Today, September 1st, is the first day of meteorological autumn, and, true to form, the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” has started with (desperately needed) outbursts of rain. Of course, what is really required is steady rain, probably for weeks, or their lordships of Thames Water will no doubt keep our hosepipe ban for months. By the way, spare a thought for people further north, who have officially had a drought – according to the Environment Agency, we have only managed “prolonged dry weather”. The whole country had the driest spring for 132 years, and, though I am hearing many reports of bumper crops of stone fruit, we may well be headed for one of our worst grain harvests since 1984.
Will our future summers be as dry as this one has been? The science of climate change is complex, so it is difficult to be sure, but somehow gardeners, like everyone else, will very probably need to cope with more unpredictability. One way of doing this is to make more use of the really tough plants that cope best with this, the ones that don’t wilt after three days of hot sunshine or totally collapse at a hint of frost, though I wonder how long it will be before frosts become a real rarity, even in inland southern England.
Therefore, here are a few recommendations for what horticultural writers are wont to call “difficult areas”:
1. Lamium galeobdolon variegatum, which sounds so much better in the vernacular as “Yellow Archangel”. A non-stinging member of the nettle family, this tough perennial has attractive silver variegation on its leaves, its yellow flowers brighten a gloomy corner in spring, and its tendency to spread by runners can be restrained by a “good haircut” after flowering. It grows back quickly. There is an excellent smaller variety called “Herman’s Pride”, in which the variegation almost covers the whole leaf.
2. Ruscus aculeatus or “Butcher’s Broom”, a most unusual evergreen shrub, slow-growing to about four feet, with attractive red berries (best to buy a hermaphroditic form to be sure of these, unless you have room for more than one plant). A very good “doer” in dry shade. The dwarf cultivar "John Redmond" (20in/50cm) has the RHS Award of Garden Merit
3. Vinca minor alba “Gertrude Jekyll” (a plant I have already mentioned more than once) is a non-rampant periwinkle only 4 inches/10cm high, and basically as tough as old boots, with pure white flowers on and off from spring to autumn. If you can find it, the newer varietal called "Elisa" is said to flower more profusely.
4. Solidago sphacelata “Golden Fleece” is not any old yarrow, that often tatty “Golden Rod” lurking at the back of a tired herbaceous border, but a. well-behaved, spreading slowly; b. only 18in/45cm high; c. the most wonderfully bright yellow flowers late in the season – mine usually blooms sometime in September.
5. Galium odoratum. Its English name, “Lady’s Bedstraw”, refers to its use in centuries past as a scented addition to linen drawers and closets. Excellent under trees, with tiny white starry flowers in late spring. In dampish soil it will spread and spread, though easily pulled up for “editing”.
6. Here I will just write “variegated ivy”. Ivy (hedera) is very much a “love it or hate it” plant, with many people perhaps spooked by its reputation for killing trees or pulling down walls. However, small-leaved forms, of which there are many, are much less problematic, and a very cheerful sight, especially in the depths of winter. All make excellent ground cover, and though they are reputed to prefer shade and moisture, I have several in large pots growing in full sun, and which I have hardly needed to water throughout the hot weather of recent months. Two of the very best are “Yellow Ripple” and “White Ripple”.
If you have gaps in your borders (with parched conditions lately, I certainly have), any or all of these will fill them very well. Most are easily available in garden centres or by mail order, though Ruscus is something of a rarity.