Friday 13 May 2016

Tradescantia bracteata and ohiensis

The hardy North American Tradescantias are one of the few groups of plants that will grow almost anywhere in the garden (without becoming a nuisance) and which has almost no major pests or diseases. Mostly of course people grow the cultivars, but as you might be aware by now, I tend to prefer the wild species.

Tradescantia bracteata
Tradescantia bracteata
This is a remarkably choice low compact species with substantial violet flowers on short stems.
Tradescantia bracteata
Quite variable
sold out

Tradescantia ohiensis
Tradescantia ohiensis
A much more graceful, slender species than we are used to, with pale green grassy foliage and soft lavender flowers over a long period in summer.
Tradescantia ohiensis
1L pots ~ £6


Monday 9 May 2016

Two Unusual Aquatics

Saururus chinensis
Saururus chinensis
A curious, somewhat aroid-like aquatic perennial making a leafy colony in shallow water or wet mud. This is a better looking plant than the more common S.cernuus - the inflorescence is a creamy white spadix, but with a conspicuous white bract. Hardy and vigorous but much better behaved than its other relatives, Houttuynia and Anemopsis.
1L pots ~ £8



Sagittaria graminea
Sagittaria graminea
A pretty miniature 'arrow-head' with narrow spatula-shaped leaves, and submerged linear leaves. The simple three-petalled flowers are produced through the summer (nb. the upper picture shows male flowers, the lower, female).
Sagittaria graminea
Hardy and vigorous and ideal for colonising an area of shallow water or wet mud. Although short in stature, this plant does multiply freely by stolons.
(I bought the original plant as graminea but it could well be S.platyphylla)
bare-rooted plants ~ £4 each



Cytisus hirsutus

Cytisus hirsutus
A lovely small arching shrub with fresh lemon yellow pea flowers over a long period in spring and soft pale green leaves. 
Cytisus hirsutus
Well drained sunny soils
1L pots ~ £15