For a catalogue of reasons

We are not now producing a printed catalogue for a variety of reasons:

a) it has been always been difficult to make decisions about what we should and should not catalogue. It has only ever been a snapshot of our plans (and hopes) and now  these change so fast that it has become rather a waste of paper

b) We know that most of you don't look at it beyond a cursory read when you receive it and if you do want to refer to it later you can't find it.

c) It takes time and money both of which are useful to save.

So why produce a list at all - when the availability list is what most customers order from?

a) if you are looking for something particular a full listing is useful

b) There is no pressure on us to be concise so you will find that more is listed in the "To order" category.

So the new catalogue list is available from the website www.jackdawsfield.co.uk in the form of a spreadsheet which I suggest you download to save and/or print yourself a copy. It is in alphabetical order, but you can sort it by category if you want.
Varieties that are marked as 'Regular' we will definitely be propagating and you can reasonably expect them to appear on our availability list at some point in the next eighteen months, although some will sell out before they reach the availability list. In contrast we will not necessarily be propagating those lines marked as 'To Order' unless we have orders in hand when the decision time comes. It is never too early to order. The answer to the FAQ (when is it best to order?) is NOW! You can of course sort the spreadsheet by "Regular/To order" or "New"

If downloading causes you any problems then let me know and if I can't sort the problem I can post you a copy.

How to get the most out of our range.  If you order from the catalogue only, you will miss some varieties that appear only on the availability list; because we were not sure enough of them, did not have enough or they were a new idea. If you order from the availability only then you will miss out on the lines whose popularity exceeds our ability to produce them.

We continue to offer a discount based on the value of plants supplied. As the bands at which these apply (2.5% at £2.5K and 5% at £5K) have not changed for more than twenty years they do offer a significant incentive. Think of it as a loyalty scheme. If you pass one of these limits during the year you will receive a retrospective discount on the value of the invoices to date, assuming that invoices have been paid on time.

The prices will apply for the calendar year and until we publish a new list

Our terms and conditions are on the website and we could send you a copy should you wish. The important part that has changed is the delivery charges which now reads as follows.

We now make a delivery charge for all deliveries. If the delivery is of more than 300 liners the charge is as £15 per trolley up to a maximum of £60.  The charge for smaller deliveries will be quoted for.

Remember that the charges apply per delivery and not per order, so if you order from across the time span of the availability list you will need to have multiple deliveries. There is a limit to how long we are able or willing to hold plants in order to accumulate larger deliveries.

Small orders that are sent boxed by carrier are charged at £9 per box into which we can get 50-60 plants. 

In Short, order now.

In common with most other young plant producers we have reduced our production levels in response to the increasingly unpredictable nature of the trade. We no longer use a rented nursery and this means that we are having to grow in smaller batches but, where we can, more of them in a season and we hope that this will keep our availability list as wide-ranging as ever, but it may mean that you cannot assume that particular plants will be available at all times of year. So, if you want it, order it while it is there.

 However what we we have not done is reduce the range we grow as we firmly believe that there is still a good demand for a wide range of plants - but the way they reach the gardener is changing. Destination and chain garden centres are not where a range is found and nor is it where the interested gardener looks for the plants they want. It is to you, our customers that they come and we will do what we can to keep offering you something different. Popularity of particular plants waxes and wanes and some that were once popular are now only of minor interest while others become the new must-have. We have no more idea than anyone else which they will be, but we are sure that the way to commercial oblivion is to follow the crowd.

If you are placing and order can you please let us know hen you would like the first delivery - it can make a difference to how e allocate to batches and it helps us to plan.

To find the latest copy of our availability list click here http://bit.ly/13KIFzp

Special offer and a new availability list

A new availability list is up and:

For the next six weeks we are offering 15% discount on all new orders received and delivered, subject to the following conditions.

1. The minimum quantity for this offer to apply in full is 400 plants. If you want a lesser quantity we will quote.

2. Delivery will be charged thus: £25 for one trolley (or part trolley), £40 for two trolleys and £50 for three or more trolleys.

