Plant Catalogue: Herbaceous Perennials
SALIX. We love Willows, partly because they prosper on our moisture retentive soil but more importantly, because no plant can match their response to wind with such lithe phrasing. They associate magnificently with grasses. Some of the following will assume tree height if not stooled annually. Heights given are for annually stooled plants. Prices from £5.50
Salix acutifolia ‘Blue Streak’. A first class Willow noted for the white bloom that covers the young stems, its slender glossy leaves and altogether elegant habit. Stool annually for best effect. 4m+.
S. eleagnos. The narrow silver-backed leaves of this shapely shrub give it the appropriate name of ‘Rosemary-leaved Willow’. Given space, it will make a worthy contribution in any not too dry soil and needs little pruning. 3m+
S. purpurea ‘Nancy Saunders’. A remakably elegant form of the purple Osier, its slender blue-grey leaves adding considerably to the effect. Small grey catkins in Feb-March. 2.2m.
S.p. ‘Helix’. Pale stems on stooled wood and very attractive small dark flowers in February. Upright growth. 2m+
SALVIA. Like human beings, the ubiquitous Sage comes in all shapes and sizes, and also like humans, some are noticeably fussier and more demanding than others. They are truly worthy plants, giving us a spread of colourful flowers throughout summer. There should be a plant here to suit every taste.
*S. coahuilensis. A plant that delivers a non-stop display of small, intense violet-blue flowers summer long. Has proved nonchalantly hardy here. 30cm. £4.20
*S. glutinosa. Known apparently as ‘Jupiter’s Distaff’, this sticky Sage has large course basal leaves, pale yellow flowers and is described in one eminent book as ‘Useful for rough places’. No wonder it does well at Marchants! 1m. £4.20
*S. guaranitica ‘Blue Enigma’. Magnificent royal blue flowers from mid-summer until frosts. We find this the most reliably perennial form and it requires no staking. 150cm. £4.30
S. x jamensis ‘Silas Dyson’. Glorious deep wine red flowers with fat lobes for months on end. Makes a semi-shrubby mound, a little brittle when young. 1m+. £4.30
*S. lavandulifolia.Slender grey leaves, freely produced spikes of lavender-blue flowers and a broad spreading habit make this a super plant for the border front, banks or walls alike. 40cm. £4.30
S. nemorosa ‘Amethyst’. This distinct selection from Ernst Pagels sways more to the lavender/lilac spectrum than other cultivars and is a useful plant where vertical lift is required. 75cm. £4.20
S. nemorosa ‘Caradonna’. A great selection from the Continent. The violet flowers and striking black-purple stems lift this plant into a different league altogether. £4.20
S. nutans. From central Europe this curious meadow plant has nodding clusters of pale violet-blue flowers held on gangly stems and is like no other Sage we have encountered. 1m. £4.30
*S. patens. The most intense, pure blue of any Salvia we grow. Mulch well for winter protection. 60cm. £4.00
S. x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’. This old cultivar has yet to be surpassed for its fine spikes of violet-blue flowers and rugged constitution. 2ft. £4.20
S. uliginosa. Wand-like stems carry clear sky-blue flowers, not large but freely produced over a very long season. We find it impossible to tire of this plant but beware. It is rampant If it likes you. From £4.00
S. u. ‘Ballon Azul’. From talented Freiburg nurseryman Ewald Hugin comes this new form of the Bog Sage, said to grow to 120cm only with typical azure blue flowers. Now that’s an exciting prospect! From £4.50
SANGUISORBA. The Burnetsare among the rising stars of the Horticultural stage. For those of you bitten by these characterful plants we would refer you to Marina Christopher’s super article in ‘Gardens Illustrated’(Sept. 04). Needless to say, we find them exemplary used in association with grasses. Please note that plants marked with an asterisk(*) will not become available until May. From £4.30
S. ‘Blackthorn’. An inspiring new comer to our list. Fuzzy, pink and upright and admired by all. 1.5m.
S. canadensis hybrid. Our own name for this S. Canadensis look alike, albeit much shorter. Spikes of white flowers for weeks and holds its structure well. 1.2m.
