New Plants Matter

The popularity of Ornamental grasses has been immense over the past few years and there is no sign of them falling out of favour.

As described by the BBC, “Grasses are the ultimate architectural plant, adding see-through effects, gentle rustling, autumn colour and winter shapes. They also tolerate a range of conditions, from gravel gardens to solid lumpy clay.”

Grasses can be used in borders as individual eye-catchers, large or small, or repeated in drifts to create a natural look, with paths ambling through and between. Some can even be grown in containers, to help soften formal designs.

 Generally they are easy to Propagate and make a finished product quickly.

Their use as container centre-point plants for winter or summer bedding displays helps maintain demand.

There are four new grass introductions which I am currently working with that think deserve a mention;

Carex testacea “Limeshine” – This is a form of testacea, which is of a lime/yellow colour and arches slightly giving a strong architectural accent, it was bred by Hayley Willerton at The Alpine and Grass Nursery,Pinchbeck near Spalding. I have found it to be very reliable  in production and makes a good addition to a range including Milk Chocolate and Amazon Mist.

 There is availability for retail supply later in 2012 from Bransford Webbs.

Phlaris arundinacea “Arctic Sun” – This Genus is usually known for being ever so slightly invasive! But Arctic Sun is a far more restrained form! It has a strong yellow and silver variegation and reaches 40cm in height, it makes a superb display in a container or can be mass planted to give a drift of Gold! We launched this one last year with great success.

It was bred by Hakon Vagnes from Norway so let’s assume it’s hardy too!

Carex oshimensis “Everest” – Was bred at Fitzgerald Nurseries in Ireland. The distinctive white striped foliage and the healthy growth makes Carex ‘Everest’ one of the “Cleanest” looking grasses available.

It will stand out in any planting display and looks great planted with “Evergold”. I grew a trial batch last year which proved its benefits. Don’t confuse or associate this variety with “Snowline”, this is far far better!

Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo‘ – is the latest new introduction from FitzGerald Nurseries after Carex  ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Everest’.

 This one has pure golden/lime foliage and is a real colour break for the species.

Like its predecessors it grows easily and holds its colour well throughout the seasons.

I have been watching with great interest the explosion of the ”Grow your own” concept over the past couple of years. There is, of course, nothing new about it but consumers are really taken in by the pleasure of growing something you can eat, It’s an achievement after all!

The edible berries are ready for harvest in late Autumn

Being a grower of ornamentals I have just been an onlooker to this trend, but It got me thinking (as I do) about how we could offer ornamental plants with an edible twist that could be marketed as such.

Ugni molinae is a member of the Myrtle family commonly known as Chilean guava or strawberry myrtle it is a shrub native to Chile. It is well documented that the fruit were a favorite of Queen Victoria. The plant itself although grown as an ornamental for many years is pretty unremarkable…until  that is Steve Yandall of Rainbows End Nurseries in Cornwall bred a dwarf compact yellow foliage form and called it Butterball!

Compact habit makes an ideal container plant

This striking new plant is perfect for the market we are looking for. It has a tight, compact habit. Beautiful, golden yellow foliage, with a remarkable spicy scent. It  turns a light orange in colder months. It’s hardy to -8 and looks fantastic in a container. Flowers are small and white. Berries, which ripen in Autumn and early winter can be picked and eaten or there are many traditional recipes for jams and deserts from Chile.

The Perfectly Formed Flower Of Ugni ButterballEdible berries are ready for harvest in late Autumn

This amazing new plant is due to launch in Garden Centres in Spring 2012. There will also be an offer of liners from ALP members.

I like to think I am quick off the mark when it comes to spotting good new plants, I usually am but in this case it has taken me 10 years!

I was originally sent some cuttings of Aucuba Pepperspot back in 2002 we grew a few, planted them out and they are now fine Specimens.

Aucuba Pepperspot

 We have finally noticed the potential of this extremely regularly fine and spotted form, developed by Hardy Exotics in Penzance and launched way back in 2002 by Liss Forest Nursery and we will re-launch in Spring 2012.

Further information is available from Genesis Plant Marketing and Provar.

Saleable Pot

Parahebes seem to have a significant lack of representation in today’s retail supply chain, in fact, I have never considered growing them as part of a typical hardy nursery stock range, but Avalanche has changed my perception of this genus!

I took one plant to the HTA National Plant Show earlier this year in full flower, it caught a lot of attention and interest, this single plant then came to Four Oaks, South West Growers and finally Grosouth 2 weeks ago still with a reasonable amount of flower! It has certainly given us value for money as an exhibition plant.