3. COD and collection discounts still apply but annual order value does not.

The list is not edited for items that are not ready now, so please do take note of the 'Available' column

Wisteria hysteria

The brand new availability list is showing some Wisterias available but there may well be other varieties when we have finished grading after having done the major despatch (Very soon). Please ask if Wisterias are your desire at the moment. nick@jackdawsfield.co.uk 

June??

It's June, June already. Thats amazing and shocking. Perhaps i'm getting old?? Right then its June so we need to get you to take a look at this glorious new availability list we have, really its fabulous and just released so all the juicy hot stuffs still waiting to be snapped up. Soon it will be Christmas (Well soon ish), don't leave it too late. http://bit.ly/13KIFzp

Chelsea week

Whether on tv, social media or actually at the show, if you see anything you like at Chelsea have a look at our current availability list, we may well have it ready and waiting for you right now. http://bit.ly/13KIFzp

A short long weekend

After the bank holiday, the dust settles and our minds turn to space..... Ok now you've thought about space, lets fill it. A new shiny copy of the new shiny availability list is ready and waiting for you at http://bit.ly/13KIFzp 

Whatever the weather.

The weather is going for four seasons in one hour at the moment but nevermind our availability list has such a wide range of plants that whatever season you're gonna convince yourself we're in there will be something interesting to match. http://bit.ly/13KIFzp

Here's too sunny days and cool nights

Perhaps a little less cool at nights would be nice but the weathers got the right idea, Show the weather its doing the right thing by ordering from our new availability list. Remember if the weather goes bad it means you just didn't order enough.

Availability lists should always come the day after a blog post, don't you think?

Availability lists should always come the day after a blog post, don't you think? Snap it up We also still have a few stock plans available.

Our hard graft with Wisteria's pays dividends

This is the eleventh year we have grafted Wisterias; the range has been increasing all the time, and will continue to do so. Because young plants may not flower this genus has become very mixed in the trade, with even the most "reputable"  sources supplying wrongly named plants. We have flowered all the stock plants that we use and we are as sure as we can be that we are supplying uniform batches, but naming them is still a problem. In general we have followed Peter Vader's book, but some names have been changed since that was written. There are three principal species; the earliest to flower is W. sinensis - identified by twining anti-clockwise. Early flowering is good in that the flowers are borne on leafless plants but it does increase the risk of frost damage. W. brachybotrys is next to flower and has short racemes with intensely coloured flowers. The latest is W. floribunda and the flowers can easily be hidden by the opening foliage - so these are best on a pergola where the flowers will hang down under the canopy rather than against a wall. I am attaching a cribsheet which gives the important features of each variety and this will continue to be updated and available on our website

As a young plant Euonymus fortunei Silver Queen is somewhat similar to Emerald Gaiety but if planted next to a wall it behaves as a wall shrub and we have one that is over three metres tall - growing in amongst an Akebia for support. Many people expect it to be an upright form of E. japonicus but that is correctly called 'Macrophyllus Albus'.

There a number of forms of Akebia quinata which have names that suggest they are cream- flowered but I don't know if they are actually all the same. Ours has cream petals and a purple-red centre, and smells a little chocolatey. There is a completely white form which we don't yet grow

Lonicera caerulea Honeyberry  is one form of L.caerulea of which I think we will be seeing a lot more. It flowers as the leaves open and then bears edible bluish fruits in summer. Rather trendy at the moment but perhaps its popularity will be as fleeting as that of the Goji Berry. We also offer a a wild-collected form simply known as L. caerulea edulis (formerly listed as L.edulis). Both grow to 1.5m.  Another trendy fruit-bearing plant is Ugni molinae which only grows to 80cm and the fruits are small and red, tasting not entirely unlike strawberries. Apparently they can be made into jam but it would as tedious as doing so with wild bilberries.    

