Wednesday 24 June 2015

Iris lactea

Iris lactea
A graceful medium-sized western Asian species with beautifully marked violet and cream flowers. In the wild it grows in well-drained sunny conditions which might lead us to imagine it doesn't need much moisture, but in fact good flowering depends on plentiful water in spring.
£7



Monday 22 June 2015

Spiraea densiflora splendens

Spiraea splendens
The Spiraeas are a another group that is unfairly ignored due to a few nondescript but all too common representatives but S.splendens is a neat little shrub with small rounded pale sea green leaves and vivid pink flowers.
Spiraea splendens
Very pretty indeed, and easy too, given sun and free drainage. Thanks to Dennis Carvalho once again, for the seed.
1L pots ~ £9




Monday 15 June 2015

Titanotrichum oldhamii

There's been a lot of excitement over the last decade or so, about hardy plants that belong to what are normally assumed to be tropical groups. The palms, bananas, Zingiberaceae and Impatiens are already becoming well known. Next I'm sure will be the Begonias and Gesneriaceae. This is one of the latter...
Titanotrichum oldhamii
Classic gesneriaceae - sturdy basal rosette of fleshy crinkly leaves and stems of foxglove like flowers emerging from the centre. The flowers are a very striking bright yellow, deep red inside, and the leaves are purple on the reverse.
Titanotrichum oldhamii
Not well tried outdoors in the UK, but the main problem overwintering temperate gesneriads usually is not the cold so much as keeping them dry in winter, This doesn't seem to be a problem in this case. Titanotrichum is best in a moist woodsy soil, and it is imperative that it does not dry out in summer, or else the flower buds will turn to tiny tubers (gemmae). A solid and vigorous woodland perennial - so far at least...
Rare and in short supply.
sold out

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Abelia sp. from Peter Catt

Abelia sp from Peter Catt
Very excited about this one. I need to get the source details from Peter. Soft rosy white flowers with orange inside among relatively large (2in) very shiny foliage (Abelias are not known for their attractive foliage.)
Abelia sp
This species seems to have an unusual trailing habit, so would be ideal for a bank or raised bed or perhaps a large pot. It's certainly choice enough to be worthy of a prominent place on the patio
Has so far proved very vigorous and hardy.
4L pots ~ £16