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JEARRARD'S HERBAL

Thats enough introduction - on with the plants!
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... out in the garden.

5th September 2010



Lysionotus sangziensis .
The autumn has started to colour the garden and I don't think there will be a lot more heat left in the summer. A fortnight ago I saw a wall covered in Virginia Creeper, starting to colour and laughed at the silly thing for being so early. This week I have falling leaves and the promise of colour (that will not be realised) on the Liquidambar.
I have a couple of Lysionotus in the greenhouse that look the same to me - this one and L.pauciflorus, both originally from China and both flowering now. Last year I bought a plant of L.pauciflorus from Robin White, because it had much narrower leaves and a more compact habit. I am starting to think that it is the real thing and that both my Chinese plants are a different species (which may turn out to be L.sangziensis).
Although there is a key in the Flora of China, I am still wrestling with a clear conclusion.


5th September 2010

Hedychium 'Thai Spirit'.
The Hedychium are filling with exuberance (and flowers). This is a selection of with broad glaucous leaves and strong orange flowers. It is supposed to have come from Thailand but I can't help noticing how similar it is to 'Tara' and 'Raffillii', but perhaps it is best not to think along those lines any further. 'Tara' has occasionally set some seed for me but I have never had any from 'Thai Spirit', which helps to convince me that this one has larger, paler flowers and is really quite distinct. Quite distinct. Really.


5th September 2010



Nerine peersii .
Recent changes in the interpretation of Nerine species mean that this is properly N.humilis PEERSII GROUP, but although I am convinced by the new name, I am taking some time to adopt it. Maybe next year.
The Nerine have started into growth. A few flower spikes are poking up, bulbs are producing satisfactory fat leaf tufts from the tops of the bulbs and there are a good number of unexpected offsets appearing. They should keep interest going in the greenhouse until the new season of spring bulbs starts (I'm not ready to say 'snowdrops' out loud yet)!
This is the first flower to open here, but I have just seen N.masonorum in flower and N.filifolia is almost there. I didn't manage any hybrids with the small species last year. I think there are compatability problems, but I am going to have another try this year.

5th September 2010



Strobilanthes nutans .
For years and years the only Strobilanthes I knew was the wonderful purple leaved S.dyerianus so I have been entranced by the hardy species that have trickled out of the Himalayas recently. Naming is still a little confused but the problems are confined to the purple flowered plants.
This one has been enjoying being planted in the garden at last - I have seen it at Rosemoor wandering around in the shade and I would be perfectly happy to have it doing the same thing here. It isn't especially floriferous, but it is distinctive.



Acorus Alocasia Anemone Arisaema Arum Asarum Aspidistra Begonia Bromeliads Camellia
Carnivorous Cautleya Chirita Chlorophytum Clivia Colocasia Crocosmia Dionaea Drosera Epimedium
Eucomis Fuchsia Galanthus Hedychium Helleborus Hemerocallis Hepatica Hosta Impatiens Iris
Liriope Ophiopogon Pinguicula Polygonatum Ranunculus ficaria Rhodohypoxis Rohdea Roscoea Sansevieria Sarracenia
Scilla Sempervivum Tricyrtis Tulbaghia Utricularia Viola odorata Watsonia

To find particular groups of plants I grow, click on the genus name in the table above. Click on the "Index" box at the top of the page for the full list.
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