Plants Life Cycles
Someone recently asked me what a perennial actually was, and I thought it would be useful to recap on a few common botanical words which most gardeners are familiar with, but may not realise what they really mean. All plants have different life cycles ranging from very brief to thousands of years…Annuals complete their life cycle in one year, they grow from a seed, flowers and set seed, after which they die. Chickweed and Sweet Peas are both examples. Also commonly known as annuals are Ephemerals – these can complete many life cycles in one year, such as the pernicious weed Bittercress. Many bedding plants are treated as annuals but in fact frost-tender perennials, such as petunias
Perennials live for more than two years and in most cases, many years. Trees, roses and shrubs fall under this category, these have a permanent structure, herbaceous perennials grow and bloom over the spring and summer and then die back every winter, their root-stock (or crowns) surviving below ground to re-shoot again in the spring. All perennials are either deciduous, dropping their leaves every Autumn, or evergreen, retaining their foliage all year.
Plant of the Month – Fritillaria melagris
Daffodils brightly herald the start of spring, but the subtle charm of the Snakes head Fritillary is hard to outdo. Each slender stem of this spring bulb carries a hanging bell-shaped bloom, heavily chequered with dark purple and white squares, an effect rarely seen on petals.Also available is a sub-species with pure white flowers (FRITILLARIA meleagris ssp. Alba).
Unfortunately these hardy wild flowers are becoming increasingly rare in the countryside due to modern farming methods, but the few protected sites in Britain really are a wonderful sight in April.
They are easy to grow in a border or pot, and look stunning naturalized in grass, either in sun or partial shade.
Garden Design Software
To keep you up-to-date with the latest from Garden Design Pro, after our initial release in Spring 2009, we've now been joined by approx 500 members at ...and this maybe part of the reason... http://www.gardendesignpro.co.uk/
GARDENING WHICH? REVIEW - DECEMBER 2009 EDITION
The team at Gardening Which? tested 9 of the most popular garden design software packages suitable for home use. The evaluation team was made up of professional garden designers, 3 Gardening Which? experts and 27 triallists to give as comprehensive a test as possible. Our software was the only package used by professional designers and landscapers commercially, and evaluating Garden Design Pro, they said...
"This web-based software is impressive and has lots of potential for novice garden designers. It’s a suite of 3D garden components (plants, furniture and hard landscaping features), for use with Google SketchUp – a free piece of 3D modeling software from Google. It provides the basic components to create a garden, plus design inspiration and advice... All of our member triallists liked this software... Our verdict: one of the best visualization tools around. Practical and versatile..."
WHAT IS 'GARDEN DESIGN PRO'?
A simple solution to suit all skill levels and budgets, giving you the tools to create garden designs in 3D - based around Google's SketchUp software. It's easy to learn, quick to use and low cost - starting at just £16.15+VAT!
Solution based on the Google SketchUp (as used by designers and landscapers worldwide)
360+ (and growing) components and plants to 'Drag-and-Drop' and create designs in minutes, not hours!
36 'Ready-made' borders to suit your style and conditions - buy plants online for home delivery
Perfect for beginners, homeowners, students, garden designers and landscapers - try out our FREE sample package to see how powerful it is!
***2010 SPECIAL OFFER - 15% DISCOUNT OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS***
The new year has arrived, and Spring is on its way - so now is the perfect time to get planning with Garden Design Pro. Use the code gdpro15 in the checkout for 15% off membership, if you join before the end of June 2010. Take a look: http://www.gardendesignpro.co.uk/acatalog/designing_gardens.html
CAN YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN GARDEN?
Many homeowners want to produce a design for themselves, so to help we've released an exclusive guide to designing your own garden, written by leading designer, author and TV presenter David Stevens. A 25-page 'e-book' covering the major aspects of creating a design. All 'Garden Design Pro' software members can download it FREE. Take a look: http://www.gardendesignpro.co.uk/acatalog/e-book-diy-guide-design-your-own-garden.html
Plant of the Month – Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Purpurea'
A striking architectural perennial is a good choice for a large winter or spring container, and this bushy euphorbia is perfect. 'Purpurea' has lovely purple tipped foliage that contrasts with the lime green flowers that appear in spring. These last into summer when you can prune the whole flowering stem back to the base to tidy the plant.
