News from the gardening world
Fifty large magnolia trees are being planted in flowery grassland to celebrate the founding of a famous British garden. The feature at Borde Hill, in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, is being created to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the gardens founded by Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke. A horticultural pioneer, he sponsored many plant-hunting expeditions in the early 20th century, developing the 200 acres of garden, park and woodland to grow seeds of rare trees and shrubs from explorers such as George Forrest, Ernest Wilson and Frank Kingdon-Ward. Seventy original trees have since achieved UK ‘champion’ status.
The new feature, known as ‘Gardiner Grove’ will contain yellow-flowered hybrids of American Magnolia acuminata, such as ‘Butterflies’ and ‘Elizabeth’, and pink Chinese
M. sprengeri, such as ‘Diva’ and ‘Galaxy, all selected by international magnolia expert and RHS vice president Jim Gardiner. They’re being planted in Borde Hill’s ‘Garden of Allah’, among ornamental birches, such as Betula albosinensis ‘Red Panda’ and B. utilis ‘Forest Blush’. “There’s a great tradition of planting magnolias and this grove continues the footsteps of those who have gone before me,” said Jim.
l The magnolia grove and garden will open from March 20, 2018, with a tour and talk on magnolia care by Jim Gardiner on Thursday, March 22. Visit www.bordehill.co.uk, tel: 01444 450326.