3 Easy Plants for a Majestic May Garden

[@parttimeninja5521]

Heuchera are so underrated and don't get the spotlight they deserve! These plants have aweome foliage with a myriad of colors, they are resilient, winterhardy, low-maintenance, and exceptionally beautiful 🍁

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for my delayed reply. You summarise them perfectly, such an easy way of really brightening up the garden and adding a splash of colour to a backdrop of green!

[@emmagunston446]

Starting AND finishing on the gunnera is just unnecessary George! 🙄🤣🤣🤣 All looking absolutely gorgeous, love my shuttlecock ferns this time of year too. My others faves are the rheums, already showing nice big ish leaves. How good is Remi? He looks so much like Frankie, but Frank would be frantically digging your gorgeous borders 😂 As you know all my stuff is in pots and he's bad enough for getting to those 🙄 Thanks for sharing as always. P.s. Hipster Coffee made me laugh 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yep, completely unnecessary but equally had to be done! I only had chance to share the highlights this week but it's great to see plants actually growing rather than just borderline surviving isn't it! Rheum are lovely too and I always enjoy the Rodgersia appearing too. I think it's probably fair to say you saw Remi at his best, he doesn't tend to dig but is usually hyper and very full on, goading Max into chasing him around the garden! It sounds like you need to raise your pots up (slightly!), I'm pleased to hear Frankie is proving to be a proper character though haha! Hopefully we get to enjoy some more sunshine and hipster coffee very soon!

[@GrowTropicalMK]

I am proper into the Heuchera at the moment ! I agree they bring an awesome front to the tropical backdrop. Those Gunneras look crazy big already!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks, they’re definitely a worthwhile plant to finish off a bold and colourful tropical display or border. There’s some zingy colours available. Yes, the Gunnera have grown incredibly well in this wetter weather and they’re certainly a plant which does most of it’s growing earlier on so I’m excited to see where they’re at in a month or so!

[@GrowTropicalMK]

@GeorgesJungleGarden Absolutely huge I should imagine :-)

[@craignorthern9480]

Hi George those gunneras are amazing

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Craig, they're coming on nicely!

[@Knobblytyressoggysocks]

Here for my dose of envy 😅 such a beautiful garden George. Love the fire pit area 👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha thanks, it's coming together now! As always it's an eclectic combination of rarities, basic colour and the plants I've always enjoyed growing but it's definitely encouraging to see it developing as a whole more. Take inspiration from it, add your own spin and avoid making my mistakes and you'll end up with a far better garden in less time!

[@TropicalDanUK]

Yes I'm already onboard with all of those. The shuttlecock ferns have spread so fast I'm talking 2 or 3 metres in one year! Great form though. My John Phillips was, like yours, a 2L cutting in 2022 and is now a metre high and wide. Also amazed how large the rosette of leaves are! Got several heucheras of varying colour and amazingly they were evergreen this winter. My azalea has been a spring highlight this year but other than that I'm still putting structural foliage plants in. (And lots of unfinished hard landscaping). Can't wait until it's actually warm!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Fantastic Dan, I did think a lot of gardeners who watch my vids might be as these plants give so much at this time of year whilst needing so little. 2 or 3 metres of spread really is something isn’t it, I’m guessing you have damp soil which suits the ferns well? John Phillips is one of my favourite exotics here and I love the honey scent at this time of year. Heucheras are generally evergreen for me too, I planted a few when we moved in and some have disappeared whilst others still look colourful and impressive. Azaleas can definitely look stunning in the right setting for sure. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed some sun this week!

[@wesleyhackney]

I bought a couple of ostrich ferns to plant but have not done hope it’s not too late. I see you like Heuchera I love Coleous what a stunner of rich colors

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Nice one, get them in but make sure they get a good drink of water! Yes, Heuchera & Coleus really are great for emulating those proper tropical or tropical style bedding schemes and repeating the colours of larger plants aren't they. A rainbow of vivid shades to choose from!

[@richardjohnson7984]

Great short video George. I always look forward to your posts. I stopped growing Heuchera for the exact reason you said however I replaced them with some amazing tall double begonias which were amazing in the same soil. I'm trying to grow things that don't seem to have many pests and begonias are ticking my boxes!

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Richard and begonias are lovely, I’ll be adding a few more this year. It’s all about experimentation isn’t it and slowly building a repertoire of plants you know perform well in your garden without hassle and worries 😊

[@BeatriceGardens]

Omg that's more money 😂 at least I don't have to find more room on my window seal where my banana plants are enjoying the sun😊 thanks George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Haha yes, that's how I feel when seeing plants in the various Facebook groups! Hopefully you're banana plants will be ready for hardening off and enjoying the actual sun outside very soon!

[@markchitty6505]

Great Vid George ... love different colour Heuchera, got many in my garden just for that reason.. colour, along with different ferns which seem to be growing very well now.. everything seems to be coming to life and pushing out new growth... just waiting for the gingers to show up lol :)

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much as always Mark and pleased to hear you're a Heuchera fan as well! I enjoy growing too many plants to really focus on the simplicity of basic planting scheme with repetition and impact but Heucheras would certainly feature in an easy but bright and colourful tropical design and I use them as little pops of colour here whenever I see a nice one! Great to see everything starting to come to life isn't it! It might be a while yet for the gingers but hopefully a month of nice weather and they'll get round to making an appearance!

