#gravetyemanor

Plant of the Day

Friday 7 May 2021

In the shelter of the glasshouse these Lathyrus odoratus ‘Mammoth Crimson’ (sweet pea) are already flowering. The exceptionally large, fragrant, bold, cherry red blooms are used for cut flowers and were specially bred to have up to 8 flowers on long stems. To make sure the plants are going to flower early then they are sown in the autumn in a cold glasshouse.

Plant of the Day

Sunday 9 May 2021

A suitable cultivar to find growing in the woodland garden at Gravetye Manor, Sussex, UK, the former home of William Robinson (gardener and writer) is Anemone nemorosa 'Robinsoniana' (wood anemone). Robinson found this pale lavender-blue flowered form of this British wildflower at Oxford Botanic Gardens in 1880s. This rhizomatous herbaceous perennial will favour a shady location.

Plant of the Day

Friday 14 May 2021

In spring the Lathyrus vernus (spring pea, bitter vetch, spring vetchling) provides a compact display at the front of a garden border. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial is a European native producing these purple flowers that age to a greenish-blue.

Plant of the Day

Thursday 6 May 2021

With horticultural skills, an elliptical sandstone walled garden and fleece to add protection a crop of Lactuca sativa 'Little Gem' (lettuce) has already been produced at Gravetye Manor, Sussex. This is one the earliest varieties to mature and produces compact plants with a crisp, sweet heart.

Plant of the Day

Monday 25 March 2019

In the Victorian peach house of Gravetye Manor, Sussex, there are five cultivars of Prunus persica (peach) the first one to fruit is ‘Amsden June’, followed by ‘Red Haven’ in July, then ‘Francis’ and last ‘Peregrine’. The flowers of these trained fruit had recently been pollinated using the traditional rabbit’s tail. The peach house was designed to allow the fan trained trees to be planted to the front of the house, making them both convenient to work on and also allowing the rays of sunlight to reach to the base of the rear wall, so allowing full use to be made of the growing area. The lovely Lola, the gardener’s dog, was enjoying the fallen blossom and some admiration from me!

Plant of the Day

Saturday 13 April 2019

Flowering from winter to early summer Tropaeolum tricolor (three-coloured nasturtium, three-coloured Indian cress, Chilean nasturtium) is a summer-dormant, tuberous, perennial climber. This plant is being used as an early container display in a sheltered entrance porch. The species is endemic to Chile.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 2 April 2019

An iconic plant for the garden of Gravetye Manor, Sussex, is Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' (summer snowflake). This vigorous, bulbous perennial has narrow, glossy, strap-like leaves and in early spring there are stems with up to 8 bell-shaped, slightly fragrant, white flowers with each segment tipped with green.

Plant of the Day

Monday 1 April 2019

In early spring the Stachyurus praecox, a native to Japan, flowers with wonderful racemes of bell-shaped, pale yellow flowers. This spreading, large deciduous shrub has slender-pointed, ovate leaves and dark bark on the new shoots.