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new in 2009
new in 2009
grass
grass
shade
shade
liked by bees
liked by bees
likes boggy areas
likes boggy areas
semi-shade
semi-shade
ready in July
ready in July
likes troughs
likes troughs
happy anywhere
happy anywhere
bulb
bulb
sun
sun
 
 

 

C
Plant list for this page Click on a genus to go straight to that position on the page
CALAMAGROSTIS CIRSIUM
 
 
 

 
 

CALAMAGROSTIS

Calamagrostis x Acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' X ACUTIFLORA ‘KARL FOERSTER’
Upright dark green grassy leaves, loose panicles of slightly fluffy flowers form a dramatic statement to the back of the border, in summer. 1.8 m
grasssunsemi-shade
 
 

CALTHA

Caltha 	palustris	'Flore Pleno' PALUSTRIS ‘FLORE PLENO’
The double, golden yellow marsh marigold. Ideal for in a pond or bog garden; bright and cheery, in April and May. 45 cm
likes boggy areassunsemi-shade
 
 

CAMASSIA

liked by bees

  Wonderfully easy bulbs especially if in slightly moisture retentive soils. We never seem to grow enough. Sell on sight!
 
 
   
Camassia leichtlinii ssp. leichtlinii LEICHTLINII ssp. LEICHTLINII
(syn. C. LEICH.‘ALBA’)

Tall spikes of creamy white flowers in late May. 1 m

bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
The Mead Nursery - Camassia leichtlinii 'Sacajawea' LEICHTLINII 'SACAJAWEA'
Tall spikes of creamy white flowers in late May with variegated foliage, new to us, sounds attractive. 1 m
new in 2009
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
Camassia 	leichtlinii	'Semiplena' LEICHTLINII ‘SEMIPLENA’
Semi double cream flowers. Gradually opening up the stems in late May and June. 1 m

bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
  LEICHTLINII 'SKY BLUE'
Tall bright blue flower spikes in May. 1 m
new in 2009
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
Camassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii caerulea group LEICHTLINII
ssp. SUKSDORFII CAERULEA GROUP

What a mouthful! Tall blue flower spikes in May. 1 m

bulbsunsemi-shade
 
 

CAMPANULA

liked by bees

  A beautiful and varied genus with varieties to suit all gardens, from the very small to the much larger. Some, if happy, will run rather, so note the individual descriptions below! They seem to do best in not too dry a soil, and thrive in sun or semi-shade.

 
 
   
Campanula		'Covadonga' ‘COVADONGA’
This reminds me of a wild Harebell. Wiry stems with nodding blue bell flowers, from mid to late summer. Gently spreading. 15 cm
sunsemi-shade
 
   
Campanula	garganica	'Dickson' Gold' GARGANICA ‘DICKSON’S GOLD’
Unusual golden leaved Campanula. Starry blue flowers in spring and summer. Probably best not to be in too hot a spot; it might scorch the leaves. 10 cm
semi-shade
 
   
Campanula	glomerata	'Caroline' GLOMERATA ‘CAROLINE’
Rounded heads of lilac-pink bell flowers on strong stems, in summer. Slowly spreads. Watch out for slugs. Good for sun or shade. 45 cm
happy anywhere
 
   
Campanula	lactiflora	'Loddon Anna' LACTIFLORA 'LODDON ANNA'
A wonderfully bushy plant with palish pink bell flowers on all the stems, for weeks from early summer. 1 m

happy anywhere
 
   
Campanula	lactiflora	'Pritchard's Variety' LACTIFLORA ‘PRICHARD’S VARIETY’
A wonderful bushy plant with good blue bell flowers on all the stems, for weeks from early summer. 1 m
happy anywhere
 
   
Campanula ochroleuca OCHROLEUCA
Rarely seen, this Campanula is a delight. It has creamy coloured bell flowers above a gently spreading base of leaves, from mid to late summer. 30 cm

sunsemi-shade
 
 

CAMPANULA

Campanula	portenschlagiana	'Resholdt's Variety' PORTENSCHLAGIANA ‘RESHOLDT’S VARIETY’
Enchanting plant, very long flowering period on and off throughout the year. Purple-blue flowers. Seems much more compact than the straight species. 10 cm

sunsemi-shade
 
   
pyramidalis PYRAMIDALIS
Chimney Bellflower. Short-lived perennial, best grown as a biennial, with rosettes of light-green leaves. Tall leafy stems of pyramidal, cup-shaped, fragrant, light blue or white flowers. Often self-seeds. 1.8 m
sunsemi-shade
 
 

CARDAMINE

liked by bees

Cardamine quinquefolia QUINQUEFOLIA
Lilac flowers with attractive cut foliage, early spring, which provide valuable early nectar for bees. Dies down in early summer. 40 cm
likes boggy areassemi-shade
 
 

CAREX

  Carex are a group of mostly evergreen sedges, forming attractive clumps all year round. They prefer a moisture retentive soil; although we find that they will also tolerate drier ones. They can be trimmed back in spring and any dead or tatty foliage removed.

