McArthurGlen – Ashford
Plants are an essential part of the McArthurglen sites and help us all to feel better and be happier.
Urban Planters and McArthurGlen wanted to help share some informative and easy to understand details of some of the plants we use around the centre you are visiting today. Looking at the plants around you, can you identify which location you are in?
If you have any questions about the plants on site please visit the McArthurGlen Guest Services and they will be more than happy to assist you. Enjoy the planting and thank you for taking the time to learn about our plants.
Location 1
Hebe
Plant info: Bushy evergreen shrubs with purple, pink or white flowers in summer and sometimes in spring and autumn too. The leaves can often be variegated and tinged pink.
Fact: A Hebe with small, scale-like leaves are called ‘whipcord’ Hebe. Usually dense and compact, they are tougher than Hebe with larger leaves.
Native to: Australia and South America.
Stachys byzantina
Plant info: Stachys is a wonderful evergreen perennial, mostly grown for its rich rosettes of showy velvety, silvery tongue-shaped leaves which resemble lamb’s ears.
Fact:. Purple/pink flowers sometimes appearing striped, bloom in Summer which strongly attract butterflies.
Native to: Armenia, Iran and Turkey.
Dryopteris affinis
Plant info: A semi-evergreen garden fern, bearing a shuttlecock of long, upright, pale green fronds with contrasting brown scaly stems in spring.
Fact: Grows up to 3-4ft tall and will reliably appear year after year.
Native to: Europe and Asia.
Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’
Plant info: A compact, dome-shaped or taller evergreen, with dense clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers.
Fact: Grows well in almost any soil and flowers in May, June & July.
Native to: North China and Eastern Asia.
Location 2
Hebe
Plant info: Bushy evergreen shrubs with purple, pink or white flowers in summer and sometimes in spring and autumn too. The leaves can often be variegated and tinged pink.
Fact: A Hebe with small, scale-like leaves are called ‘whipcord’ Hebe. Usually dense and compact, they are tougher than Hebe with larger leaves.
Native to: Australia and South America.
Stachys byzantina
Plant info: Stachys is a wonderful evergreen perennial, mostly grown for its rich rosettes of showy velvety, silvery tongue-shaped leaves which resemble lamb’s ears.
Fact:. Purple/pink flowers sometimes appearing striped, bloom in Summer which strongly attract butterflies.
Native to: Armenia, Iran and Turkey.
Dryopteris Affinis
Plant info: A semi-evergreen garden fern, bearing a shuttlecock of long, upright, pale green fronds with contrasting brown scaly stems in spring.
Fact: Grows up to 3-4ft tall and will reliably appear year after year.
Native to: Europe and Asia.
Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’
Plant info: A compact, dome-shaped or taller evergreen, with dense clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers.
Fact: Grows well in almost any soil and flowers in May, June & July.
Native to: North China and Eastern Asia.
Heuchera ‘Marmalade’
Plant info: Semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennials with attractive, round, lobed leaves and small tubular flowers.
Fact: Super attractive to butterflies. This species is also known as ‘Coral Bells’.
Native to: Woodlands of North America.
Prunus ‘Amanogawa’
Plant info: In late spring it’s smothered in semi-double, pale pink blossom. The foliage is green-bronze in spring and fresh green in summer. In autumn, the leaves turn orange and red before falling.
Fact:. Known for attracting bees, beneficial insects and other pollinators.
Native to: Japan.
Location 3
Achillea millefolium
Plant info: A common perennial wildflower. It has feathery, aromatic leaves and flat, white flowerheads.
Fact: They are attractive to a range of pollinators, particularly hoverflies. They have a strong spreading habit and come in a variety of colours.
Native to: Europe, Asia and North America.
Betula pendula
Plant info: This hardy, light-demanding tree can grow 15-25 metres and live for around 100 years. Silver birch are used to improve soil quality.
Fact:. Silver birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species – the leaves attracting aphids which provide food for ladybirds and other species further up the food chain.
Native to: Europe and parts of Asia.
Salvia nemorosa
Plant info: Salvia thrive in a sunny, sheltered spot, they produce summer-long displays of spiky, nectar-rich flowers.
Fact: The species ‘nemorosa’ means ‘of woods’, which is where the plant is typically found.
Native to: Central Europe and Western Asia.
Liriope muscari
Plant info: Evergreen forming a dense clump of narrow arching dark green strappy leaves. In late summer, small lilac flowers appear.
Fact: A trouble free plant; deer and rabbit resistant, disease and pest free.
Native to: Asia.
Location 4
Wildflower turf
Plant info: This Meadowmat Birds & Bees have a mix of 41 native wildflowers and 4 grasses that will encourage a wide variety of wildlife to this area.
