Phymosia umbellata Aubergine

A Mexican mallow with very dark glossy bell-shaped flowers in chunky green calyces. It may or may not be darker than other forms in cultivation, but I like the name because the flowers really do look a lot like aubergines. Photos of similar plants online look a lot more red. People who like black flowers (and who doesn't?) should definitely grow it.

Anyway it's my seedling so I'm naming it 😁  It's very photogenic.

In other respects it resembles other malvaceous shrubs like Abutilon and Lavatera and grows to about 6ft tall and across.

Hardiness is uncertain but it'll take some frost - probably safest fairly dry at the roots and in full sun, against a wall, or in a pot brought in for the winter. 

£16

Abelia (Linnaea) umbellata

An extremely rarely offered hardy species related to mosanensis and triflora. The flowers are jasmine-like rosy white tubes backed with maroon sepals and the leaves are relatively broad and dark green. I’ve not been growing it long enough to know what it does long term but it looks promising.

Cuttings given to me by Peter Catt
£16