Five Of My Favourites With Adam Frost

Adam Frost - Gardeners World regular and multiple gold winner at Chelsea Flower show has shared his favourite plants with us... "It would be impossible to pick just one plant as my favourite, however, there are many that I love and use time and time again. I’m currently redeveloping many areas of my garden and these plants are all included."

1. Geranium phaeum var. phaeum 'Samobor' - I think the foliage of this Geranium is as exciting as the flowers. It is a tough and useful plant tolerating lots of different growing conditions, including tricky dry shade. From late spring into summer, it has small burgundy flowers that float above the chocolate-splashed leaves. It is a great plant for a woodland garden and forms a nice clump.
2. Amelanchier Lamarckii - I often use this tree in my designs and at home, I have one planted near to my front door. I like to grow them as a multi-stem tree, meaning there are many stems close to ground level. This gives the plant a lovely shape and as the trunks are bare you can still see plants around it. Amelanchiers have a long season of interest, from spring blossom to autumn colour, and the fruit can also be used in cooking. It is also an ideal tree for smaller spaces.
3. Briza Media - For me, this is one of the most beautiful grasses. In my new herbaceous border that I’m currently planting, I’m using swathes of this grass as it forms a tight mound. In summer it produces locket-shaped bunches of flowers, which give this plant its common name ‘quaking grass’ as they move in the slightest breeze. They can look translucent in the warm evening light and last late into summer.
4. Iris Sibirica ‘Tamberg’ - My favourite iris, which I’ve frequently used in Chelsea show gardens. It is a very reliable plant that is happy in a sunny spot in normal soil but also likes damp places too. The pale blue flowers, which start opening in late May, are often described as looking like the fluttering wings of a butterfly. It works with so many other colours, lifting planting schemes and bringing everything alive. A must for any herbaceous border!
5. Wisteria Sinensis - The breathtaking Wisteria that covers the front of my home is one of the reasons I fell in love with the place when we were house hunting last year. I don’t think you can beat the amazing long drooping violet flowers, which have a fantastic scent too. The new leaves that emerge with the flowers in May are a light bronze colour, turning green as they mature. In my opinion, it’s one of the best.