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Plant list: Foamy plants
Foamy, frothy plants are perfect fillers where you have a space in abed or border, and they are effective at softening the edge of a planting display.
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Latin name: | | Gypsophila |
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Common name: | | Baby’s breath |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | White, pink |
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Leaf colour: | | Mid-green |
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Height and spread: | | 25cm to 75cm x 30cm (1ft) to 75cm (10in to 2.5ft x 1ft to 2.5ft) |
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Description: | | This is a favourite plant with florists as it bears lots of small round flowers all over its thin, branching wiry stems. For a second flush of flowers, trim back after first flowering. Needs sun and prefers deep, well-drained soil.
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Latin name: | | Nigella damascena |
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Common name: | | Love-in-the-mist |
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Type of plant: | | Annual |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Blue and white |
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Leaf colour: | | Bright green |
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Height and spread: | | 60cm x 20cm (2ft x 8in) |
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Description: | | The many petalled flowers appear above the light, feathery leaves and, if left, will develop attractive, round, balloon-like seed heads. Deadhead to prolong flowering. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
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Latin name: | | Thalictrum |
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Common name: | | Meadow rue |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Yellow, lilac, mauve and purple |
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Leaf colour: | | Grey-green to mid-green |
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Height and spread: | | 1m to 1.5m x 30cm to 60cm (3ft to 5ft x 1ft to 2ft) |
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Description: | | Grown as much for the attractive, divided foliage as their bunched heads of fluffy flowers. Enjoys full sun or partial shade and well-drained soils.
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Latin name: | | Verbena bonariensis |
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Common name: | | Verbena |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial, commonly grown as a half-hardy annual |
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Hardiness: | | Half-hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Purple-blue |
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Leaf colour: | | Dark green |
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Height and spread: | | 1.5m x 60cm (5ft x 2ft) |
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Description: | | From a basal clump of leaves, wiry stems rise up and bear tufts of tiny flowers. It may need staking, and prefers sun and well-drained soil.
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Latin name: | | Tiarella |
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Common name: | | Foamflower |
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Type of plant: | | Perennial |
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Hardiness: | | Hardy |
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Flower colour: | | Pink, white |
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Leaf colour: | | Pale to dark green, maybe stained red |
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Height and spread: | | 10cm to 20cm x 30cm (4in to 8in x 1ft) |
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Description: | | Evergreen perennial that is shade tolerant, prefers moist soil and makes a great ground cover plant. In spring spikes of many tiny feathery, white flowers arise above the attractive leaves, which may turn red in winter.
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