Talking Dirty

Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson return with a look at the plants causing a sensation at East Ruston Old Vicarage this September, after a long and droughty summer. PLANT LISTBrugmansia × candida 'Shredded White Fantasy'Iresine herbstii 'Brilliantissima'Begonia 'Richmondensis'Begonia grandisPrunus 'Tai-haku'Bupleurum fruticosumAmsoniaCeratostigma willmottianumCeratostigma plumbaginoidesPetunia exsertaSalvia involucrata 'Bethellii'Miscanthus sinensis var. condensatus 'Cosmopolitan'Tragopogon balcanicus

With apologies for long absence, Alan Gray and Thordis return for more planty joy - with some 'Show and Tell' of what's looking great at East Ruston Old Vicarage at the moment!PLANT LISTRosa 'Climbing Pompon de Paris'Rosa 'Guy de Savoy'Rosa 'La Rose de Petit Prince'Rosa 'American Pillar'Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin'Clematis 'Tie Dye'Fuchsia arborescensFuchsia procumbensPlumbago auriculataZantedeschia 'Kiwi Blush'Phygelius capensisKniphofia rufaPunica granatum 'Flore Plena'Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise'Salvia 'Amistad'Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'Abelia chinensisErigeron annuusTagetes 'Cinnabar' (Dixter Strain)Laurus nobilis 'Aurea'Tradescantia 'Maiden's Blush'Dianthus 'Chomley Farran'Lathyrus odoratus 'Henry Eckford'Echium vulgareDianthus carthusianorumLonicera etrusca 'Michael Rosse'

A new year and plenty to talk about. Join Alan Gray as he takes you and Thordis on a 'wander' through the plants wowing at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month. PLANT LISTClianthus puniceus ‘Kākā King’Lachenalia rubidaFuchsia 'Wapenveld's Bloei'Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff'Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long'Tropaeolum majus 'Darjeeling Gold' syn 'Darjeeling Double'Phlebodium aureum 'Davana'Viola hederaceaCarex buchananiiGalanthus plicatus 'Wandlebury Ring'Iris unguicularisIris lazicaNarcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation'Narcissus 'Pueblo'Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori'Malva arborea 'Variegata'Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis'Arum 'Hungarian Rhapsody'Galanthus 'Wasp'Galanthus 'Glimmer of Gold'Galanthus plicatus 'Golden Fleece'Galanthus 'Primrose Warburg'

It's been a little while. Thank you for your patience.Alan and Thordis wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2026.PLANT LISTAnemone pavoninaAgave montanaDaphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty‘Punica granatum var. NanaCordyline australis 'Charlie Boy'Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships'Galanthus 'S. Arnott'Arum pictumArum maculatumArum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Monksilver'Musa sikkimensis 'Bengal Tiger'Lagerstroemia indicaWeigela ‘Wings of Fire'Euphorbia melliferaIris unguicularisIris unguicularis 'Peloponnese Snow'Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt'Fascicularia bicolorDicksonia AntarcticaViola hederaceaBegonia luxuriansIlex aquilifolium ‘Nellie R Stevens’Cyclamen persicum 'Dragon Deep Blue'Plumbago auriculataBomarea caldasii

September already and East Ruston Old Vicarage is as bursting with colour as you might expect! Alan Gray brings just a few favourites for Show and Tell, while Thordis is FLOMO*ing over a very 'Alan' container she spotted on holiday!*FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing OutPLANT LISTBrugmansia 'Shredded White Fantasy'Brugmansia × candida 'Grand Marnier'Tagetes ex 'Cinnabar' Great Dixter formAgeratum petiolatumTropaeolum majus 'Empress of India'Lobelia tupaSalvia reglaSalvia involucrata 'Bethellii'Salvia involucrata 'Mulberry Jam'Salvia involucrata 'Joan'Salvia 'Tropicolor Sunrise'Solanum laxum 'Crech ar Pape'Catalpa fargesiiBegonia sutherlandiiBegonia sutherlandii 'Saunders' Legacy'Cuphea 'David Verity'Cuphea llaveaLotus berthelotiiSalvia oxyphoraChrysanthemum 'Julia Peterson'