Ace of Spades

Articles by Ace of Spades:

Pick a Plant – Poinsettias

There are few plants more associated with Christmas than the colourful poinsettia, which frequently doubles as a decoration and a gift. It’s not easy, but you can keep poinsettias for another year of colour.

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Cryptomeria – for autumn colour in the middle of winter!

At this time of year the rich autumn colours are spectacular, if short-lived. When thinking of plants which exhibit great autumn colour, one automatically thinks of deciduous trees and shrubs which turn lovely shades of gold, copper and scarlet in the months of September and October. However, come November the leaves are gone and all that is left are the bare branches. For something with a longer period of interest it is well worth considering some of the Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) cultivars.

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Pick a Plant – Hydrangea

One of the most frequent groups of plants we are asked about is the Hydrangea family. The main ones grown and sold in this country are the Hortensias (the familiar mop-headed hydrangeas) and the Lacecaps which are a smaller group, producing flatter, large heads of fertile flowers around which are borne a ring of coloured ray florets.

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The Lucky Rowan

In this article I am going to write about the Rowan tree, better known to horticulturalists as Sorbus. It is one of Scotland’s most famous trees, sung about by countless generations of Scots both at home and overseas and regarded by many as a talisman to ward off evil spirits.

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