There is still spring in my step thanks to the Harrogate Flower Show. Today I am going to share more pics and fabulous plants with you from the Alpine Garden society display at the show.
Long live purple. I was talking about my love of purple plants last week, and this colour was in evidence at the show. From many beautiful Primula with their dainty, perfectly formed flowers, to Iris and more besides. Primula have always fascinated me and P. ‘Kushna Krishna’ is a good example of the clear purples that can be found in this genus. Can you see the crimped edges on those leaves – wow!
Clematis tenuiloba caught my eye for its dusky purple nodding flowers. There were lots of examples of this at the show this year.
Ipheion ‘Rolf Fiedler’ is a long-time favourite. This choice alpine comes with just a blush of mauve to its pretty petals. Again it is usually described and sold as blue, but its true colour is mauve. It is not always reliably hardy in cold climates such as the northern areas of England.
Polygala calcarea ‘Lillet’ was also on show, looking very handsome. This shrubby, evergreen perennial is often sold as blue but it is purple with some white. Low growing, it is good in tubs or containers.
Aquilegia are no strangers to this colour and this hybrid is a good example.
An unusual plant with violet-purple flowers and super foliage is Oxytropis shokanbetsuensis. It appreciates deep, well-drained soil. This Japanese native will not like root disturbance so no changing your mind as to where it is going to grow. This could cause excitement.
On the pinkish side of purple is Soldanella hungarica much less pink than most Soldanella.
I’ll finish with a plant that we all think of when we think of purple, Viola. in this case V. altaica. All photos copyright Karen Platt 2010.
