As the new year begins, we’re going to feature a plant every month that’s a little unusual, although not tricky to grow. It could be a new variety, old but unknown or simply rarely found in our gardens. Not only are we looking forward to hearing your stories of what you’re trying out for the first time, we also think it will bring other benefits, such as improving our environment and boosting the wellbeing of gardeners.
Plant diversity is now recognised as an important pillar in building for a robust gardening future. We liken it to a sports team, with a range of skills represented in different players. As our climate changes, with weather becoming more and more unpredictable, we need to grow many types of plants that will cope with different conditions.
We hope that as gardeners all over the country cultivate something new, they’ll provide a matrix of vegetation able to cope with future challenges. This is important for wildlife, too. For example, drought-tolerant summer colour and hardy winter scent can be vital in helping to provide a whole year’s nectar supply for thirsty pollinators.