If your garden soil is poor or dry and in partial shade, this hardy euphorbia will cope! It makes a good evergreen backdrop in the shady garden and reached 60cm high. Try with phormiums for contrasting shapes, or with alchemilla mollis for similar coloured flowers in early summer and contrasting foliage.
If your garden soil is poor or dry and in partial shade, this hardy euphorbia will cope! It makes a good evergreen backdrop in the shady garden and reached 60cm high. Try with phormiums for contrasting shapes, or with alchemilla mollis for similar coloured flowers in early summer and contrasting foliage.
One note of caution for all euphorbias, they have milky white sap, which is poisonous and a potential skin irritant so always wear gloves when working near them.
What soil do I have?
Every garden soil is different. All are mixtures of sand, clay and silt, but in differing quantities.To determine what your soil is, take a piece of soil about the size of a golf ball and roll between your fingers removing any large stones. Now try to roll into a ‘worm’ shape.
A sandy soil will not form this shape, it simply falls apart. If you can form this shape easily and when rubbed, the surface turns shiny, this is clay soil.
However, if the ‘worm’ can be crushed in the palm of your hand, then you have a loam soil, perhaps the most desirable of soil types. Very similar is a silty soil, which possesses a silky feel. You can improve every soil by adding organic material such as compost or manure. This helps bind particles together in a sandy soil, or helps clay soil become more workable.
Knowing your soil will help you choose the right plants for your garden and enjoy more success growing healthy and happy plants.
Plant of the Month – Dryopteris filix-mas
The native Male Fern is an elegant addition to the winter garden. It serves as a green backdrop to flamboyant summer flowers, but comes into its own during Autumn and Winter, with its structural shuttlecock shape. It has robust mid-green foliage and can withstand drier soil and sunnier spots than other ferns, although equally happy in damp shade.Its foliage lasts well into late winter, when at some point the leaves will fold down, forming natural protection for the crown of the plant during the wet and cold winter months. Its best to leave these until early spring, when they can be removed completely to make way for the fresh new leaves (known as fronds) to elegantly unfurl.
Planting for sandy soil
Anyone who possesses heavy sticky clay soil will always pine for a light, sandy soil, yet this is not the best soil. Although much easier to cultivate, the main problems with a light sandy soil is compaction and the inability to retain water and nutrients.
As the sand particles are small, rain will wash through these particles and cause them to ‘pan’ or form a hard surface crust, making it difficult for young plants to establish. This type of soil is free draining, so although it can be easier to dig in autumn or spring, saving your back, it will dry out quickly in summer so plants need to withstand periods of drought. It is this rapid loss of water that leaches out nutrients also, so to sum up, plants will be hungry, thirsty and slow to establish!
The key step to improving sandy soil is the addition of organic matter in large quantities, year after year. Manure, compost, green waste, leaf mould, or mushroom compost – all contain something called humus – a black fibrous material formed from organic matter of decomposed plant or animal residues. This will coat individual soil particles, helping retain water, nutrients and give structure to the soil.
Some planting ideas to get you started are...
Grasses
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Trees
Amelanchier lamarkii
Cercis siliquastrum
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’
Climbers
Jasminium officinale
Perennials
Agapanthus ‘Bressingham White’
Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’
Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’
Shrubs
Artemisia ‘Powys castle’
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Heavenly Blue’
Philadelphus coronarius
As the sand particles are small, rain will wash through these particles and cause them to ‘pan’ or form a hard surface crust, making it difficult for young plants to establish. This type of soil is free draining, so although it can be easier to dig in autumn or spring, saving your back, it will dry out quickly in summer so plants need to withstand periods of drought. It is this rapid loss of water that leaches out nutrients also, so to sum up, plants will be hungry, thirsty and slow to establish!
The key step to improving sandy soil is the addition of organic matter in large quantities, year after year. Manure, compost, green waste, leaf mould, or mushroom compost – all contain something called humus – a black fibrous material formed from organic matter of decomposed plant or animal residues. This will coat individual soil particles, helping retain water, nutrients and give structure to the soil.
Some planting ideas to get you started are...
