New products at Crocus
by Sarah - December 16th, 2015.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
Crocus has these new items today
Euonymus planipes (euonymus) £9.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast-growing Flowering period: May and June Other features: the flowers are followed by spherical, pink- tinged, white fruit; all parts of the plant may cause a mild stomach upset if ingested Hardiness: fully hardy Large, mid green leaves emerge from pointed buds in spring and turn dazzling shades of red (putting on a spectacular display) in the autumn before they fall. Very small, late spring and early summer flowers go on to produce decorative, rounded red fruits, which split to reveal bright orange seeds. Garden care: Tip prune young plants in mid to late spring to encourage bushy growth and apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant. Remove any plain green-leaved shoots as soon as they appear, cutting them back to the origin.
Euphorbia mellifera (canary spurge) £6.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: light, well-drained garden soil Rate of growth: fast growing Flowering period: May to June Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas) A magnificent, large euphorbia that really makes a dramatic statement in the garden. It has stiff stems strung with whorls of bright green leaves with a white stripe down the centre and topped, in early summer, with small, honey-scented, bronze-tinted flowers. This evergreen shrub is grown as much for its foliage a s its deliciously scented flowers and will thrive in a sheltered, sunny spot. It forms a natural dome shape, and gives structure and an architectual quality to the garden. Try it as part of an exotic scheme as the luminous-green leaves look great with large-leafed plants. Garden care: In autumn cut back the faded flower stems, avoiding new ones. When working with spurges always wear gloves since the milky sap is poisonous and a potential skin irritant. Remove unwanted seedlings each spring as part of routine border maintenance.
Dianthus cruentus (feld pink) £6.99
Position: full sun Soil: rich but well-drained, alkaline to neutral soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to August Flower colour: reddish-pink Hardiness: fully hardy A lovely little alpine, which is a native of the Balkans. The tall upright flower stems bear clusters of pinky-red flowers in late spring and summer. These bob happily above the long, bluish-green, evergreen foliage. It is easy to grow and the bees and butterflies will love you for it. Garden care: Dianthus should be trimmed back lightly after flowering to promote new basal growth. Prune more closely in spring, as new shoots emerge to maintain a tidy shape. To maintain healthy growth, it is important to make sure the plants are protected from excessive winter wet.
Scabiosa ‘Pink Mist’ (PBR) (pincushion flower) £5.99
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: pink Other features: the flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and bees; valuable for fresh and dried flower arrangements Hardiness: fully hardy Soft, button-like flowerheads appear for a long period throughout the summer on branching, wiry stems. These hover above the mounds of fern-like grey-green foliage, which contrasts well with their soft pink colouring. A delightful perennial for a sunny herbaceous border or wildflower garden, where they will thrive in well drained, neutral to alkaline soils. Garden care: Protect young plants from slug damage using environmentally friendly slug pellets or beer traps. Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering and cut back the faded flower stems in autumn.
Monarda ‘Croftway Pink’ (bergamot) £5.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to September Flower colour: rose pink Other features: fresh or dried leaves make a delicious tea Hardiness: fully hardy Whorls of rose pink flowers with pink tinged bracts from July to September and aromatic, mid-green leaves. This pretty, rose pink bergamot is an ideal, long flowering plant for the middle of the border. Highly attractive to bees, it looks lovely planted in drifts, as a backdrop to a sea of hardy, semi-evergreen geraniums. Garden care: Lift and divide large clumps in early April. Resist cutting bergamot back in autumn since the stiff, vertical stems look good all winter. These plants are very susceptible to powdery mildew, and while this rarely causes long term damage it can look unsightly towards the end of the summer. You can help reduce this by applying a 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted organic matter around each plant in spring and autumn.
Gypsophila ‘Rosenschleier’ (baby’s breath) £5.99
Position: full sun Soil: deep, light, preferably alkaline, sharply drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July and August Hardiness: fully hardy A profusion of small white flowers, which take on a pink blush as they mature, appear on the branching stems in mid- to late summer, creating a frothy haze above the low mounds of grey-green foliage. Garden care: Support using twiggy pea sticks or brush wood before the flowers appear. Cut back to ground level after flowering. Lift and divide large clumps in autumn
Anthemis punctata subsp. Cupaniana (chamomile) £5.99
Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: fast Flowering period: June to August Flower colour: yellow centres with white petals Other features: good cut-flowers Hardiness: borderline hardy A fast growing, carpeting, evergreen perennial that has delicate finely cut silver foliage that becomes greener in winter. The foliage has a refreshinly pungent or fruity smell when crushed. In early summer the simple, long lasting yellow-centered, white daisies emerge and provide a mass of colour. A great plant for a naturalised planting scheme as it will self-seed freely. It is known to be resistant to deer. Garden Care: Lightly trim the plant after the first flush of flowers to encourage more to come. Cut it back harder when the flowering has finished to keep the plant nice and bushy. Avoid excessively wet soils in winter.