What to grow in West Penwith
West Penwith
Although West Penwith is only a little over 100 square miles, It has a multitude of climatic conditions and consequently many ecoststems in this small area.
They range from south facing and sheltered coastal areas which are subtropical to wild, wild windswept moorland and villages where no trees grow and gardens require windbreaks and walls to shelter plants friom the gales.
For example I live in Lamorna Valley, woodland sheltered from the South Westerlies but cold. On a winters day, my house halfway up Well Lane may be 3c while at Lamorna turn it will be 0c and -1c at Lamorna Pottery!
So we have large temperature gradients over small distances. the one common feature is that Penwith is almost all granite and subsequently has acidic soils and requires plants suited to a Ph range of certainly less than 7.
Over the coming weeks, this page will be developed to provide advice and guidance on all these different ecosystems.
In the meantime, we have links to other sites which provide a wealth of information on what to grow in our beautiful Penwith and garden design.
Planting in Coastal and Windswept Locations
Two links to Burncoose Nursery providing advice on what to grow in these areas where shelter is essential.
There is then a link to a dictionary of plants suitable for these locations.
Minack planting – courtesy of the Minack Theatre
Growing roses on the Peninsula
It is often said you cannot successfully grow roses in Penwith
However the header picture is of may garden and some of the roses I grow.
This position is south facing, sheltered and well rotted horse manure is applied liberally every spring.
Below is a link to a beginners guide to designing and growing English roses produced by David Austin Roses.
Minack planting – courtesy of the Minack Theatre
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