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Month: March 2015

Grow Primula Candelabra Species

Grow Primula Candelabra Species

Flowers in May

Colourful Candelabra Primulas are great plants for shady damp locations. They originate from China and the Himalaya and are ideal for woodland, streamsides or damp banks. There are many species, hybrids and varieties to grow and collect.

Description of Candelabra Primula

  • Candelabra Primulas make clumps of strong oblong shaped leaves often persisting through the winter .
  • Primula from the Proliferae section send up tall stems on which there are whorls of ten flowers, each ring opening in succession, perhaps one every five or six days.
  • There can be up to six or seven whorls that gives a long flowering period from May.
  • There is a mass of colour from brilliant orange or yellow, purple, red, pink, white, even dark maroon.
  • There is often a powdery white ‘farina’ or white meal on the stems and leaves.
  • Plants can grow and flower 24″-36″ tall.

Flowers in May

Candelabra Primula Species and Varieties

  • Candelabra Primula pulverulenta purple to mauve flowers.
  • Primula Bulleesiana is one of the strongest and easiest candelabra varieties to grow.
  • Primula helodoxa golden yellow flowers up to 3 feet high.
  • Primula beesiana from Yunnan in China. Has rose-purple flowers. P. bulleyana is similar but with orange flowers and grows to 2 feet high.
  • Harlow Carr Candelabra hybrids show how easily these species cross fertilise. In addition to Harlow Carr gardens there is a good show of flowers at Picton Castle gardens in Pembrokeshire.
  • Candelabra Primula poissonii has vivid purple flowers with a distinct golden yellow centre.
  • Primula aurantiaca has late flowering orange or yellow whorls of flowers.
  • Primula cockburniana have whorls of ten or so flowers with each ring opening in succession.
  • Primula secundiflora thinner purple flowers, not my favourite.
  • Many Primulas from the Primula japonicas including ‘Apple Blossom’ are candelabra varieties from the Proliferae section
  • Primula pulverulenta Bartley hybrids available from Kevock Garden
Primulas at Harlow Carr
Primulas at Harlow Carr

This photo was taken in summer 2008 at RHS Harlow Carr in Yorkshire. The garden is renown for its variety of Candelabra Primula Hybrids.

Grow Candelabra Primula

  • Candelabra Primulas prefer partial shade and can only be grown in a sunny position if the soil is always moist.
  • Plants grow best in deep, peaty soil or any soil rich in well rotted organic matter.
  • Primulas prefer winter and spring light values that are weaker than in high summer
  • There are hybrids between Primula bulleyana and Primula beesiana flowers in varying cerise shades

Simple Primula Tips

  • Candelabra Primulas or Bulleesiana are easy to grow from seed that can be bought from RHS shops. Many primulas do not come true to seed.
  • From Harlow Carr hybrids you get a range of pastel colours which themselves self seed.
  • They like damp roots and these particular primulas were growing on the banks of a stream
  • Candelabra primulas get there name from the whorls of flowers blossoming in a tiered effect part way up the stem as well as at the top.
  • There are over 350 species of Primula and they would make an excellent subject for building a collection.
  • Primulas can be divided if you want a plant true to type

One of the best book currently available is Primula by John Richards

Book Cover

Flower Arranging – Hostas

Flower Arranging – Hostas

Book Cover

The Cutting Garden: Growing and Arranging Garden Flowers by Sarah Raven

Growing Hostas for Flower Arrangements

  • Hostas are a group of over 200 species of perennials from China, Japan and Korea that grow well in the UK & North America.
  • In the garden they appreciate shade and protection from slugs.
  • As flower arranging plants they are in demand for the shape, size, colour and texture of the leaves.
  • Size varies from small leaves of Hosta venusta 4 inches high to large leaves of Hosta sieboldiana 2 feet across and more.
  • Hosta fortunei leaves turn rich yellow in Autumn and Hosta unulata is bi-coloured green and yellow with twisting leaves.
  • Hosta flowers from June onward but they are not particularly striking

otley show hostas 051

Special Tips for Flower Arranging with Hostas

  • Prior to arranging Hosta leaves condition them overnight in a deep bucket of water. Even submerging them will do no harm.
  • Stems are quite soft so if putting them into Oasis make a small hole with a stick first.
  • Leaves do not mature before May and would just wilt if cut too early.
  • Yellowe leaved varieties appreciate a bit more sunshine.
  • Hostas are useful for all-green arrangements.

A full array of books on Flower Arranging and related subjects is available from Amazon. You will find more advice and artistic inspiration amongst this selection.
I would also recommend the Harrogate spring flower show where I am always stunned by the floral arrangement amongst the plants on display.

Flower Arrangement
Turn your arrangements into botanical works of art – here are some examples and clubs you could join.
Credits
Flower Arrangement by Dominic’s pics CC BY 2.0

Hostas have sculptural leaves in a range of colours from bright green to glaucus blue with yellow and bicoloured varieties that can all contribute to your flower arranging expertise. Grow a few plants and see what we mean.

