Plants and bulbs to flower in the spring

68 Pages·2015·20.1 MB·English

p28
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Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015
p26
Plants and bulbs
to flower in the spring
p38 Telephone [phone] www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Avon Bulbs 1
Tel: [phone] • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Winners of…
28 Gold Medals at Chelsea in 29 years
23 in a row to 2015 Avon bulbs
contacts
Chelsea 2015
Welcome to the
Email:
Avon Bulbs [email protected]
autumn Web:
Catalogue 2015 www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Tel:
01460 242177
Since 1987 we have always prepared
01460 249060
the autumn catalogue ahead of Chelsea
Fax:
and used that show as a launch venue
01460 249025
each year. But life changes and the
Burnt House Farm
growth of the internet in particular has
Mid Lambrook
affected how and when people order
South Petherton, Somerset
their bulbs so (as regular readers on TA13 5HE
our mailing list will appreciate) this
catalogue is a month later than it has
been in the past. Whilst this has meant
that the May workload (at the same
time as some of our biggest shows of the year) has been more intense, it has
allowed us to put in a report on Chelsea 2015 with some pictures of the exhibit
which you may be interested to see as I am afraid that even the enormous BBC Late
coverage of the show seemed to largely pass us by this year.
Availability
and Website
For a business that experiences a very low staff turnover last autumn was a bit of
The website now contains a great
a shock with a three leaving (Carole retired, Tim relocated much closer to home
deal more information about all
and Tom moved on) and it has been a spring that has been busy teaching two
the bulbs we offer, their history
more ‘new’ staff the Avon Bulbs way of things. Mickey comes from a background
and provenance and more about
of National Trust and private gardening in very varied locations with a fount of
the planting situations that suit
knowledge and practical skills, Darryl from a slightly more academic background
them, as well as a repeat of the
with youth and enthusiasm on his side! It was good that they were able to show
planting instructions supplied
themselves first at the RHS February Show in London and at other events since
with the bulbs.
and it will be no time before they will be regarded as Old Hands at Avon Bulbs.
We look forward to hearing from you, and may your gardening go well. If there is not enough information
Chris Ireland-Jones here for your needs, do have
a look there instead. We also
Malvern 2015
mark bulbs as ‘Sold Out’ on the
website when they become Sold
Out, so if you are ordering later
in the season and want to check
on availability you might like to
check the website.
Also if we have small numbers of
‘special’ bulbs to sell we do tend
to offer them on the website –
check the Special Offers pages.
2 Avon Bulbs
Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015
Chelsea 2015
Gorgeously planted with textured
patterns of flower, form and leaf
and varied vistas provided by
a path that snaked around two
giant stainless steel seedheads
(loaned to us by Ruth Moilliet).
Many claimed that it was one of
the best exhibits that we had built
at Chelsea (something of a feat
after all these years).
The lead up to the show had been cool so whilst this meant that everything
looked as fresh as it could (this allowed us to include Tropaeolum tricolor
which was admired by many) but also did mean that some of the plants
that we had intended to include did not flower in time to make it to
London. The exhibit was shortlisted for the Best Exhibit in the Marquee.
Highlights of the stand were provided by generous patches of the pink
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria rosea), a beautiful group of Tulipa Sanne - lily
flowered in apricot orange with grey blue within, magenta Ixia Mabel floating
SCULPTURE BY RUTH MOILLIET
t: 07973 908839 e: [email protected] over white and purple Alliums, an isolated group of Camassia Sacajawea
www.ruthmoilliet.com
showing its variegated foliage off to perfection and Lunaria Chedglow
as a backdrop to a sweep of Fritillaria acmopetala. We also exhibited a
new form of Camassia leichtlinii called Maybelle which was lifted from the
nursery on the Friday before Chelsea and was still hardly open enough,
although the standard Camassia leichtlinii flowered for the Harrogate show
in late April. It was shortlisted for the Chelsea Plant of the Year but did not
win any of the top three places.
Avon Bulbs 3
Tel: [phone] • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk
DLPelalivaetryen fro tmSs t huais msnecdtmio nb weuill rbl eb 2msa0 dte1 omi5 dfl-A ugouswt to eearrly Sienpte mtbhere. O Ardeurs tumn flsoojouBrwo sueentll r bspPa iserflnta e te inftthreehta rsmept elasmaaan untordhttlusiy antm tlg yn, ,
close from this section in mid-September. planting.
