persicaria bistorta 'Superba' do the trick? What other suggestions does anyone have?
0
Posts
A wonderful idea and a challenging spot to choose for a commemorative plant. Persicaria - It isn't really a plant of acid soil. Maybe a group of heathers?
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
What about Vaccinum vitis-idaea, the Cowberry, evergreen, low growing, tolerant of acid soil and native to the Pennines.
My garden is almost as high at 1300', in the Pennines, on acid soil (my hydrangeas are the most amazing blue!) and Persicaria is literally running wild in my meadow. So it would grow, but it does run and it's not a shrub. Are we talking about a garden setting? You could try Pieris. Little Heath is a very small one, but there are plenty of other cultivars to choose from - I find them trouble free, though they aren't facing the brunt of the wind. A group of heathers could look really good too, maybe add a Pinus mugo Mops which will start very small, but grow slowly to have a lovely gnarly pine look without ever getting too big. A bit like a heather but with larger leaves and flowers like little lanterns is Daboeicia, St Dabeoc's heath.