Anyone grown Robinia Casque Rouge or Cockburnianus ?

[AstrantiaMajor]

I have planted a section of garden for Winter Interest. Coloured Bark,twisty stems and seed heads. I absolutely love Cockburnianus but I think it is too much of a thug for the location. Any opinions or problems if you have this plant? Is there something similar with white stems that I could plant instead.

I have one Robinia which is allowed to do its own thing, but I really like the look of Casque Rouge. I wonder if any one has this and has any problems with it. Also do you know if it possible to restrict the spread bit by pruning, without spoiling its beauty.

[midlifenicethis]

Cockburnianus??!!!

Is that actually a name of plant?? LOL

I have no idea what it looks like but think you should go for that purely on the basis of it having the most hilarious plant name EVER.

Oh and I'm sure that someone who knows something about gardening will be along soon :-)

[AstrantiaMajor]

I too think it is hilarious. If you were to sit on it it will certainly fulfil its name. It is white stemmed branble with massive thorns.

[shovetheholly]

I have Rubus cockburnianus It looks great, but it is a thorny thug that will spread everywhere given half a chance. I rather like it for its wicked fairy tale look, but I have gauntlets and prune it back to the ground every year and mercilessly dig out runners. I have it underplanted with silver helleborus argutifolius. I was cursing it yesterday, as it's next to the fatsia I dug out and scratched me mercilessly throughout the operation. I don't know how long I'll keep it, to be honest!

Is it the structure you want or the colour? If the colour, what about a silver pittosporum? If the verticality, what about a grass that stays and goes silver over the course of the winter?

[AstrantiaMajor]

I love the structure of it. It is a relatively small bed. It has Cornus Midwinter Fire, Acer Kangu Saku, Ophiopagn and a few evergreen conifers. I thought the white would set of the reds and blacks really well. I wonder if I could plant it in a pot in the ground,or will the runners still escape..

[shovetheholly]

Have a look at the 'golden vale' variety - it has yellow foliage that might set off your cornus and black grasses very nicely indeed!

[bookbook]

mm, I suspected it would be a thug...
Nothing much comes to mind though - would a silver/grey grass work?

[AstrantiaMajor]

Flipping 'ek Shove. I've not really got the room for one but now I want both. Trying to avoid grasses in that bit, Bookbook. Looking for twiggy /stem stuff.

[bookbook]

isn't there a white stemmed dogwood? off to google ...