In a Vase on a Monday - Bright Leaves in the Winter Gloom

I'm sticking with the foliage theme again this week as it is a real winter's day with low temperatures and a dusting of snow here in the Scottish borders. There are plenty plants that are evergreen and provide interest through the winter, but the one one that is standing out in my garden here is Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver'. Following the snow showers we've had over the past few days any brave early snow drops have retreated so there is not a flowers to be seen.

Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver'

Lamiums as a genus are evergreen perennials that creep over the ground forming dense matts of foliage. They make great ground cover especially in dry shady situations, on bankings or where the soil is shallow. With their rough heart-shaped leaves which are usually variegated they will brighten up a shady corner all year round.

Placed in an enamel mug it fits in with my other vintage enamel jugs in the kitchen. The tattie masher belonged to my granny and dates from the 1930's, I still use it often, built to last!

You can see the lovely silver markings on the leaves which brighten up a winter's day

On this cultivar the flowers are a dark pink mauve and appear from Spring through to late summer, often throwing out odd flowers well into Autumn and Winter.


In the garden under the Elder bush it thrives in dappled shade

The flowers


If the plant gets too big for it's space it is easily pulled out and reduced in size. My plant here at home has been in two years. Planted as a two litre pot six inches across it now happily fills a two metre by metre space under an Elder bush. On dull days I can see it from the house brightening up that border.


Thanks to Cathy at Rambling in the Garden for hosting our vases on a Monday.





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Comments

  1. Love this. A perfect way to have a vase at this time of year when we're spending more time in the kitchen than the garden.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, we need all the signs of life in the garden we can get at this time of year :)

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  2. Ahah! I have found your real name, Rona - or would you prefer Quirky Bird?! How exciting to have your own nursery even if you are without your own garden for the moment. I do like the setting for your mug of lamium foliage - apart from the paper bag of tubers it could easily be my own kitchen. I don't think I have ever seen the flowers of Beacon Silver but this is so much prettier than the ubiquitous yellow flowering lamium and I suspect it is less invasive too. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Either name is good, yes exciting and hard work running the nursery but very satisfying too. I do like Lamium they are a useful plant in the garden, especially the pink flowered varieties.

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  3. We have to be inventive in these dark. January days; your mug of Lamium really does brighten up its surroundings.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Christina, yes it's challenging to find anything interesting at the moment.

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  4. I love lamium. It is a tough, versatile ground cover – I have three different flower colors, white, dark and light pink.

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    Replies
    1. Aren't they are great value plants, and cope with more challenging garden conditions too, and add colour all year round :)

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  5. Lamium foliage does brighten up a dull day, I never thought of picking it.

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  6. Lamium foliage does brighten up a dull day, I never thought of picking it.

    ReplyDelete

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