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The black fruits of Fatsia japonica seen here in April, having ripened over winter from the previous autumn’s flowering. Fatsia japonica is in the same family (Araliaceae) as English Ivy, Hedera helix, the fruits in particular share remarkable similarity.

Crab Apples are great for long season interest, meaning they draw attention throughout the year with their flowering, fruiting, autumn colour and winter stems. Malus ‘Prairefire’ is one such cultivar, deep pink spring flowers, dark red green foliage spring and summer, small dark crab apples and autumn colour as the summer slips away and inContinue reading “Malus ‘Prairefire’/Crab Apple ‘Prairefire‘”

A clump forming herbaceous Euphorbia that begins flowering in early April, rivalling the daffodils close by. Capable of good autumn colour under the right conditions. A good candidate for lift and divide treatment. Formerly known as Euphorbia polychroma to which it is still sometimes referred.

Frequently seen, very robust and suitably vigorous, if you’re looking to establish an evergreen boundary hedge as quickly as possible. Intriguing racemes in spring followed by red berries turning black in autumn. The foliage has a nice quality and a vibrant green colour. Naturalised but not native. Potentially invasive given its robust character.

On a 5 minute journey recently I counted 14 front garden specimens in bloom, which to me confirms its status as the mostly commonly planted of the Magnolias here in the south east (UK). Magnolia x soulangeana is a hybrid magnolia brought into being in 1820 by French plantsman Étienne Soulange-Bodin (1774-1846). He crossed M.Continue reading “Magnolia x soulangeana/Saucer Magnolia”

Magnolia stellata is a species in the family Magnolinaceae. The genus Magnolia evolved during the Cretaceous period and contains species of tree and shrub that have large flowers pollinated by beetles. At this point bees were yet to evolve and this goes some way to explaining their flower size and pollination process, which you canContinue reading “Magnolia stellata/Star Magnolia”

In the park down the road, on a grassy bank, under the shade of a large Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), a community of Viola riviniana, the right plant in the right place.

Evergreen winter flowering fragrant shrub ideally placed somewhere near the front door in partial shade so as to appreciate the fragrance as you come and go in January/February. Native to China and a member of the Box family, Buxaceae.

The Walled Garden at West Dean is a special type of timeless garden. Perhaps something to do with the imposing and solid boundary walls, the permanence a complete boundary suggests and the Edenic atmosphere of such a well tended fruit garden. The garden is laid out in three distinct walled sections; The Walled Fruit Garden,Continue reading “Trained Fruit tree forms at West Dean, Sussex”

The begonias are a diverse group and Begonia luxurians illustrates that well, not really meeting your expectations of what a begonia should be. Instead, at first glance, it’s looking more like some kind of shrubby palm – the usual give away, the asymmetrical leaf, not nearly so obvious. Seen here enjoying the Tropical Zone ofContinue reading “Begonia luxurians/Palm leaf Begonia”