Buddleja speciosissima

A splendid species from southern Brazil with long tubular orange red flowers in summer. The foliage is also long and narrow, to about 8ins long, 2ins wide, and heavily felted white beneath and on the stems. 

So far this has not been at all damaged in my unheated tunnel and other reports tell us that it’s a good hardy species for at least southern England. 

(If you doubt this remember that several other good garden plants come from a similar part of the world, Salvia uliginosa, Abutilon megapotamicum, Alstroemeria psittacina and Passiflora caerulea for example.)
£24

Aristolochia californica

These have been painfully slow to mature but I finally have a few big enough to sell. 

Little pinkish brown jugs about 1½ inches across are produced very profusely on the leafless stems in early spring. The leaves appear soon after and are soft green and heart-shaped. A vigorous but not overwhelming climber. Here it grows well in sun or shade and is completely hardy. Some early flowers may be frosted so a sheltered spot among shrubs is best. 

A brilliant plant – I love it.

£20

Polygonatum mengtzense tonkinense HWJ 573

A highly desirable evergreen 'solomon's seal' from Vietnam, originally obtained many years ago from Crug Farm. It has increased slowly since then and I now have enough to part with some bits.

Only about 10ins tall, the new shoots emerge deep maroon in spring turning dark green later, with the small rounded purple flowers dangling underneath the curving stems. These may be followed by red berries.

Hardy here in a sheltered woodland bed and doesn't seem to mind summer drought.

£15

New on the Nursery

 

Ribes speciosum

A classic with its rich red somewhat fuchsia-like flowers dangling all along the undersides of the stems in spring. The leaves are gooseberry-like and fresh green and the red stems are viciously thorny. 

Best trained on a sunny wall, but surprisingly tough with a little protection.
£18

Philadelphus mexicanus Rose Syringa

A slender willowy species with narrow grey-green leaves and neat rounded scented white flowers, marked with purple toward the centre in late spring. 

Best with shelter but seems quite hardy here. Makes a broad mound of weeping stems.
£18

Alchornea davidii

A remarkable shrub, little known in the UK – it has very broad (up to 10ins across) and beautifully textured heart-shaped leaves on stout upright stems. Deciduous but the new growth is vivid sugar pink. The flowers are inconspicuous. 

Subtropical but hardy down here in Sussex - benefits from summer heat and plenty of moisture to do its best. A member of the euphorbiaceae though looking nothing like a Euphorbia – closer to Mallotus japonicus but with much bigger leaves. 
£18

Clematis tashiroi

An evergreen species with broad, dark green leaves splashed with silver. The flowers are relatively small but very striking with recurved deep plum purple ‘petals’ contrasting with white filaments. 
pic
Very striking. A subtropical species needing warmth, shelter and moisture to thrive. Hardy here in Sussex but hasn't flowered yet.
£22

Fuchsia regia

Fuchsia regia Grey Leaf
 

Grown from AGS exchange seed as regia - the overall effect (semi-climbing) and the elegant flowers are typical regia, but the leaves are narrower and often somewhat grey-tinted. 

Hardy and easy - ideal for adorning early-flowering shrubs that have finished for the summer.
£10

Fuchsia regia Cherry

A bit of an enigma, this one. A wild-collected form with distinctive large red-veined glaucous leaves, slender, dusky pink flowers and a broad trailing habit. 

Given to me by Miriam Jacobs. She told me "Many of us received one like mine at a SIG meeting but don’t have the name. Mine came with the number 41-42". She's calling it Cherry until we know more about it.
£14

Piper aff. kadsura

The nearest we come to a hardy pepper plant. In all respects typical of the genus – a climber with nicely veined heart-shaped matt green leathery leaves to about 3ins across. I’ve not seen it flower but I assume they will be the normal pale, spadix-like inflorescences. 

Borderline hardy here at the nursery but we are rather exposed and dry. I’d try it in a milder, moister area, in woodland or a cool greenhouse. It went unscathed in my ‘frost-free’ greenhouse in December 2022 when many other supposedly hardier plants froze to death. Thanks to Mark Smith for this rarity.
£15

Hibiscus militaris

One of the southern US swamp mallows, related to the spectacular coccineum and moscheutos, but requiring less summer heat to grow and flower outdoors. Suitable for pond margins and swampy conditions in full sun. 

Fully frost hardy. The flowers are white or palest pink, with a dark pink eye, and about 4ins across, on 4-5ft stems. 

£15