At the leading edge At Arvensis Perennials near Bradford on Avon, growers Gussy and Robert Macdougall are making a name for themselves selecting the latest plants
Arvensis Perennials is a new wholesale nursery with a growing reputation for supplying must-have plants
Arvensis Perennials, is tucked away on a quiet slope of the mildly rolling hills just to the north of Bradford on Avon. On a crisp autumn morning I was happy to get slightly lost in my immediate approach to the nursery, circulating agreeably and unnecessarily on grass-tufted roads around one or other of the South Wraxalls. A delightful destination, but how did Arvensis Perennials come to find itself here?
“Serendipity,” explains Robert Macdougall, as he and his wife Gussy greet me with coffee. “We heard from Marina Christopher [of Phoenix Perennial Plants] that this site was for sale just at the time we were looking for premises.” The vendor was plant hunter Tom Mitchell, who had set up his nursery Evolution Plants on the site, before abandoning the nursery trade in favour of botanising full time. “The plants he grew could not be more different in many ways,” says Robert. “He collected rare and precious, hard-to grow things. All our plants are robust good doers, and can hold their own in a competitive planting scheme.” But the site was perfect, the terraced slope populated as it was with high-spec polytunnels, potting sheds, raised stock beds and a glasshouse for propagation.
The nursery is on clay, but the Macdougalls’ predecessor had improved this by constructing slightly raised beds and incorporating plenty of organic matter. Now the soil is moisture retentive without being too claggy. “The stock beds not only allow us to bulk up our plants; they also allow us and our clients the opportunity to see them growing to their full potential,” says Robert. “This takes a leap of the imagination if you only ever see them in two-litre pots.”Although we are in early autumn and some of the plants in the stock beds are in varying stages of senescence, the display is remarkable for the complete lack of either flopping plants or of stakes. ‘“And this is on an exposed hillside, with no shelter,” adds Robert.
Grasses predominate, with various clones of Molinia caerulea particularly prominent. But there is late colour
Natural selection
Robert and Gussy’s choice of plants has been strongly informed by the naturalistic style of the New Perennial Movement, the comparatively low-maintenance planting style closely associated with, among others, the renowned Dutch designer Piet Oudolf. Of course, traditional English gardening has itself had a strong vein of naturalism running through it since the late 19th century, but the New Perennial Movement exercises a particular discipline on plant choice. The subjects must be good perennials and be able to perform without too much fussy manipulation, such as staking, deadheading, or bedding out. Crucially, they must be able to contribute visually at all stages of growth – and the desire to embrace the beauty of plants in decay is another hallmark of the style.
from asters, the umbel Selinum wallichianum and the impressive scabious relative Succisa pratensis, among others. But Robert is also keen to emphasise the structural contribution made by perennials that have gone to seed. “It’s important to us that our plants die back well and have a good persistent winter structure,” he says. “Gardening with natural-looking perennials that have something to offer year round requires less intervention and is beneficial to wildlife.”
Robert and Gussy share a passionate interest in ecology and this is reflected not only in their preference for naturalistic cultivars but in their choice of compost, which is exclusively peat-free. They practise Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to combat the pests and diseases that can proliferate so quickly in a nursery setting. This approach keeps the use of chemicals to a bare minimum – for example, a multi-million strong army of microscopic nematodes is regularly released to combat the scourge of vine weevil.
There are plans to build on the interest of the stock-beds – designers Noel Kingsbury and Alison Jenkins have been enlisted to create experimental plantings in some of the spare plots to showcase the decorative potential of the Arvensis plant list. The Macdougalls relish their role at the forefront of planting design and suppliers to the trade. “We enjoy working closely with designers and having an influence on the plants they choose,” says Gussy. “Working with professionals who are passionate about horticulture is a real privilege.” The symbiosis between garden designers and nurserymen is nowhere more important than at the cutting edge of planting design. It’s great news that this young, enthusiastic couple have chosen to get involved.
USEFUL INFORMATION Address Arvensis Perennials, Lower South Wraxall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire BA15 2RU. Tel 01225 867761. Web arvensisperennials.co.uk Open Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm. Arvensis is a trade-only nursery, but visits and online enquiries from the public are welcome.