Grasses
Helictotrichon sempervirens
Trees
Amelanchier lamarkii
Cercis siliquastrum
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’
Climbers
Jasminium officinale
Perennials
Agapanthus ‘Bressingham White’
Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’
Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’
Shrubs
Artemisia ‘Powys castle’
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Heavenly Blue’
Philadelphus coronarius
A Touch of Frost
Just as we prepare for winter, changing our habits and clothing, plants are quietly going through changes too. The most striking of these is leaves turning to lovely autumnal colours. This occurs as the chlorophyll degrades in the leaf, so we can see the other pigments that are there all year too, but masked by the green chlorophyll. These include orange carotenoids, purple-red anthocyanin, and yellow xanthophylls. Hormones then cause the leaves then abcise, (from the Latin ‘to cut off’), thereby protecting them from winter frost damage.Evergreen plants protect their leaves from freezing by using their own ‘antifreeze’. This is just a high percentage of dissolved sugar and amino acids in the cells, which lowers the freezing point of water.
This is the reason why late spring frosts can be so devastating to fresh blossom and new leaves, as these changes have not occurred. Once the fluid contained within the cell has frozen, it expands and breaks the cell wall beyond repair.
The shortening days also induces dormancy in many plants, an example being the transformation of buds to withstand the cold days ahead with thick protective scales (as can clearly be seen on Horse Chestnuts).
Plant of the Month – EUONOMUS alatus
Pronounced ewe-on-i-mus ah-lah-tus, the Winged Spindle bush, which is the common name, can be relied upon to provide rich, striking autumn colour year after year.During October and November, its small deciduous leaves change from dark green, first to rosy pink, then to a more vibrant crimson, clinging to the branches for ages.
It is a bushy dense shrub, relatively slow-growing, but when mature reaching 8 feet (2.5m) high and wide. Adapting to most conditions providing there is reasonable drainage, and will tolerate either sun or shade.
The inconspicuous greenish flowers in summer are followed by purple and red fruits with scarlet seeds, but one word of caution though, all parts of this plant are toxic.
Once the leaves have fallen, it has a winter skeleton of branches with conspicuous flattened ‘wings’ suggesting its common name.
Extension of 15% software discount offer!
Our 15% discount offer for membership of our Garden Design Software package has proved really popular throughout the month of June - so we have decided to extend it...
***JUNE SPECIAL OFFER - 15% DISCOUNT OFF MEMBERSHIP!!!***
Summer holidays are on the way, so now is the perfect time to get planning with Garden Design Pro. Use the code gdpro15 in the checkout for 15% off membership, Click Here to take a look...
A simple solution to suit all skill levels and budgets, giving you the tools to create garden designs in 3D - based around Google's SketchUp software. It's easy to learn, quick to use and low cost - starting at just £16.15+VAT with our 15% discount offer!
- Solution based on the Google SketchUp (as used by designers and landscapers worldwide)
- 360+ (and growing) components and plants to 'Drag-and-Drop' and create designs in minutes, not hours!
- 36 'Ready-made' borders to suit your style and conditions - buy plants online for home delivery
- Perfect for beginners, homeowners, students, garden designers and landscapers - try out our FREE sample package to see how powerful it is!
- A 25-page 'e-book' covering the major aspects of creating a design to download FREE - Click Here to take a look...
- All plants in software (including 36 'Ready-made' borders) available to buy online for home delivery! All 'ready-made' garden borders have a 2D PDF planting plan and planting list, which links to the Crocus online nursery - Click Here to take a look...
15% off Garden Design Software in June!
JUST OVER 3 MONTHS SINCE LAUNCH!
At just over 3 months old, our Garden Design Software package now has over 250 clients and is growing fast. Development continues with more patio components, block pavers, terracotta tiles, granite setts, walling and more added - and our 'Design Your Own Garden' guide has proved popular, alongside the ability to order your plants online, for home delivery.
We have lots more garden and plant components under construction now, as we continue to build on the existing 360+ components...
WHAT IS 'GARDEN DESIGN PRO'?
At just over 3 months old, our Garden Design Software package now has over 250 clients and is growing fast. Development continues with more patio components, block pavers, terracotta tiles, granite setts, walling and more added - and our 'Design Your Own Garden' guide has proved popular, alongside the ability to order your plants online, for home delivery.
We have lots more garden and plant components under construction now, as we continue to build on the existing 360+ components...
WHAT IS 'GARDEN DESIGN PRO'?