 
 
   
Carex comans bronze COMANS BRONZE
For the real sedge enthusiasts amongst you. It might look dead to some, but the rusty brown leaves look good contrasting with other coloured grasses. 45 cm

grasslikes boggy areas
sunsemi-shade
 
   
Carex Elata 'Aurea' ELATA ‘AUREA’
‘Bowles’ golden sedge’. Found originally in the Norfolk Broads. Does best in really damp soil. Golden leaves with a thin outer edging of green. Semi-evergreen.
40 cm


grasslikes boggy areas
sunsemi-shade
 
   
Carex flagellifera FLAGELLIFERA
Olive green foliage fading to an orangey tinge on the outer edge of the clump. The flowers are at the end of long whip-like threads (hence its name?). Evergreen.
45 cm


grasshappy anywhere
 
 

Carex

Carex Oshimensis 'Evergold' OSHIMENSIS 'EVERGOLD'
Creamy, golden sedge with green outer margins. Evergreen. 30 cm
grasslikes boggy areashappy anywhere
 
   
Carex Testacea TESTACEA
Ochre-olive green foliage. Evergreen. 60 cm
grasshappy anywhere
 
 

CATANANCHE

Catananche	caerulea CAERULEA
Clumps of slightly hairy grassy leaves, sending up wiry stems of lavender blue daisy flowers for weeks in summer. Attractive seed heads. 75 cm
sun
 
   
Catananche	caerulea	'Alba' CAERULEA ‘ALBA’
The white flowered form of the above. The petals are suffused with blue as they age – very attractive. 60 cm
sun
 
 

centaurea

liked by bees

The Mead Nursery - Centaurea orientalis ORIENTALIS
Tall willowy plant with pale yellow knapweed-type flowers for weeks, from midsummer. 70 cm
new in 2009
sun
 
 

CEPHALARIA

liked by bees

Cephalaria	gigantea GIGANTEA
Giant yellow scabious. Primrose yellow flowers, May to July. Makes a good clump for the back of the border. Strong, upright flowering stems. No staking necessary. 1.6 m
sunsemi-shade
 
 

cerastium

 

The Mead Nursery - Cerastium alpinum var. lanatum ALPINUM var. LANATUM
A densely, hairy grey cushion of leaves, with small white flowers in May and June. Likes very well-drained soil. 8 cm
new in 2009
likes troughssun
 
 

CERATOSTIGMA

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides PLUMBAGINOIDES
A spreading carpet of foliage which turns orange and red in autumn. Gentian-blue flowers in late summer. Disappears underground for the winter. 15 cm
sun
 
 

CERINTHE

liked by bees

MAJOR ‘PURPURASCENS’
Only an annual; but what an annual! Nodding flowers with surrounding bracts, almost metallic purple-blue. Reminds me of a very unusual borage. Flowers most of the summer, just remember to collect the seeds! Ready in early May. 45 cm
sunsemi-shade
 
 

CHAMAECYPARIS

CHAMAECYPARIS OBTUSA ‘NANA AUREA’ OBTUSA ‘NANA AUREA’
Hinoki Cypress. A very slow-growing evergreen conifer of open, irregular growth habit and pendulus golden yellow foliage. 60 cm
sun
 
 

CHAMAEMELUM

Chamaemelum	nobile	'Flore Plena' NOBILE ‘FLORE PLENO’
(syn. ANTHEMIS NOBILIS ‘FLORE PLENA’)

Double-flowered chamomile. Flat mat of green scented leaves with double white ‘pom pom’ flowers in midsummer. 15 cm
sun
 
 

CHAMERION

liked by bees

The Mead Nursery - Chamerion Angustifolium 'Album' ANGUSTIFOLIUM ‘ALBUM’
(syn. EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM var. ALBUM)