[@PaulConnor100]

Lovely plants George , Heuchera's are a very versatile little plant everyone needs one lol! 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks and they are indeed! For somebody brave enough to buy a load of them, they'd look fantastic in large numbers combined with more overtly tropical planting.

[@MazTierney-bx7zo]

The ‘Nigella’ of gardens 😂 Love the videos

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Oh dear haha, I'll take that as a compliment! I'd like to think that whilst my adjectives can be a little too repetitive and hyperbolic at times, they don't border on a being innuendo ridden and suggestive (most of the time!). Thanks!

[@likbesurartproduction]

Like' 80..taman dan tanaman yang bagus kawan.... senang ketemu channel anda ❤❤❤ 7:29

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you 😊😊😊

[@shineamen3107]

The three of them are just superb! Hi Remi! Thank you George!🙋‍♂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you Bernard! Remi says Hi 🐶 Getting round to replying to previous comments today after a busy week or so, don’t think I’m ignoring you and I appreciate your insights as always 😃

[@shineamen3107]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thank you so much George, but pleaase, don't worry! See you!💚

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

See you soon Bernard!

[@jayearl3591]

Don't get me started with Heuchera's and pesky vine weevils! I find they are best split each year and spread out to limit the risk of them getting attacked. On an unrelated note, have you thought about checking on Google Earth to see if you can see those Gunneras via satellite? 😁

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hey Jay and apologies for my delayed reply. Yes, the weevils can be a real issue can't they - splitting them up and spreading them out seems like a good way of hopefully keeping some from them though. Haha yes, they're ridiculously big now, it wouldn't surprise me if you can see them on there!

[@johnk2979]

Looks amazing fella. Just started a new semi tropical style garden up on north east coast of the UK and your videos have really helped. Never been so jealous of someone elses garden 😂

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks John! Pleased to hear my vids are helping you with your own semi-tropical style garden adventure! No need to be jealous (although there's plenty of other gardens I see and think wow!), it really is about the journey of developing your own space and style and seeing it come together. There's parts of my garden which I'm very pleased with, others don't quite click yet and parts that are a complete mess but that's all part of the fun and it all comes together with time. Good luck with all your spring plans and planting!

[@adbates24]

Got to say mate your gardens really starting to look bang on! Something completely out of mine and most others imagination! Been following your Mediterranean fire pit area and that euphorbia is definitely on my wish list! Question - have you ever tried oleander? Recently got a white flowering one, think next to that euphorbia would look good! 💭

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! It's certainly a journey and there's parts which aren't there yet, but others sections are really coming together thanks. Most of it was planned in advance but there's certainly been some evolutions and changes on the way! You'll love the Euphorbia. As for Oleander, I had one in a pot and it's nice but ultimately I decided to go with red hot pokers as my repeated flowering plant of choice as they tie in with the strappy leaves further down. White would certainly go well with the Euphorbia though so hopefully so you can give the combo a go!

[@MaxineChambers-y5o]

Always look forward to your videos George, you have a good presenter’s voice. I grow some of my shuttlecock ferns at the base of the tree ferns. The lime green fronds are set off against the dark trunks. I’m not a huge fan of heucheras, but the amethyst looks nice and I have recently noticed some new varieties with contrasting vein detail… I may try for ground cover. I’ve recently discovered Bergenia, there are many varieties, excellent flowers this time of year, begonia type leather foliage giving good ground cover, cheap as chips and hardy as. My new favorite filler.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you very much! It's taken me around 200 videos to calm the speed and nerves down to an acceptable level but if I can talk about three random plants enthusiastically and still sound sane and informative I'm happy! Shuttlecock ferns work well with tree ferns don't they and you'd assume would naturally be able to cope very well with the intense root competition. As for Heucheras, yes, I get they generally cross a certain line between sophisticated and subtle plants and BRIGHT COLOURS & TROPICAL VIBES but you're right, there are more fitting and delicate versions available - some lovely green forms with slight variegation like a Cyclamen leaf. Sometimes I do just like mixing things up and having experiments in parts of the garden so whilst I'm sure I could develop a tasteful, nearly entirely green and naturalistic paradise, it wouldn't stay that way for long! As for Bergenia, I completely get them. There's been a few times in garden centres where I've been on the fence and never really gone for them but I can certainly see them working and might end up there eventually! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@DonMurrayYT]

Nice one George. I’ve got all three. Heuchera are a real winner. Easy to propagate too. I’ve also got heucherella which have better flowers and flower for longer. Last cold night for us here last night, so it’s all systems go now.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Good stuff! I suspected some people would have but I thought it would be a worthwhile idea to share some of the easy and beautiful plants which have their place in my garden before inevitably moving onto some more obscure and niche plants soon enough! Heucherella are lovely too and it's certainly worth going to a nursery or garden centre where you can see a large range isn't it. The flowers are a real bonus but for me, it's those shots of foliage colour which the tropical areas won't quite bring for another month or so that really make them worthwhile in a vibrant tropical scheme. Yes, it's an exciting time isn't it. A bit early for me to plant our the tender stuff just yet but I spent a couple of hours yesterday moving things out to the polytunnel where they can benefit from the warmer weather while the outdoor soil gets up to temperature. Good luck with your summer plans and planting!

