Here is a little glossary of gardening terms which crop up all the time when talking or writing about English gardens.

Acid soil – has a pH value of less than 7
Alkaline soil – has a pH value of more than 7.

Annual – a plant that completes its whole life cycle in a single growing season – e.g. a Calendula officinalis or Pot Marigold

Biennial – a plant that needs two growing seasons to achieve its whole life cycle e.g. – Digitalis purpurea or Foxglove.

Crown – this is the part of a herbaceous plant where the stems and the roots connect and from where new shoots will grow.

Division - this is the technique of increasing plants by dividing them into pieces, each of which has its own root system with one or more buds.

Half hardy or semi hardy - this means that a plant will need winter protection if left outside in winter in temperate climates.

Hardy – much used in England it means a plant that will be able to survive outside in the open throughout the winter in temperate climates. Catmint (Nepeta) which is hardy would be perfectly happy in zone 4 as would Dianthus barbatus or Sweet William.

Herbaceous – a lovely word that just means a plant that is soft and green with no woody tissue.

Perennial – this refers to woody or herbaceous plants that continue to grow for at least 36 to 48 months.

Remontant - flowering more than once in a growing season e.g often applied to English Roses

Woody- this is hardy perennial growth, mostly referring to stems.

The scabious picture at the top of the page is available as a postcard

Enjoy your garden!