Shipton Bulbs

John Shipton & Daughters, Y Felin, Henllan Amgoed, Whitland, Carmarthenshire , SA34 0SL
Tel: 01994 240125, Fax: 01994 241180, E mail bluebell@zoo.co.uk * Terms and conditions/Privacy Policy/©Alison Foot 2003  

 

Squills

SQUILLS       To add to our native squills (see Native Bulb section p 4), here is a collection of other members of the tribe, which have been grown and naturalised in British gardens for centuries.

Scilla siberica              This reliable squill flowers early in spring, and will grow almost anywhere provided the bulbs do not get too hot and dry in the summer.  The flowers are deep blue and bell-shaped, with five on a flowering stem. A most attractive sight planted in drifts.        AGM                                                   Price    20/£3.00          100/£12.50

Scilla siberica alba      The white form of the Siberian squill, and an equally good naturaliser, these look especially good mixed in sparingly with the blue ones.                                                              Price    10/£3.00          50/£9.50

Scilla bifolia                Alpine Squill.  Flowering in early spring, this is good for naturalising under shrubs, or among perennials like Hellebores.  Only 4" high, each bulb produces two leaves and a spike of vivid starry blue-violet flowers.           AGM                                                                                                   Price    10/£3.00          50/£9.50

Scilla bithynica           Turkish Squill.  Originally coming from the cool shores of the Black Sea, this squill naturalises extremely well here, enjoying most woodland conditions and some moisture.  Of a similar size to our bluebell, it spreads in the same way to provide a carpet of blue but a month earlier.  Although a most useful and attractive plant it is currently ignored by most bulb producers.                      AGM                                       Price    5/£6.50            10/£11.50

Scilla lilio-hyacinthus Pyrenean Squill.  From woods and damp places on the slope of the Pyrenees this has large scaly lily like bulbs. Planted in open woodland its wide shiny foliage emerges as the snowdrops flower, before presenting its squill flowers in late April.                                                                   Price    £3.00 each

Scilla litardieri            This squill from the west Balkans produces dense heads of blue flowers in early summer well after the main flush of spring bulbs.  It will clump up in well-drained open spots.   AGM

Price    10/£3.00          50/£9.50

Puschkinia scilloides  Known as Striped Squill, this is another native of the mountains of the Middle East.  A beautiful, early spring bulb, it has very pale blue flowers each with a dark blue stripe.  It grows easily planted in well-drained soil in partial shade or sun.                                                                            Price    20/£3.00          100/£12.50

Hyacinthoides italica  Italian Squill.  Although in the same genus as our Bluebell this has very different looking, and charming, racemes of star like blue flowers in April. Unlike the Spanish Bluebell it never crosses with our native Hyacinthoides.  It is again a woodland plant, but will do well in more open sites.    AGM  

Price    5/£4.50            10/£9.50

 

CHIONODOXAS  Chionodoxas are often called 'Glory of the Snow', and are native to the mountains of Anatolia where they flower as the snow recedes.  Chionodoxas are excellent for naturalising, where they can provide a drift of blue in the early spring well before the bluebells come in. Particularly fine under deciduous trees and shrubs.

Chionodoxa forbesii               The most common species found in gardens.  This species has lavender blue star shaped flowers with large white centres in March-April.                                                       Price    20/£3.00            100/£9.50

Chionodoxa sardensis            This has lavender blue flowers with only a hint of a white centre (flowering in March)  Also a native of Asia Minor in the woods above the Meander rivers, it is sometimes called Lesser Glory of the Snow although equally as fine as its cousins and a good naturaliser.           AGM               Price    20/£3.50          100/£12.50

 

GRAPE HYACINTHS (in addition to Muscari neglectum in Native Bulb section p.5)

The following all flower in April

Muscari armenaicum             This Grape Hyacinth is native from the Balkans to the Caucasus, and is particularly easy to grow in well-drained soils here.  It bears a spike of small, densely packed fragrant flowers, each with a white rim.      AGM                                                                                                               Price    20/£3.50          100/£10.50

Muscari armenaicum Valerie Finis  Named after the renowned plants woman, this has racemes of bell shaped flowers in an attractive and unusual shade of sky blue.                                             Price    10/ £3.00         50/£9.50