To grow a generic mix of flowers for arrangements and bouquets check out Thompson & Morgan

Other plants discussed in this series
Dahlia
Euphorbia
Pittosporum
Alstroemeria
Fatsia Japonica
Corkscrew hazel
Phormium

Dwarf ‘Patio’ Fruit Trees

Dwarf ‘Patio’ Fruit Trees

Dwarf fruit trees of apple, pear, cherry and plum varieties are extremely easy to grow even on your patio.
Quick Tips
Healthy plants will produce an abundance of fruit from next summer.
Choose a large, deepish plant pot or container.
Keep them well watered when young to help them get established.
They require very little training or pruning and will be laden with delicious fruit on a single stem.

Dwarf Anna Apple tree
Dwarf Anna Apple tree by John A. Chartier ‘Anna apple is an Israeli cultivar, a cross between a Red Hadasa from Lebanon and a Golden Delicious apple ….it is a real tasty apple, makes great pies.’ CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Due to their upright nature and the fact that they can be grown approx 40-70cm apart, these fruit trees are ideal for the patio or as a centre piece in a small garden. There is quite a range of fruit trees available with prices start at about £15.

Pot grown apple trees can be planted all year round. Enjoy the crunchy, mouth-watering sweet, and tart flavours of your fresh picked Gala and Golden Delicious apples.
Gala apples are praised for their shiny red skin and crisp, sweet flesh. Golden delicious prove to be the more common choice because of their beautiful colour and sweet taste – perfect for salads, apple sauce and apple butter. Both Gala and Golden Delicious apples should be harvested in October.

Jersey Plants Direct offer a pair of pears Conference and Doyenne du Comice Pear trees. Conference pear trees produce a juicy narrow fruit with firm flesh and are extremely popular because they are reliable under less than desirable conditions, which makes them perfect for the English climate. Doyenne du Comice are known for their brilliant texture and outstanding taste. Conference pears should be harvested in late September and Doyenne du Comice pears in mid October, both will produce a fantastic crop year after year.

If you are looking for something a little more unusual, take a look at our Plum and Cherry tree combination.

The varieties are the sweet tasting Cherry Helena and Plum Black Amber. Cherry Helena should be harvested in July and Plum Black Amber in August.

 

Saving money is just one of the fantastic benefits to growing your own fruit. Don’t forget that by growing your own you are in complete control of how you grow your fruit so know exactly what you’re getting. No chemicals or sprays, you can enjoy your healthy fruit for years to come. Growing your own fruit is also extremely beneficial for the environment; fruit filters the air, conditions the soil and attracts pollinators into your garden.

Snow White and the seven dwarfs - Hessen - Germany - Bergfreiheit - Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge
Snow White and the seven dwarfs – Hessen – Germany – Bergfreiheit – Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge by Ela2007 CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Colour Range of Different Corydalis

Colour Range of Different Corydalis

Corydalis salida Firecracker

This Corydalis solida Firecracker is a relatively new plant introduced in 2006

Corydalis Colours

  • Corydalis solida Beth Evans produces delicate, pink-spurred flowers
  • Corydalis solida Purple Beauty
  • Corydalis turtschaninovii Gorin divided foliage with good-sized spikes of clear electric blue or turquoise flowers.
  • Corydalis solida George Baker deep red but hard to grow
  • Corydalis wilsonii profuse yellow flowers
  • Corydalis solida Zarla Povolzya warm pink
  • Corydalis solida Dieter Schacht light pink flowers
  • Corydalis popovii elongated white flowers held on sturdy spikes

 

Hardy, tuberous corydalis are often misnamed because the green pods drop their fast-maturing seeds close to the parent plant but the seedlings vary and many nurseries supply tubers formed from seedlings. As a result there are wishy-washy impostors masquerading under the ‘George Baker’ and ‘Beth Evans’ names.

It is better to buy any form or subspecies of Corydalis solida when in flowers and remember that the colour deepens after colder winters.

Corydalis wilsonii

 

See also Growing Corydalis and a picture of Popovii

Conservatory Flowers

Conservatory Flowers

strelitza

Start six months ahead of time to plan for winter flowers and colour in your Conservatory or Glasshouse.

Growing Exotics

Streltzia regina or Bird of Paradise flowers are as exotic as they come. Keep them dry and remember that as part of the banana family Strelitza are ‘heavy’ feeders.
Succulents and Cacti are becoming popular again and the Schlumbergera or Rhipsalidopsis are worth persevering with.
Anthurium thrive at temperatures between 60-72 degrees and at lower light levels than other house plants.

Forcing Bulbs for Christmas

Narcissus Paperwhite are one of the most popular bulbs for indoor growing. Try White Ziva variety from Thompson Morgan.
Hyacinth bulbs give off a tremendous scent that can fill a room. I would certainly give them house room. Start them off in the dark and allow the roots to develop in the cool. Stagger the planting time and grow several varieties so you can have them in bloom from Christmas to April.
Another plant that continues to grow in popularity is the Amyrillis with very showy flowers.

