Michael reveals some of his favourite up-and-coming varieties
Hello plant hunters! I’m just back from a long European trip, with time most notably spent in Germany where I visited the IPM Essen trade event, where there were a lot of brand-new plants for us to enjoy, despite being in the early depths of the year.
So here is an eclectic mixture of some of my favourite finds, I hope you like them.
Euphorbia (No Name)
This euphorbia from the Plantipp team is so new it still needs a name. It’s a brand-new blushed red-leaved variety, shorter in height, so excellent for patio pots, or dinky urban gardens. Image 2 Hot off the plant press this red-leafed euphorbia is yet to be named
Pansy ‘Ruffles Series’
If you’re keen-eyed, you should be able to hunt down some of these double-flowered pansies that are bred in Cambridge by the Kerley family. They will provide excellent cool-season flowering.
Nepenthes x dyeriana
I was pretty shocked at the size of this pitcher plant, as it’s the largest type available to buy in garden centres across Europe. What a showpiece it is – it might even catch a few insects too!
Pericallis Mandala ® Plus Series
When I posted this picture on social media, everybody thought it was generated by AI. It’s not, it’s a pericallis, and a brand-new variety from Dummen Orange. I think this is a future star in the making.
Zantedeschia ‘Flamingo’
What an absolutely stunning bloom. I’m loving the very light blush pink on this zantedeschia. The cultivar ‘Flamingo’ is now a few years old, so you should be able to hunt one down.
Crassula ‘Boomerang’
We all know that succulents are fun to grow and very collectible, but how about adding this one to your shelf? It’s called ‘Boomerang’ and it’s from Amigoplant in North Holland.
Rhododendron ‘Pink Tiger’
The XXL series of rhododendron from Hortinno in Belgium are stunning, and also have less of a requirement for acidic soil. Not only that, they stay short, which makes them ideal for growing in patio pots.
Giant-flowered hellebores
The world of the hellebores is really developing. There are many very strong varieties with a stunning amount of flowers, but also the size of the bloom is changing. This one was almost the size of my hand!
Cut-flower kalanchoe
How about a cut flower that will last for almost a month in the vase? Slijkerman are breeding the ever-popular kalanchoe for the vase, and I can’t wait to see these in shops in the UK.
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