Trachelospermum

Carrying on from yesterday we also grow a lot of Trachelospermum species and varieties and these too cause confusion. There are two species; T. asiaticum has smaller leaves, creamy flowers and is hardier (Z7) than T. jasminoides (Z8) Which has white flowers and is more fragrant. Easy to follow so far, but both species have a form called ‘Majus’ with larger leaves than the type, so that T. asiaticum ‘Majus’, which is our most popular form, has leaves not much smaller than the type T. jasminoides. T.j. Wilsonii has distinct veins on small narrow leaves and the whole plant turns red in winter. T.j ‘Variegata’ is strongly white variegated to the extent that you hardly see the flowers, but you can still smell them. Trachelospermum are the same family as Vincas (Apocynaceae) which you appreciate when they set the same odd, long cylindrical fruit (and they have the same sticky white sap). T. asiaticum ‘Majus’ was once considered a species in its own right but was lumped into T. asiaticum because it has the same coloured flowers. I am not convinced.

Notes and News for April 2007 Part 2

Iris japonica Variegata is relatively small variety but it makes a very showy plant as it matures with the white variegation becoming more distinct. This is another plant that would look good in a patio planter or at the front of a sunny border and it has the bonus of delicate Flowers that are just ice-blue with yellow and blue markings.

In contrast Jasminum humile Revolutum is a large growing semi-evergreen shrub (3m) with a spreading branching habit. As you would expect it has yellow flowers, borne in clusters in summer, with some fragrance. As it has green stems it would earn a place in a winter garden.

It is time to be thinking about Clematis armandii for 2008. We offer the species, plus Apple Blossom and Snowdrift and these will be ready for delivery in early March next year. Please note that we cannot hold them after we take delivery from our contract grower because they grow quickly at that time of year and become very damage-prone.
Prices will be:

20-59 £2.48
60-199 £2.42

for the price of greater quantities please give us a call. Apple Blossom will be available in restricted quantities and only those who order soon will get a share.

Buddleia lindleyana has long slender drooping tails of purple flowers that change shade with age giving the inflorescences a two-tone effect. Flowering continues form mid-summer until the frost and it as attractive to butterflies as the B.davidii types without growing so uncomfortably large.

Salix erythflexuosa is something we only grow occasionally, but it does have merits. Its wood is as golden as weeping willow but the growth can be as contorted as Corylus ‘Contorta’. Attractive in summer it really comes into its own in the winter, and it should be stooled as you would expect to keep the effect. I will tell you its demerit which is a susceptibility to anthracnose but this is easily controlled on the nursery and is seldom a problem in the ground.

I am writing this on Easter Monday – what a beautiful weekend it has been. Now we will know whether gardening has gone out of fashion or if everybody was just waiting for the weather.