Dactylicapnos scandens

A lightly-built but potentially quite large herbaceous climber with the typical light airy foliage of the family, strung with hundreds of golden yellow lockets in summer. Previously included in Dicentra.

Sometimes described as short-lived, mine have been going for some years now, going from strength to strength without any special care. It dies back to the roots in autumn and sometimes during hot dry spells too but always comes back. Excellent for clothing spring flowering shrubs or scrambling through other climbers.

£8

Tritonia disticha rubrolucens

A dainty relative of Crocosmia, looking like a small Dierama with dangling rosy bell flowers on fine stems. 

Well-behaved and hardy in any well-drained garden soil in sun.

£8

Anemone fulgens multipetala

A very generous gift from a customer. I'm not usually a fan of double flowers but this is something special. The normal single A.x fulgens is a garden hybrid of pavonina and hortensis and not too rare, but although this form seems to be in cultivation in France (where the original colony is naturalised in rough grass near a sports field), it seems to be largely unknown here in the UK.

It'll need a sunny well drained site, in a traditional cottage garden, or maybe in rough grass under olive trees, if you happen to have some?

£8

Begonia chitoensis

One of an increasing number of Begonias hardy enough to be grown year-round in the UK, this one has broad glossy green leaves and surprisingly large rich pink flowers from late summer until first frost. It really doesn't look like it should be a good garden plant but it has proved the most reliable hardy Begonia here on the nursery.

Hardy Begonias generally make very good woodland garden plants in the south-east of the UK, flowering late and not requiring vast amounts of water, unlike the hardy Impatiens and many other choice woodlanders, which may wilt or die if they dry out. 

£12

Pyrgophyllum yunnanensis

 

Barely in cultivation – this rare hardy ginger is an easy and long-lived species in the garden, though slow to multiply. I’ve had it in the border here for 10 years. 

A distinctive leafy clump-forming plant with yellow flowers, to about 12 ins tall. I grow it among woodlanders but seems adaptable. 

£15

Chaenomeles cathayensis

An impressive upright species of great character with clusters of rich rosy red and cream flowers followed by enormous amber quinces. 

Very thorny but would make an excellent security hedge. Easy and adaptable.
£16

Unnamed Paeonia hybrid - single cream with cherry pink edge

This was given to me as a small bit of tuber about 30 years ago - I forget who from - and it has been with me ever since. 

I know nothing more about its origins but it's been a wonderful strong grower wherever I've had it, forming a dense, rounded clump. Unless someone can come up with a better suggestion I'm going to call it Cherry Pannacotta.

Many single rounded creamy flowers, edged in pink. The foliage is very glaucous grey green (a bit like mlokosewitschii - a possible parent - but the leaflets are narrower), and strongly tinted purple in spring. Does not set seeds.

Substantial newly potted roots, probably big enough to flower, in 3l pots.
£25