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Plants from Tresco suitable for growing on the mainland; how to choose and cultivate them

Yes there are plants that will grow on the mainland and no there are plants that won’t grow outside on the mainland that grow on Tresco. After all Tresco wouldn’t be world famous if every one could do it. The reason Tresco is so special is the mix of plants that grow in the garden. Tresco never gets that hot or that cold, but it does get a lot of rain. Resulting in a unique mix of definite Tresco specialities and Tresco plants that will grow in many parts of the mainland.

This lecture will discuss how by a little effort you can grow some of these plants in your garden.

Before you even think about growing supposed ‘tender’ plants in your garden you have to look at your individual microclimates. There is no point trying to grow a sun loving plant in a shady spot, even if it is sheltered and there is still no point growing a shade loving plant in a sunny spot even though it is warm.

Look at your garden and write down what you have in good detail, sunny and dry or sunny and wet, shady and dry or shady and cool. Look throughout the day, to see how the sun moves through you area and even over a longer period through out the year, in high summer a slightly northerly sloping site will get sun but in winter it will remain sunless and cold. Looking in detail at the site will enable you to make a good decision on choosing a plant

Once you can label the site as either shady or sunny you should then look and the soil is it acid or alkaline? Is it moist or dry, some plants will cope with a moist alkaline soil but not one that dries out or become waterlogged in the winter. Is the soil stony or heavy clay? Clay or stony soils can be improved buy adding organic matter to hold on to moisture. However there is no point trying to change the pH of the soil. it will only revert back over time. However you can build up a good acidic layer on top of your soil by adding bracken, rotted manure or pine needles. Likewise you can add mushroom compost to make the soil more alkaline.

In general most unusual plants prefer a slightly acid soil. Adding organic matter will do this.
 
Orientation will play a part in the choice of plants. West is best and east is well not so! East facing plants after a frost will thaw too quickly and this will damage them, where as a west facing plant will thaw out slowly and thus decrease frost damage. Also allowing a plant to slowly freeze will be far better off than a plant that suddenly freezes.

Fluctuating temperatures can be as damaging as low temperatures. Plants growing in cooler conditions such as on a north facing wall or a shady border will be harden to the cold and will cope much better in cold snaps.

Once you have a site in mind think how can you (if you need to) improve it. Plants growing together will shelter each other i.e. trees growing above will shelter plants below from excess rain, wind and cold.

Obviously the winters of the south and coastal fringes are milder than those of central and northern Britain, I will discuss plants that are only suited to mild gardens, but I will discuss plants that will grow further north

Here are some good examples to improve a chosen site:

* Planting evergreen shrubs to shelter from cold winds and help to reflect warmth back to your plants

* Building a wall facing south or west will suddenly move that area from Manchester to the south of France, it will reflect heat during the day and leak heat out during cooler nights

* Adding grit to improve drainage, moisture around the roots can be fatal in damp Britain

* Build raised beds to improve drainage and to allow the soil to warm up quicker in summer

* Plant trees/larger shrubs overhead to proved shelter/shade

* Add organic matter to open up a heavy soil

* Building a green house to store young plants or pot grown plants for the winter

* Adding  water but, so crucial, if you have hard water then the only water you should use is rain water

* Compost heap, to generate good mulches for herbaceous or shallow rooted plants, and just for good garden practices.

There will be a plant for every site that you have. Many unusual plants that grow on Tresco come from the southern hemisphere, and here is where you can find some amazing garden worthy plants. There are some good plants from the northern hemisphere too, but I love the southern hemisphere plants best

Here are the 4 southern hemisphere countries with plants that will grow in your garden. Using the knowledge that you have acquired about your chosen site you can now tick or cross plants to narrow your field of view.

 
* Plants marked with an asterisk are included for general interest but are not available from Burncoose Nurseries at present.

South America

South America has a wide range of conditions from arid to almost artic to jungle. It’s the areas such as southern Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina where suitable plants can be found. 

  
Each country has certain habitats that will be perfect for your garden's microclimate.

