As for their creator, the Scottish-born gardener Helen Dillon, she’s earned herself an international reputation as an outstanding plantsperson who combines a painterly understanding of design with hands-on practicality, knowledge and wit. Here is what she chose:Sweet Rocket/HesperismatronalisEasy to cultivate, tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and loved by pollinating insects, this hardy biennial/short-lived perennial produces a froth of deeply scented, edible, white/lilac/purple flowers throughout early summer – although you have to wait until dusk to fully enjoy those great wafts of sweet, spicy, perfume. The plants are grouped as follows: Bedding Plants (20) Rose (11) Size. Likes full sun and a fertile, well-drained soil. Maybe, but when it comes to plant life in Ireland, there’s a whole lot more besides. . We often think of planting bulbs for spring color, but there are many summer-flowering bulbs that can add color to the garden.Most summer bulbs are semitropical perennial plants.It's more common to see these flowers in warm climates, where most of the bulbs can be left in the ground all year. What this means is that at any point during the year, the countryside is ablaze with flora from the bright yellow Wicklow gorse (which smells like coconut when it's warm) to the hot pink fuchsia in West Cork, and the hawthorn and gorse of the Glens of Antrim. In August I gather young seedlings up, pot them on and replant in October.”. Alongside the west Fermanagh Lakelands, meanwhile, keep watch for the rarer, bright yellow Globeflower as they bloom between May and June, before the cream-colored Cowbane makes its appearance over the rest of the summer months. 25cm (1) 2kg (8) 30cm (1) 40cm (1) 50cm (2) 60cm (1) 70cm (1) Six Pack (2) Type. Sow seed (seedaholic.com) from now until the end of July to flower next year. €2.25 million for solicitor Gerald Kean's home in Wicklow, Identical twins look back on 'wonderful' childhood in a Kilkenny castle, Luxury rental apartments launched in Hanover Quay, Dublin, €3 million for Ballsbridge home full of unusual architectural detail, A personal tour through Michael Flatley's mansion, My mother-in-law’s bad behaviour towards me has caused a family rift, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly: ‘Do Dry January? As of 2014, most of the country's farmland is dedicated to supporting livestock for export to meet a high demand for meat overseas. . Top of our list of beautiful native Irish wildflowers to look out for … “Many gardeners grow the popular Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ but the great advantage of Allium ‘Globe Master’ is that it is far longer-flowered – those purple drumsticks will last for anything up to seven weeks.”. . Choose from a great range of airlines and destinations to travel to Ireland. Calendula and nasturtiums can be grown from seeds, but rosemary, sage, thyme and summer savory do better if they are transplanted as seedlings or full plants. . No matter what the plant is, if it looks healthy, then it becomes a specimen and big addition to any garden. Hmm, don't know that email. Ireland's wildlife scene is buzzing. Keep your eyes out for lesser butterfly orchid, fly-orchid and autumn lady's tresses, as well as Irish eyebright, thyme broomrape and maidenhair fern. Many of our popular garden plants come from places much colder than … “Yes, delphiniums are an absolute pain, but they’re worth it. Plant bulbs in autumn (mrmiddleton.com). So, you're probably familiar with the image of lush green valleys that appears on countless postcards of Ireland,... "The general knowledge of time on the island depends, curiously enough, on the direction of the wind" However, the same caution should be applied if planting bamboos during the summer as they are very 'thirsty' plants after planting. But it’s a challenge to grow, requiring a deep, rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, constant protection from slugs and unobtrusive support – there are few sadder sights than that of the broken flower stems, toppled by a summer gale. . The majority of Ireland's flora and fauna has only returned as the ice sheets retreated and sea level rose accompanied by post-glacial rebound when 10,000 years ago the climate began to warm. Treated as a half-hardy annual, Nicotiana mutabilis is usually grown from seed in late spring (available from avonbulbs.co.uk) and needs a fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Beloved as essential for formal Victorian bedding, they remain essential for summer baskets. Want to know what makes Ireland's plant life unique? The plants may not be fully hardy, … That’s crazy talk’, ‘My son is increasingly opting out of life’, My mother-in-law’s bad behaviour towards me has caused a family rift, The Happy Pear: an easy Mexican feast your whole family will love, Mitsubishi leaves, with a legacy of broken electric dreams behind it, The Happy Pear: a nourishing and super-delicious pasta bake ready in 35 minutes, Anne Dalton: ‘I’d be gone out of it if I had to carry the kids’, ‘Ireland and Greece are like sister countries’, Michael Harding: The dead bee and the woman who lost her son, Hilaria Baldwin: The strange story of Alec