My Life in Plants
First plant I ever grew
Although working on a farm, I spent many pleasurable hours growing all kinds of vegetables, from potatoes to broad beans and peas. I also helped my grandmother tend her large rock garden.
Plant that helped shape the gardener I am today
Working as an apprentice in the Dingle Nursery and Garden, near Shrewsbury in Shropshire, I came across herbaceous borders and was bewitched by delphiniums. I was in awe of their size and dramatic blooms.
My favourite plant in the world
I love plants with scent and really admire compact Viburnum juddii. When I was head gardener
at Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire, we had a lovely specimen of it, and the scent from its white flowers in spring was a delight.
The plant that changed my life
I grew a range of herbs when I was young, but I particularly like rosemary, for its aromatic leaves and bright blue flowers. My wife’s name is Rosemary. We were married 50 years ago this year. She too has been a great influence on me!
The plant that has made me work hardest
Half-hardy perennials such as salvia, diascia and osteospermum. We spend so much time propagating them in autumn, keeping them over winter and, finally, planting them out in late spring. But they really do have the ‘wow’ factor.
The plant I’d like to grow more of
I love hollyhocks. They’re such amazing, old-fashioned flowers. Plant I am in human form
Summer-flowering perennial helenium, which bears yellow or orange, daisy-like, composite flowers. I like flowers with bright colours and they help me to stay cheerful, whatever the day brings.
The plant I’d always give away as a gift
The Chilean lantern tree, Crinodendron hookerianum.
It does really well in our west coast garden and always creates public interest with its dangling red flowers. It’s easy to grow from cuttings.