To wonder how a plant can be common?

[CruCru]

I have been having some work done to my garden and am looking at which plants to put where. I want a white hydrangea in the front garden and my mum was horrified. Hydrangeas are common, you see. How can a plant be common?

[GloriousGloria]

A common plant but I actually see what your mum means in a strange way.

I call hydrangeas council plants because they're a plant that the council seems to stick everywhere in their green areas.

[GemmaTeller]

I love hydrangea!!

[CruCru]

Hmm. This is interesting. What other plants are common?

[picnicbasketcase]

Plant pampas grass instead and tell her you've changed your mind and would rather give the neighbours an indication of your hobbies?

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Perhaps it's because hydrangeas do seem to thrive in the tiny narrow beds round terraced and council house front gardens. They are often the thing that's left when they are tarmaced for parking too.

I like them, we a had a purple one in our ex council house garden and DSIL has the a spectacular bank of the lacy white ones in the shelter corner by the house of her very large MC garden.

[picnicbasketcase]

I wasn't casting nasturtiums on your private life btw, just thought it'd be interesting to hear how horrified her face was

[Coddo]

Carnations. Common. Plus twee bedding plants

[ArgyMargy]

I think they are having a bit of a comeback. Probably considered common at some point because they're big & blowsy. But I like them a lot and I don't think I'm common.

[deakymom]

aww i love them our council don't use them they use some kind of scruffy things that look awful! (plant snob)

[SixImpossible]

What the hell does 'common' mean when you're talking about a plant?!

Not wanting to cast nasturtiums, but do you think your mum's a bit of a snob?

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Common - when you can buy them in every garden centre. People go; see what is there and buy them to fill holes in borders without any research or thought.

I scoffed at hydrangeas [for years] but the OH bought an oak leaved one, with white flowers [long cone not round fluffy balls] and I do like it.

I don't 'do' blousy. Ever.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Common - also when it is the most prolific eg common thyme just means the one most regularly found.

[AuntieStella]

Ah!

The perennial question of Yew and non-Yew!

There's a whole book on it, plus this article

[OverAndAbove]

I remember in on elf the Jilly Cooper books (Rivals, I think) brightly coloured/clashing bedding plants such as geraniums were considered to be very common. I think all-white gardens are probably quite posh

[AuntieStella]

This is the book I meant

[cosikitty]

Hydrangea are beautiful, that is why they are popular, and they grow realatively easy and are hardy. Plant one.

[SixImpossible]

Exactly. It just means that you see lots of them. I don't get the feeling that that is the 'common' the OP's mum was meaning, though!

[cosikitty]

I can't belive there are people that so up themselves that they'scoff' at other peoples choice of flowers! .

[MorrisZapp]

My folks talk about 'municipal planting' ie the formal flower beds the council take care of, apparently they are lacking in imagination.

I really like them. I don't know enough about flowers to discriminate, although I do know what carnations are the cheapest and longest lasting to buy cut. I really like them too.

[sunbathe]

I planted lupins in my front garden, they were gorgeous.

My mil was aghast and said they were plants for the back garden.

I must have missed that class!

[GemmaTeller]

gawd above - how common am I

[ArabellaTarantella]

I have the most magnificent hydrangea in my front garden. It is very splendid and about 10ft across and 8ft high, and it is pink. I am NOT common........nor is my plant

[fluffyraggies]

Buddleia. Common as muck

[HemlockStarglimmer]

The hydrangea in my front garden has at long last, stopped looking brown and diseased and has finally thrown out some lovely purple flowers.

I don't care how 'common' it is, I'm not getting rid of it!