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

Clematis socialis

A gorgeous small species of non-climbing herbaceous and suckering habit - popping up here and there around the original plant, but without being in any way a nuisance. 

The foliage is narrow and fresh green. The quite large bell-shaped pale violet flowers are classic viorna type but are unusual for appearing in spring. 

A very rare plant from the Georgia and Alabama but hardy and easy to grow.

£20

Clematis scottii

Surprisingly large (to more than an inch in diameter) rounded violet flowers are produced on lax stems up to about 18ins long in spring and summer followed by feathery seed heads. The foliage is greyish green pinnate. 

Plants die down completely in winter. In time will build up into a hefty clump of fine-cut foliage with the flowers held above, a bit like some sort of giant Pulsatilla. 

Easy to grow here in large pots, over-wintered in the tunnel, but better in a sunny, very well drained spot outside, especially in the drier parts of the country. Exciting plants.
3L tall pots ~ £21

Clematis fremontii

 

A unique non-climbing species from the Prairies. The plant makes a low cluster of stems clothed in simple elliptical leaves, topped in spring with nodding bell-shaped flowers of very unusual colouring. 

The flower colour is somewhat variable but mostly violet on the outside, white inside. The petals curl back over time.

Easy to grow in a well-drained sunny site.
£20

Clematis fusca and ianthina

A really peculiar species with nodding urn-shaped flowers that look like they're made out of dark brown felt and with a silky white lining. Very odd.
This is a small scrambling herbaceous species growing to about 6ft so plant it among the shrubs near the path where you can get a proper look at it.

Also comes in purple - known as ianthina. Best chosen on the nursery
£12.00