Postbag Edition: Finsbury Circus Gardens

Aug 1, 2025

Bunny Guinness, a garden designer known for her expertise in dry shade, and Dr. Chris Thorogood, a botanist from Oxford, dive into the wonders of Finsbury Circus Gardens. They tackle intriguing questions about plant resilience against shot hole disease and recommend alternatives like Zelkova and Toona sinensis. Listeners will learn about fern life cycles, the moisture contributions of houseplants, and tips for extending perennial longevity. Their conversations reveal both the complexities and joys of urban gardening.

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ADVICE

Choose Zelkova to Avoid Shot Hole Disease

Choose Zelkova or Toona sinensis trees as they are not susceptible to shot hole disease.
They are climate resilient and suitable for replacing cherry trees affected by the disease.

ADVICE

Plant Choices for Dry Shade Under Trees

For planting under dry shade trees, use evergreens like pachysandra and ferns such as polystichum and polypodium.
Add plants like Daphne laureola and Crinum × powellii for color and texture in dry, shady soil.

ADVICE

Select Resilient Fruit Trees Locally

Select locally adapted fruit tree varieties for urban planting to suit your climate.
Consider apricots, Amelanchier, apples on rootstock 106, and hazel nut trees for resilience and productivity.

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Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? What plants are resistant to shot hole disease?

This week, Peter Gibbs and a panel of gardening experts visit the beautifully restored Finsbury Circus Gardens – a green oasis in the heart of London, with roots stretching back to Roman times and now reopened to the public.

Joining Peter are garden designer Bunny Guinness, botanist Dr Chris Thorogood, and grow-your-own guru Bob Flowerdew. They're also joined by members of the City Gardens Management Team – Jake Tibbetts, Jessica Beatty, and Ed Freeman – to explore the newly renovated grounds and celebrate the space’s rich horticultural history.

The panel tackles a thorny crop of questions from the GQT postbag, offering expert tips on topics including how to prevent shot hole disease, successful techniques for growing Pak Choi, and the fascinating science behind a fern’s life cycle.

Senior Producer: Matthew Smith Junior Producer: Rahnee Prescod Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for BBC Radio 4

Plant List Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – What plants are resistant to shot hole disease? (04’09”)

Jake Tibbetts – Pinus parviflora 'Zelkova' Zelkova serrata, japanese zelkova Toona sinensis, chinese cedar

Chris Thorogood – Styphnolobium Aesculus parviflora, bottlebrush buckeye Stewartia

Q – Can you recommend plants to go under and around the tree which has very dry soil? (07’25”)

Ed Freeman – Pachysandra Polystichum, shield fern Polypodium, polypody Asperula, woodruff Brunnera macrophylla, Siberian bugloss Asplenium scolopendrium, hart’s tongue fern

Bunny Guinness – Daphne laureola, spurge laurel Crinum × powellii, swamp lily

Q – Could the panel recommend fruit trees that are resilient and adaptable to the changing climate? (12’54”)

Bob Flowerdew – Prunus armeniaca, apricot

Bunny Guinness – Amelanchier alnifolia, alder-leaved serviceberry Apples

Jake Tibbetts – Mulberries Pears Pyrus communis (F), common pear

Q – How do you encourage ferns to germinate? (17’55”)

Q – How long does an average “short-lived” perennial live? (20’52”)

Dr Chris Thorogood – Arum italicum marmoratum, Italian arum 'Marmoratum'

Bunny Guinness – Matthiola incana, brompton stock

Q – Could you advise on how to fill a big dip in our lawn and some ideas on something more interesting? (23’13”)

Q – Why have the 50 bulbs I’ve planted failed to sprout any buds? (27’53”)

Dr Chris Thorogood – Angelica gigas, purple angelica

Jessica Beatty – Hyacinthoides non-scripta, bluebell Narcissus, daffodils Galanthus nivalis, snowdrops Crocus

Bunny Guiness – Allium 'Globemaster', allium 'Globemaster'

Q – How do I stop Pak Choi going to seed before they have hearted up? (33’06”)

Q – Are there any indoor plants that give out more moisture than others? (34’58”)

Bunny Guinness – Ficus pumila, creeping fig Rosa Basanti ('Ruicl0062a'PBR)

Bob Flowerdew – Plumbago, leadwort

Dr Chris Thorogood – Bromeliads

Q – Why haven’t my healthy 4-year-old bird of paradise hasn't flowered yet? (37’49”)