A simple solution to suit all skill levels and budgets, giving you the tools to create garden designs in 3D - based around Google's SketchUp software. It's easy to learn, quick to use and low cost - starting at just £16.15+VAT in June!
- Solution based on the Google SketchUp (as used by designers and landscapers worldwide)
- 360+ (and growing) components and plants to 'Drag-and-Drop' and create designs in minutes, not hours!
- 36 'Ready-made' borders to suit your style and conditions - buy plants online for home delivery
- Perfect for beginners, homeowners, students, garden designers and landscapers - try out our FREE sample package to see how powerful it is!
***JUNE SPECIAL OFFER - 15% DISCOUNT OFF MEMBERSHIP***
Summer holidays are on the way, so June is the perfect time to get planning with Garden Design Pro. Use the code gdpro15 in the checkout for 15% off membership, if you join before the end of June. Click Here to take a look...
CAN YOU DESIGN YOUR OWN GARDEN?
Many homeowners want to produce a design for themselves, so to help we've released an exclusive guide to designing your own garden, written by leading designer, author and TV presenter David Stevens.
A 25-page 'e-book' covering the major aspects of creating a design. All 'Garden Design Pro' software members can download it FREE. Click Here to take a look...
ORDER YOUR PLANTS ONLINE, FOR HOME DELIVERY!
All plants in our software (including the 36 'Ready-made' borders) are available to buy online for home delivery, making it easy to create professionally designed borders.
Each plant in our component catalogue has a link through to the Crocus website where you can buy online. All 'ready-made' garden borders have a 2D PDF planting plan and planting list, which also links through to Crocus. Click Here to take a look...
Garden Design Pro software updated with new Walling components for Google's SketchUp!
We've just updated our Garden Design Pro software again, this time adding the first of a whole new range of Walling components for use with Google's SketchUp program.
We have plenty more ready for release soon, before we begin work on more planting components...
The first additions (located within the 'GE Edging' category) include a rustic slate style, old fashioned brick walling, traditional stone and a contemporary granite effect wall. Our software members can download them now HERE (you need to be logged-in to access the Zip file downloads).
We have plenty more ready for release soon, before we begin work on more planting components...
If you want to know more about our unique, lo-cost and professional quality software to design your own garden - CLICK HERE for more...
New SketchUp walling components in development
We are currently working on a range of new SketchUp walling components for our Garden Design Pro software, which should be ready for members to download in the next week or so, including dry-stone wall effects, modern contemporary walls, natural pitched stone walling and traditional brick.
For more details on what's already available to download to create your own 3D garden design - CLICK HERE...
For more details on what's already available to download to create your own 3D garden design - CLICK HERE...
The Garden Network gets a new owner
After just over a year, it's time to hand The Garden Network to someone new, as I'm expecting another child, so will soon be looking after '2 under 20 months' very soon! So with my hands full running Toddington Manor's gardens, our courses and tours, plus Applegate Gardens and Garden Design Pro - something has to give! As of the 27th of March, Tim Matcham of Tim Matcham Garden Design, Wiltshire will be running the TGN website.
TGN has been great fun to get off the ground, the first and easily largest of its kind - unique in the professional way its members have participated and contributed, including the established trade associations. I was happy to hand the site over to Tim, because he intends to continue in its original guise of a FREE website, helping small businesses and homeowners to meet, network and improve gardens.
TGN has grown very quickly in the last 12 months with a peak of over 100 new members signing up in just one day from approx 1,000 unique visitors, and nearly 8,000 members in total. It really shows whats possible by organic growth on the internet, without advertising, any PR, 'dirty-tricks' campaigns or traditional press coverage - just an original concept, professionally managed and exposed to a large online audience. Long may it continue!
I've met some interesting members in the last year, doing some great work - which has been very enjoyable, we are lucky to have some great people in this industry. There are however, still some quite outdated opinions around and we did get some hostility from some of the associations initially (understandably I guess), but once the site proved itself to be professional, it was good to see evryone participate. We have certainly influenced the future shape of this industry online, which is set to change dramatically over the coming 12 months...
Good luck to Tim and all the best with TGN, hopefully everyone will make you feel welcome!
TGN has been great fun to get off the ground, the first and easily largest of its kind - unique in the professional way its members have participated and contributed, including the established trade associations. I was happy to hand the site over to Tim, because he intends to continue in its original guise of a FREE website, helping small businesses and homeowners to meet, network and improve gardens.
