New products at Crocus
by Sarah - September 20th, 2015.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
New products added today at Crocus
Berberis ‘Starburst’ (barberry) £14.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: well-drained soil Rate of growth: slow to average Flowering period: April to June Hardiness: fully hardy Arching pink stems carry green leaves that develop pink and white marbelling, which is more pronounced when the plant is grown in a sunny spot. In autumn, this colouring intensifies and the leaves develop a bright red hue before they fall. The clusters of soft yellow flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by red autumn berries are an added bonus. Garden care: Requires minimal pruning. Where some pruning is required, cut back in autumn or winter, after the appearance of the autumn fruits.
Buddleja ‘Silver Anniversary’ (PBR) (butterfly bush) £14.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy A new form, with leaves that are covered in white wooly hairs, which gives them a soft silvery appearance. This makes it really stand out in the border, particularly when planted near shrubs or perennials that have foliage with a purple or reddish hue. It forms a neat mound, and from midsummer, small white honey-scented (sterile) flowers appear, drawing in the bees and butterflies. Garden care: Prune back hard in March, removing all of the previous year’s growth to three or four buds.
Cornus canadensis (Creeping dogwood) £9.99
Position: full sun to partial shade Soil: fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to acid soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May and June Hardiness: fully hardy Showy white petal-like flower bracts look really pretty when they appear in late spring and early summer, framed by a collar of rich green leaves. After they fade, they are followed in autumn by a jaunty cluster of bright red berries. This creeping dogwood is an attractive groundcover for the front of a shrub border or woodland garden. It performs best in a partially shaded spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained, neutral to acid soil. Garden care: Incorporate a quantity of composted pine needles or well-rotted leaf mould when planting. Divide large colonies of plants in spring or autumn.
Delosperma ‘Jewel of Desert Garnet’ (PBR) (Jewel of Desert Series) (ice plant) £6.99
Position: full sun-partial shade Soil: well-drained, sandy Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May to October Hardiness: fully hardy One of the new breed, which produces its brightly coloured star-shaped flowers over an incredibly long period – usually from mid-spring to the first frosts. Its a low-growing plant that looks great in pots, alpine beds or rockeries, or just adding bundles of colour at the front of a sun-drenched border. Garden care: Avoid overwatering – particularly in winter.
Helenium autumnale ‘Short and Sassy’ (sneezeweed) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Hardiness: fully hardy If you want lashings of low-growing, late colour, then this could be just the ticket. It only gets around 45cm tall, so it will never need staking and it has a branching habit, so there are always loads of flowers. These are a showy shade of orange, so they really stand out from a distance, and they make good cut flowers too. Dot them through the front of a sunny border or use them to fill your patio pots. Garden care: Heleniums are versatile plants that love plenty of sunsh sunshine and moist soil. They rarely suffer from pests or diseases, however young plants do need to be protected from slug attack. To encourage the plant to repeat flower deadhead back to side shoots that have flower buds emerging. Cut back by half after flowering to help prevent mildew. Cut down to the ground in late winter. Every two or three years divide the plants in spring to keep them in top condition. When replanting add loads of well-rotted organic matter to the soil to feed them and keep them moist.
Cosmos – pocket garden £5.99
This kit includes everything you will need to germinate and grow your own plant. The seeds come in a decorative foil growing pouch that can sit on a sunny windowsill, with easy to follow sowing instructions. High quality seeds and certified peat free compost.