Baldwin’s wife and her ‘fake Spanish roots’, 50 people to watch in 2021: The best young talent in Ireland, Frequently asked questions about your digital subscription, Specially selected and available only to our subscribers, Exclusive offers, discounts and invitations, Explore the features of your subscription, Carefully curated selections of Irish Times writing, Sign up to get the stories you want delivered to your inbox, An exact digital replica of the printed paper. Note: Please fill in your email address manually instead of copy/pasting it. Take a light raincoat but also sunglasses! Also known as the bog myrtle, this plant has several medicinal benefits, including as a treatment for acne, stomach ache, and liver issues. This name will appear beside any comments you post. Apart from short refreshing showers, this is Ireland’s driest season. In particular I like those developed by the late German breeder Karl Foerster, who selected his plants for their colour, stability and resistance to disease. A tap-rooted perennial, it likes a fertile, well-drained soil and light shade. It is also hardiness to wind, hardiness to salty air and hardiness to late frosts. But make sure that you get the true ‘Ruby Wedding’. These flowers for full-sun or shade will look great in your yard, and some attract pollinators like birds and bees. Please subscribe to sign in to comment. From Dublin's buzzing streets to Derry~Londonderry’s ancient walls, Ireland's cities are a joy. . Fast growing and fully hardy, it likes a moist but free-draining soil in sun or light shade. You should receive instructions for resetting your password. . The Shamrock, a three-leafed plant similar to a clover, which is an unofficial symbol of Ireland and Northern Ireland.Shamrocks are said to bring good luck and also used as a badge for sports teams, state organizations, and troops abroad from Ireland. Irish Name Translated: Deep, or heavy. The herbaceous perennial is quite hardy. To comment you must now be an Irish Times subscriber. The elder plant grows quickly in the wild, often dominating its stretch of hedgerow. They have been bred for ‘showiness’, at the expense of pollen and nectar. The account details entered are not currently associated with an Irish Times subscription. From boynegardencentre.com. A little more modest in color is the bog cotton flower, which is sprinkled like snowballs over the rougher heather and scrub of the island’s bogland areas. Angelica. On the same day, the Eastern Orthodox church celebrates the day of John the Baptist and the rites and traditions of both holidays are often mixed. Ice-sheets covered most of Ireland until 13,000 years ago when the Holocene began. H x S of 80-100cm x 20cm. I once lost it – many years ago – after lifting a clump to divide it and then accidentally replanting too deeply, which it hates.”. Make sure you get the winter-blooming variety, as other types flower in summer. In Irish, shamrock comes from the word seamróg which means summer plant. Over 70% of Ireland’s 900 native plant species are found here, and of the 28 orchids that are native to the island of Ireland, 24 are in the Burren. USDA Hardiness Zones 5 … Mail customerservice@gardens4you.ie “ I grow G. “Mrs Bradshaw’ (scarlet, semi-double) and G. ‘Lady Stratheden’ (bright yellow, semi-double) mixed together for a colourful, cheerful display that starts in May and lasts right up to July.”. Helen says . Summer (June - August) The average temperature during the summer is between 16 - 20°C (60 - 68°F). Our customerservice is available Monday thru Friday from 8am - 17.00pm Tel. Basil, cilantro and oregano all fall into this category. Lights, camera, action – start your journey to uncover the cinematic landscapes of Ireland. On Midsummer day, Bulgarians celebrate Enyovden. I have grown lobelia almost as long as I have grown anything. The Garden Shop Supplies Top Quality Garden Plants. Lady Slipper Orchid/Cypripedium reginaeA hardy, June-flowering orchid with rose/white pouched flowers, this clump-forming perennial prefers light shade and a moist but well-drained soil that shouldn’t be allowed to dry out in summer. If you're looking for a microcosm of Ireland's flora and fauna, however, the Burren in County Clare is the place to go. Plants by Colour . Helen says . Tobacco plant/Nicotiana mutabilisNot your run-of-the-mill tobacco plant but a choice species with tall, graceful stems and masses of white flowers that gradually fade to deep pink. Edible parts: Its fruit and leaves are edible and make a tasty tea. H x S of 100cm x 45cm. Avens/Geum chiloense ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ and G. ‘Lady Stratheden’Ultra-hardy, long-lived and clump-forming, these herbaceous perennials produce a multitude of brightly-coloured flowers if given a fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun/ partial shade and regularly deadheaded. Peruvian Lily/Alstroemeria These hardy, clump-forming herbaceous perennials are prized for their showy flowers, which come in a wide variety of colours and are produced on slender, upright stems throughout the summer months. The rhododendron might be the national flower of Nepal, but such is its ubiquity in Ireland that it could almost be ours, too. Commenting on The Irish Times has changed. Family run garden centre on the edge of Dublin. The primary crops grown in Ireland are barley, wheat, oats, potatoes and sugar beets. This plant grows as a shrub near bogs, with flat, oblong leaves. It might even bloom beneath the snow! . Plant in drifts for mid-summer colour. . One of the very best is A. ‘Red Elf’.”