Yet More Plants...

I've been aware for a long time that there are some plants on the nursery that never feature on the website, either because they're not as new and exciting as others, or because I never have many of them, or in some cases because the photos I have are not great - so I never get around to posting them here. So I've decided to post them all in one big post.

Clematis songarica

A low straggling almost shrubby species producing lots of small white flowers in summer. Grows well in well-drained sunny sites. Small foliage. Fully hardy. 

Large pots, £15

Epimedium grandiflorum nanum Marchant's hybrid

Some of you may know that Epimedium grandiflorum nanum is an exquisite miniature form of this popular species where the new foliage is fresh green, less than an inch across, and broadly edged in maroon, and the milky white flowers, despite the tiny size of the plant, are normal size. The whole thing is only a couple of inches tall. 

Sadly it also has a reputation for being difficult to keep - I've had it and lost it twice. This is why I was so pleased when I came across this at Marchant's Hardy Plants a few years ago. Its a bit bigger than nanum - about 5ins high but more vigorous and easy to keep. In every other respect it seems identical. It is still slow to increase though so I'll only ever have a few small plants to sell.

£12

Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis

A striking tall perennial in the pea family with attractive pinnate leaves and dense heads of violet flowers in summer – like mauve clover heads. The main effect though is in autumn and winter when the russet red stems and bristly seed heads stand over 6ft tall. 

Completely weather-proof - an excellent feature in the winter border. Very hardy and adaptable.

£12

Keiskea japonica

Plants that flower late into autumn are always worth having and there are a number of late season Lamiaceae (mint family) from eastern Asia that are far too little grown in the UK. Colquhounia, Leucosceptrum, Elscholzia and Rostrinucula are three that I grow, and this is another. 

Keiskea are from Japan and make attractive bushy herbaceous perennials to about 4ft tall with spikes of palest pink flowers in October. Adaptable and completely hardy. Now apparently included in Collinsonia

£16

Klasea bulgarica

A wonderful tall Centaurea-type plant growing to well over head height with glossy serrated leaves and clear white flower heads. Fabulous among low-growing plants in full sun on any well-drained soil.

£12

Leucosceptrum canum

A remarkable Buddleja-like shrub from the foothills of the Himalayas, where it is quite common and widespread. The foliage is soft and broad and pale and the flowers, which are produced very late in the year, are slender creamy white bottlebrushes. 

The combination is rather striking and unusual. Best with some shelter and not too dry here - the way you might grow Colquhounia.

£16

Lonicera hispidula

The Californian Pink Honeysuckle - ideal for drier, sunnier or shady conditions, where a lot of the more familiar types tend to get mildew. The foliage is rounded and somewhat fuzzy and, in the population from which these seeds were collected (thanks again Dennis), somewhat marked with irregular maroon-black splotches, especially when young and in winter. The pink flowers are held in dense heads in summer and may be followed by red berries.

£18