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Curious Questions: Why do we have poinsettias at Christmas — and why did it get the name 'excrement flower'?
Their bright red leaves brighten up our houses at this time of year, but how did the tradition of having poinsettias at Christmas start? Mark Griffiths explains.
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Horticultural marmite: The natural phenomenon which divides gardeners all over Britain
Variegated foliage may be the bread and butter of some gardens, but for some horticulturalists it seems sickly and spoiled.
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The saucily-named plant whose very mention sparks blushing and tied tongues
Titter ye not: the splendid Gingo Tit is a compact cultivar with bright autumn foliage and prolific woody growths.
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Hydrangeas: Varied, colourful and lovingly tended to by the wizard of White House Farm
Mark Griffiths extols the beauties of this shrub, from its 18th-century beginnings to its revival in the hands of hydrangea champion Maurice Foster.
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Deadheading? Don't worry about it too much, or you'll miss out on some fine surprises
Mark Griffiths passes on sage advice about deadheading old plants from one of the greats of gardening — but cautions us all not to be over-dedicated, or you might miss out on some unexpected pleasures.
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The life of the oak tree collector: 'You soon see there’s only one sensible course of action: collect the lot'
For tree-loving landowners who want to leave their mark, nothing beats planting your own quercetum. Mark Griffiths celebrates the mighty oak and its determined collectors.
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The most impressive perennial grown in Britain: The swamp pot
Mark Griffiths extols the wonders of the swamp pot ‘Thalia dealbata’ and teaches us how to best do the beautiful flowers justice.
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Bringing Mediterranean planting to Britain with the most wonderful gardening book of the year
Mark Griffiths explains why we value Mediterranean planting styles so highly, why he urges all to purchase Mr Filippi's 'Bringing the Mediterranean into your Garden: how to capture the natural beauty of the garrigue' and why he would never adopt the methods described within himself.
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Exbury Gardens: The wild woodland tamed by a Rothschild to become one of Britain's great gardens
Untamed woodland was brilliantly transformed into a pioneering garden at Exbury, thanks to the vision of Lionel de Rothschild. Mark Griffiths discovers how his legacy is being continued.
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Mark Griffiths: Why gardening is vastly richer, wider and deeper than in Gertrude Jekyll’s day
Gertrude Jekyll loved bergenais, but she'd be the first to agree that the variety around today far outshines what was available to her as Mark Griffiths explains.
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Flowers, greenhouses and political intrigue: The extraordinary tale of Fulham Palace Gardens
Fulham Palace Gardens have been bringing joy to garden-lovers in London for three centuries. Mark Griffiths pays tribute to the extraordinary figure who first created this idyllic space.
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In Focus: Mark Griffiths on the history and revival of Sargent’s 'Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose'
Mark Griffiths describes how a dinner-party question led to the uncovering of the true identities of the lilies in Sargent’s Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose and the extraordinary history of their use and current revival.
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Dogwoods and willows: A new style of winter planting?
Mark Griffiths extols the merits of these bare-stemmed beauties in the world of winter planning, which are both a joy to create and easy to maintain.
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Curious Questions: Why do leaves change colour in Autumn? And why do some go yellow while others are red, purple or brown?
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Japanese knotweed: How a delicate bloom beloved of the Victorians became a modern British scourge
Japanese knotweed took Britain by storm in the 19th century as a beautiful and highly-prized plant that was hugely fashionable. More recently it's had a very different impact, as Mark Griffiths explains.
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The fascinating story behind the world's most beautiful, blissful avenues of trees
Our fascination with avenues of trees is near-universal to mankind and stretches back four hundred years. Mark Griffiths takes a look.
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How to grow the bladdernut, a delightful shrub with the heavenly scent of vanilla custard
An email from a friend spurs Mark Griffiths to take a look at the curiously-named bladdernut, a vigorous and easily-grown shrub that needs just the right touch to really make help it come into its own.
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The joy of the greenhouse: Perfect spaces to plant, prune or just potter about
Greenhouses, glasshouses and orangeries were torn down across Britain a few decades ago – thankfully, they're now back on the up and better than ever, says Mark Griffiths.
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How to do topiary the easy way: What to plant, how to cut it
Yes, if you want to carve peacocks and swans you'll need to take a course. But if you just want some lovely greenery with a few interesting shapes, Mark Griffiths has all you need to get started.
