Cyclamens

All delivered from June to September when dormant Price £2.50 each

Cyclamen coum This is the winter flowering hardy cyclamen, the species being native to the temperate forests around the Black Sea. The nodding pink flowers have darker mouths and a long flowering season from Dec - March. It has rounded deep green leaves some with silvery patterning.AGM

Cyclamen coum album The pure white flowered form of Cyclamen coum and again flowering December to March.

Cyclamen hederifolium The best autumn flowering species for naturalising under trees. Known in Britain for centuries and occasionally naturalised in hedgerows it was known as Sowbread as well as supposedly a violent aphrodisiac. It is free flowering, with pink-purple flowers from October with mottled ivy shaped leaves lasting to spring.AGM

Cyclamen hederifolium album. This is a white flowering form and equally tough and free flowering.

Cyclamen cilicium Another autumn flowering Cyclamen from the ancient Cilician area of Turkey. This also grows well here in dry shaded ground, with round leaves, which are purple underneath. AGM

ARACAE (in addition to Arum maculatum in Native Bulb section)
Arum italicum marmoratum (formerly A.i.pictum) This has its arrow shaped leaves strikingly marbled with white veins. Being a sub-species of Arum italicum, it is close to the Arum italicum native to parts of Southern England It retains its foliage from autumn to spring, providing valuable winter interest in a woodland area. Its flowers are a little later than Lords and Ladies having a yellow spadix, followed by bright red berries.AGM Price 5 /£8.50

Arum italicum The same again but without the marbling. Leaves emerge in the autumn and remain through the winter into spring with flowers the following summer. Price 5/£6.50

AUTUMN SNOWFLAKE Acis autumnalis This used to be under the name Leucojum autumnale, and has the white bell shaped flowers of the other Snowflakes (see p4). The flowers appear 4”-6” high with slender grass like foliage in late summer early autumn. Also originally a Mediterranean plant, it is easy to grow here in any well drained open or semi shaded spot, in grass or border. Price 5 / £5.50 10 / £9.50

PARIS
Paris polyphylla While being closely related to our fascinating native Paris (seeNative Bulb page), this species is a real aristocrat. I remember coming upon it in a clearing above a Tibetan village in Yunnan and being spellbound by its charm. Above its ruff of bright green leaves the fine yellow stamens make a conspicuous tuft – followed by scarlet seed in the autumn. It loves rich moist soil in part shade, where it slowly builds into clumps. Rhizomes Price £4.50 each

SNAKESHEAD IRIS Hermodactylus tuberosus The green and purple flowers of this Iris relative appear in April, the plant growing to about 10”. Also mysteriously called the Widow Iris it is an intriguing feature on a grassy bank or under a shrub. Originally from the Mediterranean it has also been known in gardens here for centuries, and has naturalised in parts of the South West. Price 10 / £3.50 50 / £12.50

ERYTHRONIUM A genus of European and American woodland bulbous perennials known as Dog’s ToothViolets in Europe, and Trout Lilies in America. Care must be taken that the bulbs do not dry out before planting.

Erythronium dens-canis Dog Toothed Violet. This is not of course a violet,but the bulbs do look like dog's teeth , hence the common name and unlike many Erythroniums, which are N.American, this is a European species. It has mottled leaves and delicate pink/ white flowers in spring. It likes leafy soil in half shade where if undisturbed the bulbs will increase to make sizeable clumps. The bulbs must not be allowed to dry out.AGM Price 5/£4.50 10/£8.50

Erythronium dens-canis Purple King This is a selected form with rich plum purple flowers. Price 5 / £9.50
Erythronium dens-canis Snowflake This is a pure white flowered cultivar. Price 5 / £9.50

Erythronium tuolumnense Pagoda This is a vigorous hybrid of one of the American species, and is ideal for planting in woodland here. It is eye catching,and vigorous with its pendant, pale yellow flowers in March-April and lush foliage.AGM Price 5 / £4 10 / £7.50

Erythronium x tuolumense Kondo This is another strong growing American cultivar, this time with scented green- tinted paler yellow flowers and mottled leaves. Price 5 / £4.50 10 / £8.50

Erythronium White Beauty Another strong growing hybrid, possibly descended from the wild white flowered Erythronium oreganum.It has pale cream flowers in April and mottled foliage. It will grow well leafy soil in part shade doing well in our climate.AGM Price £2.50 each 5/£9.50

Erythronium revolutum Knightshayes Pink This hybrid was developed at the famous National Trust garden. It has large pimk flowers but is much more vigorous than the species, forming a carpet of colour in glades at Knightshayes in April. Limited stocks available. Price £4 each

ALLIUM

Apart from the culinary aspects of this useful genus. Alliums extend the bulb season into summer, often flowering into July. The native leeks and garlics are included in the Native Bulb section.

Allium moly Golden Garlic. This is a cheerful sight in June, making clumps of star shaped golden flowers. Homer said Odysseus used this to avoid being turned into a pig by Circe, which is useful to remember if in the company of a sorceress. Low growing and easy to establish in grass or under shrubs. Price 20/£2.50 100/£7.50

Allium roseum Rosy Garlic adds a touch of class to a corner in a meadow, with its umbel of pink flowers showing through tall grass in June. Coming from tiny bulbs it is vigorous like other Alliums and perhaps should be placed with caution as it can romp through your favourite border. Price 20 / £2.50 100/ £7.50

Allium cernuum An American native, this is one f the smaller ornamental onions,reaching 12" high. It is clump froming in the manner of chives, with nodding clusters of pink purple bells in June. In the wild it grows under a wide range of conditions in meadows and praries. 10/3.50 50/13.50

Allium Purple Sensation A selected form of its parent A.hollandicum, with densely packed deep purple heads. Rich and impressive.AGM Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

Allium christophii We have grown this for many years on a sunny bank where it has seeded itself. The medium sized flower heads are fascinating with star like shiny pink-purple flowers, which die back to leave a delicate and decorative interlocking globe. Height 18” in June. AGM Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

Allium Mt Everest We couldn’t resist including this one especially as John’s father discovered the successful route to the top. That said, this is a wonderful strong growing Allium with big white pompom heads.
3-4ft height in June. Price 5/£8.50

GLADIOLUS
Gladiolus communis ssp byzantinus This example of a wild European species with 18” spikes of magenta flowers in June is very different from the South African cultivars. This is the species, the “Eastern Gladiolus”, that has long appeared as a weed of cultivation in the SW as well as being used in gardens for centuries, and not the weaker plant that has gone under the same name, and thought now to be G.italicus. Best in drier sunny places.AGM Price 10/£4.50 50/£15.50

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Cyclamens