Wrong plant, wrong place?

 This is a common phrase in gardening: well, the phrase is “right plant, right place” and it means that if you want to succeed with your garden, you need to choose plants which are appropriate for the position in which you want to grow them. Or, if you prefer, when you buy a plant, you need to give it the conditions it requires.

For instance, there is little point putting a plant which requires full sun in deep shade: it will struggle, and will never be glorious. Likewise, a shade-loving plant will wilt and die if planted in a position where it is exposed to the scorching sun all day: that's an example of putting a plant in the wrong place.

And there is no point planting dwarf conifers, if you need a high privacy hedge: that's more a case of buying the wrong plant.

I came across an example of this the other day: I'd been asked to clear a series of rather stylish raised beds, ready for replanting, and when I returned a week later, the owner had started the planting, with this rose:

 

Me: “Oh, that's a lovely rose, is that a temporary planting, until you decide where to put it?”

Client: “No - I thought it would be lovely just there, trailing over the edge.”

Me: (bites lips) “Ummm, it might be just a bit big for that position...”

Client: “Oh, I thought it was just right, look, it's lovely, just trailing over the edge there.”

Me: “Perhaps we could just check the label?”

Client: “Look, it says Wedding Day.”

Now, I'll be perfectly honest with you......

 

 

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