Native Bulbs

Names given in **ENGLISH, botanical Latin and Welsh.**

BLUEBELL Hyacinthoides non-scripta Clychau'r Glas Known as Jacinth in Elizabethan times, this is the native British bluebell with nodding slender, fragrant flowers, unlike the scentless Spanish bluebell, or the rampant hybrids between the two which are also scentless. Familiar and found in many of our woodlands, it is easy to naturalise in open or shady ground. Grown from our pure Welsh stock it flowers in May, reaching its glorious peak in the middle of the month. Despatched freshly lifted in autumn.

Price 20/£4 100/£16.50 500/£75 1000/£135

Bluebell Seed Every year we harvest our own bluebell seed and offer it to wholesale suppliers. Now we have decided to offer this stock to our retail customers as well. Given time and patience you can now have the chance to furnish a bluebell wood with less expense! It will take 4-6 years to grow a flowering size bulb. We harvest in July and despatch August to October. Approx 100 seeds per gm. Price 10gm/£2.50 100 gm/£15 1kg/£120

DAFFODIL Narcissus pseudonarcissus Blodyn Mis Mawrth The main daffodil species of Britain, the one that impressed Wordsworth and known as the Lent Lily. A short plant of 8"-12" with pale petals and deep yellow corona, it is found in damp woods and grassland, where it naturalises readily. Flowering in March as this Welsh name implies. AGM Price 10/£3.50 50/£14.50 500/£115

TENBY DAFFODIL Narcissus obvallaris The other native daffodil and now considered a sub-species of N.pseudonarcissus, this is excellent for naturalising. Found locally and uniquely near Tenby in Dyfed, it is an attractive little golden daffodil and emblem of Wales. Easy to grow and undemanding it reaches only 8"-12" and flowers in March. AGM Price 10/£3.50 50/£14.50 500/£115

SNOWDROP Galanthus nivalis Liliwen fach (Eirlys) Native to Wales and the West, this snowdrop has naturalised in most parts of Britain. It is found in damp woods and can be grown in most soils and grass. It is one of the earliest of flowers, Jan.-March, ht. 6". Despatched freshly lifted Aug. - Oct. so that bulbs are not allowed to dry out. This gives as good, if not better, results as transplanting 'in the green' in spring. AGM

Price 10/£3.00 50/£12.50 500/£110

(Bulbs can be sent 'in the green' in March, just after flowering. Please add £1.50 per 100 for extra postage.)

DOUBLE SNOWDROP Galanthus nivalis flore pleno This naturally occurring double form of our native snowdrop is just as easy to grow often flowering a little earlier than the singles. Again despatched freshly lifted in Aug-Oct or 'in the green' in March. AGM Price 10/£3.50 50/£14.50

(Bulbs can be sent 'in the green' in March, just after flowering. Please add £1.50 per 100 for extra postage.)

SNAKES HEAD FRITILLARY Fritillaria meleagris Britheg This is the fascinating native fritillary, with red-purple to cream flowers, chequered dark and light. It occurs naturally in damp meadows in Southern England, but is now rare in the wild. Planted in soil that does not dry out, and in full sun, it flowers in April. Ht.10". Plant at least 4" deep to avoid depredations by mice, but planting under turf is a good way to avoid the rodents as well

Price 20/£4.50 100/£16.50 500/£75

Fritillaria meleagris alba As with the white bluebell this pure white flowered form is frequent in wild populations, and has been selected for cultivation. The slender form of a white Snakeshead in a moist corner of a lawn is a delightful sight in April. AGM Price 10/£3.50 50/£14.50

STAR OF BETHLEHEM Ornithogalum umbellatum Seren Bethlehem A white star like flower April to May following early foliage. Wild in grassy places from Northern Europe to the Holy Land where the bulbs were used as food by pilgrims, and known as Dogs Onions until the more wholesome name arrived in the 15^th Century; this is native in Britain only in Eastern England. It naturalises well in open sites in most soils and is especially suited to growing through grass. Price 20/£3.50 100/£13.50

BATH ASPARAGUS Ornithogalum pyrenaicum Seren Bethlehem Hir The other Ornithogalum native in Britain and found particularly in woods near Bath. Its tall flowering spikes have been eaten for centuries as an asparagus like delicacy. It flowers in June some time after its grey green foliage dies back. Price 5/£9.50

WILD TULIP Tulipa sylvestris The only relative of the garden tulip found wild in Britain, although it was probably introduced and has naturalised in meadows in the centre and east of the country. It flowers in April with rich yellow blooms and the added bonus of a delicious scent. Height.12". Price 10/£4.00 50/£15.50

Other species of Tulip can be found on p. 11

SPRING SNOWFLAKE Leucojum vernum This resembles a snowdrop, but the flower is more open and bell like, with distinct green tips. It is found in damp scrub and hedgerows in many parts of Europe, but in Britain is native only in Dorset or Somerset. It prefers moist semi-shade and flowers March-April. Ht. 6"-8".

