September Tree of the Month

Common name: Mountain Ash
A broadly conical small to medium sized tree. Clusters of white flowers in late spring are followed by orange to red berries.

• Best Month/Season: Summer, autumn.
• Soil: Moist, well drained
• Rate of Growth: Average
• Flowering Period: White flowers in summer, followed by red fruits in autumn.
• Flower Colour: White
• Other Features: Mass of double red flowers that stay on the tree longer than most varieties of flowering cherry.
• Suitable for: Small gardens, large tubs, balconies, housing estates.
• Eventual Height: 10m
• Tolerant of: Winds, frost, pollution.

October Tree of the Month

Common name: Bottlebrush tree
Latin name: Callistemon Citrinus "Splendens"
This is an evergreen tree which will grow outdoors in milder areas in Ireland. It flowers usually in the months of July and August.

It requires a sunny, sheltered site free from wind. It will grow in most soils but is unsuitable in heavy clay or shallow chalky soils. The name derives from the Greek word Kalos (beautiful) and Stemon ( Stamen) which are the red elongated flower parts that create the unusual flowers.

Flower Power

We have selected a number of October flowering herbaceous plants that can be used for either borders or for under planting a large tree. These plants flower annually, though some like the Nepeta six hills giant (catmint) are best cut back at the end of the summer. Trees can be under planted by herbaceous plants to give you a show of colour- shade tolerant plants like persicaria, astillbe and hemerocallis are particularly effective. The advantages herbaceous plants have over bedding plants is that they come back every year and are hardier.

Campanula white clips

Nepeta six hills giant (cat mint)

Astillbe fanal (red) / Astillbe Gladstone (white)

Asthemis e.c Buxton

Persicaria darjeeling red

Hemerocallis Stella d'ograver

Salivia nemerosa "Black"

Scoreopsis grand early sunrise (double - butter daisy)

The Davinci House