Finished 2 Litre Plant

This Parahebe is furnished with deep green foliage with an “Avalanche” of pure white flowers which smother the compact bush throughout the summer. It is quick growing, reliable in production and hardy to -12. I have been told by several growers that it is much stronger growing than other cultivars, with larger, cleaner leaves as well as the largest flowers of any Parahebe produced so far!

Close up of the flower

Avalanche is licensed through Van Vliet New Plants with top quality UK production well under way for 2012 at New Place Nurseries and Seiont Nurseries.

It’s like waiting for a bus ….. ages go by and then several come at once! It’s the same with new plants really!

There have been a few New Abelia’s  over the past few years, but one outstanding new introduction, Bred by Ron Van Opstal from Zundert caught my attention earlier this year! Namely Sunshine daydream, it has a strong spreading habit, big pink flowers (for an Abelia!) and is very reliable in production, which results in less wastage I have experienced a large cutting yield per motherplant,  a quicker saleable product , and year-round colour, which will give multi season interest at the retail end. The comparisons in the image below show Abelia kaleidoscope to the left with Sunshine Daydream in the centre you can see the finished plants are full rounded and bushy. Abelia Confetti is to the right.

Sunshine Daydream won a silver medal at Plantarium 2009.

Through Plantipp and Genesis, production licenses have been given to 3 UK nurseries and as a result it was displayed by several ALP Liner producers at the HTA National Plant Show back in June where it recieved alot of positive feedback.

Demand for UK grown plants have definitely increased over the last few years and this type of licensing will help growers and retailers to easily source new products which have been UK grown!

Its taken a long time to get this plant up and running in the UK!

This is a superbly Variegated form of O. arborescens Bred by Blue Mountain Nurseries of New Zealand.

It has large leathery leaves, boasting a bold creamy variegated margin which give a dramatic effect!

I know its hardy to -5 but some have seen -10 last winter and survived!

It was first shown at the HTA National Plant Show in June of this year where it was awarded a Bronze

Moondance is very easy to grow and is very economical to the plant finisher. I see it being suited to a wide range of uses including bedding displays and centrepoints.

The first plants will be hitting Retailers via Mahood Bros. LTD  in Summer 2012, young plants are available from June 2012

Fuchsia Silver Lining (BSWJ10478)

This is a silvery leafed selection from a seed collection made by Bleddyn and Sue Wyn Jones of Crug Farm Plants. It was gathered from Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica at 2800m in 2004. Where apparently, the shrubs only formed small congested bushes with tiny elliptic sometimes silvery leaves only 1.5cm long, with at that time rounded glossy black fruit in the leaf axils with still a few of the slender pink tubular flowers on the ends of the arching branches. This stunning selection is best grown with some  protection from frost in a moisture retentive compost in sun or part shade, prune hard in spring.

Although it is possibly not totally winter hardy we believe as it is from a moderately high altitude there could well be some hardiness built into the genes!

I look forward to seeing more interesting plants like this from Crug!

[Please note this blog has been posted on behalf of Neil Alcock]

The development and introduction of new varieties has increased substantially over the past few years, giving both growers and consumers a vast choice of products to take forward. Many of the most worthy are often overlooked initially but with increasing cooperation between Breeders/Agents and Growers, and in this case the Reinforcement of an RHS AGM award, Abelia Hopleys has finally had the recognition it deserves!

The Four Oaks Show in September was chosen as the re-launch of this variety and also the opportunity to present Aubrey Barker of Hopley’s Nursery with a Signed Presentation photograph of Abelia Hopleys.

Aubrey Barker of Hopleys Nursery receives a signed photo of His Plant,
Abelia Hopleys, from Christopher Sanders, Chairman of the RHS woody trials
committee.

I have below some words from Christopher Sanders, Chairman of the RHS woody trials panel.

APPRECIATION OF CONTRIBUTION TO BRITISH GARDENING BY HOPLEYS NURSERY & THEIR STAFFAND THE RECENT AWARD OF THE AGM FOR – Abelia x grandiflora ‘Hopleys’

By Christopher Sanders

Over the years, many good new plants have been introduced by Hopleys Nursery of Much Hadham in Hertfordshire England. Top of the list is probably Potentilla RED ACE (‘Bloace’), discovered by David Barker, father of present MD Aubrey Barker.  One of the first hardy woody ornamentals to receive Plant Breeders Rights in the UK, this was still earning royalties right up to the end of its protection, when it was finally joined by P. MARIAN RED ROBIN (‘Marrob’), both continue to be available.  Other notable introductions have been Diascia barberae ‘Hopleys Apricot’, now superseded by Diascia Personata ‘Hopleys’, Lavatera x clementii ‘Barnsley’, Osteospermum ‘Hopleys’, Pyracantha coccinea ‘Sparkler’, Sphaeralcea ‘NewLeaze Coral’, Origanum Laevigatum ‘Hopleys’ and Verbascum ‘Helen Johnson’, to say nothing of some fifty cultivars of Double Primrose.