Blepharocalyx cruikshankii is an evergreen shrub in the myrtle family with attractive bronzy young growth and white flowers that are slightly scented. It has had the varietal name 'Heaven Scent appended to it but that is not a valid name (and it is misleading). Makes a 15m tree in the wild but as it has not fully hardy that is unlikely here. Tolerant of seaside conditions.

On the other hand Euonymus hamiltonianus is completely hardy forming a large shrub to 3m at least. It has wings on the stems that make the stems appear squarish and is grown for its pink and red fruits and autumn colour. There are a number of selections which we are working on

Two good attributes for the genus come together in Philadelphus Mexican Jewel in that it is a small-leaved and only grows to 1.5m and its fragrant flowers have purple centres. Although they are small there are plenty of them to make a show. The best images I can find are at www.panglobalplants.com.

It is not true that Loropetalum ch.v. rubrum Fire Dance is hardy as I have seen claimed but the species is rated at Z8 which means that it will survive some winters. It has dark red foliage all through the year and bears pink strap-like flowers in the spring. Can be grown to advantage as a standard.  Naturally a woodland plant it should prefer some shade but grows happily in full sun on the  nursery

We have been surprised at the winter tolerance of Osteospermum Lady Leitrim which has come through a cold winter and then a wet one planted in a difficult piece of ground. The large daisy flowers are essentially white although they have a darker reverse to the petal and are sometimes tinged pink. O. jacundum (pink flowers) planted next to it did not thrive and we have yet to test O. Snow Pixie.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Its a gloriously sunny day here in Sussex, so if its nice where you are grab a copy of our new availability list and plonk yourself somewhere sunny with a tall glass of something you fancy and enjoy.

Surplus Stock plants

Rather later and shorter than usual our surplus stock plant list. As always these are priced to clear and therefore we do have to consider the delivery cost. It will generally be fine if we are already delivering to you with our own transport.

Another great weekend.

Another great weekend, and for many a return to hand watering. Make it more exciting, water something interesting. for lots of ideas see our availability list.

Keeping intruders out or encouraging Brimstones in.

Heptacodium miconoides is  a hardy vigorous large shrub which can also be grown as a small tree. It has fragrant panicles of white flowers, similar to Clethra, in late summer which are followed by persistent reddish sepals.  As a tree it will reach 6m, but it can be contained by pruning.

Rhamnus alaternus 'Argenteovariegata' is also a hardy shrub, although it gives the impression of being tender. Strikingly white variegated it makes a dense shrub to about 3m, doing better when it has some shelter from the wind - by a hedge or wall or simply other plants. Flowers are insignificant but occasionally small red berries are carried, supposedly turning to black.  Tolerant of clipping, but not hard pruning. It has very little in common with Rhamnus frangula 'Asplenifolia' which has among the most cut leaves of any garden plants, giving a lovely textural contrast. It has reliable golden autumn colour and as a form of a native plant it a food plant for Brimstone butterflies. To 3m.

It won't be long before Ribes speciosum is in flower, when its small pendulous red flowers often cause it to be thought to be a Fuchsia. It is a auckering, semi-evergreen that needs support and thrives against a wall reaching up to 5m. On the nursery it needs some winter protection but once planted is hardy enough to survive for many years. It is very prickly and has dense growth so could be used as a form of intruder discouragement by growing it around windows. Tolerant of clipping and hard pruning.

In similar vein Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' is a plant that can be killed by temperatures below about -10C when in pots but seems hardier in the ground. Much sought after, it is a deciduous, thornless climber with clusters of small, double, primrose yellow flowers in late spring/summer. How big does it grow? The RHS sys 8-12 metres but I know of a specimen that is considerably taller than that covering four storeys of a stately home which also demonstrates that is hardy. We have propagated from this specimen and are testing it for hardiness in case it is a different clone. The unfortunately named Rosa banksiae var. banksiae is the white form.