*S. ‘Cangshan Cranberry’. We really value this super plant for its Sept-Nov. display of dusky red flowers on self supporting, upright stems. A Dan Hinkley collection from Dali, Yunnan Province, China in 1996. 2m+
S. officinalis. Similar to the following but the burrs are very dark maroon and more rounded. Described by the late G.S. Thomas as ‘A leafy, weedy plant’. Tut,tut Mr T. 2m+
S. offic. Short form. A short seedling of S. ‘Arnhem’ raised here several yearsnever taller than 45cm
*S. off. ‘Arnhem’. The burrs of this lanky burnet hover like a swarm of small raspberries on wiry, branched stems, holding their colour for weeks. A great favourite here during summer. 2m.
*S. off. ‘Pink Tanna’. Despite being in a muddle in the trade, this remains a good plant producing a copious crop of palest pink burrs in summer. 60cm.
* S. off ‘Tanna’. The shortest and most respectably behaved burnet, the bottle green pinnate foliage and dusky maroon flowers atop wiry stems remain in good fettle for many weeks. 30cm.
*S. tenuifolia ‘Korean Snow’. From Korea, this is more robust form than the above. The strong stems of this handsome plant carry cascades of white tassle-like flowers long into the autumn. 2m.
SANTOLINA pinnata ssp neapolitana ‘Edward Bowles’. Holds the trophy for the longest name in the catalogue! Highly valued for its mounds of grey-green foliage and soft yellow pom-pom flowers. 40cm. £5.25
SAXIFRAGA geum ‘Dixter Form’. A charming, small ‘London Pride’, whose neat rounded leaves form pert green rosettes. A mist of tiny white flowers in early summer completes the picture. Uncommon. 20cm. £4.00
S. geum ‘Dentata’. The leaves in this form look as though they’ve been histrionically set upon with a pair of pinking shears! £4.00
S. x urbium ‘Miss Chambers Pink Pride’. A London Pride of impeccable merit and far from old hat, chosen for its strong constitution and size of flower. 30cm £4.00
SCABIOSA columbaria var. ochroleuca. Pale yellow flowers are held on a tracery of wiry stems through the summer. A very beautiful plant when well grown. Revels in sun. 90-120cm. £4.20
S. c. var. webbinana. A colour variant of the above and a pretty plant it is with dainty, pale flesh pink flowers. 60cm £4.20
*SCHIZOSTYLIS coccinea ‘Major’. Scintillating, crimson red flowers, of good size in this form, through Oct/Nov. If you treat it well that is. 60cm. £4.20
*S. cocc. ‘Zeal Salmon’. A ‘Kaffir Lily’ with large, vivid salmon-pink flowers very late in the season. Excellent as a cut flower. 60cm. £4.20
SEDUM. Deservedly popular plants with few vices. They add considerable beauty to our gardens through the season with their generous mounds of succulent foliage varying in shades from pale glaucous green/blue-green/green flushed purple to purple. Come August/September their flattened heads of tiny flowers will be making a serious contribution to the garden scene, while at the same time driving Butterflies and Bees into a frenzy of late summer supping. Please note -The following will hopefully be available from June onwards. Prices from £4.30.
S. ‘Bertram Anderson’. A fine dark purple leaved form, more prostrate in its habit than the others making it ideal for the border front. Small crimson flowers in late summer. 20cm.
*S. ‘Chocolate Sauce’. Our darkest selection with glossy chocolate–purple foliage.
S. ‘Marchants Best Red’. AGM. A rich, ruby red in fact. The green leaves are purple flushed. 40cm.
*S. ‘Matrona’. (‘Matronly’) The meatiest sedum we grow with large purple flushed, green leaves. The dusky pink flower heads are large too, fading to rich brown and persist long into the winter months. 60cm.
*S. ‘Purple Emperor’. AGM. Our own selection that has been very much praised by all who have grown it. Dark purple leaves and heads of flesh pink come straw yellow flowers. 40cm.
