Gardens The spectacular Hippeastrum
Every year, I check the seed catalogues that have just arrived for new things to try. One of the first to arrive was from Plant World Seeds, an exciting new catalogue, full of fabulous plants I want to try, but I’ve had to limit myself to just four:
1 Hesperis matronalis variegata My grandmother grew the original species, usually called sweet rocket, in her garden. The variegated form does a wonderful job of adding sweet perfume through the garden. It’s a favourite oldfashioned cottage garden flower, offered for the first time by Plant World.
2
Erysimum ‘Jumbo Orange’ (above) This has to be one of the largest perennial wallflowers around. It makes a sturdy small shrub and in a sunny spot, from late winter until early summer it produces rich orange strongly scented wallflowers in profusion.
3
Dahlia ‘Autumn Dazzlers’ (above) An example of the new generation of tall, elegant dahlia hybrids. These are relatively hardy, single forms, with occasional dark-leaved specimens and flowers in shades of orange, pink, salmon, red and burgundy. As the plants develop in the summer, they become quite shrubby and are a great addition to a sunny border. 4
Tomato ‘Sweet Valentine’ F1 This is a branching patio-type tomato forming a compact mound or cascade with attractive heartshaped fruits.