We planted Ostespermum Lady Leitrim in the autumn of 2011 and it has survived the cold of one winter and the wet of the next so it does seem to be tough. It has large, white (sometimes pink-tinged) daisy flowers that open and close with the sun. Pink Osteospermum jacundum has not survived, but it is a lovely, and popular, plant.

Evil Weevils

Although I am not qualified to advise about the use of pesticides I would like to explain the current situation on vine weevil control and what we are doing to make sure we are supplying non-infested plants and what you can do to keep them that way. Two things are certain; vine-weevils have not gone away and we will never again have a golden bullet that will control them easily.  Regulatory issues mean that Vinil will not be coming back and the  current restrictions on neo-nicotinoids mean that there is very little choice and no product that will work all year round outside. We use Met-52 and as we grow everything under protection the compost temperatures will remain high enough to work throughout the period when eggs may be hatching. As yet we have seen no larvae but that could because we have been clear for so long and there is the possibility that a problem could develop. Therefore we watch for adults, or the signs that they are around and spraying to control them is an option.  We also check the crops for larvae. In the event of finding any then we will have to resort to nematode treatment and unfortunately this is going to become more of a regular procedure if you are growing outside. Met 52 does not last more than one season, and nor does the remaining permitted neonicotinoid, so you cannot rely on the compost volume of the liner still having vine-weevil killing contents and as eggs are laid close to the main stem this is the danger area. Using Met-52 in your compost will not be a sufficient control if you have adults present and some additional treatment will be necessary. And, by the way, if you think that this is an untenable situation and somebody will have to sort it, you are wrong. Government and regulators do no give a tinker's cuss about the viability or survival of ornamental horticulture. I shall now get down from my hobby horse and write something nice about plants for tomorrow.

How was that for you?

What a lovely weekend, particularly in contrast to what we have been through. I hope you are busy and we look forward to receiving your orders, and to help you along we have our what a great weekend updated availability list.

The First Law

I just finished reading the First law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, Its really good if you like that sort of thing. The availability list on the other hand is always excellent and a new one is out now. Find it here 

I swear I saw some blue in the sky over the weekend.

Is there just a small feeling that we are past the worst? Cross fingers and grab the new Availability list http://bit.ly/13KIFzp

Just dont look out the window.

Settle down, read our new availability list and dream of better times.

You can't blame me. I deliberately didn't say that this year can't be as bad as last year, because I said it last year and I was wrong!

Dichroa febrifuga looks extremely like a Hydrangea macrophylla in leaf, habit and flower. However its USP is that it always has blue flowers and these can be followed by blue berries. It is semi-evergreen but the leaves turn bronze/gold through the winter. The downside is that is not hardy - surviving outside in only the most favoured of sites (which have been rare in previous two winters). Therefore it is best suited to patio culture with winter protection.

Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' needs no introduction as a garden plant, but it is not the easiest of plants to grow. We pot in a less acid compost and they seem happier under light shade (20% netting is what we use). They are ridiculously prone to root-rotting Phytoptheras and whatever measures are adequate for most of what you grow more care is needed with Daphnes. If you can keep the conditions exactly correct and unchanging then there will be no problem but if they get too dry or too wet, or one then the other, the roots will start to rot. The aerial parts of the plant will yellow and although they can survive like this for a long time they won't grow again. We are now successfully overcoming this by drenching with Subdue at critical times - particularly before we start picking from the batch. There are other agents available but do consider using something to keep them healthy, unless you always can keep them unstressed.

Eleutherococcus sieboldii Variegatus is a hardy deciduous, suckering shrub. Its variegated leaves are particularly bright when they first appear fading a little as they mature. The stems are slightly spiny and can eventually reach 2.5m but 1.5m is more normal. Flowers are not significant. It has been known under a variety of names but Acanthopanax sieboldii Variegatus is probably the most well known.

Unlike Eleutheroccus Holodiscus discolor  is grown for its flower but it is another completely hardy shrub. It grows as dense multi-stemmed plant to 2m and has small oak-like leaves. The flowers are creamy white plumes, like Astilbe, carried in late spring.   Tolerant of hard-pruning.