Muscari botroides alba           Native to northern and central Europe, this is a pure white Grape Hyacinth, making a good contrast to the blue ones, and is just as easy to grow in any soil.                      Price    10/£3.00          50/£9.50

Muscari latifolium      This Muscari from the pinewoods of the Black sea starts in early spring with its single glossy leaf intriguingly circling the emerging flower spikes, which are two-toned blue. Blooming in April it also grows easily in well-drained soil.      AGM                                                                           Price    20/£3.00          100/£9.50

 

 

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        This is the European woodland species and the bulbs do look like dogs’ teeth hence the common name.  It has mottled leaves and striking pink flowers in spring liking leafy soil in half shade.            AGM

Price    5/£4.50            10/£8.50

Erthronium dens-canis Purple KingThis is a selected form with rich plum purple flowers.           Price    5/£9.50

Erythronium  x tuolumnense Pagoda           This is a hybrid of American species.  It is very vigorous and ideal for planting in woodland here, where it establishes itself easily.  Pagoda is eye catching, with its pendant, pale yellow flowers in March-April and lush foliage.        AGM                                                   Price    5/£4.00            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 californicum White Beauty    A very strong growing American hybrid, and actually a parent of E.Pagoda. It is smaller than the two above though, and has gorgeous cream flowers in April over beautifully mottled foliage. It grows well in our climate in leafy soil in part shade.         AGM               Price    5/£8.50

Erythronium revolutum Knightshayes Pink            This hybrid was developed at the famous National Trust garden. It has large pink flowers but is much more vigorous than the species, forming a carpet of colour in glades at Knightshayes in April.            Limited stocks available.                                           Price    £4.00 each

ANEMONE (in addition to Anemone nemorosa in Native Bulb section p 5)

Other forms of Wood Anemone have been selected and cultivated in Britain for centuries.  The following are a few examples, including doubles and shades of blue, pink and purple.

Price for all these forms          5/ £5.50           10/£9.50

Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana              A form of our native Wood Anemone, but with glorious blue flowers held above finely cut purple tinged foliage in spring.  Originally selected by the eminent garden writer William Robinson.        AGM

Anemone nemorosa Allenii               This vigorous Windflower was a form grown on by the 19th Century Somerset gardener James Allen.  Its large flowers are a wonderful silvery blue.          AGM

Anemone nemorosa Vestal               A pure white form of the Wood Anemone with a ring of petals surrounding a closely doubled centre.  Flowers later than the species and other cultivars.  AGM

Anemone nemorosa Virescens          A curious version of the Wood Anemone where, instead of petals, the flower is made of a cluster of green leaflets which gives the plant an attractive mop head.    AGM

Anemone nemorosa Bracteata Pleniflora    Another old variety where leafy green bracts mingle with pure white petals, giving the flowers the effect of wearing a green ruff.

Anemone nemorosa Westwell Pink              Opening white, this form becomes a rich pink with the flowers particularly long lasting.

Anemone nemorosa Bowles Purple             One of the many plants named after the great early 20th Century plantsman EA Bowles this has an even richer hue than the other blue forms

Other Anemone species

Anemone ranunculoides                    Native to Europe to the far North, this has the same creeping twig like rhizomes as our Wood Anemone, but has bright yellow flowers.  Enjoying the same woodland habitat it also flowers in April with similarly dissected foliage.        AGM                                                   Price    10 rhizomes/£4.50            20/£8.50

Anemone x lipsiensis  Pallida            The creamy yellow flowers of this Wood anemone are gorgeous in dappled shade.  This is a vigorous form of the cross between A.ranunculoides above and the native A.nemorosa.   AGM

Price    5/£9.50

Anemone blanda        This relative of our own Windflower originates in the E. Mediterranean, but can be equally at home here.  It can be naturalised in areas under trees and shrubs and does very well in grass.  Long flowering, many petalled blue or white flowers are superb when they arrive in April.             AGM

Price    Assorted Blue shades 20/£3.00          100 /£12.50                             White   10/£2.50          50/£8.50

Mixed (approx 75% Blue 25% White)            20/£3.00          100/£12.50

Anemone appenina    This blue flowered European Anemone with light feathery foliage is good at settling into deciduous shade, and has been noted as a naturalised immigrant here for centuries. April flowering          AGM

.                                                                                                                                                           Price    5/£9.50