Author: Robyn DrinkwaterPage 17 of 33
A furry leaved favourite of the nursery supervisor. Holding its own in a warm corner of the back yard is Colquhounia aff. coccinea* Collected at altitude in Tibet…
Not having the stature of the ‘Conker Tree’, Aesculus hippocastanum, but with its multibranched habit and late flowering spikes Aesculus parviflora is of merit. Introduced in 1785 from…
As the days shorten and the lawns are laden with dew the South African bulbous perennial Nerine bowdenii shows its flowers. As regular as clockwork the sudden burst…
Eryngium amethystinum var. euspinosa was collected from grassland in the Tuscan hills in which mature plants were growing in abundance at c. 900m. The plants can be found…
Aster macrophylla ‘Twilight’ is proving its worth this season. Monsoon like downpours have characterised August and many herbaceous plants have bowed to the weight of the rain. Not…
The twin colours of the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland, are the feature of this Platycodon grandiflorum cultivar. The species has blue petals; this reversion has a…
Planted to nestle down in the streamside within the Chinese plant collection this herbaceous Composite; Sinacalia davidii, has foliage shaped for effect. A native of China, the seed…
An avenue of Zonal Pelargoniums leading visitors into the Victorian Palm House. Single colour block planting; what better way to make a statement. This is Pelargonium ‘Pentland Deep…
The terminal flower head of Dipsacus chinensis is worth growing this straggly lank herbaceous perennial for, alone. The plant itself will not look a picture in the border…
A late flowering display of Iris is always welcome in the garden and Iris ensata var. spontanea in the Biodiversity garden fulfils this task admirably. Collected in Japan…
Thymus praecox ssp. polytrichus is one of the 250 or so species that make up this genus. This is a ground hugging woody perennial, rarely making 35mm in…
This year the black foliage cultivar of the “Elderberry”; Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ has blossomed; magnificently and with exuberance. It has the scent of the white flowered hedgerow…
The pink daisy like flowers of Delosperma lavisiae appreciates good levels of natural light. Sunlight is essential to persuade the buds to open revealing the ring of narrow…
Walking through the garden you will notice plants that did not survive the severe winter weather. It is now time to be ruthless with the dieback that spoils…
An ideal descriptor for Dianthus callizonus growing tucked into the lee of a rock on a south face of the rock garden. Of low growing habit with terminal…
Atraphaxis frutescens is a woody member of the Polygonaceae family. A family more readily recognised for giant herbaceous invaders. A native to Central Asia through into Eastern Europe…
Decaisnea insignis is a multi stemmed deciduous shrub native to Western China. Huge pinnate leaved foliage, comprising a variable number of leaflets (13 – 25) develops, forming a…
Weather and climate have colluded this year to ensure a magnificent flowering season. Mature trees have excelled in their flower production this year and currently Fraxinus ornus var….
Four and a half pages of tight text indicate the importance that WJ Bean placed on this species of tree Paeony, Paeonia suffruticosa, in his book “Trees and Shrubs…
Chaenomeles japonica is often referred to as Quince. This common name should be reserved for Cydonia oblonga. The fruit of both do however make a very fine jelly;…