TGN has grown very quickly in the last 12 months with a peak of over 100 new members signing up in just one day from approx 1,000 unique visitors, and nearly 8,000 members in total. It really shows whats possible by organic growth on the internet, without advertising, any PR, 'dirty-tricks' campaigns or traditional press coverage - just an original concept, professionally managed and exposed to a large online audience. Long may it continue!
I've met some interesting members in the last year, doing some great work - which has been very enjoyable, we are lucky to have some great people in this industry. There are however, still some quite outdated opinions around and we did get some hostility from some of the associations initially (understandably I guess), but once the site proved itself to be professional, it was good to see evryone participate. We have certainly influenced the future shape of this industry online, which is set to change dramatically over the coming 12 months...
Good luck to Tim and all the best with TGN, hopefully everyone will make you feel welcome!
Free e-book for software members
All our Garden Design Pro software members can now download the FREE e-book by leading garden designer, author and TV presenter David Stevens.
This 25-page 'e-book' is packed full of real-world advice on creating a wonderful new outdoor room for yourself. This detailed tutorial covers use of space, dealing with plot shapes, planting design, construction techniques, materials and more - to take a look CLICK HERE...
This 25-page 'e-book' is packed full of real-world advice on creating a wonderful new outdoor room for yourself. This detailed tutorial covers use of space, dealing with plot shapes, planting design, construction techniques, materials and more - to take a look CLICK HERE...
Garden Design Pro's 100th client!
8 weeks has flown by since launching Garden Design Pro and we have just welcomed our 100th client! We are continuing with development of the software, and have more SketchUp components due for release next week.
We are also in the process of migrating our 'Latest News' area's to one central, easily managed Blog - so you can keep up to date with all our news and developments with the software, ready-made garden designs, border planting plans, free downloads and more.
We are also in the process of migrating our 'Latest News' area's to one central, easily managed Blog - so you can keep up to date with all our news and developments with the software, ready-made garden designs, border planting plans, free downloads and more.
Gardening forum The Garden Network TGN is a huge success since its launch in March 2008
Just a quick post to tell you all where I've been for the last few months! Along with all the fun and games my 11 month old boy brings - my new gardening forum has been keeping me busy, alongside garden design work and Toddington Manor- its all go!
I've been running my own bespoke garden design and landscaping business (in addition to Toddington Manor) for the last 10 years or so, and since teaming up with Homebase to provide their homebase garden design service in 2006, it became apparent to me the sheer demand for inspiration from homeowners.
I was inundated with requests for design and landscaping from across the UK, with homeowners saying they 'did not trust business websites' and 'can I recommend anyone locally?' - so I set about creating a 'level playing field' for the industry and a focal-point for consumers to decide who's best for them, by making direct comparisons on gardening businesses.
Seeing the explosion of Social Networks and listening to homeowners, it seemed obvious to use this technology to help them find local businesses and make informed decisions on who to employ. Since its March 2008 launch - designers are meeting local landscapers, homeowners are commissioning projects, students are meeting the industry, amateurs are helping beginners and businesses are forming valuable new connections, it's very refreshing to see!
8 months after starting 'The Garden Network' which very soon has become know as TGN to its members) Im still surprised at the up take - over 3,200 members have joined so far!
A clever search database structure, means you can find and talk to any type of member to further your business or your own garden and was described as "...a networking website that looks set to become the 'Facebook' of the Horticulture world." by Horticulture Week. It's not restricted to the trade, as members showcasing their work has proved a big draw to homeowners looking for reputable companies, with many winning several commissions in the first few weeks of the site going live.
I didn't want to create another faceless 'Quote Database', as industry professionals know how big a part trust, communication and examples of previous work play in securing commissions. Our poll to Homeowners on TGN (on what they rated as the most important factor when choosing contractors) confirmed this - 53% (overwhelming majority) said 'examples of previous work' was their 1st priority. It's just too big a decision for Homeowners to make by 'filing out a form' - hence the 1000's of portfolios, blogs, comments and messages on TGN.
It's still very new, and we have lots of fresh features, areas, software, downloads and other initiatives under development in time for 2009 which we know our amateur gardeners, homeowners and the trade will reccommend it. Unlike many forum and networking sites out there, it's not meant to be a soapbox for one individual or company, but a tool for the whole industry and interested public to use - you can really lose yourself in there for hours!