Most of the plants below like moist soils and shade from the hottest part of day.

Abutilon vitafolum
Shrub to 3m, Full sun with moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Acca sellowiana
Shrub to 3m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Aechmea recurvata
Bromeliad, full sun to part shade, very free draining soil. Hardy to minus 5 degrees

Acca sellowiana

Azara microphylla

Azara microphylla
Grows to 3-4 metres, in part shade/part sun. Shelter from cold winds. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees.

*Bilbergia nutans
Bromeliad, full sun to full shade, very free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Blechnum chilense
Spreading fern, full sun to full shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, foliage will be killed off

Butia capitata
Palm to 5m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, with some leaf scorch

Calceolaria integrifolia
Shrub to 1.5m, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Cestrum parqui Suckering shrub to 1m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degree, though will but cut back to root stock

Cissus striata
Climber to 3m, full shade to part sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Colletia cruciata
Shrub grows to an ultimate height of 2-3 metres.  Free draining soil.  Hardy to minus 10 degrees.

Colletia hystrix
Shrub grows to an ultimate height of 2-3 metres.  Free draining soil.  Hardy to minus 10 degrees.

Crinodendron hookerianum Large shrub to 3m, full sun to part shade, acid soil. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Crinodendron patagua
Tree grows to 3 metres.  Full sun to part shade Moisture retentive soil.  Hardy to minus 8 degrees.

Desfontania spinosa
Small shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining moist, acid soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Drimys winteri
Grows to 3-4 metres.  moisture retentive soil.  Full sun to part shade.  Hardy to minus 6 degrees.

Eccremocarpus scaber       
Climber to 3m, grows very well from seed, full sun to part shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, though may be cut back to ground

*Echinopsis chilensis
Cacti to 3m, full sun, and very free draining soil. only Hardy to minus 5 if very dry in winter

Embothrium coccineum
Suckering tree to 4m, full sun to part shade, no phosphates. Moist soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Eucryphia cordifolia
Tree to 5m, lime tolerant, full sun, evergreen. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Fasicularia bicolor
Bromeliad, salt wind tolerant, full sun to part shade Hardy to minus 8 degrees if soil is free draining

Gevuiania avallana    
Tree to 4m, full sun to part shade, no phosphates. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Ochagavia carnea
Bromeliad, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Gunnera magallanica
Herbaceous perennial, to 20cm, very moist soil. full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees,

Jovellana violacea
Shrub to 1m, shade. Moisture retentive soil.  Hardy to minus 8 degrees, though will be cut back to the root stock

Jubaea chilensi.
Palm to 5m, free draining soil. full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Libertia formosa
Perennial to 70cm, full sun. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Lomatia ferruginea
Tree to 3m, full sun to part shade moisture almost boggy soil. no phosphates. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Luma apiculata
Tree to 4m, full sun to deep shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Mitraria coccinea
Epiphytic scrambling shrub, full sun to part shade, shallow roots. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Myrtus lechleriana
Tree to 3m, full sun to part shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Nothofagus dombeyi
Tree to 10m, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Persea linguae
Large shrub to 3m, full sun to part shade,  new to Burncoose. Mmoisture retentive soil. Should be Hardy to at least minus 6 degrees

Puya berteroniana
Bromeliad, full sun, very free draining soil. hardiest Puya to minus 5 degrees

	Podocarpus salignus (left) Tree to 5m, part sun to deep shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees
Podocarpus nubigenus (right) Tree to 3m, part sun to deep shade Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Rathithamnus spinosus
Tree to 3m, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Sophora macrocarpa
Tree to 3m, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Tropaeolum speciosum
Herbaceous climber to 3m, plant at base of shrubs, to allow it to grow up through shade into sun, free draining moist soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Tropaeolum tuberosum 'Ken Aslett'
Herbaceous climber to 3m, plant at base of shrubs, to allow it to grow up through shade into sun, free draining moist soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Tropaeolum polyphyllum
Herbaceous plant to 30cm, very free draining soil almost pure scree, plant tuber 20cm down. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Tropaeolum speciosum

Weinmania trichosperma

Ugni molinea
Shrub to 2m, acid soil. full sun to part shade, very wind tolerant, Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Vestia foetida
Shrub to 2m, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Weinmania trichosperma
Tree to 4m, full sun to part shade. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

South Africa

A very diverse country, from lush tropical forest to cold upland grasslands. It’s the plants from the colder regions that are suitable for the U.K. gardens. Many plants are very familiar to the U.K such as Dierama or Kniphofia.