Chimonanthus praecox  is another hardy, flowering shrub which is just finishing flowering here. Commonly known as Wintersweet the yellow waxy flowers are reasonably showy but the scent is what it is grown for, although the still conditions necessary for it to be at its most noticeable have been missing this year.  There are named forms but they are slow from cuttings so we raise the species from seed.  It is said that it needs a good summer to encourage flowering but our experience is that once a plant starts flowering it will do so every year regardless of the summer (which is just as well). 

Not everything we grow is reliably hardy, but our gardens would be the poorer if we did not try and grow things that are on the edge. Australasian plants can come from colder climate than we experience here, but it will be drier. Also Phytopthera cinnamoni which is one our most common root-rotting pathogens does not naturally occur in Australia and the flora has no resistance to it. Therefore the secret of success is to keep them dry on the nursery and recommend well-drained planting positions. We offer a good range of evergreen labiate shrubs - mint bushes - mostly Prostanthera but also Westringia. The most well known are P. cuneata which is small-growing with slightly lilac flowers and P. rotundifolia with lilac flowers and we have a variant of this. P.r. Rosea which is a pinker shade of lilac. Then there is P. Poorinda Ballerina with larger pale pink flowers, while P. Poorinda Petite (small leaves, not small plant) has strongly coloured lilac/purple flowers as does P. 'Mint Royale' ^TM.  P. 'Badja Peak'  also has purple flowers and is particularly floriferous.  P. ovalifolia Variegata is white variegated with small leaves and lilac flowers though it does not flower as readily as the rest. Westringia 'Wynabbie Gem' has more leathery, narrow leaves and pale lilac flowers. From similar habitats is Kunzea 'Badja Carpet', a low-growing myrtle with typical white flowers and small leaves.

Itea 'Henry's Garnet' has two seasons of interest. In summer it has long panicles of white flowers and then it has red autumn colour. It is hardy and will grow to 2m. Unlike I. illicifolia it is not difficult as a nursery plant.

Zauschnerias are small but vigorous grey-leaved shrubs with  bright red tubular flowers. Z. 'Ed Carmen' has wider leaves while Z. 'Dublin' has more showy flowers. These are Californian in origin but can overwinter here in a well-drained position.

Look out for our surplus stock plant list - coming soon.

In a world of Availability lists.

In a world of availability list's our contribution fights for it's rightful position, with steel grit and a little smile it wishes to lay itself before you. All you have to do is decide whether you can help it. go too http://bit.ly/13KIFzp to find out.

Wanted dead or alive

WANTED  - I need to build a polytunnel around 40' long and between 12' and 14' wide. I only really need the hoops as I can make everything else but the ridge pole and ground pipes would be handy. If you anything that might do please let me know, and how much you want for it. This if for veggie growing, not the business.

Sun, Wind, Rain

Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. Sun, Wind, Rain, Order from Jackdaws new Availability list. You get the idea.

Owww Availability

Spring is starting to coil up ready to burst forth. Theres no better time to get your nose into our new availability list

Yesterday was Newsletter day and today is Availability list day

So after yesterdays new year resolutions we're back today with a brand new Availability list. Get it whilst its hot.

Resolutions

I don't really make New Year resolutions but this year I am determined to keep up writing a monthly newsletter through the year. What we try to do is grow an interesting range which is not the same as that of other liner producers (yes, really no Heuchera, no Cordylines) but that does mean that it is not easy for you to know what to choose from our offering and so the main purpose of the newsletter is to give you facts to inform your decisions.
The amount of information available on the web has expanded so greatly that you can almost always find something about a variety but is it correct? I mainly write from our experience of the plants and I can point you towards accurate information and images, but please be careful not to infringe copyright if you want to use any images for your own purposes.


