Plant of the month

Each month we showcase a plant from the gardens.

Plant of the Month

October 2026

As you walk towards the Pavilions from the fountain end of the Broadwalk you cannot fail to notice on the left, Salvia uliginosa or ‘Bog sage’ with its electric clear sky-blue flowers.

This is a robust, clump forming herbaceous perennial, preferring a south facing sheltered and sunny site with a reasonably rich moist soil, of which it would have traditionally been said, should not dry out in summer, however, it has survived this summer very well.

All our plants of the month

Louise Cunningham 01/09/2026 Louise Cunningham 01/09/2026

Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’

Ethiopian black banana (or Abyssinian red banana)

The tropical style planting in front of South Lodge on the Thompson Road drive this year extends round the cottage, giving an even more spectacular effect. The most dramatic plant contributing to this is E. ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, with its huge paddle shaped leaves, olive green with red midribs and rich burgundy developing on the undersides. These don’t shred in wind as the other banana related plants do. It is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial which can reach 3m by 2m.