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  • Saxifraga cotyledon

    Saxifraga cotyledon is a beautiful arctic-alpine flowering plant that grows in Iceland, Scandinavia the Alps and Pyrenees. The flowering stem comes from a rosette of furry succulent leaves in May or June, whilst other side rosettes await their turn. The red accented, white petals give a striking display in a sunny, well drained rocky environment.

    Saxifraga cotyledon Southside Seedling

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Saxifraga cotyledon

    Common Names:

    Saxifraga ‘Southside Seedling’

    Genus:

    Saxifraga

    Family:

    Saxifragaceae

    Related Plants:

    Astilbe

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky

    Soil pH:

    neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    well drained

  • Meconopsis – Himalayan Poppy

    Meconopsis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Papaveraceae or Poppy family. These plants are often known for their beautiful blue petals, but they also come in a variety of purple, white and yellow. Commonly referred to as Himalayan Poppy as they are found natively in the Himalayan Mountains. Given their natural habitat, these plants are fairly hardy, but remain difficult to because being monocarpic they only flower and set seed only once.

    Meconopsis Taxonomy

    The name comes from the Greek for ‘poppy like’, and so other Poppy type flowers were Meconopsis genus. Most Poppies are listed in their own Papaver genus, Papaver being Latin for Poppy, but the Meconopsis genus is kept separate for these Himalayan flowers. All poppies belong to the Order Ranunculales, or Buttercups.

    Meconopsis Strathspey Himalayan Poppy single

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Meconopsis

    Common Names:

    Himalayan Poppy

    Genus:

    Meconopsis

    Family:

    Papavercaceae

    Related Plants:

    Poppy, Buttercup

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    partial shade, sheltered

    Soil Type:

    clay, loamy

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Allium – Ornamental Onion – Bold Architectural Blooms

    The Allium is a tall pompom flowing plant of the Garlic-Onion family. Predominantly purple or white with a globe head of fine star-shaped flowers. They are easy to grow but like the sun and good drainage as the bulbs can rot in heavy wet soil. They do stand out when isolated in a border but also look very good when planted in large swathes. The name Allium is Latin for Garlic and is thought to derive from the Greek word meaning avoid.

    Allium Ornamental Onion 1

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Allium

    Common Names:

    Ornamental Onion

    Genus:

    Allium

    Family:

    Amaryllidaceae

    Related Plants:

    Garlic, Amaryllis, Narcissus

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, chalky

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Calceolaria or Slipper Flower

    Calceolaria are a genus flowering plant from the family, Calceolariaceae. Commonly called the Slipper Flower, Lady’s Purse and Slipperwort, due to unusual flowers that resemble slippers or purses and calceolaria being from the Latin for shoe. Currently, there are only 3 genera in its family, although others may soon follow as modern dna analysis is re-classifying plants into their families. There are over 388 species of Calceolaria and that covers a wide range of different plants

    Natively, these plants are found mainly in the Andes Mountains but also anywhere from Southern Patagonia to Central Mexico. Many modern hybrids can be found to brighten up garden pots and hanging baskets.

    Calceolaria Slipper flower acid yellow close up 1

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Calceolaria

    Common Names:

    Slipper Flower, Lady’s Purse, Slipperwort

    Genus:

    Calceolaria

    Family:

    Calceolariaceae

    Related Plants:

    Porodittia, Jovellana

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade, sheltered

    Soil Type:

    sandy, loamy, clay

    Soil pH:

    acid, neutral

    Moisture:

    moist

  • Crinodendron – Lantern Tree of Chile

    Crinodendron is a genus of evergreen shrub or small tree native to the forests of Chile. They have crimson or pink lantern-shaped flowers that, unusually, hang under the branches. These are partly hardy plants that will tolerate a minor frost but do best in part shade in well-drained, humus-rich acid soil.

    Crinodendron Lantern Tree of Chile 4

    Rank

    Genus

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Crinodendron

    Common Names:

    Lantern Tree

    Genus:

    Crinodendron

    Family:

    Elaeocarpaceae

    Related Plants:

    Elaeocarpus

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade

    Soil Type:

    loamy, peaty

    Soil pH:

    acid

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained

  • Convolvulus arvensis – A Pain In The Grass

    Convolvulus arvensis, commonly known as field bindweed, makes a pretty show in the local wildlife meadow. However, if it’s allowed the space to prosper, it can be a real pain to subdue. If it invades farm crops then it can be hard to eradicate and cause loss of production.

    It is one of many species in the family Convolvulaceae or bindweed family. In the garden we mainly see its bigger brother, the giant bindweed (Calystegia silvatica), that grows higher and further than the field variety. 

    Field bindweed has smaller pink and white flowers, less trumpet like, and smaller arrow-shaped leaves. It grows close to the ground and in a meadow situation has many more vigorous plants to compete against. Still, makes an attractive plant in the right situation.

    Convolvulus arvensis - field bindweed

    Rank

    Species

    Names

    Scientific name:

    Convolvulus arvensis

    Common Names:

    Field Bindweed

    Genus:

    Convolvulus

    Family:

    Convolvulaceae

    Related Plants:

    Calystegia, Morning Glory, Moonflower

    Growing Conditions

    Position:

    full sun, partial shade

    Soil Type:

    chalky, clay, sandy, loamy

    Soil pH:

    weak-acid, neutral, alkaline

    Moisture:

    moist, well drained