Willowherb family. Worth growing this plant as it has beautiful tall stems of white flowers for a long period through summer. Fluffy white seeds. Spreads by underground runners. Invasive. 1.1 m
happy anywhere
 
   
Chamerion	angustifolium	'Stahl Rose' ANGUSTIFOLIUM ‘STAHL ROSE’
(syn. EPILOBIUM ANGUSTIFOLIUM ‘STAHL ROSE’)

A wonderful pink version of the above. (No, nothing like ordinary rosebay willowherb!) Almost candy pink flowers with reddish sepals. Will run just like C. ang. album. 1.1 m
happy anywhere
 
 

CHRYSANTHEMUM

 

An herbaceous group of plants which provide a lovely show of flowers late in the summer. The following are hardy.

 
 
   
chrysanthemum 'mei-kyo' ‘MEI-KYO’
Double-pink button flowers from late October onwards. 60 cm
sun
 
   
Chrysanthemum		'Rumpelstilzchen' ‘RUMPELSTILZCHEN’
Rusty-red, semi-double flowers from September until late autumn. 75 cm
sun
 
   
chrysanthemum 'tapestry rose' ‘TAPESTRY ROSE’
This single flowered chrysanth is a lovely shade of rich pink. As with all the chrysanths it flowers for weeks in autumn, unless we get an exceptionally early and hard frost. 75 cm
sun
 
 

CHRYSOGONUM

chrysogonum virginianum VIRGINIANUM
A valuable plant for shade. Sprawling branches of slightly coarse green leaves with bright yellow flowers, spring until autumn. Does not seem to mind if the soil is dry or damp. 20 cm
semi-shadeshade
 
 

CIRSIUM

liked by bees

Cirsium rivulare 'Atropurpureum' RIVULARE ‘ATROPURPUREUM’
Looks like a thistle until the flowers come out in May and June… then it looks like a crimson flowered thistle! Rather an ‘in’ plant at the moment. 1.2 m
sun
 
 

CLEMATIS

Clematisc Campaniflora VITICELLA ssp. CAMPANIFLORA
Dainty little nodding heads of pale lavender flowers cover it all over, from July. Also has attractive mace-like seed heads. 3 m
sunsemi-shade
 
 

CONVOLVULUS

Convolvulus	althaeoides	ALTHAEOIDES
Finely dissected silver foliage with pretty pink flowers all summer. If the roots can grow under paving or rocks in a sheltered spot it should come through most winters. Spreader. 10 cm, or 2 m if allowed to climb
sun
 
 

COREOPSIS

liked by bees

The Mead Nursery - Coreopsis 'Limerock Ruby' 'LIMEROCK RUBY'
A mass of small, deep red daisy flowers for weeks, from July. Irresistible! Flowers attractive to hoverflies as well as bees. (PBR) 50 cm
new in 2009
sun
 
   
  'STERNTALER' (syn. C. LANCEOLATA 'STERNTALER')
A base of green leaves send up masses of yellow flowers with deep red inner ring, for months in summer. 40 cm
new in 2009
sun
 
   
Coreopsis	verticillata	'Zagreb' VERTICILLATA ‘ZAGREB’
Pointed golden yellow daisy flowers from July onwards, on sturdy stems, covered in thin, dark green leaves.
30 cm
sun
 
 

CORYDALIS

liked by bees

  The fumitory family is valued for both their delicate flowers and leaves. They are good in shady situations and most will seed themselves happily.  
 
   
CORYDALIS ‘SPINNERS’ ‘SPINNERS’
Delicately divided foliage with purple buds opening to turquoise flowers in late spring. Clumps up well. 30 cm
semi-shade
 
 

COSMOS

The Mead Nursery - Cosmos atrosanguineus ATROSANGUINEUS
Chocolate scented, crimson flowers from July, for months. Plant it six inches deep and mulch in winter. We have had ours for over two years in the garden. If you do not want to risk it, grow it in a pot and dry off inside in the winter. Does not come up until mid May, so don’t think you have lost it. 60 cm
ready in Julysun
 
   
The Mead Nursery - Cosmos atrosanguineus 'Chocamocha' 'ATROSANGUINEUS 'CHOCAMOCHA''
Stronger chocolate scent and a more compact plant than Cosmos atrosanguineus. (Only a few this year). 35 cm
new in 2009
sun
 
 

COTONEASTER

Cotoneaster congestus 'Nanus' CONGESTUS 'NANUS'
A carpeting shrub with small evergreen foliage. Our form seems to rarely flower or fruit, but is wonderfully ground-hugging, and slow spreading. 15 cm
sunsemi-shade
 
