Erica vagans

Erica vagans (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Summer to autumn

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 60cm

Eventual Spread: 60cm

Hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

Family: Ericaceae

Erica vagans is an evergreen shrub with a bushy, decumbent or erect habit. Its leaves held in whorls , lanceolate, triangular in section, up to 1cm long an 2mm across. Its branches are glabrous and green when young, becoming brown with age. Its fragrant white/ pink flowers are bell shaped to tubular, small and appear in dense panicles.

Erica vagans Flower (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Erica vagans, commonly known as Cornish Heath, is native to western Europe, including the UK, France and Spain. In its native habitat it grows in raised bogland.

The etymological root of the binomial name Erica is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐρείκη ‎(ereíkē) meaning ‘heath’. Vagans is from the Latin meaning ‘wandering’.

The landscape architect may find Erica vagans useful as an attractive summer and autumn flowering shrub suitable for acid soils. Once established this shrub is relatively drought tolerant.

Erica vagans Leaf (19/09/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Erica vagans is attractive to pollinating insects, including butterflies and bees.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given six cultivars of this species their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993; Erica vagans f. alba ‘Cornish Cream’, Erica vagans f. alba ‘Kevernensis Alba’, Erica vagans f. alba ‘Lyonesse’, Erica vagans f. aureifolia ‘Valerie Proudley’, Erica vagans ‘Birch Glow’ and Erica vagans ‘Mrs D.F. Maxwell’.

Erica vagans prefers moist well drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral pH of soil and will not tolerate alkaline soils. It will tolerate nutritionally poor soils.

Erica vagans requires little maintenance.

Landscape Architecture

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to dappled shade

Flowering period: Late spring to early summer

Soil: Moist, well drained, acidic

Eventual Height: 2m

Eventual Spread: 2m

Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b

Family:  Ericaceae

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ is a slow growing deciduous shrub with a bushy rounded habit. Its mid/ dark leathery green leaves are elliptic with entire margins, up to 10cm long and 4cm broad. Its leaves turn orange/ red in autumn before they fall. Its orange flowers are funnel shaped, up to 7.5cm across and appear in groups of up to 12. The fruit of the plant is dry capsule.

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ Flower (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’, commonly known as Azalea ‘Golden Eagle’, is native to southeast Europe and southwest Asia. It has become naturalised in parts of the UK.

The etymological root of the binomial name Rhododendron is derived from the Greek rodon ‘a rose’ and dendron ‘a tree’.

The landscape architect may find Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ useful as an attractive late spring flowering shrub suitable for planting in soils with an acid pH.

Ecologically, Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its flowers produce a toxic nectar which, when collected by bees, produce a poisonious honey.

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ Leaf (23/05/2015, Kew Gardens, London)

The Royal Horticultural Society has given Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 2012.

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid pH of soil. It dislikes wet soils.

Rhododendron ‘Golden Eagle’ requires little maintenance. Any necessary pruning should be carried out after flowering.



Landscape Architecture

Rhododendron keiskei

Rhododendron keiskei Flower (18/04/2015, Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo, Japan)

Position: Full sun to partial shade

Flowering period: Spring

Soil: Moist, well drained, acidic

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a

Family: Ericaceae

Rhododendron keiskei is an evergreen shrub with an open habit. Its dark green leaves are elliptic with entire margins, up to 7cm long. Its pale yellows flowers are funnel shaped with wavy edges, up to 3cm across. Its fruit is capsule like.

Rhododendron keiskei Flower (18/04/2015, Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo, Japan)

Rhododendron keiskei, commonly known as Rhododendron, is native to Japan. In its native habitat it grows in rocky mountainous regions.

The etymological root of the binomial name Rhododendron is derived from the Greek rodon ‘a rose’ and dendron ‘a tree’. Keiskei is named after Keisuke Ito (1803 – 1901), a Japanese botanist.

The landscape architect may find Rhododendron keiskei useful as an evergreen shrub with attractive spring flowers suitable for acid, rocky soils.

Rhododendron keiskei Leaf (18/04/2015, Imperial Palace East Garden, Tokyo, Japan)

Ecologically,  Rhododendron keiskei flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its flowers produce a toxic nectar which, when collected by bees, produce a poisonious honey.

The Royal Horticultural Society has given the variety Rhododendron keiskei var. ozawae ‘Yaku Fairy’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Rhododendron keiskei prefers moist, humus rich, well-drained soils. It prefers an acid to neutral pH of soil.

Rhododendron keiskei requires little maintenance. Pruning should be carried out after flowering but before the new buds form.



Landscape Architecture