Spring is fast approaching... although you would not know it as today (11 August) I am wearing full winter clothes, the sky is grey and it's 13 ºC maximum. Nevertheless the signs of Spring are everywhere..... bud swell on the Oaks, the Ornamental Quince in full flower and the sweet smell of Jonquils and Osmanthus fragrans in the air.

The nursery has been a hive of activity through the cold and wet days of Winter. As a result we have much to offer in the coming months. Most of our grasses, shrubs and perennials will be increasingly available as Spring warms up. The first few plants of Spring that have been added to our website are below:

 

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'White Eastfield'

One of many fabulous Persicarias bred by Belgian Landscape Architect, Chris Ghyselen. Only recently have Persicaria been used widely in garden planting. Their increase in popularity due in part to the influence of Piet Oudolf. The great array of colours and forms available is due to Chris Ghyselen's passion for the development of new cultivars.
Persicarias are fantastic plants to incorporate into the garden. We grow them in amongst Rudbeckia, Sanguisorbia, Helenium, Miscanthus, Panicum and Pennisetum. The soil in these beds is enriched with compost, is moisture retentive and heavily mulched.
'White Eastfield' is a shorter variety that reaches 90cm high and has dark green leaves which are narrow and pointed. Numerous spikes of white slightly drooping flowers appear in Summer and continue until early Winter. 90cm x 90cm.

 

Salvia 'Blue Abyss'

Similar but smaller than Salvia 'Anthony Parker' but with a strong vivid blue flower and darker velvet calyces with its parentage being Salvia leucanthe. It is  robust and remarkably tolerant of heat and dry conditions. 1m x 1m. 

 

Achillea clypeolata

With bright sunshine yellow flowers and cheery composure, this Achillea will add light and joy to the garden and bring a sense of excitement when the flowers first appear. The highly divided grey foliage adds an extra feature to the plant. Flowers last all through the Summer and well into Autumn. 60 x 60cm in free draining soil. Surprisingly, the rabbits don't seem to be interested in eating the leaves of this plant.

 

Phlomis platystegia

An intriguing plant, Phlomis platystegia is native to Israel and Jordon. Whorls of strong yellow flowers appear in late Winter and Spring. The foliage is distinctive in that it is olive green on the upper surface and has silver white hairs on the lower surface. These hairs accentuate the wavy leaf margin. It is essential that this Phlomis is planted in a sunny well drained position. One of the few plants to thrive during out hot 2019 drought. Frost tolerant. 1m x 1m.

 

Deschampsia flexuosa 'Tatra Gold'

A clump forming, cool season growing ornamental grass forming low arching tufts of finely textured leaves which are bright chartreuse in Spring and early Summer, turning rich green in later seasons. Decorative purplish-bronze flower heads in mid Summer on stiff stems. Full sun to part shade. Best with Summer moisture. Frost tolerant. Works well in container planting. Performs best in cooler climates. Approx. 30-40cm high.

 

Carex testacea

A beautiful sedge that is used extensively in landscape design projects in New Zealand, where it is native. The foliage colours change with the seasons. In Summer, the fine cascading leaves are an olive-green to chartreuse (acid yellow). However in Winter the colour deepens to a warm orange - honey gold. Approx. 50cm high x 50cm wide. 

 

Cistus x pulverulentus 'Sunset'

Vivid magenta flowers on a compact low 60cm high and wide shrub. Grey green hairy leaves make a nice contrast to the flowers. Tough little evergreen plant. Prefers poor to average soil in full sun. Frost tolerant. Requires good drainage. Discovered in southwestern Europe in 1929. Received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

 

Festuca valesiaca var. glaucantha

Very fine powdery blue hair like foliage in clumps to 30cm. Great for rock gardens or pot culture. Needs good drainage. Winter growing, Summer flowering with beige spikelets of open panicles. Larger and more elegant than Festuca glauca.