Colchicum autumnale Colchicum agrippinum
Late Summer
Acis autumnale
Acis
X Amarygia parkeri
Amaryllis X Amarygia parkeri alba
alba 56-10
autumnalis 106-10
A hybrid between Amaryllis and
An autumn flowering form of
Brunsvigia producing very large agrippinum 73-19 autumnale 73-05
the snowflake family, forming
bulbs. Flowering with apple-white
distinct tussocks once happy and Very different from the larger goblet Small flowers which naturalise most
trumpets surrounding a green stem
undisturbed in a warm dry, sunny shaped forms, the flowers open effectively either in sun or partial
with a huge perfume.
soil (a rockery or scree bed are almost flat, with broad, pointed shade. Soft, satin-sheened mauve.
ideal). Slender wiry green or russety Sept/Oct • 20” (50cm) petals, in pinkish-lilac, heavily Often producing many flowers from
£8.00
coloured stems, supporting several chequered with darker markings. each corm. An easy British native
small white papery bells. Plant 3” Narrow, wavy-edged leaves appear “Meadow Saffron”, Wychwood
Colchicum
(7.5cm) deep, nearly touching. after flowering, less noticeable in Forest has thousands in flower each
Previously called Leucojum the spring than their bigger cousins. autumn.
autumnale. Easy to grow in good, deep These increase in well composted Sept • 6” (15cm)
Aug/Sept • 9” (22cm) moisture retentive soil, these soil, in an open sunny site. Possibly £10.50 for 3
£7.00 for 5 appear from their summer better in a raised bed or trough
dormancy denuded of leaves
as these are smaller. Tough for all
Amaryllis to flower in the autumn – hence of that and increasing in sunny
‘naked ladies’. A pointer to the
conditions.
end of summer, their bright
Amaryllis (and their hybrids) flowers last incredibly well Sept • 4” (10cm)
are winter growing, hence with considering their apparent £15.00 for 3
exposed leaves in winter do fragility, their leaves only properly
need to be planted in a sheltered appearing in the spring. They Plants we list which have received the RHS Commendation
site where they are likely not need planting 3” (8cm) deep ‘Award of Garden Merit’ are now tagged with the trophy
to be chilled below about -4°C. - perhaps a little more for the symbol. Space does not allow us to add the hardiness
A cool conservatory should bigger bulbs – and 6” (15cm) rating – please be aware the award applies to the ease of
be fine, with the pots moved apart. The smaller-flowered forms cultivation, excellence and constitution, but not necessarily
hardiness.
outside in the early spring. A will naturalise effectively, but the
summer baking in dry conditions mower will have to be restrained RHS Perfect for Pollinators.
‘ripens and primes’ the bulbs for until the leaves wither away in The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark is only given to plants
flowering. In favoured spots one June. Please order early – after that support pollinating insects in gardens. Bees, butterflies,
may be possible to grow them the end of September they moths, hoverflies and many others visit flowers to feed on
successfully outside. seem to flower regardless of the nectar and pollen; while doing so they transfer pollen and
conditions. increase seed set and fruit development. Find out more at
rhs.org.uk/plants
4 Avon Bulbs
Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015
ry)
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age Library) (Credit: GAP I
m Colchicum speciosum album Colchicum Water Lily
P I
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Colchicum speciosum
ls)
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cyclamen coum
SPRING
The Giant 73-24
A bit deceptively named, these are FLOWERING
speciosum 73-15 not a great deal taller than their
FORMS
cousins, though the flowers when
Probably the best of the larger
open would be larger, with pale
forms for most gardens, and it
centres and equally robust.
naturalises effectively. Stronger
Sept/Oct • 10” (25cm) coum 51-116
stemmed (and later flowering) than
£10.00 for 3
C. autumnale with taller, more richly This will probably be their first year
coloured flowers with rounded, rosy Water-Lily 73-23 of flowering, shades of pink and
pink-lilac petals. white.
Sept/Oct • 8” (20cm) A multi-petalled variety which opens £14.00 for 5
£10.50 for 3 out widely in the sun. Surprisingly
resilient to the weather despite its coum roseum 51-117
speciosum appearance. Usually big-bulbed
Second year flowering, all pale pink
album 73-16 and late flowering. flowering corms.
