Crossword

ACROSS

1 5 a cordial Genus Marrow-like of drink African vegetable (6) marigolds – makes (7) 8 An orange-flowered Hedychium (ginger lily) – in August a rarity (4) 9 A Florence fennel cultivar, ‘Spanish Friend’ (5) 10 See 28 across 11 A tulip species from Asia – in casual disarray (8) 13 Small gardening tool – right inside drying cloth (6) 14 A calla lily with purple-black flowers named after a Ukrainian seaport (6) 16 Cherry tree named after 18th-19thcentury Japanese artist (7) 18 Genus of palm grass and bristle grass – I rate as unusual (7) 21 Chap mashed rue for a natural soil-enricher (6) 23 Appropriately named upright, stiff Lisbon onion – or dram, perhaps (6) 25 Vegetable with edible, knobbly, turnip-like stem base (8) 27 A bright-red astilbe… in Vietnam? (4) 28/10 Circular fungal infection of grass, according to folklore (5,4) 29 How a finger might feel if pricked… by rambling rose? (4) 31 Part of flower’s corolla – palest sort (6) 32 Common name of Daphne cneorum is ____ flower – Judy? (7)

DOWN

1 Drink made from Camellia sinensis leaves (3)

2 Police informers revealing plants like Hakonechloa macra (7)

3 A lacecap hydrangea with purplish autumn foliage – could go to one’s head (5)

4 Nutritious leaf vegetable (7)

5 Plant resulting from genetic mutation… in genus Portulaca (5)

6 Pulls plant from the soil (7)

7 Genus of mother-in-law’s tongue, as ever is in a mess (11)

12 Its name is Alchemilla mollis – ‘Woman’s Cloak’ (5,6)

15 It’s essential to plant growth in bonsai re-potting (3)

17 A series of dwarf, colourful antirrhinum… initially kept in mulch (3)

19 Term meaning cluster of three leaflets – as in Choisya ____ (7)

20 Habit of eg Kolkwitzia shrubs (7) 22 Some gardener is saving a hybrid double-flowering snowdrop (7)

24 In short, they’re plants of the Narcissus genus (5)

26 Bend a shoot to the earth to root (5)

30 Another name for a grape cordon (3)

Solutions to this month’s crossword will be printed next month