Events

RHS February London Flower Show
12-13 February 2008

Theme: Signs of spring

Words: Phil Clayton, Images: Tim Sandall

A mild few months in many parts of the UK allowed nurseries to put on fine displays at the February London Flower Show. Many spring bulbs were on offer, but woody plants were also very much in evidence. Particularly interesting was a display by Pennard Plants of Somerset that featured a wide range of Acacia . These often winter blooming trees are becoming ever-more popular in gardens thanks to recent mild winters and increased availability, as well as the plant’s attractive foliage and flowers.

Snowdrops are so often a mainstay this month, and this was certainly reflected in the plants on show. Many nurseries displayed them; Foxgrove Plants of Berkshire’s stand featured an impressive drift containing various choice cultivars.

Galanthus ‘Armine’ is a fairly well-known selection among snowdrop enthusiasts. Showed by Foxgrove Plants, it is quite early flowering with large elegant blooms held on fairly tall stems.	Also from Foxgrove Plants was a choice selection from G. elwesii, G. `Rosemary Burnham’ with outer petals (actually perianth segments) shaded distinctively with green.	Another fine snowdrop display was put on by Broadleigh Gardens of Somerset; with the pick of the bunch being  G. ‘Conquest’ standing out with large, well-shaped flowers.
There were many other lovely bulbs also to be enjoyed. Pottertons Nursery of Lincolnshire showed a clump of Oxalis obtusa ‘Polished Copper’ a bulbous plant from South Africa with delicate orange blooms.	Still on Pottertons was unusual Asphodelus acaulis, a low growing species from North America with large whitish-pink flowers appearing from tufts of fleshy foliage. It needs excellent drainage and a dry spot in summer.	Finally from Pottertons was  Crocus olivieri ssp. balansae ‘Zwanenburg’. The flowers of this selection are rich orange with bronzy feathering on the back of the petals; the blooms are also scented.
Jacques Armand of Middlesex displayed Helleborus ‘White Marble’ with rounded, deep green leaves with marked veins topped by pale green flowers.	Edrom Nurseries of Berwickshire displayed several woodland plants, including Hepatica nobilis var. japonica ‘Tamamushi’ with its little double button-like flowers.	Also on Edrom's stand was an attractive primula, Primula ‘Dark Rosaleen’ with blackcurrant suffused foliage and dainty flowers.
Some tender bulbs are also in bloom at this time of the year, including South African Lachenalia  (Cape cowslip). An impressive display of these exotic-looking plants was staged by Choice Landscapes of Cambridgeshire. Some species and selections not only produce wonderful spires of brightly coloured bell-shaped flowers, they also have attractively mottled foliage. Above left: Lachenalia mutabilis, above right: Lachenalia 'Romaud'.

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