Location 6
Euonymus alatus
Plant info: A large, spreading, deciduous shrub, the branchlets often developing corky wings. The leaves are oval and turn rosy-crimson in Autumn.
Fact: Flowers bloom in summer which are followed by bright purple and red fruits with bright orange seeds.
Native to: Northeastern Asia and China.
Dryopteris affinis
Plant info: A garden semi-evergreen fern, bearing a shuttlecock of long, upright, pale green fronds with contrasting brown, scaly stems in spring.
Fact: Grows up to 3-4ft tall and will reliably appear year after year.
Native to: Europe and Asia.
Deschampsia cespitosa
Plant info: An evergreen grass forming a neat tussock of narrow, leathery, dark green leaves up to 60cm long. Feathery panicles of silvery-purple flowers on arching stems in summer.
Fact: It is virtually pest and disease well and requires very little care but provides weeks of interest.
Native to: North America.
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
Plant info: An evergreen ornamental shrub that adds a splash of warm colour to the winter garden before blooming in spring.
Fact: It’s a little sensitive to light so, if possible keep it out of the full sun, as this can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Native to: Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
Location 7
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
Plant info: An evergreen ornamental shrub that adds a splash of warm colour to the winter garden before blooming in spring.
Fact: It’s a little sensitive to light so, if possible keep it out of the full sun, as this can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Native to: Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
Nepeta mussinii ‘Catmint’
Plant info: Versatile plant with scented grey/green leaves and pretty bye-violet flowers. Flowers between May – June.
Fact: It’s medicinally useful as a cough and cold remedy, stress relief and stomach distress.
Native to: Turkey and Iran.
Lavandula angustifolia
Plant info: A very popular and aromatic plants which are very easy to grow.
Fact: Lavenders are incredibly popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinating species.
Native to: The Mediterranean area.
Locations 8, 12, 17 & 27
Wildflower turf
Plant info: This Meadowmat Birds & Bees have a mix of 41 native wildflowers and 4 grasses that will encourage a wide variety of wildlife to this area.
Location 12
Hebe
Plant info: Bushy evergreen shrubs with purple, pink or white flowers in summer and sometimes in spring and autumn too. The leaves can often be variegated and tinged pink.
Fact: A Hebe with small, scale-like leaves are called ‘whipcord’ Hebe. Usually dense and compact, they are tougher than Hebe with larger leaves.
Native to: Australia and South America.
Fatsia japonica
Plant info: It is a bushy, evergreen shrub growing to 2m tall. Terminal clusters of white flowers in autumn are followed by black berries.
Fact: There is a species known as ‘Spider’s web’ due to the heavily speckled white variegation which can sometimes spread across the whole leaf.
Native to: Southern Japan and Southern Korea.
Rudbeckia ‘Goldblitz’
Plant info: A compact, clump-forming perennial has bright, golden yellow, daisy-like flowers with a striking dark-brown centre.
Flowers from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
Fact: They are incredibly popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinating species.
Native to: Eastern side of North America.
Location 13
Nepeta mussinii ‘Catmint’
Plant info: Versatile plant with scented grey/green leaves and pretty bye-violet flowers. Flowers between May – June.
Fact: It’s medicinally useful as a cough and cold remedy, stress relief and stomach distress.
Native to: Turkey and Iran.
Buxus sempervirens
Plant info: It is a vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrub or small tree. It has small, rounded to oblong, glossy dark green leaves.
Fact: The hermaphrodite flowers are inconspicuous but highly scented, greenish-yellow, with no petals, and are insect pollinated; the fruit is a three-lobed capsule containing 3-6 seed.
Native to: Europe, Northern Africa, Southwest Asia.
Fatsia japonica
Plant info: It is a bushy, evergreen shrub growing to 2m tall. Terminal clusters of white flowers in autumn are followed by black berries.
Fact: There is a species known as ‘Spider’s web’ due to the heavily speckled white variegation which can sometimes spread across the whole leaf.
Native to: Southern Japan and Southern Korea.
Dryopteris affinis
Plant info: A semi-evergreen garden fern, bearing a shuttlecock of long, upright, pale green fronds with contrasting brown scaly stems in spring.
Fact: Grows up to 3-4ft tall and will reliably appear year after year.
Native to: Europe and Asia.
Location 14
Carex
Plant info: Grown mainly for their evergreen leaves, which combine well with other ornamental grasses. The leaves can be pale to dark green, bright yellowish-green or bronze-purple.
Fact: What distinguishes a sedge from a grass is the flowering stems, which are triangular in cross section and solid, rather than round and hollow.
Native to: Carex pendula is native to the UK, but other varieties can be native to Asia.