Oct • 6” (15cm)
Gorgeous shimmering goblets in £4.00 or £11.50 for 3 £13.00 for 3
pure white. A very special plant
which can be a highlight of a Cyclamen coum album 51-118
Colchicum autumnale album carefully chosen planting scheme
Second year flowering, white
in well composted soil, in a sunny
Hardy, tough and persisting as flowered, always with a small pink
spot. Still expensive, but worth
well as seeding. If you can plant ‘nose’.
autumnale it. At the end of the 19th Century them early (as a consequence £13.50 for 3
album 73-06 the famous firm of Backhouse in of ordering from this section)
Yorkshire were selling them for 5 these Cyclamen will arrive coum dark pink 51-131
The white-flowered form of the Guineas each! ‘properly’ dormant and ready to
species above, sometimes pinkish- Sept/Oct • 8” (20cm) pop in and awake in their new Second year flowering, deep pink
white, these would all tolerate full £5.50 or £15.00 for 3 circumstances. You may order shades.
sun or some shade in damper, but them also from the Autumn £13.50 for 3
not waterlogged conditions. section, but by then there will
coum
Sept • 6” (15cm) probably be some growth visible
£10.00 for 3 on them. These are all seed Silver Leaf 51-119
raised in the UK.
Mostly pink flowered, but the leaves
are largely silvery patterned.
£15.00 for 3
Avon Bulbs 5
Tel: [phone] • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk
ry) ry)
a a
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AP I AP I
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crocus goulimyi Crocus sativus
Cyclamen hederifolium Crocus imperati de Jager
ry)
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AP I when the delicacy of these flowers
G
redit: ipse mtaolsr ea rteh abnis wceulict obmufef ,w tihthe pouurtpelre
C stripes, the inside lilac to purple.
(
crocus pulchellus From Western Italy and needing
some protection or a well drained
sunny rockery.
Jan 5” (12cm)
£7.00 for 3
pulchellus 77-35
Pale sky-blue with darker veining,
and a central yellow throat. This is
a meadow plant of northern Greece
and Turkey, very pretty and delicate
ry) looking but quite possible to grow
a
r in light grass in sun or part shade.
b
Li Oct • 4” (10cm)
ge £4.00 for 10 or £10.50 for 30
a
m
AP I sativus 77-20
G
dit: The source of Saffron, gathered
re from collecting the bright red styles
C
( from each flower, individually tiny
Crocus speciosus (half a million per kilo!) justifying the
Cyclamen hederifolium album huge cost of Saffron. They need
deep planting in rich soil, in a sunny
Crocus – goulimyi 77-36 position. Their flowering is triggered
AUTUMN by suddenly colder nights, our
autumn Too Grecian really for ordinary
milder climate sometimes does not
FLOWERING outdoor conditions here, but in well do that, which makes reliance on
flowering drained compost in a pot in some
one’s own Saffron production a bit
FORMS protection and with a dry summer hazardous.
Flowering in the late autumn (and rest these are beautiful flowers in Oct • 4” (10cm)
one in the very early spring) these both shape and in their soft lilac £5.00 for 10 or £11.30 for 25
bulbs bloom as a reaction to the colouration. Stock limited.
hederifolium 51-107
lowering of the soil temperatures Nov. 5” (12cm)
speciosus 77-26
Pink (or occasionally white) (and the dampening of the soil) £7.00 for 3
flowered. Ivy leafed. in the early autumn. The spring Dramatically effective, deep lilac
£12.00 for 5 flowering forms (listed in the to purple hues, with bright yellow
Autumn section of our catalogue) anthers. Good in light shade or
hederifolium flower as soil temperatures rise. under deciduous shrubs, planted
Some are more difficult to grow
album 51-108 deeply. They will flower late in their
than others, but probably the
first year but do get enough of
Second year flowering with white easiest - C. speciosus, should be
them! Suggested planting density
flowers. a feature of any garden providing
15 per sq ft.
