Actinidia kolomikta & Rodgersia

Love this plant it looks as if someone has dabbed it with some pink paint. I wonder if I could find room for one in my garden ;-) Please could you tell me what aspect it likes Dawn? Teds

Gorgeous! I'm on my second attempt at Actinidia - the first didn't do so well, or so I though, has started improving as the temperatures have started getting hot.
Can I ask how old yours is please Dawn?

Hi Teds, to be honest its not as good as last year, I'm wondering if my cats have damaged the base a little, they love it, they rub around it and bite the stems, lol. This is pretty much south facing but they are pretty tough as we get late frosts here.

...and I've had to protect both from cats!

Naughty cats, arent they. Hmmm about 4 years old I should think, was just a tiny cutting.

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasn't expecting too much too soon :) Which I think I am!

The plants contain a chemical which has been described as "industrial strength catnip". I protect the base of mine with a collar of semi-rigid wire netting about 12 inches tall, placed a couple of inches from the stems, to prevent our feline friends from getting at it.

It looks good for 4 years old Dawn, the rodgersia's pretty nice too :-)

That's interesting Andrew, no wonder the cats love it. Thanks for the info on how you protect yours, I did wonder, right, I'm on the case, well husband will be.
Thanks Kathy, thought you'd like the Rodgersia, was by the pond but failing so potted up.

It's looking really good Dawn :o)) this is all new to me about cats eating it I have two large plants and have never had any trouble from them, maybe with having so many other plants round the base I just hadn't noticed !

I love it Amy but doesnt seem as good as last year. Im surprised your new cat visitor hasnt been after yours :)

'Copper ' doesn't touch it Dawn we have lots of Nepeta x faassenii (cat mint) which he does love to eat , the plants are so big with stems and flowers that spread and hang out almost umbrella shape the Bees love it we have noticed Copper sitting beside the plants swatting the bees he's lucky he doesn't get stung !

Awww Copper, I remember now. So he's still around Amy. Maybe the catmint brought him in initially :-), oh no, think it was Winter though when he first appeared, when it was cold. They cant resist the bees can they.