As with Snowdrops, freshly lifted on despatch Aug-Oct. AGM Price 5/£8.50 10/£14.50

(If wanted they can be sent 'in the green’ in March, please add £1 for extra postage)

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE Leucojum aestivum Eiriaidd Gravetye Giant Actually more spring flowering (April-May) with 18” foliage and white flowers like large snowdrops, this thrives in moist or even boggy conditions, sun or partial shade. Also called the Loddon Lily as it was found along the banks of the Loddon a tributary of the Thames its native status is as hotly disputed as the Snakeshead Fritillary. We now just supply this form as it proves much the best performer, originally selected by W. Robinson from his Sussex Estate. AGM

Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

(This also can be despatched in March “in the green” before flowering, please add £1 for extra postage)

SPRING SQUILL Scilla verna Seren y Gwanwyn This little squill is a wonderful feature in May along the cliffs of our Pembrokeshire coast path, and elsewhere on the coasts of the British Isles. 2-4" high with starry bright blue flowers, it needs an open well-drained site in the garden. Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

AUTUMN SQUILL Scilla autumnalis Seren yr Hydref This is similar to spring squill and again occurs in grassy places near the sea, but is found naturally in the British Isles only in the South of England. It flowers much later as its name implies July-September. Price 5/£8.50

RAMSONS Allium ursinum Craf y Geifr Ramsons or wild garlic occurs widely in the British Isles in damp woods and hedgerows. Its brilliant white flowers in April and May are very beautiful. Some cooks do use the cigar shaped bulbs, although we stick to A.sativum, the usual culinary species, but the leaves are used in salads. Ramsons grow and spread in most soils. Ht. 9". Price 20/£4.00 100/ £15.50 500/£70

ROUND-HEADED LEEK Allium sphaerocephalon This produces and attractive and striking umbel of purple flowers like a drumstick, June-July. Native, though rare in the wild in Britain, it is a good subject for the garden, planted in meadow conditions and in borders. The flowers dry well for winter arrangement. Ht. 2ft

Price 20/£3.00 100/£9.50

CHIVES Allium schoenoprasm var anglicum Seifys A form of the common kitchen herb, native to places in Britain including our part of Wales. It is much smaller than the ordinary chives, and has delightful curly or flexuous leaves. So different in form that it used to be lumped in with another species, A.sibiricum. Price 5/£7.50

WILD LEEK Allium ampeloprasum var babinigtonii Garlleg Mawr Pengrwn This the ancestor of A.porrum, the leek. In the wild in the British Isles it occurs on some rocky coasts of Cornwall, the Scillies and of course here in S.Wales. As tall as the cultivated vegetable, with similar purple umbels of flowers, it grows from a cloved bulb. The form we grow here is also called Babington’s Leek and produces bulbils on its flower heads from which it can be propagated. Price 5/£7.50

WILD GLADIOLUS Gladiolus illyricus This is the native Gladiolus but restricted in the wild to the open scrub of the New forest. It is similar to the naturalised Eastern Gladiolus (see page 9) but its un-branched 18” stems of 3-5 magenta flowers are shorter, very different of course from the South African cultivars. Price £3.00 each

WOOD ANEMONE Anemone nemorosa Blodyn Gwynt Called the Windflower, this is one of our loveliest woodland flowers, with its delicate white blossoms and ferny foliage. It prefers damp soil and light shade, so it is suited to hedgerows and areas, under deciduous shrubs and trees, where it will spread happily. Plant twig like rhizomes horizontally, up to 1" below a surface of soil or leaf-mould. AGM Price 20/£4.00 100/£17.50

We have a selection of blue, pink and double forms of Anemone nemorosa on page 9.

LESSER CELANDINE Ranunculus ficaria Llygad Ebrill With its early golden star like flowers, March to April, and attractive mottled leaves, this is a welcome sight in early spring. It often forms a carpet of flowers in woodland or grass under shrubs. Now sent as freshly lifted clumps of bulbils August –October.

Price 10 clumps/£2.50 50 clumps/£11.00

WINTER ACONITE Eranthis hyemalis Bleidd-dag y Gaeaf A harbinger of spring with its golden flowers and ruff of light green bracts this is native to Europe and is a common sight throughout the British Isles, where it is naturalised in woods and plantations all over the country. The tuberous rhizomes are freshly lifted prior to despatch (Aug-Oct) to give the best results. Plant about 3" deep. AGM

Price 20/ £4.00 100/£17.50

(If wanted "in the green" in March, after flowering, please add £1.50 for extra postage.)