[@irismoles9369]

Thankyou George Remi is lovely

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thank you! He's generally my garden companion dog whereas Max is very much a fair weather hound, only really coming out when the sun is shining! If they're both out together then they're usually charging around the back of the borders causing mayhem!

[@irismoles9369]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden bless

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

When they're well behaved, they're a lovely pair of boys! Wired up completely differently though!

[@bellsibub9951]

That's the one I was referring to! The Euphorbia x pasteurii ‘John Phillips. Gonna have to get one. Love the fern too. How big do the Heuchera grow?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Oh nice one, I thought I labelled this in the other video which is why my mind went to the whiter one even though you said yellow / green. They’re both lovely plants! As for the Heucheras, they vary, some are more compact at around 30cm, others get larger and around 50-70cm so I’m sure you can find a colour and size you like!

[@angiej4865]

Excellent video - perfect plants for my new garden. Thank-you.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks Angie! Make sure you leave space for the Euphorbia but it really is one of the finest exotic / Mediterranean style foliage plants for sunny gardens 😃

[@angiej4865]

​@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks for replying George. Yep, I've got the space. I only bought the place in December so my ideas are developing. I need screening on the south end of the garden and other plants that will tolerate summer shade so ferns will be ideal.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Lovely and what an exciting opportunity! I hope some of the other garden tour videos on my channel provide more plant ideas and inspiration 😊

[@DJSupaflyguy]

👌👌👌👌

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Thanks as always!

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

The Heucheras work teally well with Brunnera and under palm trees. George I think ive found a Tetrapanax T Rex plant. Main question is, how hardy, best site and soil, shade or sun? Best way of protecting, and it it true the suckers run about about like Sasa bamboo or Rhus, far from the main stem. Thanks George.

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi and apologies for my delayed reply, finally getting caught up with comments after a busy month! As for Tetrapanax question, they're reasonably hardy and get tougher when bigger - I've done a vid about them if it helps. They're certainly root hardy but as you've identified, that can be a gift and a curse. They don't spread like a bamboo but are likely to sucker even a considerable distance away from the main plant particularly if the growing point is damaged or the roots are disturbed. They don't really enjoy or require wrapping so I'd always grow them on until they have a good woody stem before planting out the following spring. They can grow well in most light and soil conditions but they ideally don't want to dry out in summer.

[@roguedungeondelver5738]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden Of course George, there's no problem at all. The T Rex was already bought but I did find two Schefflera Taiwaniana plants, there planted in semi shade in a loamy soil, some with acidic humus and some with only a little but are doing really,.keeping water levels balanced and humidity from misting. Both are planted near walls. Thanks George

[@slimsassi2513]

hey whats that huge plant to your side ar 0:08 thanks

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, it's my Gunnera x cryptica, known as Gunnera manicata until recently. Huge leaves and a properly bizarre looking plant!

[@missdimples1982]

Hi George, do you recommend nematodes to fight against vine weevil?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hi, I nearly mentioned them but decided not to as I haven't had the direct experience myself but yes, if I could pinpoint the issue to vine weevils and had a chance to eradicate them from surrounding or potted plants then I'd certainly explore the nematode route.

[@missdimples1982]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden I'm going to give them a try, I found some in a pot that I was growing a Passion Flower in and I wondered why it had stunted growth

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Oh right, in that case, I’d certainly go for them and hope they work for you. Let me know how you get on, I hope the plant recovers quickly 😊

[@Mattporter18]

Where can you buy gunerra?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Technically they should be restricted currently but you'll still likely find them at most large garden centres and aquatic pond suppliers. Whether or not they're genuine manicata / x cryptica or just mislabelled tinctoria is a different matter entirely...

[@Mattporter18]

Why the restriction?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

If you check out my Gunnera ban video from late last year it goes into it more but essentially invasiveness concerns over the tinctoria genes in plants sold as manicata. A bit of a controversial decision in the exotic gardening community!

[@craignorthern9480]

Mine has leaves that are turning yellow do you have any advice?

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Hmmm, yellowing can be a few things, it can mean overwatering but that's unlikely with Gunnera or could it be a possibility that there's a nutrient issue? Either a deficiency or they've been given too much feed in one go?

[@craignorthern9480]

Yeah thanks for that. I did chuck loads of chicken manure pellets down. Maybe to many to early 👍

[@GeorgesJungleGarden]

Potentially, I’d hope it’ll green up as it gets warmer, it could be down to the sudden influx of nutrients or all the rain, sometimes the first leaves can just look a bit off anyway 👍

[@craignorthern9480]

@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks George 👍