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Following Ramsons (wild Garlic)

Paul CharnockPaul Charnock Posts: 123
in Plants

I have a constant shade issue (self imposed as i really wanted a wild woodland feel to the garden) and one solution was Ramsons which are edible, nice flowers and love the shade.
Problem is what to plant with them for when they die down (around late May.) I don't want to pull them all out and replant, but would like something that doesn't mind shade and will follow the Ramsons

Any ideas?


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Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,263

    I have a hardy geranium which conveniently grows and covers my Ransoms in my front hedge.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Paul CharnockPaul Charnock Posts: 123

    Thanks, do you know which variety like the shade?

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,263

    There are actually quite a few Paul. The one of mine which hides the ransoms is G. Endressii but G. phaeum (several colours to choose from) and G. macrorrhyzum (also severlal colours) to name but 3 will do a good job. The plus point being, once their first flush of flowers is finished you just shear the whole plant back to ground level and it shoots up again to give another flush of flowers. Resistant to slugs and snails too.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Paul CharnockPaul Charnock Posts: 123

    Nice one. I have a few geraniums in the Garden already though I'm useless at keeping tabs of which variety.
    Due to divide some of them and will give it a go.

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,263

    Good luck Paul!

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,458

    Another vote for geranium phaelm. The bees like it too and I have even seen Bullfinches eating the seeds.

    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Paul CharnockPaul Charnock Posts: 123

    Having checked online I think I already have a Phaelm. I prefer the clumpy versions but all the ones I have are sun lovers so I bought an Azure blue and also planted a couple of Prunella (they look like self heal to me, I guess it's the same family and a red leaved Astilbe.

    Bit scary though as I had to dig up all the Ramsons along with half a million bluebells (they seem to appear everywhere). The Ramson bulbs are not the easiest to replant and the whole area looks a bit of a mess with all the wilting foliage still attached. Hopefully things will improve and the Ramsons, being bulbs and wild flowers will be strong enough to recover

    Last edited: 22 June 2016 22:47:49

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