Gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh says he ‘hates to be unkind’ to a plant but says there is one that he wouldn’t want to have in his own garden, branding it a ‘weirdo’
Alan Titchmarsh has named a plant he wouldn’t have in his own garden(Image: ITV)
Gardening legend Alan Titchmarsh has named one plant he “hates” and warned “don’t bring it anywhere near my garden”. While the former Gardeners’ World star says he “hates to be unkind” to any plant, he labelled it a “bit of a weirdo”.
The plant joins pampas grass as one of the blooms that Alan refuses to have in his Hampshire garden. That plant is ornamental kale – often referred to as purple kale – which is known for its bright, distinctive colour.
On his YouTube channel, Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh, the star said: “Where have you seen a brighter rosette, the most beautiful specimen of plant life…oh I’m joking. I couldn’t wish that on you.
“I know some people like them, and I hate to be unkind to any plant, but it’s a bit of a weirdo isn’t it really? Plant it if you like it, but don’t bring it anywhere near my garden.”
Instead Alan recommends fans plant hellebores in their garden. The popular perennials can grow up to 20cm in height and are known for their winter and spring blooms.
Alan Titchmarsh isn’t fond of purple kale(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Showing off an “ice n roses” hellebore, Alan said: “It’s a bit icy in the middle with a lovely rose flush to it. This is helleborus glandorfensis, don’t worry too much about the Latin names, just choose them for their beautiful flowers.”
Alan says the plant can flower in a variety of colours including white, yellow, green, crimson, spotted, and purple. He added: “So many variations and they grow in any half-decent soil.
“Mine are in chalk, so they can cope with it there. Just make sure that when you plant them there’s plenty of organic matter worked into the ground.
“They’re a great plant to put in dappled shade under and around trees and shrubs. And they’ll flower in their various forms right the way through from the end of one year to the beginning of the next.”
Alan isn’t fond of purple kale(Image: Getty Images)
When recently asked about a plant he would happily see confined to the compost heap on the Talking Gardens podcast, Alan was quick to tell presenter Stephanie Mahon about his disdain for pampas grass.
The gardening guru reckons the plant – famously linked to suburban swingers – “looks like a collection of feathered dusters sticking out of a mountain of grass”. What’s more, he warned that once you’ve planted it, getting shot of the stuff becomes a proper nightmare.
He said: “If you ever want to get rid of it, you’ve got a real task ahead of you.” Alan’s second bugbear is large flowered gladioli, though he admits they can be “very good in church.”
The TV favourite clarified it’s only the bigger, showier varieties he can’t stand, reports the Express. “I like little gladiolus Byzantine,” he revealed to Stephanie.
Catch Alan on ITV at 9.30am today (November 9) for his Love Your Garden show
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