PODOPHYLLUM PLEIANTHUM SHORT FORM

This neat woodlander emerges from the soil like a shiny unfurling umbrella.

It only grows about 18” high, flowers in May and likes a moist shady spot.

Another gem from Crug Farm plants

FRITILLARIES

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH APRIL 14TH

Thanks to Val Bourne for the nice mention in the Gardening Telegraph last Saturday.

You can read it here online.

ILLICIUM YUNNANENSE

A superb evergreen shrub from Mark Fillan which has just come into flower. It seems to be growing robustly, despite last summer's drought.

FLOWERING IN MARCH

Stachyurus yunnanensis is evergreen and so does not suffer from the curse of S. praecox - the late frost.
It seems perfectly hardy but is happier against a wall.
Ribes sanguineum 'Tydeman's White' is a robust currant that  will perform anywhere and only needs to be fiercely pruned to keep it in check.
Bergenias get a bad name - but I love them.
B. emeiensis is perfectly hardy and is flowering now. It has neat foliage and delightful white flowers with a hint of pink.

IN FLOWER ON JANUARY 1ST 2012

Some of the plants in flower this morning.

Galanthus 'Richard Ayres', Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt', Coronilla glauca 'Citrina', Correa x harisii, Coronilla valentina, Polygala x dalmaisiana, Lonicera x purpusii,Chimonanthus praecox,  Helleborus orientalis 'Early Purple', Narcissus 'Cedric Morris', Helleborus odorus x multifidus istriacus,  Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn', Parrotia persica, Camellia sasanqua 'Narumi-gata', Daphne bholua 'Gurkha', Viburnum farreri candidissimum.

STILL FLOWERING IN NOVEMBER

Dianthus amurensis has been flowering constantly since late July. It still looks fresh in November.
Cobaea pringlei and Cestrum parqui started late - probably due to the cold winter but have made huge growth all summer and are still going stong..