Advice

I have a girlfriend (Karen)that just moved into her own place leaving the matrimonial home and her beautiful gardens behind. The new place is of course much smaller and has a virgin yard. We discussed what she would do with it and at first she thought that because she has so little space, she would like to have a very select theme garden... An heirloom garden came to mind first then we tossed around the idea of an English counrty garden for the simplicity of it.
She has settled on both. English country theme with heirloom plants only.
Problem one; we have no idea what that would include. Can anyone or everyone suggest plants?
Also advice on said plants would be appreciated.
Theresa and Karen

English heirloom plants do you mean? I have several references to plants grown in England before the 1700's and a little history to them if that helps. We call them heritage plants here.

Thanks Baa. Can youpost the info here or would you prefer to email me?

Here are just some of what might have been found in an English garden by the 1800's. If you want dates and a bit of history I will be happy to email you with the information but it may take a day to type up.


Acanthus mollis - Bear's Breeches
Achillea millefolium - Yarrow, some different colours
Aconitum napellus - Monkshood
Ajuga reptans - Bugle
Allium moly
Allium schoenprasum - Chives
Alpine Strawberry - several forms were known
Althaea officinalis - Marsh Mallow
Anemone nemorosa - Wood Anemone
Angelica archangelica - Angelica
Antirrhinum majus - Snapdragon
Aquilegia vulgaris - many colours and forms were known
Aubretia
Bellis perrenis - Lawn Daisy
Borago officinalis - Borage
Calendula officinalis - Pot Marigold
Campanula glomerata - Bats in the Belfrey
Campanula trachelium - Nettle Leaved Bellflower
Cardamine pratensis - Lady's Smock, Dairy Maids
Catananche caerulea - Cupid's Dart
Centaurea cyanus - Cornflower
Centaurea montana - Perennial Cornflower
Convallaria majalis - Lily of the Valley
Delphinium (Consolida) ajacis - Larkspur
Dianthus plumarius - Pink
Digitalis purpurea - Foxglove
Echium vulgare - Vipers bugloss
Eryngium maritimum - Sea Holly
Fennel
Fillipendula hexapetala - Dropwort
Fillipendula ulmaria - Meadowsweet
Gallium oderatum - Sweet Woodruff
Gallium verum - Lady's Bedstraw
Geranium phaeum - Mourning Widow
Geranium pratense - Meadow Cranesbill
Hesperis matronalis - Sweet Rocket
Hollyhock
Hypericum perforatum - St John's Wort
Hyssop
Inula helenium - Elecampane
Iris
Iris foetidissima
Iris germanica 'Florentina' - Orris Root
Isatis tinctoria - Woad
Lathyrus oderata - Sweet Pea
Lavender
Leucanthemum vulgare - Ox Eye Daisy
Lillium candidum - Madonna Lily
Linum perenne
Lonicera pericymenum - Honeysuckle
Lunaria biennis - Honesty
Lychnis coronaria - Rose Campion
Lychnis flos-cuculi
Paeonia officinalis - Paeony
Papaver rhoeas - Corn Poppy
Papaver somniferum - Opium Poppy
Passiflora caerulea - Blue Passion Flower
Pennyroyal
Peppermint
Pilosella aurantiacum - Fox and Cubs
Polemonium caeruleum - Jacobs Ladder
Primula auricula - Auricula
Primula veris - Cowslip
Primula vulgaris - Common Primrose
Prunella vulgaris - Self Heal
Pulsatilla vulgaris - Pasque Flower
Rosemary
Rue
Sage
Salvia sclarea - Clary Sage
Saponaria officinalis - Soapwort
Scillia non-scripta
Silene - Catchfly
Snowdrop
Spearmint
Thyme
Various Roses
Vinca major and minor Greater and Lesser Periwinkle
Viola oderata - Sweet Violet was a very popular plant
Viola tricolor - Heartsease

Wow, where do we begin....
Is there one source in which we could find the history of these plants. I can't ask you to type it up, that's far too much but I could look it up myself.
It's interesting that many roses qualify as Karen has been a rose lover since her grandmother let her help in the gardens many many years ago.
Thankyou for finding such a large list Baa.

Try this Gwydion:http://www.englishgarden.com/

Its amazing isn't it how similar the plants we grow today were known so long ago.

I don't mind the typing but there is a nice book which is written and published in America called Gardening with Heirloom Plants by David Stuart and published by Readers Digest. Its a good starting point for Britsh and American heirloom plants.

Other sources are old herbalist's books such as Culpepper or Gerard which can be found under various guises. There are no end of publications which use these sources but as to one book ... there isn't one I can think of with lots of information. If you know of a historical house with gardens which have been restored to their former elegance you may be lucky and be able to obtain a list of plants grown there.

It all depends on what your friend is looking to do with the garden. If it will be a mainly heirloom garden .. what period of history. For example, there are books and information available about medieval gardens or Victorian gardens which will have some history and plants listed. A general heirloom garden is harder to find information about.

Hi Baa and Sis;
I've just been reading this entire thread to my girlfriend. She has no computer as it was left at the other house so joining DG would be pointless right now.
Karen would like to thankyou both very much for your help in her garden quest.. She hadn't thought of a medieval garden until this minute but that idea definately intrigues her.
We will go on the hunt for information on the medieval garden bed. Your shared knowledge is appreciated.
(she says thie 15 dollars I spent to be here is the best 15 dollars she didn't spend:)

This message was edited Monday, Nov 12th 2:29 PM

Oh Gwydion,you must check this site;http://www.gothic.net/~malice/

That is so cool Sis! Did you read the section in "witches gardens" that explain what flower or herb of the well known potions really were? ie; Bats wings is really Holly?
How many times did we see a movie or read a book and they were gathered around the cauldren adding "blood of a rat" or "an eyeball of man" and envisioned those things literally... ewww.

ROFLOL,no I didn't Gwy,was so excited when I discovered it, dropped everything and posted for you,lol' Sounds sooo intriguing now I must go read it too' See ya and hope it doesn't scare me too much,lol' Sis'

Here are some links which may be interesting (unless you have settled on a Gothic Garden LOL)

http://home.netcom.com/~janeabbt/flowers/welcome.html

http://www.cottagegardener.com/medieval.htm

http://www.labelle.org/garden.html

http://www.cix.co.uk/~museumgh/

http://www.datasync.com/~haldan/athanor/garden.htm

http://www.outerbanks-nc.com/elizabethangardens/

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/herbgdn1.html

The plant list in the link "Museum of Garden History" is incredible. Thanks Baa.
Everyone be wary of the wish list I am creating. I think I will make a seperate one for Karen herself (she doesn't have a computer anymore) is that allowed?