Mrs MacGregor

Advice on climbing hydrangea

About the Umbrella plant. Fatsia japonica comes to my mind and Schefflera??

What is this?

sensible you - I am sure it is reversible if I suffer adverse effects.

What is this?

I have been eyeing roadside patches of what I thought was 'this'  - superficially similar leaves, but larger, to put in my wild patch.  It was only when I  recently found some Tussilago/Colt'sfoot in carpark gravel, flowering pristinely and yellowly in the first spring sunshine - a few roots have subsequently taken, leaves appeared - that I realised I had been conflating it with the larger relation, Petasites (Butterbur group)

[http://www.wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/H/Heliotrope%28Winter%29/Heliotrope%28Winter%29.htm]

which has larger leaves and mauve flowers

]http://www.wildflowerfinder.org.uk/Flowers/H/Heliotrope%28Winter%29/Heliotrope%28Winter%29.htm]

Silly me, but Tussilago will do until I find a rhizome or two of Petasites.

Feeding Clematis

Oh - mine are in bud and I'm late to feed - will this harm?

Problem soil near sycamore

Thanks, yes, Sarcococca I should have said is on my list for shady area and for fragrance and indeed, may be the one I choose, all things considered.

Problem soil near sycamore

Thanks Jo4eyes for you substantial answer. Point taken about pH - we are on the chalky side here. She wanted a shrub to fill the gap so I suspect a good hole with plenty of compost/food, regularly topped up will help. We could try heucheras and begenias, lamium/ivy/vinca and trachystemon beneath. Will get to it. Many thanks.

Thanks Obelix - does anyone know if sycamores exude toxins?

Problem soil near sycamore

Thanks for these responses. She could certainly try bulbs.  I thought a Nerine might survive for this time of year. There is actually quite a lot of light as the canopy is high and the beds in question face south/ south west. She was rather thinking of small shrubs but the Skimmia she had did not survive and a Pieris in a pot is not happy unless raised off the soil, hence my soil question. I was wondering about Olearia which doesn't mind it a bit dry? Dry woodland plants might also work I suppose.

Problem soil near sycamore

A friend has found that plants are not thriving in soil near a large sycamore yet do grow well away from the edge of the canopy spread. Apart from competing for water and nutrients, could the tree roots be having a toxic effect on surrounding plants? What solutions could she try?

What do you think of this combination?

Sarcococca, scented evergreen for winter rather than Mahonia perhaps.

Problem soil near sycamore