£10.50 for 3 a dreamy violet splash of colour
in late September and October. Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm)
£3.25 for 15 or £10.25 for 50
6 Avon Bulbs
Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015
ls)
o
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c
Ni
ve
Crocus tournefortii Cli
dit:
re
C
(
Crocus speciosus albus eranthis Grunling
ls)
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Ni
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Cypripedium Gisela eranthis schwefelglanz
speciosus Cypripedium Eranthis Grunling 81-02
albus 77-27 Deep yellow (as E. hyemalis) but
All white flowered, great for a Gisela 64-7 These are named forms of the each petal marked with a broad
contrast amongst the others. Some of these divisions will Winter Aconite, usually in flower green band.
Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm) produce several flower spikes in before the snowdrops in the February • 4” (10 cm)
£8.00 for 15 spring, with their characteristic £5.00
their first spring. Hardy and really
flowers surrounded by a ruff
quite easy to grow in spring light
tournefortii 77-38 of green, on account of which
and summer shade, though beware
my mother in law calls them
Large flowered in pale lavender, slugs. Some of these may be the
‘Choirboys’.
strangely the flowers do not close in yellower flowered form of C. Gisela,
dull light or at night. White anthered but they are just as good. Hardy
Schwefelglanz
and with prominent orange stigmas. orchids are now becoming more
Cretan in origin so requiring some widely available and our stocks of 81-01
shelter. these are very good so our price Pale sulphur yellow, a clean clear
Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm) has fallen in order to make some but distinct colour. Easy and
£7.50 for 3 space! More growing instructions increasing, and very different
on the website.. from the deep yellow of the E.
April/May • 18” (45cm) hyemalis. No more difficult and a
£19.50 (were £25.00)
great accompaniment to the early
snowdrops.
February • 4” (10cm)
£5.00
Avon Bulbs 7
Tel: [phone] • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Haemanthus albiflos Iris Tuberosa Hyacinth white pearl
Hyacinth PINK pearl
Delft Blue 86-05
A compact, pale blue spike set off
by the emerging dark green leaves.
£3.30 for 3 or £7.00 for 7
Pink Pearl 86-35
Delicately pink, and like the others
deliciously fragrant.
£3.30 for 3 or £7.00 for 7
White Pearl 86-34
Strong-growing, broad, gleaming
gladiolus tristis white flowers.
£3.30 for 3 or £7.00 for 7
Gladiolus
Iris tuberosa
Haemanthus
Hyacinth Delft Blue
tristis 88-15
(Hermodactylus)
albiflos 160-01
Native to South Africa, this is a 103-110
winter growing specie Gladiolus Winter growing South African bulbs
Prepared
with a wonderful scent in the for a cool conservatory with pairs The ’Widow Iris’ does better from
evenings. It really needs a of lovely broad, thick, succulent Hyacinths early planting, and if you have tried
sheltered site, or protection from leaves covered in soft hairs , before with limited success, we do
temperatures lower than about looking like rabbit’s ears, between suggest that you add some of these
-5°C. The 5-20 greeny white flowers which emerge in spring flowers like For December/January blooming to a late summer order and try
under the correct conditions.
open progressively up the long small shaving brushes in white and again. Alternatively see page 33 of
These are suitable for forcing
rush-like stems. yellow. Summer dormant and easy the Autumn Catalogue. Translucent
for Christmas flowering. They
April/May • 3’ (90cm) to grow. need to be potted by the end of black and jade-green flowers,
£5.00 or £12.00 for 3 Spring 6” (15cm) preceded by long rush-like leaves.
September (hence sold in this
£3.50 Requires time to establish and
late summer section), and initially
kept in a cool, dark place to allow flowering better after a hot summer;

rooting. They can then be brought plant in full sun. Loves it around
into more light. Too much heat heat absorbing sun-drenched
will make them flag and flop. The paving, or at the base of a warm
process of preparation means wall.
that these are not available until April • 6” (15cm)
early September. £4.50 for 10
8 Avon Bulbs
Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015
Narcissus Cyclamineus
Narcissus Paperwhite Ziva
Lathraea clandestina
Hyacinth PINK pearl
scilla bithynica alba
scilla autumnalis
SCILLA
Narcissus double roman
autumnalis 125-18
Double Roman 113-57
Hardy, but uncommon natives of
Lathraea
Lilium Candidum A wild tazetta form that has the south-west, these are incredibly
increased well under unheated long-lasting in flower. Bright blue
clandestina 71-05
cover where it receives a warm dry flowers up a fine wiry stem, lasting
Purple toothwort, a parasite mainly Narcissus summer rest. It cannot be grown ages. They need a sunny, well-
of willow, poplar hazel and alder outside except under very favoured drained soil.
