New products at Crocus
by Sarah - May 19th, 2016.Filed under: Crocus, New Products.
Crocus has these new items today
Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree) £59.99
Position: full sun Soil: well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May Hardiness: tender A 1/2 standard plant, with a 60cm tall clear stem and a 30cm head. This plant originates from warmer climates such as the Canary Islands, Morocco and Southern Europe, so it is not fully hardy here in the UK. It is however a wonderful and unusual plant for a conservatory. The aromatic, green leaflets will stay on the plant throughout the year and in spring or early summer it will start to flower. These are followed by rounded red fruit, which ripen to black. The sap of this plant yields a fragrant gum (mastic), which among other things is used in dentistry and medicine. Garden care: Grow in a pot on a sunny patio during the summer and move to a protected spot with a minimum temperature of 10°C during the winter. Water freely in summer, but keep on the dry side during the winter.
Carex testacea (sedge) £19.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: any, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: July to August Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection) From spring to autumn the pale olive-green leaves of this ornamental grass turn a warm coppery-orange. In midsummer it bears small, brown flower spikes. Although it will take some shade, it colours up best in full sun. Grow it among other grasses or perennials, as a specimen plant, or in a large pot. Garden care: Comb through the plant in winter to remove dead foliage
Sophora prostrata ‘Little Baby’ (Pagoda Tree) £19.99
Bright, sunny yellow, bell- shaped flowers contrast with the unusual fern-like, dark green pinnate leaves. An upright, evergeen shrub that makes a fine specimen in the garden. The glossy dark green foliage also make it ideal as a background foliage plant where it can add vertical interest to the border. This variety is more cold hardy than other Sophoras. Position: full sun Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: March to April Flower colour: yellow Hardiness: fully hardy Garden care: Little pruning is needed and add an annual mulch of well-rotted organic matter Goes well with: Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’, Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’, Scabiosa ‘Giant Blue’, Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’
Phillyrea latifolia (jasmine box) £14.99
Bowed branches of masses of small glossy dark green leaves and small white flowe rs
Ozothamnus rosmarmarinifolia ‘Silver Jubilee’ (Ozothamnus) £14.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to August Flower colour: white Other features: silvery foliage Hardiness: frost hardy (will need winter protection) An unusual evergreen shrub originating from South Eastern Australia, it has slender, almost needle-like leaves, which are a silvery-grey colour. These appear on near-white stems, which terminate in small clusters of fragrant white flowers from early summer. An interesting addition to a sunny shrub border, where it will mix well with rich plums, pinks and purples. Garden care: They require little pruning, but will be kept bushy if the flowered stems are cut back after flowering. It is important to protect this plant from excessive winter wet, so grow it in a well-drained soil or sharply drained compost in a large pot. In colder areas, it may need to be overwintered in a cool greenhouse.
Ozothamnus ledifolius (ozothamnus) £12.99
Compact rounded shrub with yellow shoots covered with aromatic dark green leaves and white flower heads in summer
Helichrysum italicum subsp. serotinum (Curry Plant) £12.99
Dark yellow flowerheads from summer to autumn and intensely aromatic silver-grey leaves. Curry plant is grown in the herb garden for its ornamental value and intriguing, curry-like scent. The silver-grey leaves contrast well with dark-leaved herbs and may be added dried to give a spicy aroma to pot-pourri. Position: full sun Soil: well-drained, poor to moderately-fertile, neutral to alkaline soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: June to September Flower colour: yellow Other features: The dried leaves maybe used in pot-pourri to impart a spicey aroma Hardiness: frost hardy Garden care: Curry plants growing in frost-prone areas should be protected with a thick mulch of straw or well-rotted garden compost. Reduce the stems in spring to prevent the plant from becoming straggly Goes well with: Salvia officinalis ‘Icterina’, Melissa Thymus serphyllum, Origanum vulgare, Ocimum sativum, Petroselium crispum. officinalis, Thymus serphyllum, Origanum vulgare, Ocimum sativum, Petroselium crispum
Iris ‘Perry’s Blue’ (Siberian iris) £9.99
Position: full sun or partial shade Soil: well-drained, moderately fertile, neutral to slightly acidic soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: May and June Hardiness: fully hardy Ravishing, sky blue flowers with white markings in May and June and slender, grey-green, strap-shaped leaves. This lovely Sibirian iris is perfect for planting at a sunny waterside on well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil. Ideal for providing all-year vertical interest and looks stunning planted in bold clumps. Garden care: Plant in soil that has been improved with well-rotted manure or garden compost and do not allow to dry out, particularly as the plant is getting established. If planted in a container, it will need dividing and repotting every couple of years in spring.
Lotus hirsutus ‘Lois’ (trefoil) £9.99
Position: full sun Soil: fertile, well-drained soil Rate of growth: average Flowering period: August to September Hardiness: frost hardy (may need winter protection) A small semi-evergreen sub-shrub with grey-green leaves that are covered with lots of fine silvery hairs, and from late summer to early autumn, pea-like flowers. In autumn reddish-brown seed pods develop, creating further interest. Originally from the Mediterranean and Portugal, this plant can cope with drought once established, and associates well with other silver-leaved plants. Garden care: Protect plants in winter from excessive wet and if you live in a colder part of the country, offer protection from hard frosts too.