#plants wsd

Plant of the Day

Friday 11 March 2016

The modern hybrid Primula (polyanthus, ornamental primrose) is the result of three European species being crossed together: Primula vulgaris (primrose), Primula veris (cowslip) and the rarer Primula elatior (oxlip); and some influence from a fourth species from the Caucasus, Primula juliae. Polyanthus are in active growth through the winter and spring, and tend to die back in summer. Here they are for sale and decorating this London food shop and cafe.

Plant of the Day

Saturday 5 March 2016

Visited the Reddot Design Museum in Essen, Germany, with the students and saw this amazing light with a central colony of moss. In addition tree branches had inspired this modular shower head system which we decided to give the botanical name of Plasticus aquaticus!

Plant of the Day Thursday 18 February 2016

A range of new Iris reticulata and other bulbous Iris hybrids. some still with only a number and not even a name, at the Royal Horticultural Society Early Spring Show, London. Here Jacques Armand, the bulb specialist, featured cultivars developed by Alan McMurtrie.

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 5 January 2015

It is a great time of year to appreciate tree and shrub bark so here is the beautiful trunk of Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (Corsican pine). This is a large evergreen tree up to 40m in height, with an open crown. One of the distinguishing features for pine species is how many needles are produced in a bundle; this plant has slender, dark green needles in pairs.

Plant of the Day

Friday 4 December 2015

The distant solid form of Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (Nootka cypress, Alaska cedar, yellow cedar) becomes a mass of wavy foliage as you move closer, with a circular orange, springy carpet of fallen leaves. This large evergreen conifer has branched sprays of small scale-like leaves and small spherical cones that mature over two years. It grows well in moist but well-drained soil. A tree that makes an excellent specimen plant but needs room to perform.

Plant of the Day

Monday 11 May 2015

Bell-shaped flowers cover the deciduous shrub or small tree Halesia carolina (carolina silverbell, snowdrop tree). These flowers are followed by 4-winged pale green fruits while the oval leaves turn yellow in autumn. This plant requires an acidic or neutral soil.