The north face

Gardeners should consider all areas of their little demesne, says Charlie Wilkins, but especially the cold north side which can surprise with specimen planting.

I AM often asked for suggestions on what to plant against a north-facing wall, something that will be colourful and of interest for a long time.

Beginners to gardening are the first to ask for such a recommendation. They feel that the usual flowers put forward for such positions (varieties of clematis, winter jasmine, even climbing roses) have a short season of bloom and they really want a long-distance runner with good interest. I sometimes suggest ivy, but usually fail to convince, for many consider this wall-plant to be boring, uninteresting and utterly dreary. Then again, I oft-times suggest a Morello cherry, worth having for its abundant white flowers and appealing fruit in season. White flowers have always been in high fashion for if nothing else the colour will prolong the evenings. When it is almost dark, and the red and blue flowers along with all green foliage has sunk into the shadows, one can still walk around the garden enjoying ghostly, glimmering pools of white. Or you can sit indoors by an open window and look out on a scene which fades ever more slowly because these agreeable blooms keep the diminishing light alive. They have other qualities, too. They cool down colour schemes (which might be garish) and many seem to be highly scented.

Agreeable plants then have the merit of fitting in wherever they are placed, and unlike the attention seekers, they are an asset in any part of the garden. Like the nicest people they’re modest to the point of being bashful, they repay closer acquaintance, and never boast of their wealth or fine talents. Hydrangeas fall into this category, for they’re generally very agreeable and easily fit into the best company. Modest in their demands, dependable and reliable, they’re extremely good in most gardens and one in particular is ideal for placing on a north wall. This form is sold as H. petiolaris.

This fine hydrangea has clusters of creamy white, lace-cap flowers in summer —- even on sunless walls-and once established it will reach up to twenty feet by as many across. It is deciduous with mid-green foliage in season and this turn a rich, butter yellow in autumn before leaving a tracery of bare branches and brown-haired stems on the wall for winter. The climbing hydrangea is totally hardy and it tolerates full sun or partial shade. Its dislike is a cold biting windy position.

Like all varieties of hydrangea it loves to drink to excess, so grow it where a constant and reliable supply of rain, or run-off water is available. Fertile soil will suit it admirably, but even then it often needs patient nurturing and staking for the first two or three years. Even then it can stand still before it gets going. ‘Petiolaris’ and other varieties of hydrangea are the very first mid-summer ornamentals to show signs of moisture distress so for goodness sake, keep an eye out for their well-being. If they start to wilt, the best way to recover the situation is to drop the garden hose at their base, to turn it on at a trickle, and to leave it on all night, for one night. Those that have wilted will recover fully and show no lasting signs.