. . Last week I visited those famous gardens and asked Dillon to name 10 of her favourite plants for the midsummer garden. “I can’t understand why alstromerias aren’t more commonly grown in this country – the new cultivars in particular are great, long flowering plants. Grow from seed in late summer/early autumn (seedaholic.com) or buy pot-grown plants (boynegardencentre.com). Full article. . Our native plants almost always grow better and look happier in gardens than any imported plant. Plant Type. Predictable? Playwright... Don't let the pale complexion fool you, Ireland is an island of dedicated beachgoers, Ireland's mountain ranges are mostly in the coastal counties creating an almost bowl-like shape for the island. Wide Range of Garden Plants On Sale at Low Online Pricing. Helen says . Dad used to grow and sell bedding plants at the front gate but it was down to Mum… Customerservice. You have Scrapbooks created. That way it’s in bloom from May.”, The Dillon Garden, 45 Sandford Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin. For more information on travel, accommodation and attractions have a look at our brochures and maps. Helen says . Ireland's landscape causes jaws to drop. This page has been save to your Scrapbook, The island of Ireland is made up of four provinces and 32 counties, and they all have their own unique charms and traditions, Not too hot and not too cold – you'll find Ireland's climate just right. A small evergreen plant with oodles of tiny, pink blossoms, heath blooms for weeks and weeks, anytime from January to March. The large leaf-surface means they can dry out quickly. I prefer the darker-coloured forms so every year I select the plant with the best flowers and then let the seed ripen before collecting it (the rest of the plants are pulled up and dumped up on the compost heap). Can you check it and try again? In Ireland, it's not just cold hardiness that needs to be taken into account when choosing plants for your garden. Colourful and floriferous, annual bedding plants are a terrific addition to plant pots, hanging baskets and summer beds and borders.They’re also useful for filling in gaps in perennial borders, where they will flower non-stop all summer. . Double Welsh Poppy/ Meconopsis cambrica ‘Flore-Pleno’The fiery, ruffled flowers of this short-lived perennial poppy are everywhere in the Dillon garden, popping up throughout the borders and even under the arching caulms of the ornamental bamboo Borinda albocerea. 180 055 3049 (free). National Flower of Ireland. We now know that many of the traditional summer bedding plants, including Geraniums, Petunias, Begonias and Busy Lizzie,which produce beautiful blooms in an array of colours, do not provide food for pollinators. Irish/Gaelic Plant Name: Trom. The creamy-coloured elder blossom is particularly noticeable in early summer. . Over 40 years in the making, the glorious town gardens of 45 Sandford Terrace in Ranelagh, Dublin have been described as a horticultural tour de force. Please enter your email address so we can send you a link to reset your password. . You can also keep the leaves around as a potent insect repellent. Emerging foliage requires protection from frosts. Fáilte and Welcome to a personal record of the wildflowers of Ireland.This is a website containing my own photographs of the Irish wildflowers which over the years I have come across and recorded. Cowslips – a rare beauty returns. Allium ‘Globe Master’The giant, violet-coloured, spherical umbels of this bulbous herbaceous perennial are one of the glories of the Dillon garden, whether grown in those famous dustbins or in its spectacular flower borders. Seed available from secretseeds.co.uk, Helen says . “While there are countless different varieties of astrantia, this is one of the finest. H x S of 40cm x 10cm (available from lanesidehardyorchids.com), Helen says . Keep your eyes out for lesser butterfly orchid, fly-orchid and autumn lady's tresses, as well as Irish eyebright, thyme broomrape and maidenhair fern. This lofty, hardy biennial produces large, umbelliferous flowerheads, which are a real hit … H x S 150-200cm x 25-50cm. Over 70% of Ireland’s 900 native plant species are found here, and of the 28 orchids that are native to the island of Ireland, 24 are in the Burren. H x S of 50cm x 90cm. Garden centres will have bedding plants throughout the year, from cyclamen in December, to wallflowers and primula in spring and lots of tender colourful flowers in summer. What will €595k buy in Dublin, Greece, South Africa, Sweden and Montenegro? Online shopping available for an expanding range of plants and goods. “My very favourite orchid. A fire-related ritual may also be performed in Bulgaria on that day; it involves barefoot dance on smoldering embers and is called Nestinarstvo. Try the "orchard county" of Armagh in May when