Some of the exciting new varieties now available
I hope you’re enjoying the summer, depending on where you live the sun may or may not have come out. But, we’re not gonna talk about that…
Back in June, I was very honoured to be a judge at the National Plant Show near Birmingham, where we crowned Digitalis ‘Appleblossom’ as our winner. However, I thought you might like to see a few of the other entrants, as there’s some really cool stuff there, especially in the shrub category!
Spiraea ‘Walberton’s Plum Carpet’
Now, it’s not very often new Spiraea come along, but when they do, I think we should sit up and take notice. They are stalwarts of amenity planting, which tells us that they are tough and resilient.
This new cultivar ‘Walberton’s Plum Carpet’ has lovely plum-flushed foliage, and frothy colour changing pinkish blooms! Bred in the UK too, so it can’t be bad!
Musa ‘Ever Red’
This one has been making its way around the plant circuit for a few months already, thanks to its shortlisting at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for Plant of the Year too. Musa ‘Ever Red’ is a hardy banana with red striped foliage.
Absolutely spectacular, it can be grown as a container or border plant, and would look great in a tropical border, or even in a cottage garden mixup!
Philadelphus “Petite Perfume White”
This shrub is a new game changer, it’s a truly dwarf form of philadelphus, the mock orange blossom! Blooming at no more than a metre tall, but also flowering at a very young stage, “Petite Perfume White” also caused a stir at Chelsea.
Probably one of my favourite perfumes from any flower, and now available for people living on balconies too!
Hibiscus “Walberton’s Lunar Delight”
This is the type of hibiscus that you would salivate over during your summer holidays, wishing you could grow it at home. It turns out though, that you can!
This new breeding is hardy in the UK, and producing the most spectacular, huge blooms. I am incredibly excited about this one.
Lapageria rosea
It’s not a new plant, but it’s potentially the first time this plant has been offered in commercial quantities, so it will be quite exciting to find on the garden centre bench over the next year or so.
Lapageria rosea might look terribly exotic, but it’s actually hardy, and is a really versatile climber. From Chile and Argentina, but will enjoy a sheltered spot in the UK. Loving those bell flowers!
Sorbaria “Crimson Feathers”
A really interesting new shrub, which basically changes colour every month, as the spring, summer and autumn foliage develops. Short at one metre high, so perfect for containers or smaller urban gardens.
Very easy to grow, I expect to see this flying off the garden centre benches very soon!
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