One of the most recent newcomers is Abelia x grandiflora ‘Hopleys’.  It was originally found at Hopleys by Pamela Martin, one of the Hopley’s team, and fully endorsed by Aubrey Barker in 1994 as a sport on the yellow-variegated A. x grandiflora ‘Francis Mason’.  ‘Hopleys’ yellow-margined leaves at first, becoming creamy-white later in the season.  The lilac-tinged, white flowers open from darker buds and are borne in profusion from mid-summer to the onset of frosts.  In a trial of Abelia species and cultivars carried out at the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) garden at Wisley in Surrey from 2007-2010, ‘Hopleys’ out-performed all other entries with variegated foliage.  It was the only one where all three plants tested survived all four winters without serious damage.  It should be noted that the trial site was situated in a frost pocket where temperatures down to -14°C were recorded.  In addition, very little reversion was observed compared with some of the other variegated entries.  At the end of the trial, Abelia x grandiflora ‘Hopleys’ received a well-deserved Award of Garden Merit (AGM) from the RHS.

The RHS AGM is only awarded to plants that are deemed by panels of experienced judges to be of outstanding excellence for the ordinary garden.  In order to qualify, such plants must be:

a)    available in the trade
b)    of good constitution
c)    not requiring any special skills/conditions to grow well
d)    not be particularly subject to any pest or disease
e)    stable and not subject to undue levels of reversion, especially in the case of variegated plants

AGM’s may be awarded in the following ways:

a)    after trial, usually at Wisley, although occasionally elsewhere.
b)    after inspection of specialist collections, usually over several years
c)    in committee after due consideration by the relevant assessment panel
 

All AGM’s are reviewed every 10 years, when any plants that are considered by the panels to have been superseded since the last review are withdrawn.

The AGM system is intended to be used as a guide to both amateur and professional growers for choosing good, reliable plants from the sometimes-bewildering range on the market today.  It does not pretend to cover all plants and it certainly does not mean that any plant without an AGM is not necessarily garden worthy.  Nevertheless, it is seen and used by both enlightened growers and their customers as a most useful way of helping to decide what to grow in today’s gardens and landscapes.

Article courtesy of Christopher Sanders, Chairman of the RHS Woody Trials Panel

*****************************************

Abelia ‘Hopleys’ is now an international variety and is available as young plants, or finished plants in Belgium, France, Holland, Italy, and Japan.  In 2012, it will commence its first release in South Africa and will be given its true name in the USA where it is on the market under a local USA Nursery Trade Mark.

After the announcement of the award of the AGM three new UK clients will be stocking ‘Hopleys’ from 2012 onwards.

We at Seiont have been building stock and we were amazed by “Hopleys” resilience to the harsh winter conditions of 2010/11 there will be availability of 9cm plants in summer 2012.

Trevor and Chris Connah of Garden Centre Plants, discuss Abelia Hopleys
with AubreyBarker and Christopher Sanders

Lonicera nitida “Tidy Tips”

It only requires one trim each year and stays in shape well between trims which makes it an ideal subject for topiary. We have quickly discovered that in production a single trim is all it needs to make a perfect, well branched liner.

 

Back in May 2009 I posted a piece about the Ophiopogon Black Beard, a new form bred by Steve yandall which we had been developing.

I remember the suspicion and doubts expressed by the customers who I was (trying) to sell it to!

So I put Black Beard in a production trial alongside Black Dragon and straight old Nigrescens. This trio of Ophiopogon samples has done several thousand miles and has been to many trade shows such as IPM, Four Oaks and the National Plant Show, this visual comparison has certainly caught the attention of several top growers.

The examples below are of 2 litre plants in February 2010 which were potted in May 2009, the difference is quite staggering!

Tim Clapp of the Garden Centre Group was the first off the mark taking 2 deliveries of young plants for growing on.

2011 will see Hawkesmill Nurseries offering a finished product to the retail trade.

The obvious advantage of Black Beard over the traditional forms is the shorter finishing time, this is saving upto 6 months of production time. The final customer can also benefit from quicker establishment and a reliable display of foliage and flower.

Follow this years crop on Twitter ….@NeilAlcock

20/04/2011

The success of Black Beard is spreading with the first Polish Nursery now involved!

Gospodarstwo Szkolkarskie Wroblewscy has the first production for Garden Centres