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Postbag Edition: Regents Park

Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel visit the Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent鈥檚 Park, London, tackling gardening challenges in tough conditions.

Peter Gibbs and the GQT panel visit the Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent鈥檚 Park, London, tackling gardening challenges in tough conditions.

Pippa Greenwood, Matthew Pottage, Bunny Guinness and Head Gardener of Regents Park Fiona Packe answer questions on creating a sensory hedge in rubble, choosing resilient perennials, and finding long-flowering wildflowers for shade. They also offer advice on rescuing a struggling lavender hedge and planting to support bats.

Plus, the panel discuss managing unseasonal growth in perennials and diagnose a problem with a young monstera sharing practical tips for gardeners indoors and out.

Producer: Dan Cocker Alison Vernon-Smith and Matthew Smith
Assistant Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆社 Radio 4

*If listening on 麻豆社 Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page. /programmes/m002xpc6

Available now

42 minutes

Featured

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Plant List

Q 鈥 What could we plant to create a sensory hedge in a playground that will thrive in rubble? (03鈥26鈥)

Fiona Pack 鈥

Santolina chamaecyparissus, lavender cotton

Lavendula, Lavendar

Salvia rosmarinus (Ro), rosemary

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Carpinus betulus, common hornbeam

Crataegus, Hawthorn

Evergreen oak

Salix eleagnos, hoary willow

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

Buddleja, butterfly bush

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Philadelphus, mock orange

Philadelphus maculatus 'Sweet Clare', mock orange 'Sweet Clare'

Osmanthus

Elaeagnus

Q 鈥 Can the team recommend any exciting perennials that would thrive in extreme conditions? (08鈥44鈥)

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Salvia, sage

Euphorbia, spurge

Salvia Mellifera, California black sage

Acanthus mollis, bear's breech

Amistad

Rosa Windflower ('Auscross') (S), rose [Windflower]

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

Lupins

Crocosmia

Fiona Pack 鈥

Salvia uliginosa, bog sage

Helianthus 'Lemon Queen', sunflower 'Lemon Queen'

Amsonia, Bluestar

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Iris sibirica, siberian flag

Acanthus spinosus Spinosissimus Group, spiny bear's breech Spinosissimus Group

Kniphofia, red hot poker

Agapanthus, African Lily

Crocosmiacrocosmiiflora 'Emily McKenzie', montbretia 'Emily McKenzie'

Q 鈥 I would like to plant shade-loving wildflower seeds that will flower for several months. What do you suggest? (19鈥22鈥)

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Polystichum setiferum, soft shield fern

Digitalis, Foxgloves

Galium odoratum, sweet woodruff

Fiona Pack 鈥

Digitalis purpurea, common foxglove

Silene dioica, red campion

Eupatorium

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

Erythronium

Matthew Pottage 鈥

Erythronium 'Pagoda', dog's tooth violet 'Pagoda'

Hydrangeas

Q 鈥 鈥奡hould I leave my north facing lavender hedge to grow in the wrong spot or clear the bed and start over? (23鈥16鈥)

Q 鈥 Is there anything I could plant that are Bat friendly? (29鈥30鈥)

Pippa Greenwood 鈥

Nicotiana sylvestris, woodland tobacco plant

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Crataegus, hawthorn

Alders

Q 鈥 鈥奧ould cutting back the unseasonable winter growth actually preserve the energy of my Perennials? (32鈥00鈥)

Fiona Pack 鈥

Baptisia australis, blue false indigo

Acanthus, Bear's breeches

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Begeonias

Matthew Pottage 鈥

chrysanthemums, mums

Aconitum napellus, monk's hood

Hesperantha coccinea, crimson flag lily

Aster

Kniphofias, red hot poker

Q 鈥 What鈥檚 happened to my 18-month-old monstera plant? (37鈥39鈥)

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