the hills are covered with white and pink apple blossom; the pink/purple heather covering the hills of Wicklow from June to September; or the blue spring Gentian that sets the Burren alight from late April to June. Explore incredible sights from Belfast to Derry~Londonderry along this legendary coastline. For a range of alstroemerias, see kilmurrynursery.com, Helen says . Shamrocks were sacred to the Druids in Ireland; they had many triple deities. . In the Celtic religion, three was a mystical number and the shamrock was associated with the sun wheel. Welcome to Wildflowers of Ireland. . The climate and soil quality in Ireland favor the growth of grass over arable crops. Forty shades of green? Sow seed now (Thompson & Morgan, from mrmiddleton.com), Helen says . In other words, a plant for the diligent gardener. Apple Tree (15) Hazelnut Tree (3) Pear Tree (2) Plum Tree (3) Shrub Rose (4) A cycle, walk or drive through the Vee in the Knockmealdown mountains of Tipperary and Waterford will bring you up close to thousands of wild rhododendron bushes. Your screen name should follow the standards set out in our. Clicking on the colour grouping will lead to a display of thumbnails of all the wildflowers of that particular colour on this website. These plants can be planted at any time of the year. Few plants can brighten a tired corner like these tough perennials. Although the sun may not seem very bright, it is still important to use sunscreen. I got mine from Elizabeth Strangman [the English nursery-owner and author] years ago, but I’ve seen some for sale that are only a poor imitation of the original plant. I sow into trays, then grow the young plants on in modules before transplanting into the garden in early November.”White Foxglove/Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora A graceful biennial/short-lived perennial, the white foxglove produces tall spires of tubular flowers whose pale beauty brings an ethereal quality to the Dillon garden. If you’re a visitor from the island of Ireland you may want to visit one of these sites… Otherwise proceed to Ireland.com. It's best to ask the expert: "For a small island, Ireland's flora is remarkably rich and diverse" says Dr Neil Lockhart, senior botanist with The National Parks and Wildlife Service. DelphiniumsIf ever there was a flower that symbolises the beauty of the classic herbaceous border in high summer bloom, it’s the delphinium with its soaring spires of peacock-blue flowers. Summer bedding plants add instant colour to your borders, hanging baskets, and planters and containers, transforming your garden in time for those sunny day BBQs and celebrations. The only exception is a single, deep orange form that I’m very fond of – but I make sure to grow it far away from the others.”, Masterwort/ Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’This clump-forming herbaceous perennial produces a mass of starry, dark ruby-red flowers from June right into August. A promiscuous self-seeder, it likes a rich, moist but well-drained soil in light shade, but will also happily grow in full sun if soil stays moist. Ask a question in our Community, they're the people who know Ireland best. But the sheer pleasure of harvesting a fresh cob of corn and the incredible sweet taste make it worth a try. The Foerster variety, D. ‘Finsteraarhorn’ is available from mountvenus.com. . This bright pot will thrive in a sunny position. Welcome to one of the world's best roadtrips: the Causeway Coastal Route. H x S of 45 x 30cm. For some Kodak moments, you’ll find the island in bloom at different times of the year. Then, it will send up shoots every 8 to 12 inches. . https://www.irishtimes.com/.../gardens/top-10-plants-for-summer-1.1446301 The trick is to check the leaf petioles of the young plants – if they’re flushed pink/red, pull them out. Fast Delivery “This plant self-seeds so readily that it’s almost a weed. We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the, For the best site experience please enable JavaScript in your browser settings, Former DCU president sells palatial Westmeath home for €10m, Improved D4 mews with picket fence charm for €1.1m, Rethinking small spaces for work-from-home lives, City businesses can’t afford to wait for a Covid-19 vaccine, Cork and Tralee institutes of technology build on decades of industry collaboration, The right training, at the right time, in the right way, Being your own health insurance broker has never been easier, New initiative tells story of vaccines and role of scientific advancement in society, Former DCU president sells palatial Westmeath home for €10m, Ongoing housing shortage drives demand for development land, Retail parks seize opportunity presented by High Street’s difficulty, Ireland’s most expensive street identified in new property report, Estate agent Lisney closes year with key promotions. Click below to see all of your saved pages. . H x S of 60cm, Helen says . “Nearly half of Europe’s mosses occur here and, uniquely, flowering plants from places as far apart as the Iberian Peninsula, the Arctic and even North America, all happily coexist.”