Garden And Gardener

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New products at Crocus

by Sarah - January 4th, 2015.
Filed under: Crocus, New Products.

Crocus just added these new products

Magnolia Fairy Cream 'MicJur02' (PBR) (fairy magnolia)

Magnolia Fairy Cream ‘MicJur02’ (PBR) (fairy magnolia) £17.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast Flowering period: March to May, then off and on until September Hardiness: fully hardy Raised by the New Zealand breeder Mark Jury (who also brought us Magnolia Black Tulip), this wonderful new magnolia produces an abundance of cream flowers along the length of its stems in spring. Unlike many of the other spring-flowering types, the foliage of this magnolia is mainly evergreen, although it may shed its leaves in colder winters. It makes a fine stand-alone specimen, especially in smaller gardens where its compact form will not dominate, while its naturally bushy habit makes it ideal for creating an informal screen. A stunning new addition that is easy to care for, reasonably fast growing and will start to produce its lightly scented flowers on young plants. Garden care: Plant in a sheltered spot, away from strong winds. Requires minimal pruning. Remove any broken, diseased or crossing branches in spring. Mulch in spring with manure or leafmould, especially on dry soils.

Rodgersia 'Bronze Peacock' (rodgersia)

Rodgersia ‘Bronze Peacock’ (rodgersia) £7.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: humus-rich, moist soil Rate of growth: slow-to-establish Flowering period: July and August Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Add lots of well-rotted leaf mould when planting. Protect the young foliage against slug damage using beer traps or environmentally friendly slug pellets. Lift and divide congested colonies in early spring.

Agapanthus africanus 'Albus' (African lily)

Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’ (African lily) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil (or John Innes no 3 compost for containers) Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: half hardy (will need protection in winter) A wonderful white form of African lily, with globes of trumpet-shaped flowers from July to September. This bold perennial provides a perfect focal point for a sunny, well-drained border or in a patio container. Where temperatures fall below zero, container-grown specimens should be overwintered in a frost-free place. Garden care: Keep well-watered during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertiliser each month from spring until the plant flowers. Towards the end of September ease back on the watering and feeding of plants in containers to allow the foliage to toughen up. Overwinter container-grown specimens in a cool greenhouse or conservatory, watering sparingly.

Aster amellus 'Veilchenkonigin' (aster ( syn Aster violet queen ))

Aster amellus ‘Veilchenkonigin’ (aster ( syn Aster violet queen )) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained, moderately fertile soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August to September Hardiness:fully hardy Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. After flowering cut the flowered stems to the ground and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant. Asters are one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from All you need to do is pull away sideshoots that have already rooted. These can then be potted up individually or planted directly in to the garden.

Aster x frikartii 'Monch' (aster)

Aster x frikartii ‘Monch’ (aster) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained, moderately fertile soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August to September Hardiness:fully hardy Slender lavender-blue ray-florets surround a golden yellow disc, forming good-sized flowerheads to 8cm across, which top sturdy, well-branching stems from midsummer to mid-autumn. Highly prized for its vigorous growth and resistance to disease. Garden care: Stake with bamboo canes or brushwood in early spring. Water regularly during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. After flowering cut the flowered stems to the ground and apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or horse manure around the base of the plant. Asters are one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from All you need to do is pull away sideshoots that have already rooted. These can then be potted up individually or planted directly in to the garden.

Panicum virgatum 'Rehbraun' (switch grass)

Panicum virgatum ‘Rehbraun’ (switch grass) £5.99
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August and September Flower colour: purple-green Other features: striking autumn colour Hardiness: fully hardy Pendent clusters of tiny, purple-green spikelets and upright mid- green leaves turning rich reddish-purple in autumn. This deciduous ornamental grass is renowned for its striking autumn colour. It’s perfect for providing vertical interest in a sunny, well-drained new perennial border. Garden care: Lift and divide congested colonies between mid-spring and summer

Penstemon 'Andenken an Friedrich Hahn' (beard tongue (syn. Garnet))

Penstemon ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’ (beard tongue (syn. Garnet)) £5.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to October Hardiness: frost hardy (will need winter protection in cold areas) Elegant spikes of small, tubular, foxglove-like flowers appear from July to October among lance-shaped, bright green leaves. This vibrant, easy-to-grow perennial commemorates an 18th century German astronomer. It will quickly form large, leafy clumps and is perfect for adding a splash of colour to the middle of a sunny, well-drained border. The sumptuous, deep wine-red flowers contrast well with acid greens and silver leaved plants or with wispy grasses and spiky leaves. Garden care: Remove the faded blooms regularly to prolong flowering. Apply a dry mulch around the base of the plant to protect the roots from frost damage and cut back in spring when new shoots appear low down on the stem. Lift and divide congested clumps in spring.

Gaura lindheimeri (gaura)

Gaura lindheimeri (gaura) £4.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average to fast-growing Flowering period: May to September Hardiness: fully hardy A graceful, hazy plant with airy spikes of white, star-shaped flowers with long anthers like daddy long-legs, held on slender stems from May to September. Thi s exceptionally long-flowering perennial looks equally at home in an informal co ttage-style garden or among soft grasses in a new perennial border. It is excep tionally drought-tolerant and will soak up the sun. Give it space, as its wispy stems will lean over plants and pathways. Garden care: Resist the temptation to cut back after the plant has flowered, as it takes on beautiful autumn tints, particularly in cold weather. Cut back and divide large colonies in spring.

Verbascum (Cotswold Group) 'Gainsborough' (mullein)

Verbascum (Cotswold Group) ‘Gainsborough’ (mullein) £4.99
Position: full sun Soil: poor, well-drained, alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May to August Hardiness: fully hardy (but short-lived) Elegant panicles bearing sulphur-yellow, saucer-shaped flowers, rise above the rosette of puckered, grey-green leaves in summer. A reliable perennial, which may produce a second flush of flowers if dead-headed promptly. Garden care: Apply a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch around the base of the plant in autumn to protect from winter extremes, taking care not to cover the crown. Stake in spring with bamboo canes or twiggy prunings before the flowers appear. Mullein moth caterpillars can be a problem, pick off the insects in early June as soon as they appear. Remove faded flower spikes if you do not want them to self-seed. It is worth keeping in mind that these plants are mainly biennial, so although they usually self-seed freely, the plant will usually die off after flowering.