Plants T-Z

Tagetes is a small group from Arizona and Mexico best known for its colorful annual members now developed into numerous color forms and widely used as bedding plants and as companion plants to deter soil-borne pests in the garden. T. lemmonii is less well known. It is the only shrubby perennial member of the group and can reach 1.2 x 1.2 m in size. A stunning addition to any garden, it has feathery divided leaves which smell of ripe passion fruit when brushed even lightly, and a profusion of rich golden yellow daisy flowers in the colder months when not a lot is flowering. Best grown in full sun in free draining soil, plants will survive wiht very little additional water once established, and they are frost tolerant. Cut back as hard as you like after flowering.

There are some 50 Tradescantia species native to North and South America. Some of the trailing species are know to be rather weedy but T pallida purpurea is definitely not. It forms a sprawling patch of deep purple foliage up to 1 m across, and the color adds a great new dimension to many types of landscapes. It is particularly striking when combined with lime green or silver and blue foliage. Best grown in moist, free draining soil in full sun or light shade, it will tolerate some dryness and frosts once established (frost will burn the upper leaves but not the deepest shoots). Cut back ruthlessly when plants become straggly.

A genus of some 250 species from Europe and America, Verbena is represented by many varieties in cultivation. They are generally marginally frost hardy and do best in well drained soil in full sun. Verbena bonariensis is a great addition to any mixed planting where its slender stems add height without bulk, so that the flowers seem to float above the garden. It self-seeds readily and survives with minimal water even in dry areas.

The genus Viola contains some 500 species of annual biennial and perennial species. It includes the garden pansy as well as a range of interesting and very different species. Most will tolerate light frosts, and prefer a fertile well drained soil with some protection from the sun in warmer areas. Viola labradorica is native to North America and in ideal conditions will spread indefinitely in a woodland garden. a charming ground cover with masses of flowers in spring, but regrettably it is not scented

Vitex is a genus of some 250 shrubs and trees mainly from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most have compound aromatic leaves and are grown for their sprays of small tubular flowers. Vitex agnus-castus is native to southern Europe and western Asia. It grows best in a sunny position in improved free-draining soil with moderate water once established. It will tolerate light frosts. Although naturally bushy it can be pruned to a single stem and will develop into a small tree.

Vitex is a genus of some 250 shrubs and trees mainly from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most have compound aromatic leaves and are grown for their sprays of small tubular flowers. Vitex agnus-castus is native to southern Europe and western Asia. It grows best in a sunny position in improved free-draining soil with moderate water once established. It will tolerate light frosts. Although naturally bushy it can be pruned to a single stem and will develop into a small tree.

Vitex is a genus of some 250 shrubs and trees mainly from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most have compound aromatic leaves and are grown for their sprays of small tubular flowers. Vitex agnus-castus is native to southern Europe and western Asia. It grows best in a sunny position in improved free-draining soil with moderate water once established. It will tolerate light frosts. Although naturally bushy it can be pruned to a single stem and will develop into a small tree.

Vitex is a genus of some 250 shrubs and trees mainly from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Most have compound aromatic leaves and are grown for their sprays of small tubular flowers. Vitex ovata has potential as a hardy landscape plant suited to difficult environments such as coastal conditions and median strips. It is a low spreading shrub to 50 cm in height and a meter or more in width, with leaves unusual for the group being entire and oval. Vitex ovata is native to tropical coastlines including northern Australia where it grows on coastal sand dunes. It is best grown in free draining soil in a sunny position, and is drought tolerant once established.

Weigelas are spreading shrubs found in woodland margins in eastern Asia. They are cultivated for their showy tubular flowers borne in spring on short laterals on the previous year's growth. They are best cultivated in fertile well drained soil in a sunny spot protected from drying winds or in light shade in hotter areas. They are fully frost hardy. Weigela florida looymansii aurea is a particularly beautiful shrub with the new leaves being an almost luminous golden yellow, a perfect foil for the clusters of pink and ruby shaded flowers. The leaves age to a deeper green during summer.