Get thee to a shrubbery

Real planting today: shrubs. In homage to Robin Lane Fox’s Financial Times article which I have been cherishing for years, I have planted some winter scent. A Daphne odora aureomarginata (14 Euros 50) and a Mahonia x media Winter Sun (which was a bargain at only 4 euros). I knew they had to be in the shade.

“This is one of the most fragrant daphnes and as the name suggests, a Chinese species which grows quite happily in shade or dappled sunlight, but prefers some shelter from cold winds. The variegated form ‘Aureomarginata’ is hardier than the type, and an upright branching shrub with handsome creamy-yellow edged evergreen leaves, 8cm (3in) long and arranged in neat rosettes. The tubular flowers are small and fragrant, arranged in clusters at the shoot tips, and appearing early in the year. Plants like a cool moist rootrun, with good drainage.”

So I have put it under the lilac bush next to the guest house. And then I spent ages stomping about trying to work out where to put the Mahonia. I do love the winter scent of the Mahonia. There were a few in the borders at the far side of Primrose Hill; and they always cheered on one’s run. But sadly the bright yellow flowers are just not me. So I wanted to have the scent hidden. Naturally it should have been as far away as the Daphne as possible; but it has ended up exactly opposite it on the path. The Mahonia is hidden under the snowball bush next to the office door. Shady and surprisingly good rich soil. We don’t have much shaded areas around the house, as we don’t have many plants.

“Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ is a dense, upright, evergreen shrub with leathery, spiny, pinnate leaves and spineless stems. It is grown for its densely packed racemes of fragrant yellow flowers, which are frost resistant and are produced from autumn to early winter in horizontal or ascending racemes.
The name media comes from the word ‘intermediate’, meaning ‘in the middle’, or ‘between’. It is a hybrid species of garden origin, a cross of M. japonica and M. lomariifolia, and the selected form of ‘Winter Sun’ was raised by the Slieve Donard Nursery in Northern Ireland.
Mahonia x media will take full sun but prefers to be in shade or a semi shaded area. It is best in a moist but relatively fertile, humus-rich soil, including chalk soils. It is frost hardy, and the scented flowers are frost resistant, but young growth may be damaged by late frosts.
The shrub does tend to get leggy but can be pruned, large plants can be stooled to about 18″ and will regenerate well, it is best though to prune over a 3 year period taking out about a third of growth each year. Pinching out the spent flowering shoots of smaller plants can encourage a more even habit.
Mahonia x media is generally pest and disease free.”
Then after lunch it was time to plant up some spinach in between the gaps made by the well devoured lettuce. (Devoured by us for lunch and not slugs I’m delighted to say). It’s a dull old F1 Spinach, nothing more. I had bought six cabbage seedlings at Gamm Vert. and stupidly wished I had bought more. It’s a Cabus variety. No idea how it will do, but so much fun to get things in the soil.  This follows on from the herb bed which I planted up this week too. Chives, thyme (two varieties, rampant rose and an upright version), rosemary, basil, coriander and best of all, a small verveine citronnelle. A lemon verbena plant. Hopefully it will survive the winter and grow into a good leaf producing factory. I know the coriander and basil won’t make it. But I couldn’t resist.