GRAPE HYACINTH Muscari neglectum Until recently a form of this was known as M.atlanticum and considered native to Eastern England. Now, however, this is synonymous with M.neglectum and believed to have been introduced. With spikes of blackish blue flowers, it prefers open well-drained soil. Flowers in April.

See page 7 for other Muscari for naturalising. Price 10/£3.00 50/£13.50

MONK'S HOOD Aconitum napellus Cwcwll y Mynach Found naturally on shady stream banks in parts of South Wales and SW England. This has handsome spires of hooded light indigo flowers in summer. In the 13th century it was an important medicinal herb used by the Physicians of Myddfai, but highly poisonous. Also good in borders, it can reach 5ft. Despatched late autumn. See page 12 for other species of Monkshood.

Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

TURK'S CAP LILY Lilium martagon Llysiau Martagon A base rooting lily which is naturalised in woods and hedgerows in Southern Britain. It has numerous, scented, nodding 'Turk's cap' flowers in shades of pink and purple with darker spots. Flowers in mid-summer. AGM Price £3.50 each

Lilium martagon album The white flowered form of the Turks Cap Lily AGM Price £4.50 each

PYRENEAN LILY Lilium pyrenaicum Cap y Twrc Melyn Another lily that has gained home 'naturalised' status in Britain, particularly in hedgerows of SW Wales and SW England. Its blooms with a 2 ft stem in June-July, with a yellow turk's cap flower freckled with black dots and prominent red anthers. Price £5.50 each.

LORDS AND LADIES Arum maculatum Pidyn y Gog Familiar in the wild in woods and hedgerows, this can be a valuable asset in a woodland garden or between shrubs. Its handsome often spotted leaves, and flowers with hooded spathes in May, are followed by eye-catching berries in late summer. Rootstocks delivered in the autumn best planted 4-6” deep in shade or partial shade. Price 5/£8.50 10/£15.50

HERB PARIS Paris quadrifolia Cwlwm cariad The associations with Homer’s amorous hero and the Welsh lover's knot, hint at the aphrodisiac potential of this plant. Related to the Trilliums, this also is a woodland plant with a rhizome producing its 4 leaves and single yellow flower in early summer shade.

Price £2.50 each 5/£11.50

LILY OF THE VALLEY Convallaria majalis Clych Enid This well loved plant is native to Britain where it is found locally in woods. Sending up oval leaves and richly fragrant, nodding white flowers in May, it is popular with both gardeners and bees. Growing in a variety of situations where they're happy, they can be fickle, so try them in different places to give them a choice. Plant thong like rhizomes firmly 1" deep laid horizontally.

Delivered late autumn or spring. AGM Price 10/£5.50 50/£17.50

Convallaria majalis var rosea This dainty form of Lily of the Valley, with its soft pink flowers has been known to gardeners for centuries. Price 5/£9.50

SOLOMON'S SEAL Polygonatum x multiflorum Sel Solomon This close relative of Lily of the Valley enjoys the same growing conditions. The rhizome produces long stems (2-3ft), which bend gracefully at the top, with the leaves all on one side, and the white waxy flowers dangling in little clusters below. It gained its curious name from the belief that the leaf scars on the rhizome resembled Hebrew characters.

Delivered late autumn or early spring Price 5/£7.50 10/£13.50

SWEET SCENTED SOLOMON’S SEAL Polygonatum odoratum So called for its vanilla scented flowers borne singly or in pairs. This species is lower growing (max 12”) inhabiting woods and rocky places. It is scattered over mainland Europe, England and Wales. AGM Price £2.50 each 5/£11.50

MEADOW SAFFRON or AUTUMN CROCUS Colchicum autumnale Saffrwm y Gweunydd

Flowering in September with beautiful pale purple blooms, the lush foliage follows in the spring and for this reason it is also called “Naked Ladies”. Common names are otherwise misleading as this is neither a Crocus nor produces saffron. Naturally occurring stands in moist meadows in Southern Britain are nowadays a treasure, but it used to be vigorously discouraged in grazing meadows being poisonous to livestock.

Delivered July to September before flowering. Price 5/£9.50

Colchicum autumnale Nancy Lindsay A vigorous form of the species with an elegant flower form, and a more intense colour. Delivered July to September before flowering. AGM Price 5/£9.50

Colchicum autmnale var album The white form of Meadow Saffron is beautiful on its own or mixed with the straight pink in grass. Delivered July to September before flowering Price £5/£9.50

Shipton Bulbs

Native Bulbs

Names given in ENGLISH, botanical Latin and Welsh.

Names given in **ENGLISH, botanical Latin and Welsh.**