Cistus x bornetianus 'Jester' is not a new plant but comes from the same breeding programme as a number of other varieties with names beginning with 'Je.....' (of which we also offer Jessabel which has purple-blotched, pink flowers). Jester bears profuse numbers of pale pink flowers and it scores over similarly coloured plants in its habit which is an attractive rounded bush with silvery leaves - not as spreading or brittle as 'Silver Pink' or as upright as 'Peggy Sammons'. The flowers are bigger than those of C. Grayswood Pink' which is a good choice for a larger planting. For more on Cistus go to the site for former NCCPG collection holder Robert Page, www.cistuspage.co.uk

Lonicera purpusii and L.p. 'Winter Beauty' are well known for perfuming the winter days (when it is not raining). New to our list is another, more delicate looking, winter flowering honeysuckle, Lonicera elisae, which has lovely hanging white tubular flowers. It is hardy and attractive in foliage through the summer also. The story of its introduction can be found on www.bluebellnursery.com.

Nymans Gardens is our nearest National Trust garden and so we are always interested in varieties that were selected there - not that they are customers because of the NT's ill-informed views on peat.  Forsythia suspensa 'Nymans' is a selection with very dark first year wood which contrasts well with the large soft yellow flowers. Although it can be kept to garden size it is purported to be able to grow into a small tree - which I am setting out to prove (or not).

Our range of Figs is, I am sure, the largest in the wholesale trade. Although in the garden fruiting is not always easy to achieve they are also attractive foliage plants, fulfilling the need for large leaves. The size of leaves can be increased by annual hard stooling (but this will reduce the fruiting to nil). 'Brown Turkey' is the most popular variety as it is the most reliable to fruit (it is universally said) but 'Brunswick' is more attractive having deeply lobed leaves. 'Adam' has particularly large leaves (useful for well-endowed men), while the other varieties have different fruiting characteristics. We are very pleased to be finally offering Ficus 'Panachee' which holds its green and yellow striped fruit upright like little hot air balloons. Since the variety pre-dates hot-air balloons and is grown in France did it give the Montgolfier bothers their idea? For reliable information www.readsnursery.co.uk.

Angelica 'Ebony' is a short-lived perennial that will give a striking accent wherever its is planted. Fully herbaceous it grows to 1.5m (RHS say less) with glossy purple leaves and huge heads of pink flowers.  If purple cow-parsley is popular with designers (which it strangely is) then this will have them falling off their drawing-stools.

Over the years we have offered a lot of seed-raised Dierama hybrids but their variability was such that we became too embarrassed to continue and now only grow species from seed. To get the stronger colours we have started propagating by division and Dierama 'Guinevere' is the first to be a available in quantity. It is strong growing with white flowers. 'Miranda' (lilac) will be available later this year and 'Merlin' (wine red) is coming along. We also have a new purple selection of our own.

Just room to say that Aster frikartii 'Flora's Delight' is a pink (in the right light) selection which like the better known A. f. 'Monch' is resistant to mildew.

Happy New Year

As 2014 kicks off to a wet and windy start it is time to be positive about the year to come and the availability is available for those of you who feel like a little bit of work. Orders will be processed in the order that orders are received as usual.

We are not raising our prices for 2014 but we are introducing a charge which is a contribution towards the ever more challenging delivery costs. This will basically be £12 per trolley delivered, with a cap of £50 per delivery. Charges for boxed deliveries will also increase.

As a consequence of leaving prices unchanged (and other discussions we have had with customers about the value of a printed catalogue) we are not posting out a new catalogue to everyone, but will be e-mailing a list of new items and a more detailed explanation of the changes to our delivery terms. We will be preparing a new catalogue during January and if you would like a printed copy (particualry if you cannot find the 2013/14 version) posted to you please let us know. It will also, as before, be available from the website as soon as it's complete.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy New Year

Nick

Current availability list is here

Availability Christmas time

Essential Christmas reading is here: http://bit.ly/13KIFzp Get your Jackdaws Field Nursery current availability list, Relax, forget Christmas stresses and order some plants.

Fun Fun Fun

A new Availability list http://bit.ly/13KIFzp Why not have some serious fun and take a look?