More gardeners choose pansies and violas as their favourite bedding plant than any other flower.
More gardeners choose pansies and violas as their favourite bedding plant than any other flower.
These brightly coloured flowers with their cheerful faces brave the very worst of our weather to put on displays during winter and spring, and voting in the Gardeners' World Awards 2010 has highlighted their popularity.
The category for 'Best Plant for Bedding' was won by pansy and viola with a very respectable 20 per cent of the vote. They beat summer favourites like pelargonium with 17 per cent of votes and petunia with 12 per cent.
Yes, the result did surprise me, as although I do grow winter pansies I probably wouldn't have put them at the top of my list. Having said that, if I'd been allowed to vote for the best winter bedding plant then I don't think pansies and violas would have had much competition.
For summer bedding then probably petunias would have got my vote. In addition my displays always contain pelargoniums for pots in the sun and New Guinea impatiens for shady sites.
Verbena took fourth place in our awards with 10 per cent of votes, and this is one of my favourites too. The tender bedding varieties are good, but 'Homestead Purple' is almost hardy, so survives most winters outside. It got through last winter in my midlands garden, so that proves it's a survivor.
Man cannot live by flower alone, and several foliage plants are included in my favourites. Coleus have looked stunning this year, and I love the trailing foliage of Ipomoea 'Sweet Caroline' varieties.
What would your favourite be?
The Gardeners' World Awards 2010 provide an interesting insight into gardening today, highlighting favourite plants and flowers, popular crops and the way we grow them. Full results can be found in the November issue, on sale now.
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