Plants for gardens affected by honey fungus
Honey fungus can be a problem in some gardens, however plenty of plants are less susceptible honey fungus - so it's possible to create a full and attractive border even in these sometimes challenging conditions
Quick facts
- Honey fungus can affect many woody and herbaceous perennial plants
- Some plants appear more resilient than others
- Honey fungus appears as a white fungal growth between the bark and wood of a plant, usually at ground level
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The planting plan
This planting design for a challenging location provides a range of plants that once established will thrive and be less susceptible to honey fungus while still providing a variety of interest throughout the year.
Less susceptible to honey fungus
© James Lawrence
Choosing plants that are less susceptible to honey fungus
Ceratostigma provides groundcover which helps cover any bare soil, reducing soil surface erosion and helping reduce unwanted seedlings from establishing. Groundcover plants can also help reduce soil moisture loss from the wind stripping moisture from exposed soil surfaces. Ceratostigma will also attract pollinators increasing the garden’s biodiversity.
Additional organic mulching can further help with soil moisture retention and weed suppression.
1 - Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
2 - Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’
5 - Phormium ‘Sundowner’
6 - Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’
7 - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’
1 - Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - a low-growing herbaceous perennial with spreading roots, forming a mat of stems bearing oval leaves which turn red or purple in autumn. Clusters of rich blue flowers from late summer.
2 - Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snowflake’ - a deciduous shrub to 2m tall, with boldly lobed, oak-like leaves that colour well in autumn, and arching conical panicles of double, sterile florets which fade to pink.
3 - Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’ - a compact, bushy, evergreen shrub with new growth emerging a bronze-orange colour in spring turning green with age but often retaining a red-orange flush. In autumn and winter, the foliage turns shades of red and gold. Conical panicles of small white flowers in summer are sometimes followed by red berries.
4 - Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ - a large bushy evergreen shrub with leathery dark green leaves and drooping grey-green catkins in winter and spring.
5 - Phormium ‘Sundowner’ - an evergreen, clump-forming perennial with arching, sword-like, pink leaves with green stripes and margins. Panicles of red flowers on erect leafless stems may be produced in summer.
6 - Nandina domestica ‘Richmond’ - an evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub with green, lance-shaped leaves that turn red in autumn. In summer, it bears panicles of white flowers followed by bright-red berries in winter.
7 - Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ - shrub with light green leaves and flowers that form very dense, broad cones, entirely green at first, opening pale lime green, later grading through to white. A slight pink flush in places gradually deepens a little to give a pink and green colour mix at maturity.
About honey fungus
By choosing plants that are less susceptible to honey fungus you can keep your border looking good, growing well, and much less likely to need replacing due to honey fungus.
A simple planting plan helps create depth, interest and good coverage in a border.
The challenge of growing plants near honey fungus
Symptoms of honey fungus include clumps of honey-coloured mushrooms above ground and a white fungal growth between the bark and the wood of the plant.
Why choose a sustainable planting combination?
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