I thought I would focus the Foliage Follow Up post on one border this month. This is the border which is most dependent on good foliage to look good. I have called it the Japanese Fern Border in the past as I planted it up with mainly Japanese ferns but as you can see the Impatiens omieana has started to dominate the space. I have already had to lift and remove the Cautleya spicata ‘Arun Flame’ and relocate it to the Hardy Exotic Border.
Impatiens omieana
Tucked in beside the Impatiens is a Saxifraga fortunei ‘Wada’s Form’. I do like its glossy foliage which I much prefer to Heucheras.
Saxifraga fortunei ‘Wada’s Form’
However the majority of the planting is ferns and I am stunned at how quickly they have grown in the last year.
Japanese holly fern
The Japanese Holly Fern was the fern that started off the theme and I think probably the fern that really caught my attention and interest in ferns which just continues to grow. I love its glossy fronds and it keeps these through the winter although at this time of year the old fronds need removing.
Cyrtomium fortunei
Another Holly Fern, Cyrtomium fortunei, which has more delicate fronds and isn’t so glossy. This plant has struggled a little due to the huge prostrate rosemary which overhangs it from the wall above and is cutting out some light and quite a bit of moisture.
Rosmarinus officinalis Prostratus Group
There are a few more ferns, a couple of Athryium Burgandy Lace one of which is behind the Japanese Holly Fern and seriously struggling partly because of the rosemary but also because I hadn’t anticipated the Japanese Holly Fern growing so tall so quickly.
Tucked in front of the Athryium Burgandy Lace is Polystichum Tsus-simense and there is another Polystichum just behind, this time Polystichum polyblepharum. I do like the various textures and shades of green. However, sitting looking at the border this Sunday with my eldest he commented that the rosemary was swamping the space from above and why didn’t I cut it back? Good point and well over due the rosemary got a hair cut. I decided to remove lots of branches from under the canopy as this was a very woody space and I wanted to retain the healthy looking leaves. As you can see the size of the plant is drastically reduced but I think it will benefit from the prune and it has opened up the space below to air and rain although the border now has a thick mulch of old rosemary spines.
For more Foliage Follow Up posts visit Pam over at Digging
