Gardener's World by Adam Frost

Author:Adam Frost [Frost, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781473533103
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Myrtus communis (Common myrtle)

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This Mediterranean shrub has aromatic, evergreen leaves that work well in stews and as a replacement for bay. It likes a sunny, well-drained spot and I’ve found it to be hardy in my garden, but if you are worried about hardiness then it would be happy in a container, which you can bring indoors to overwinter. I tend to clip myrtle into dome shapes but if left unpruned it can grow to 3m (10ft). The sweetly scented flowers, which are white with a pink flush, are followed by a dark purple, almost black berry that holds all winter. Pictured here.

Mentha ‘Blackcurrant’ (Blackcurrant mint)

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Launched in 2019 by Hooksgreen Herbs, this makes a great tea. I know people worry about mint being invasive, so you could grow this in a bottomless container and sink it into the ground to stop the plant from spreading out. It really does have a hint of blackcurrant, and Mrs Frost likes it in a mojito cocktail. The glossy leaves emerge flushed in a deep blackcurrant colour then turn dark green; the flowers are a soft pink.

Sideritis syriaca (Mountain tea)

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As the name suggests, this perennial plant is found in the mountain areas of the Mediterranean. It has soft, woolly, white velvety leaves and clusters of stems, which are also woolly, that carry yellow flowers throughout summer. It loves full sun and free-draining soil, so I tend to grow it in pots that I protect over winter. It can be used to make a tea that is believed to have medicinal properties and in Greece it is popular as a cold remedy. Reaches up to 60cm (2ft) tall.

Origanum ‘Hot and Spicy’ (Oregano ‘Hot and Spicy’)

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This plant enjoys a hot, sunny spot and dislikes wet winters, so is another good one for a pot. It’s really aromatic with a hot and spicy flavour and works well chopped and sprinkled over pizzas with tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. It stays evergreen over the winter, but I tend to tuck it in a sheltered space. It’s easy to forget that some herbs carry lovely flowers but this is one of them, with pretty pinky/purple blooms. I also grow it in the gravel garden, and it makes a super ground cover. Grows to about 50cm (20in).

Agastache foeniculum (Anise hyssop)

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The flowers and leaves of this hyssop are great used in salads, and apparently a tea made from them is a good cure for hangovers! The highly aromatic leaves have a strong aniseed smell. The spikes of the purple, bottle-brush-shaped flowers carry on until early autumn and the plant remains strong and vertical over winter when the stems and flowers turn a deep brown. It reaches a height of about 1m (3ft) and is a great plant for the mixed border.

Borago pygmaea (Bell-flowered borage)

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This is a cute little plant and a great self-seeder. If you don’t want to go with annual borage, then this could be for you. It’s a tough plant that works well as ground cover and handles semi-shade. It does well on free-draining soil and can grow up to 40cm(16in).

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