Anisodonta x hypomadara

Anisodonta x hypomadara is an attractive hybrid with larger, more intensely coloured and veined flowers than those of A. It is vigorous when well fed, but like Cistus it will still grow and flower in poor soil as long as this is well-drained, and it will also prove more hardy if grown hard with some shelter.

Viburnum tinus ‘Israel’

Viburnum tinus ‘Israel’ is a distinct form which offers a change from the more well known types The leaves are larger and glossier than the other varieties and it grows more vigorously, but most importantly it flowers very late – with the flower buds not appearing until early spring (as long as you don’t prune it at the wrong time). Although we seem to have forgotten it in recent years the roots of Viburnum tinus in containers are not tolerant of much freezing, as they are thick and fleshy, so be aware of the potential for damage should there be a proper cold spell this winter. Once in the ground this ceases to be a problem.

Availability List time

A new Availability list is done. Go to http://www.jackdawsfield.co.uk/ to Download it or e-mail nick@jackdawsfield.co.uk and ask to be sent one automatically as soon as a new list is done each week.

Olearia virgata var. lineata “Dartonii”

Olearia virgata var. lineata “Dartonii” suffers with its name, but is a worthwhile plant. It is a vigorous, with fine, silvery foliage and would be good at the back of a border to set off brightly coloured flowers. It is tolerant of hard pruning so won’t get too big. A good alternative to Salix exigua – it has the silveriness without being a willow. Completely hardy and clay tolerant.

Piptanthus nepalensis

Piptanthus nepalensis (formerly P. laburnifolius) makes a large shrub, and although it is traditionally regarded as slightly tender ours are grown from seed from a garden in Yorkshire so it certainly justifies the classification of Z8. It is semi-evergreen, with large yellow laburnum like flowers in spring and large trifoliate leaves. Can be grown as a single stem or multi-stemmed – which our current batch will have to be as they have been pruned. Being leguminous it needs good drainage and is best with some shelter from wind.

Caryopteris incana-yellow foliaged varieties

Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’ is probably the best yet of the yellow foliaged varieties. It is a deeper yellow than ‘Worcester Gold’, the flowers are bright blue rather than pale blue because it is a C. incana (rather than C. x clandonensis) and for the same reason it should be hardier, although neither should suffer in well-drained soil – but they don’t thrive on our heavy clay. The other new golden Caryopteris (C. ‘Hint of Gold’) seems to be less golden than ‘Sunshine Blue’. Both are subject to PVR. I am going to do a Caryopteris cribsheet before next spring.

Euphorbia griffithii

Euphorbia griffithii types are always popular with their showy flowers in spring, red foliage through the summer and golden autumn colour. Although they are all similar, there are differences in nursery performance and garden worthiness. E.g. ‘King’s Caple’ (named after the village where it comes from) is taller and bushier than the standard ‘Fireglow’, and the flower heads are larger, better coloured and earlier. E.g. ‘Wickstead’ has darker foliage (like ‘Dixter’ which will we grow again one day, if we can find clean stock) so the contrast between the flowers and foliage is very striking.

Watsonia pillansi

Watsonia pillansi is an iris-like plant with tall stems of slightly drooping, red, funnel-shaped flowers. It is hardy to Z7.

Delospermas

Delospermas are low growing South African plants with thick fleshy leaves, and long-lasting daisy type flowers in summer. D. cooperi has purple/red flowers, is a sub-shrub hardy to Z6; and is known as the Trailing or Hardy Ice Plant while D. sutherlandii is a non-woody perennial, hardy only to Z9 and has violet-pink flowers.

Passiflora

You will see that we have a number of new Passiflora and there will be more. Like our Fuchsia expansion not all the varieties will prove worth growing, but we are looking for varieties with healthy foliage, good coloured flowers and hardiness. There will be a full cribsheet in time, but for the moment suffice it to know that ‘Simply Red’ is named after the band and not the colour of its flowers. What a stupid use of a good name.

Availability

A new Availability list is done. Go to http://www.jackdawsfield.co.uk/ to Download it or e-mail nick@jackdawsfield.co.uk and ask to be sent one automatically as soon as a new list is done each week.

Availability list

A new Availability list is done. Go to http://www.jackdawsfield.co.uk/ to Download it or e-mail nick@jackdawsfield.co.uk and ask to be sent one automatically as soon as a new list is done each week.