 

COTULA

Cotula hispida HISPIDA
Very fine silver foliage forms a low mat, covered in yellow button flowers on slender stalks, in late summer. 10 cm
sun
 
 

CREPIS

Crepis	incana INCANA
Rosettes of leaves covered with a mass of pink dandelion flowers, for months in summer. 15 cm
sun
 
 

crinum

 

The Mead Nursery - Crinum x powelli X POWELLII
A large summer flowering bulb which should be planted shallowly, neck just above the surface. Strong upright stems with large pink amaryllis-like flowers in late summer. 90 cm
new in 2009
bulbsun
 
   
  X POWELLII 'ALBUM'
White flowered form of the above. 90 cm
new in 2009
bulbsun
 
 

CROCOSMIA

  Crocosmias are wonderful late summer flowering bulbous plants. They like a good, rich soil which does not get too dry, especially in the summer. If we have a mild winter and they start shooting early, it might be wise to protect the emerging shoots with a light mulch.
 
 
   
Crocosmia	x crocosmiiflora	'Coleton Fishacre' X CROCOSMIIFLORA ‘COLETON FISHACRE’
(syn. C. 'GOLDEN FLEECE')

Arching stems, with loose spikes of yellow flowers in late summer. 60 cm
bulbsun
 
   
Crocosmia	x crocosmiiflora	'Star of the East' X CROCOSMIIFLORA ‘STAR OF THE EAST’
Gently arching stems of loosely branched, large, starry pure orange flowers, in late summer, early autumn. 60 cm
ready in Julybulbsun
 
 

CROCOSMIA

The Mead Nursery - Crocosmia 'Emberglow@ 'EMBERGLOW'
Scarlet-orange flowers, on loosely branched stems, for weeks from July. 65 cm
new in 2009
bulbsun
 
   
Crocosmia	'Lucifer' ‘LUCIFER’
Arching stems of scarlet flowers during the second half of summer. A must for the flame border. 1.1 m
bulbsun
 
   
Crocosmia	'Mistral' ‘MISTRAL’
Loosely branched, arching stems of glowing orange-red flowers in late summer, early autumn. 1 m
bulbsun
 
   
  'PAUL'S BEST YELLOW'
Large, good yellow flowers on arching stems for weeks, from late summer to early autumn. 1.2 m
new in 2009
bulbsun
 
 

CROCUS

liked by bees

Crocus 'Aubade' 'AUBADE'
A showy white flower with a yellow base and cheery orange stamens, in February-March. 10 cm
new in 2009
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
Crocus	chrysanthus	'Cream Beauty' CHRYSANTHUS ‘CREAM BEAUTY’
Shapely, creamy goblet flowers in February or March. Seems sturdy even in inclement weather. 7 cm
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
Crocus	olivieri ssp.balansae	'Zwanenburg' OLIVIERI ssp. BALANSAE ‘ZWANENBURG’
Fragrant flowers of deep orange, feathered purplish-bronze, with deep yellow insides, from February to March. Suitable for a trough. 5 cm
bulblikes troughssunsemi-shade
 
   
The Mead Nursery - Crocus tommasinianus TOMMASINIANUS
Pale lilac-purple flowers in early February; wonderful for naturalising. 7 cm
new in 2009
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
TOMMASINIANUS 'ROSEUS'
A lovely shade of pink, for February. Not often seen.
7 cm

bulbsunsemi-shade
 
   
The Mead Nursery - Crocus vernus 'Grand Maitre' VERNUS 'GRAND MAITRE'
Large, lavender mauve flowers with bright orange stamens in the centre, in February. One of the larger Dutch hybrids, showy in grass. 12 cm
new in 2009
bulbsunsemi-shade
 
 

CYCLAMEN

Cyclamen Coum COUM
The winter-flowering cyclamen. Grown from seed, so varying shades, mainly pink, from December to March. Prefers a woodland situation i.e. under deciduous trees and shrubs, in a humus-rich soil. They should be planted at the depth they are in the pots. 10 cm
bulbsemi-shadeshade
 
 

CYNARA

liked by bees

Cynara Cardunculus CARDUNCULUS
‘Ornamental globe artichoke’. Magnificent plant, large silver-grey deeply-divided leaves. Large blue-purple thistle flowers from August onwards. 1.8 m
sun
 
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