(though rarely seeming to cause conditions but the spicy scent in Aug/Oct • 5” (12cm)
These Narcissus will be ready
any harm to its host). The slightly to be sent out in mid-September midwinter is glorious. £8.50 for 3
orchid like flowers are all one sees and, if you are after a very early Dec/Jan • 15” (38cm)
above ground, a true parasite display of Scented Daffodils, £5.00 for 3 bithynica alba 125-07
having no chlorophyll. Plant these may be ordered from this section A hardy early spring gem to use as
Paperwhite
divisions close up against the bole to be sent early with any other contrast to all the little blue bulbs
of a mature host. plants. Also see the main Autumn Ziva 113-152 flowering at the same time, they will
April • 3” (8cm) Catalogue pages 36 - 42. Early to flower from being forced; set seed and multiply (and you’ll get
£5.00 or £13.00 for 3 we reckon on about eight to ten blue flowered plants from that seed
cyclamineus 113-179 weeks to bloom. White flowered I am sure) but a low white feature to
Lilium An iconic small species, one that is and multi-headed, with a huge follow the snowdrops. Small bulbs,
loved and hankered after by many, perfume. Plant them shallowly in the but they will all flower.
candidum 107-114 but they rarely do well in limey compost and in good light so they March/ Apr. 5” (12cm)
Like the Hermodactylus above, a soils. Grow them where they will be don’t get too tall. Not reliably hardy. £5.00 for 3
plant that is better started off early, happy and seed about – but you Dec/Jan • 15” (38cm)
and inevitably the first orders get will need more moist conditions in £6.00 for 5 or £11.00 for 10
the pick of the crop, so ordering soils that are have either a neutral
from here has its benefits. See page or acid pH.
33 of the Autumn Catalogue for March • 5” (12cm)
£5.50
more details.
June • 36” (90cm)
£6.00 or £16.50 for 3
Avon Bulbs 9
Tel: [phone] • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus leichtlinii
scilla cilicica
Tecophilaea cyanocrocus
violacea
Sternbergia lutea
Tecophilaea
scilla lilio–hyacinthus scilla lilio–hyacinthus alba
Chilean bulbs from a high
lilio-hyacinthus
altitude, but where they come
cilicica 125-31 125-28 Sternbergia from is relatively dry, and our
Lilac blue flowered. Natives of the winters are really too wet for
Eastern Mediterranean they seem Broad leaved, this a pale blue For sunny conditions and often them. But grow them under some
to increase merrily in gritty compost coloured form, tidy in foliage and at the base of a wall that catches protection (particularly from rain)
with pretty, delicate racemes. The the sun. Chalky soil and good and you’ll be amazed by the
and would be happy in a sunny
bulbs are formed of loose lily-like drainage suit them perfectly colours in the blue flowers. Their
rockery. Early into leaf and flower.
scales. Clump forming and best in where they will perform in more blue is like the dazzling displays
Mar/Apr • 8” (20cm) some shade. open conditions. Brilliant bright produced by some exotic
£5.00 for 3
Mar/Apr • 8” (20 cm) green foliage in late summer and butterflies.
£12.00 for 3 winter - bright yellow flowers in
the autumn. cyanocrocus
lilio–hyacinthus leichtlinii 128-04
alba 125-29 lutea 126-05 White centred with gentian blue
Postage This pretty white flowered form Broad petalled bright-yellow petals.
Now aflolswoe hreads poanlee.r Bleeasvt eins sthoamne t hseh abdluee. flreocwoegrnsi sina bOlec.t oEbaesry, iimn msuendniaieter layn d £M6a.0rc0h o •r £51”7 (.1020. 5focrm 3)
£4.95 Mar/Apr •£ 182”. 0(200 f ocrm 3) lwigahllt eorr ssohirlsu bin. the protection of a cyanocrocus
violacea 128-06
Reduced from October • 7” (1£73c.m20) Intensely dark blue petalled, like a
£6.75 dramatic thundery sky.
March • 5” (12.5cm)
£6.00 or £17.00 for 3
10 Avon Bulbs
Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2015