Larry Smith and the Riverside Gardens team talk all things pots, plants and pruning in their new weekly gardening column.
If you are looking for a good hit of low-growing colour for a sunny spot in your garden take a look at these tough reliable suggestions
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Rhodanthemum African eyes is a select form of the very hardy Moroccan daisy. They have a fine, silvery grey, lacy foliage that provides year-round colour and interest with a prolific display of daisy-like flowers that are produced from mid-winter through to mid-summer.
Ideal for mixed plantings in garden or growing in containers. They can also be used to spill over retaining walls and rockeries if allowed or trimmed lightly to keep them as a domed habit.
To encourage a dense, bushy habit give them a cut back in early spring and again after heavy flowering. They grow well in most soil types but require reasonable drainage and have a medium tolerance to dry conditions once established.
Rhodanthemum African eyes is easy to grow but loves a sunny spot and will give you a long display of colourful flower that are a favourite with many pollinators. In the Garden Centre we currently have rhodanthemum dark pink African eyes, pink and white African eyes, soft pink African eyes, white African eyes, and they are all in flower now.
Another African daisy that is in full show in gardens around the valley through spring and summer is the osteospermum cape daisy. These tend to sprawl a bit more than rhodanthemum daisies but require the same growing conditions and care.
In recent years there has been an explosion of colour and flower types grown for the retail garden centre industry and so we have an ever-changing variety available each week through their flowering season.
Looking great this week we have the osteospermum purple sun, pink sun, banana shake, power packed blue, 3D violetberry, 3D deep sun, spider white, and spider purple, all in bud or flower and looking very colourful.
With the lovely weather predicted for this weekend, it should be great to get out and enjoy your garden and just let your creative flair run free.