If you want to see it, start your own Gardening Blog, meet like-minded gardeners, amateurs, designers, students or professionals - click here to visit the TGN Gardening Forum.
I've been running my own bespoke garden design and landscaping business (in addition to Toddington Manor) for the last 10 years or so, and since teaming up with Homebase to provide their homebase garden design service in 2006, it became apparent to me the sheer demand for inspiration from homeowners.
I was inundated with requests for design and landscaping from across the UK, with homeowners saying they 'did not trust business websites' and 'can I recommend anyone locally?' - so I set about creating a 'level playing field' for the industry and a focal-point for consumers to decide who's best for them, by making direct comparisons on gardening businesses.
Seeing the explosion of Social Networks and listening to homeowners, it seemed obvious to use this technology to help them find local businesses and make informed decisions on who to employ. Since its March 2008 launch - designers are meeting local landscapers, homeowners are commissioning projects, students are meeting the industry, amateurs are helping beginners and businesses are forming valuable new connections, it's very refreshing to see!
8 months after starting 'The Garden Network' which very soon has become know as TGN to its members) Im still surprised at the up take - over 3,200 members have joined so far!
A clever search database structure, means you can find and talk to any type of member to further your business or your own garden and was described as "...a networking website that looks set to become the 'Facebook' of the Horticulture world." by Horticulture Week. It's not restricted to the trade, as members showcasing their work has proved a big draw to homeowners looking for reputable companies, with many winning several commissions in the first few weeks of the site going live.
I didn't want to create another faceless 'Quote Database', as industry professionals know how big a part trust, communication and examples of previous work play in securing commissions. Our poll to Homeowners on TGN (on what they rated as the most important factor when choosing contractors) confirmed this - 53% (overwhelming majority) said 'examples of previous work' was their 1st priority. It's just too big a decision for Homeowners to make by 'filing out a form' - hence the 1000's of portfolios, blogs, comments and messages on TGN.
It's still very new, and we have lots of fresh features, areas, software, downloads and other initiatives under development in time for 2009 which we know our amateur gardeners, homeowners and the trade will reccommend it. Unlike many forum and networking sites out there, it's not meant to be a soapbox for one individual or company, but a tool for the whole industry and interested public to use - you can really lose yourself in there for hours!
If you want to see it, start your own Gardening Blog, meet like-minded gardeners, amateurs, designers, students or professionals - click here to visit the TGN Gardening Forum.
Summer Gardening Course
Last week we held our Summer Gardening Course for beginners, and was fully booked. 12 people attended, which give ample time to dedicate to their questions and show them hands on techniques.This course covered Summer pruning, and we went into the garden to have a hands on session on our tree paeony, paeonia delavayi var. lutea and viburnum farrerii.
Hopefully everyone enjoyed the day, and all the feedback was positive. The sun even came out so we carried out the nodal and inter nodal cuttings on the lawn in the dappled shade of the copper beech tree, which was really quite pleasant.
On every course, a home cooked lunch is provided by Lady Bowman-Shaw in the Manor house, a treat for the gardeners too! Thanks to all the attendees for their great feedback and also to Julie and Ann the TM gardeners who helped on the day.
The Regal Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)
I think one of the more unusual bulbs we have in the spring garden is the regal Crown Imperial. Its flowers are bold, bright, and indeed very stately. Standing tall at about 3 feet high, the colours stand out from the rest of the emerging leaves and bulbs in the borders, and if they are near a path the pretty flowers can be inspected at close quarters.
Each petal has a large droplet of nectar hanging from its base, and if you are brave enough, dip a finger in and taste it - it is incredibly sweet. Which got us gardeners wondering - what kind of flying animal/insect would pollinate the frittilaria imperialis? After a little while on google, the incredible answer was revealed.... 
A botanist working in Cambridge has shown that a European flower is pollinated by a bird. The flower, the crown imperial fritillary, Fritillaria imperialis, which is common in European gardens, is pollinated by the bluetit. You can read the full article here 
Drawbacks of the crown imperial? this would be the pungent smell, which occurs when the plant is touched, or even when the strong spring sunlight heats the leaves - not sure how I would describe it, but I have heard it likened to the smell of foxes, but not sure what thats like either....!
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