NON-NATIVE PERENNIALS

Delivery Spring or Autumn unless otherwise stated.

Irises

(named after the Rainbow Goddess) are an extremely diverse and widespread genus with species adapted to all kinds of habitats. Only two are native to the British Isles (see Woodland and Wetland pages), and not surprisingly one of these, the Yellow Flag, is adapted to wet conditions. As well as these two, we also grow some other species and varieties for water margins and boggy areas. They all prefer open conditions, where they are more free flowering, but tolerate partial shade. They are suitable for transplanting and despatch in either autumn or spring, i.e. before and after their leaves die back for winter.

Iris pseudacorus variegata Variegated Flag Iris The young leaves of this form of Flag Iris make quite a feature, each having a striking pale yellow stripe. It also grows strongly in wet conditions. Price £3 each.

Iris laevigata This is the Japanese equivalent to our Flag Iris and loves similarly moist, wet, or even better, waterlogged conditions. It flowers in mid-summer with blue or white flowers. Single colour(blue or white) or mixed Price 5 / £8.50

Iris versicolor A North American counterpart to I. laevigata, this Iris with bluish purple flowers has naturalised widely in Europe as well as some wet areas in Britain. Price 5 / £8.50

Iris sibirica The species from Central Europe and Asia and used in gardens here for centuries. Slender leaved with beautiful blue-purple flowers in early summer this is easy to establish in a wide range of conditions but is happiest in moist retentive soil in full sun. Price 5 / £8.50

Iris sibirica varieties There are a host of cultivated varieties of Iris sibirica and we now have sufficient stocks of:
I. sibirica White Swirl - White flowers with a golden centre. AGM Price 5/£8.50
I. sibirica Dreaming Yellow - Creamy yellow flowers AGM Price 5/£8.50
I. sibirica Silver Edge - Deep blue flowers with a fine silver edge AGM Price 5/£8.50

Iris ensata mixed (formerly I. kaempferi) Another Japanese species long hybridised in gardens there, resulting in flowers with a wide range of colours from pink to plum and white. It likes moist lime free soil and full sun.

Iris latifolia Although oddly called the English Iris, this actually originated in the Pyrenees. It flowers in late June with wide falls in shades of bluey-purple and white. These bulbous irises establish well in meadow conditions. Bulbs despatched only in the autumn (August-October). AGM Price 5/£4.50 50/£16

Price 5 / £8.50

Bog Primulas

These need moist soil all the year round to grow successfully.

Primula bulleyana Collected from its native home in wet mountain valleys in Yunnan China, by the great plant hunter George Forrest, this is one of the easiest bog primulas to grow. Its soft orange flowers open from red buds and are arranged in their typical candelabra whorls. It self seeds freely. Price £2each 5/£8.50

Primula pulveralenta A most elegant candelabra primula with its rich crimson purple flowers held in whorlson mealy stems. This flourishes in damp soil in sun or light shade, and will hybridise with P.bulleyana giving rise to some interesting seedlings. Price £2each 5 /£8.50

Primula florindae This Himalayan species has clusters of primrose yellow, bell shaped, spicey scented flowers in mid summer. Again it is vigorous and easy to grow in damp too wet soil in an open site. Price £2each 5/£8.50

Primula poissoniiGrown from seed collected on one of our trips to SW China,this magenta flowered candelabra Primula with a yellow eye, starts flowering late Juneand carrieson for several weeks. Price £2 each 5/£8.50

Primula japonica The first candelabra Primulas to flower in May, our stock comes in a whole range of pinks and reds above wavy foliage and likes the same damp conditions as the other bog Primulas. Price 5 /£7.50

NORTH AMERICAN PLANTS The following is a selection of North American perennials that naturalise well in our meadows, woods and bogs.

Gunnera manicata This is the giant that the untutored see as rhubarb gone insane. With our lovely wet conditions we are well placed to grow this South American wonder, although we do have to protect plants from a late frost. Best in moist soil near pond or water course. Sent out in late autumn or spring before the end of March. AGM
Price £5.50 each

Gunnera magellenica The same genus but a miniature version. This makes excellent groundcover, the fan shaped leaves dotted with strawberry like flowers. John collected the original piece of our stock on the remote peninsula Munoz Gamero in Chile on the way to Mount Burney still unclimbed since his father’s ascent in 1973.Price 5/£7.50

Lysichiton americanum Yellow Bog ArumThis is a native of Western North America, favouring boggy ground in sun or shade. The striking yellow arum flowerswhich appear in spring are quickly taken over by the large, glossy green leaves which remain handsome all summer. The plant has been known as Skunk Cabbage due to the smell of the flowers, which is thankfully fleeting.Price £3each

Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ This is a rich pink Meadowsweet, also known as ‘Queen of the Prairies’. Flowering slightly earlier than our own Meadowsweet this loves the same damp soil and sun to make a stunning display in summer. The 5 ft high stems are topped by a cloud of fluffy rose pink flowers, above attractive dark green foliage. Delivery in spring Feb/March Price 5/£8.50

Rodgersia podophylla Native to Japan and Korea this easily establishes itself in moist woodland here. The large palmate leaves start appearing in late April, and are a striking bronze to begin with, turning to green and the spikes of pink flowers emergelaterin the summer. Rhizomes sent late autumn or early spring Price£2.50 each

Hardy Lobelias

These North American natives growing to 2-3ft tall are far removed from trailing bedding lobelias. Delivery in spring Feb/March

Lobelia siphilitica A true perennial here, it flowers for weeks in autumn with a spire of clear blue flowers over a rosette of crinkled green leaves. As it originates from damp meadows and stream sides, it relishes moist soil. It needs to be split and replanted every few years, but is very hardy. Price 5/£4.50 10/£8.50

Lobelia x gerardii Vedrariensis This hybrid, which occurs in the wild in North America, has rich red-purple flowers. It has inherited the hardiness of one of its parents L.siphilitica, and the flamboyant colour from the other, the red flowered Cardinal flower L.cardinalis. Price 5/£8.50

Lobelia Pink Flamingo Fine clear pink flowers make this hardy hybrid a welcome addition to our Lobelias, and has passed the hardiness test here very well. Price 5/£8.50

Lobelia Fan Deep Red With its strong, branched spike of crimson flowers this is one the best of the fan series. This group of lobelias are generally less hardy but this one does well outside here in West Wales. Price 5/£8.50

Lobelia Fan Scarlet This has punchy scarlet flowers that set the late summer garden ablaze. This also seems to be reliably hardy here in West Wales. AGM Price 5 / £8.50

Chelones

The name Chelone comes from the Greek for tortoise, because of their curious shaped flowers, and they are known as Turtleheads in their native America, where they grow in damp woods and stream sides. Growing to 3ft, Chelones provide useful colour in early autumn. The spidery crowns are lifted and sent in early spring before the foliage gets going. Delivery in the spring Feb/March.

Chelone glabra is the White Turtlehead with rich green foliage and fat seedpods. Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

Chelone lyonii This has distinctive foliage and warm pink flowers. Price 5/£5.50 10/£9.50

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Shipton Bulbs

NON-NATIVE PERENNIALS