Most of these plants below prefer full sun and free draining soil

Agapanthus praecox
Perennial to 70cm, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, though top growth will be cut to root stock in a cold winter

*Agapanthus inapertus
Deciduous perennial to 70cm, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees,

*Aloe aristata
Succulent to 20cm, free draining soil fun sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, only if dry 

*Aloe striata
Succulent to 1m, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, only if dry

*Aloe polyphylla
Succulent to 30cm, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, the hardiest aloe

Amaryllis belladonna
Bulb to 30cm, free draining soil. hot situation, by a wall. Hardy to minus 8 degree

*Aristea ecklonii
Perennial to 30cm, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

*Asparagus plumosus
Climbing plant to 2m, shade, free draining soil. roots Hardy to minus 5 degrees

*Blechnum tabulare Fern to 40cm, part sun moisture soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, though leaves will be scorched

Gunnera perpensa
Herbaceous perennial to 40cm, boggy soil in full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, if roots protected

*Melianthus comosus
Perennial to 70cm, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Melianthus major
Perennial to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees (roots only)

Protea grandiceps
Shrub to 3m, no phosphates, acid soil. full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Restio tenctorum
A Restio or grass like plant which grows to 3m, full sun moist soil. Mardy to minus 6 degrees, maybe to minus 8, but will be cut back to ground

Sparmania africana
Large shrub to 3m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 3 degrees, roots will take minus 5 degrees

Watsonia ‘Tresco Hybrids
Bulbous perennial to 70cm, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Australia

There are many plants from the south west of the country that will grow in the UK, many prefer free draining acid soil in full sun.

Acacia dealbata
Tree to 5m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Acacia cultriformis
Tree to 3m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Acacia baileyana
Tree to 4m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Acacia baileyana

Acacia pravissima

Acacia retinodes

Acacia melanoxylon
Tree to 5m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Acacia pravissima
Tree to 4m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Acacia retinodes
Tree to 3m, quick growing, lime and damp soil tolerant full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Acacia paradoxa
Tree to 3m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Callistemon laevis
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Callistemon laevis

Callistemon linearis

Callistemon rigidus

Callistemon linearis
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Callistemon rigidus
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Callistemon subulatus
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Callistemon sieberi
Shrub to 2m, (yellow flowers) full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Callistemon viridiflorus
Shrub to 3m, (yellow flowers)full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Correa backhousiana
Shrub to 2m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Cyathea australis
Fern to 3m, full sun to part shade, boggy soil. hardiest Cyathea, but only when the trunk is above 2m in height. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Dianella tasmanica
Perennial to 30cm, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Dodonea viscosa
Shrub to 3m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Eucalyptus nicholii
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus cinerea
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus camphora
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil but will tolerate periods of water logged soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus polyanthemos
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Eucalyptus perriniana
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 15 degrees

Eucryphia moorei
Tree to 4m full sun to part shade, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil, no phosphates. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea 'Olympic flame'
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea 'Mount Tamboritha'
Prostrate shrub to 20cm, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Grevillea victoriae
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 5 degrees

*Kunzea ericoides
Shrub to 4m, full sun,wind tolerant, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Leptospermum lanigerum
Shrub to 3m, full sun, tolerates periods of wet soil, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees,

Leptospermum polygalifolium
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Leptospermum grandiflorum
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Lomatia tinctoria
Suckering shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca squarrosa
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca squamea
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca pulchella
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

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