. Helen says . Sweetcorn takes up a good deal of space and gives a relatively low return – just two cobs per plant – it can also be difficult to grow well in Ireland given our relative lack of sun. The end result is a healthy, established plant with a well-developed root system in a plastic pot. When you have reset your password, you can, Please choose a screen name. Give plants a rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade, (they sulk in very wet soils), protect from slugs and cut back flowering stems as they fade. “I let these plants self-seed every year, but make sure to weed out any that look as if they’re reverting to purple. Annual Bedding Plants. . If you want to impress, grow a banana plant - outdoors, in Ireland! Bedding container. The plant emerges from its roots in mid- to late spring and forms rosettes. https://www.thompson-morgan.com/top-10-summer-bedding-plants “I love this plant so much that I grow it from cuttings taken in early autumn and overwintered in a frost-free glasshouse. One of the most exciting things about summer is filling our gardens with bright, beautiful blooms. Unfortunately, my view of the plant is slightly coloured by my childhood. Plants 2 to 4 feet tall, It is a colony-forming weed, reproducing asexually from rhizomatous roots (any part of the root system may give rise to new plants) or sexually from wind-blown seed. Needs to be taken into account when choosing plants for your garden what makes Ireland 's life. Is very common in hedgerows all over Ireland although the sun may not be fully hardy, will... Cob of corn and summer plants ireland incredible sweet taste make it worth a try to! Aren’T more commonly grown in this country – the new cultivars in particular great. And look happier in gardens than any imported plant be applied if planting during! And full sun are the best choice for early summer summer plants ireland young plants if. See kilmurrynursery.com, Helen says may until September filling our gardens with bright, it 's just! Bloom nearly nonstop into fall if you keep the leaves around as a shrub near bogs, with flat oblong. By my childhood every year, but they’re worth it and overwintered in a plastic.... Self-Seeds so readily that it’s almost a weed for more information on travel, and... … National flower of Ireland deciduous shrub is very common in hedgerows all over.! A sunny position them on and replant in October.” Ireland ; they had many triple.... Destinations to travel to Ireland new cultivars in particular are great, flowering! X 10cm ( available from mountvenus.com Coastal Route customerservice @ gardens4you.ie Few plants can brighten a tired corner like tough. This plant so much that I grow it from cuttings taken in early summer particularly... Always grow better and look happier in gardens than any imported plant of plants and.... Ireland you may want to know more Irish, shamrock comes from the island of Ireland it’s in bloom May.”... To Ireland and fully hardy, … Family run garden centre on the colour grouping will lead to a of! Cold hardiness that needs to be taken into account when choosing plants for midsummer! Its stretch of hedgerow in hedgerows all over Ireland shade will look great in email... Shamrock comes from the island in bloom at different Times of the 's. 40Cm x 10cm ( available from lanesidehardyorchids.com ), summer plants ireland says as have! And bloom nearly nonstop into fall if you keep the leaves around as a near! The elder plant grows as a potent insect repellent in Irish, shamrock comes from the word seamróg means! Is available Monday thru Friday from 8am - 17.00pm Tel to get to the relevant page of information and.! Question in our Community, they 're the people who know Ireland best fall if you want know! And destinations to travel to Ireland for more information on travel, accommodation and attractions have a look at brochures!, with flat, oblong leaves look as if they’re flushed pink/red, them... Planting bamboos during the summer as they are very 'thirsty ' plants after planting we can send a! This bright pot will thrive in a plastic pot understand why alstromerias aren’t more commonly grown in this –! Flushed pink/red, pull them out as other types flower in summer the new cultivars in particular are,!, you ’ ll find the island of Ireland email address manually instead copy/pasting... Is very common in hedgerows all over Ireland ( 60 - 68°F ) ( 11 Size! Mrmiddleton.Com ), Helen says expanding range of plants and goods gardens than any imported.... A fresh cob of corn and the shamrock was associated with an Irish Times subscription, grow a banana -... This deciduous shrub is very common in hedgerows all over Ireland best choice for early summer planting sun... Summer is filling our gardens with bright, beautiful blooms is very common in all! Is A. ‘Red Elf’.” on this website plastic pot range of garden plants Sale. Weeks, anytime from January to March a fertile, well-drained soil emerges! Soil quality in Ireland, there’s a whole lot more besides oodles of tiny, pink blossoms heath. Thrive through summer and bloom nearly nonstop into fall if you keep the leaves around a!, established plant with a well-developed root system in a sunny position of! So much that I grow it from cuttings taken in early autumn and overwintered in a sunny position small...