My life in Plants
The first plant I ever grew
While I was at primary school we were given narrow plots between the pavement and walls of farm buildings to grow colourful summer displays of marigolds and nasturtiums.
Plant that shaped the gardener I am today
I was a student gardener at Windsor when I first saw
Magnolia campbellii mollicomata
‘Lanarth’ in flower. I was so attracted by the purple colour, huge size and poise of its blooms that I wanted to know more about this fabulous group of trees and shrubs, as well as the wealth and diversity of plants in general.
My favourite plant in the world
Cornus kousa chinensis
is a gorgeous small tree with white, greenish-white or pink bracts in late spring, rich autumn foliage colour, bright red fruits and beautiful flaking bark on mature plants. It’s a tree for all gardens!
The plant that made me work hardest
Magnolias possess so many superlatives and have formed a large part of my life. I was President of Magnolia Society International for four years. Its international appeal grew so much that today members can be found in over 40 countries around the world!
The plant I’d like to grow more of
The American species and varieties of the mock orange, (philadelphus) are ideally suited to sunny gardens of all sizes. They have beautifully scented, white or creamy-white flowers in mid-summer over a six-week period and are drought tolerant
The plant I am in human form
The Scots pine, is a stately tree whose bark has great texture and colour. It has Pinus sylvestris, great presence, whether when seen on its own or in a group.
The plant that helped shape my life
This would have to be
ludlowii. When I was a child, my parents ordered a consignment of plants for their new garden. I’d never seen a plant with such ornamental foliage and large yellow flowers, not to mention the large black seeds which germinated freely, an added attraction! Paeonia
The plant I’d always give as a gift
It would have to be nemesia ‘Wisley Vanilla’, one of the plants I named for the RHS Bicentenary Plant Collection in 2004. It produces beautifully scented flowers over a long period in summer, reminding me of the garden I managed for more than 20 years.