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What Kills Rhododendrons

What Kills Rhododendrons

It would be nice if your Rhododendrons were only to die from old age. Rhododendrons are generally long lived shrubs that would then outlive most of us and this article wouldn’t be needed.
However the natural world is not like that and accidents do happen. Gardener inflicted death can be caused by being over protective or trying too hard.

Rhododendron

What Makes a Rhododendron Die

  1. Rhododendrons are fibrous, shallow rooted plants that need good drainage to perform well and excess water is currently the major cause of death. Digging a big planting hole that creates a water sump is the way to drown your Rhododendrons.
  2. Rhododendrons do not have taproots to take a drink, unlike trees. Therefore Rhododendrons need frequent watering particularly when young or if spring is very dry.
  3. Another cause of rhododendron death is the excessive application of fertilizer directly at the base of the trunk of the plant. A good rule of thumb is to fertilize more frequently at lower concentrations rather than one large dose especially for small plants or newly transplanted plants.
  4. A fourth reason for rhododendron death is planting too deep. As indicated earlier, rhododendrons are shallow rooted plants and if buried they will stagnate or even die.
  5. Another reason that rhododendrons die is from cold winter temperatures with deep frozen soils. Most rhododendron can be grown in cold areas but I mulch around tender species.
  6. Not many varieties can survive unprotected all-day sun and some say they ‘are doomed’. In general rhododendrons in extreme climates benefit from filtered light and partial shade but there are some varieties that can stand direct sun.
  7. Sudden oak death fungus Phytophthora ramorum has recently infected Rhododendron ponticum and some container grown plants so this problem is moving up the chart of the causes of dieing.
  8. Fungus that causes ‘die back’ thrives in the same general conditions preferred by most rhododendrons. I am sometimes tempted to use a fungicide.
  9. Physical damage by rabbits, Deer or football playing grand children may cause breakages but should not lead to death.

Frost damaged Rhododendron

None Fatal Rhododendron Problems

Rhododendrons are a hardy species – they need to be coming as most do from the Himalayas
Frost has got to these rhododendron flowers but that is not cold enough to kill the plant.
Dried black buds may be caused by insect damage or water shortage.
Burned tips on this year’s new growth is typically indicative of lack of water as the plant withdraws water from the tips of the new foliage first.

June Rhododendron

Serendipity in Nature and the Garden

Serendipity in Nature and the Garden

Reflective Pollination

I like the way the insects wings have veins that are replicated in the crocus petals.
Also the shadow of the bee caused by the early spring sunshine gives another dimension to the photograph.
I can’t claim any special skill or patience when I took this picture but put it down to serendipity.

Serendipity can play a big part in our gardens. The happy harmony of two colours working well together, the apparently random self-sown seedlings that appear in the right place or even the new seedling that has characteristics not previously noted are all part of serendipity, sometimes you just need to look for it. Many variegated leaved plants were discovered and propagated after acute observation.

Be alert, (Gardens need Lerts).

Book Cover
‘The Lucky Buggers Case Book’ the harder you Garden the luckier you get.

 

I am trying to become alert having discovered the way to white wash my greenhouse for shading is to paint the inside. For years I have struggled to clean the windows from the outside after whitening them to provide some shade.

Tips for Weeding a Garden

Tips for Weeding a Garden

March is a great time to sort out any weeds that are showing after winter. Perennial weeds need to have the root sorted whilst annuals like bitter cress can be hoed off and starved of moisture.

weed
Some tips for weeding a garden.

Firstly – Is It a Weed?

One of the most common questions in gardening is – what is a weed? Well one answer is that a weed is a plant that shouldn’t be there. This may differ from gardener to gardener. In fact, I like to tolerate daisies in my lawn because I think they look attractive. However, to others they may appear weeds. Of course there are some weeds that nobody would want in their garden like bindweed, Japanese knot weed e.t.c

Be Thorough.
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Growing Aubretia in Blue and Purple

Growing Aubretia in Blue and Purple

Aubretia

Aubretia is available in many colours of blue through to the deepest purples. Reddish tinges help create the pinker varieties but it is the blues and mauves which really catch the eye.

  • Aubretia will tumble happily from cracks in walls, creep across rockeries, and crawl through the front of mixed borders.
  • Aubretia forms dense mats of evergreen foliage with a profusion of spring blooms, these little plants thrive in reasonably poor soils with a toughness that belies their beauty.
  • The leaves are a grey green and are not unsightly but cut back hard after flowering to promote a fresh flush of growth and maintain its compact form.
  • Aubretia is perennial and will spread for upto 24 inches at a low height of 2-3 inches.
  • Plant in any reasonably drained fertile soil and will spread naturally by seed. Aubretia is quite hardy.
  • Aubretia is also know and sold as Purple Rock Cress and Aubretia deltoides.

Aubretia plants and seeds are available from Thompson Morgan.  Once established you will get many years of happy spring  flowering.

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