*S. ‘Purple Moon’. The dark green foliage develops to purple-bronze by late summer, a fine contrast to the pale yellow flowers. 40cm.
*S. ruprechtii. A first rate foliage plant, the glaucous blue-green leaves taking on a purple caste as the seasons progress. Pale yellow flowers fade to light tan. 45cm.
S. ‘Red Cauli’. Grey-green metallic foliage perfectly offsets the Cauliflower like clusters of intense ruby-red flowers. We received the RHS’s highest accolade, an AGM for this plant in 2006. 45cm
S. ‘Ripe Rhubarb’. Our newest selection, very strong with striking deep ruby stems and pink toned flowers. 30cm
SELINUM tenuifolium. From the Himalayas, this refined Umbellifer is like a vastly superior ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’. The fresh green lacy foliage is crowned in June with flat umbels of white flowers supported on stout, ribbed stems. 120cm. £4.50
SEMIAQUILEGIA ecalcarata. A dainty Aquilegia relative combining delicate foliage and spurless ruby flowers. 30cm. £3.90
SEMPERVIVUM. We’ve enjoyed gathering a small collection of Houseleeks over the years, and of course lovely pots in which to grow them. Kids seem to love them as much as we do. We hope to have the following for sale. From £3.00
S. ‘Lady Kelly’, S. marmoreum brunneifolium, S. nevadense hirtellum, S.‘Spiders Lair’, S. tectorum glaucum, etc.
SERRATULA seaonei. A modest and little known plant that makes its unassuming entry late in the season with fuzzy pale violet aster like flowers over deeply cut foliage. 30cm. £4.20
SISYRINCHIUM. Relatives of Iris, the smaller varieties that follow all have large flowers and are excellent for use on the rockery, raised beds or border front alike. Whilst they may need dividing occasionally to keep them in good spirits, they have settled down well here on our heavy clay soil. Do give them lots of sun. Priced at £4.20
S. ‘Californian Skies’. If the skies above California are as bright as this little fellow, no wonder it’s such a gay place to be! 15cm.
S. ‘Iceberg’. Barest hint of steel-blue in the large white flower. ‘Cool’! 15cm.
S. idahoense bellum ‘Pale form’. Large flowers, a most beautiful shade of grey-blue. 20cm.
S. ‘Marchants Seedling’. Still on trial, this is short dark violet seedling was spotted on one of our raised beds. 5cm
*SOLIDAGO caesia. The golden-yellow flowers of this attractive Golden Rod are carried on dark, branched stems. At 45cm a valuable plant for a late display at the border front. £4.20
*S. rugosa ‘Firecracker’. A great descriptive name, the slender spikes of golden yellow flowers make a bright display among our tall grasses in the autumn. 1.2m. £4.25
Stachys macrantha superba. Whorls of good sized rose-purple flowers over handsome, leafy clumps. A first class, bomb proof plant suitable for lazy gardeners. 50cms. £4.00
*S. monieri ‘Hummelo’. An Ernst Pagels selection producing neat spikes of lilac-purple flowers in mid-summer. . 60cm. £4.20
*S. officinalis ‘Alba’ Short spikes of pure white flowers in summer over mounds of pert, evergreen leaves. A lovely plant, utterly dependable. 30cm. £4.20
*S. off. ‘Rosea’. An easy to please rose-pink form, which has never grown taller than 30cm with us and sits very happily at the border’s edge. £4.20
*STROBILANTHES rankaiensis. Shorter, later and with less hairy leaves than the following this remains an excellent autumn flowering perennial. 90cm. £4.30
*S.wallichii.A handsome late flowering perennial providing a show of sizeable hooded pale violet-blue flowers over a copious mound of bristly, large leaves. 120cm. September. £4.30
SUCCISA pratensis. Dainty lavender-blue, Scabious like flowers held on 60cm spikes over evergreen basal clumps. Completely dependable and a cocktail bar for tortoiseshell butterflies in Sept/Oct. £4.20
Images at the top of the page are ©Gardens Illustrated / Sharon Pearson