RETRO PLANTS we still love!
Fashions and trends seem to be circular, and that includes plant popularity. What was once very ‘in’ can suddenly be ‘out’. But, just like smoky eyes, the mini dress and hot pants are not permanently consigned to the past, some old-fashioned plants might return to our gardens. We take you on a nostalgic trip to remind you of them, but we also look into the reasons why they went out of fashion, if there are real reasons…
Abelia x grandiflora (glossy abelia)
In the colder gardens in particular, and even in ‘difficult’ climates such as coastal gardens, you could depend on the glossy abelia, normally the first plant listed in gardening books or catalogues. Although the genus includes about 30 species from Mexico and Asia, the glossy abelia is an evergreen garden hybrid that grows to about 2 x 1.5m, with long lateral branches. Its small oval leaves are dark green and glossy with a bronze tint on both older and new
