Like Frank Sinatra, regrets, I have a few and one was ordering Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Varigatum’ in January last year.
I trusted the horticultural consultant and did no research. To my consternation it had variegated foliage. I wonder if I am alone in finding this rather common in a small urban garden. My club used to have variegated laurels in lead planters outside the Morning Room windows, partially shielding members from the prying eyes of pedestrians on St James’s Street. I had a word with the secretary and they were removed.
Walking round London I noticed great clipped clumps of Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Varigatum’ outside new-build blocks of flats – a cause for further disquiet. Needless to say, mine flourished and I clipped it into a square shape making it look even more like something planted outside a Berkeley Home. However, in the same way that the car windows open of their own accord if I sit in the bay window with the keys in my pocket, the Pittosporum was sensitive to the death ray emanating from the kitchen. I have replaced it with a relation: Pittosporum tenifolium Golf Ball.
It naturally forms a spherical shape, apparently, explaining the name although a green golf ball would be impractical on a golf course. Another fatality is two of the three lavender plants in the front garden. I am undecided what to replace them with, bearing in mind it is south facing, in full sun and I am not a regular waterer. Geraniums seem to like tough love so maybe I will get some white ones in the spring.
*****
You may have read that immediately prior to D-Day there was a security alert when The Daily Telegraph inadvertently used the names of some of the landing beaches and OVERLORD as answers to their crossword. This was a sort of coincidence – you can read a fuller explanation on Wikipedia. This morning a clue in The Times Quick Cryptic crossword reveals something of the political leanings of the setter.
17 Down. Right-wing MP following a trend (6). Answer: FARAGE.
Yup, definitely common and thank goodness for that. The variegated pittosporum are not quite so robust as the unvariegated varieties, but in London this is rarely a problem. The grey/white edgings to the green leaves are delightful (IMHO).
Variegated lemon is rather good tho’ as lemons come with green stripes.
Silver/white variegated shrubs can look elegant, but not yellow/cream which look as if they are unhealthy- especially laurel. For your south facing front garden white lavender ( possibly dwarf and beware of leggy variety) would look good, or compact white Hebe. Agree that white geraniums good value.