Erysimum Bowles Mauve
Plant info: Beautiful and floriferous perennials, which have flowers appearing on tall spires for months on end. Enjoys dappled shade.
Fact: The nectar rich flowers of the Erysimum attract both butterflies and bees, increasing biodiversity.
Native to: Southern Europe.
Mahonia japonica
Plant info: With shiny leaves, these boldly upright shrubs have impressive clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers in winter through to early Spring. The flowers are followed by juicy-looking purple to black berries in Autumn.
Fact: They attract a range of pollinators before the blue-black berries grow which then attract birds and wildlife.
Native to: Southern Japan and Southern Korea.
Euonymus alatus
Plant info: A large, spreading, deciduous shrub, the branchlets often developing corky wings. The leaves are oval and turn rosy-crimson in Autumn.
Fact: Flowers bloom in summer which are followed by bright purple and red fruits with bright orange seeds.
Native to: Northeastern Asia and China.
Location 19
Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
Plant info: A vigorous, hardy, carefree, good-looking plant. It’s seasonal interest lasts longer than 6 months from early summer until well into winter and it remains attractive throughout Winter.
Fact: The raspberry pink flowers which are produced in mid to late summer then change to a rich rose colour attracting bees and butterflies.
Native to: Australia and South America.
Nepeta mussinii ‘Catmint’
Plant info: Versatile plant with scented grey/green leaves and pretty bye-violet flowers. Flowers between May – June.
Fact: It’s medicinally useful as a cough and cold remedy, stress relief and stomach distress.
Native to: Turkey and Iran.
Heuchera ‘Marmalade’
Plant info: Semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennials with attractive, round, lobed leaves and small tubular flowers.
Fact: Super attractive to butterflies. This species is also known as ‘Coral Bells’.
Native to: Woodlands of North America.
Location 20
Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’
Plant info: Firepower bears clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers in summer and in summer these flowers develop into shiny red fruits.
Fact: Its common name is heavenly bamboo however is it not part of the bamboo family and is instead a compact shrub.
Native to: Japan, China and India.
Phormium ‘Amazing Red’
Plant info: An evergreen perennial forming a compact clump of arching, reddish-bronze, sword-shaped leaves. A good accent or container plant.
Fact: This robust evergreen perennial is topped In summer with flowing stalks bearing red flowers, attracting pollinators.
Native to: New Zealand.
Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’
Plant info: Cornus alba has greyish green, white margined leaves in spring and, plus small, creamy-white flowers and clusters of white berries in autumn.
Fact: They are also known as ‘Dogwoods’, they are typically grown for their brightly coloured stems they provide in winter, when all the leaves have dropped, brightening up an otherwise bare winter garden. Native to: Siberia, North China and Korea.
Lavandula angustifolia
Plant info: A very popular and aromatic plants which are very easy to grow.
Fact: Lavenders are incredibly popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinating species.
Native to: The Mediterranean area.
Location 22
Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’
Plant info: Cornus alba has greyish green, white margined leaves in spring and, plus small, creamy-white flowers and clusters of white berries in autumn.
Fact: They are also known as ‘Dogwoods’, they are typically grown for their brightly coloured stems they provide in winter, when all the leaves have dropped, brightening up an otherwise bare winter garden. Native to: Siberia, North China and Korea.
Lavandula angustifolia
Plant info: A very popular and aromatic plants which are very easy to grow.
Fact: Lavenders are incredibly popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinating species.
Native to: The Mediterranean area.
Location 24
Cordyline australis ‘Torbay Dazzler’
Plant info: A particularly lovely cabbage palm, bearing sword-shaped leaves with green and cream stripes.
Fact: Cordyline ‘Torbay dazzler’ is known for attracting bees. It has nectar/pollen rich flowers..
Native to: New Zealand.
Bergenia cordifolia
Plant info: These easy-to-grow, evergreen perennials really earn their keep, making a year-round contribution to borders. Their large leathery leaves, often tinged red in winter, make attractive ground cover, while the flowers are an early bounty for pollinating insects. They combine well with other spring flowers in shade or sun.
Fact: Bergenia are also called Elephant’s Ears, you can see this from the large floppy leaves similar to an elephant’s ear.
Native to: Central Asia.
Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’
Plant info: An evergreen ornamental shrub that adds a splash of warm colour to the winter garden before blooming in spring.
Fact: It’s a little sensitive to light so, if possible keep it out of the full sun, as this can cause the leaves to turn yellow.
Native to: Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Plant info: Easy to grow aromatic, evergreen shrub. It is a well-suited ornamental border as well as being part of the herb garden. Copes well in coastal exposure.
Fact: Rosemary has been used in cooking since the time of the early Greeks and Romans.
Native to: Dry, rocky areas of the Mediterranean, especially along the coast.