Name

Description

History

'Alba'

Evergreen to semi-evergreen; bushy with narrow leaves; sometimes undulate; flowers with pale pink flushed buds which open white or with more or less white buds.

Possibly should be f. alba but there is no publication for this name. Chris Brickell hopes to publish it in an article in New Plantsman this year. 'Alba' is an invalid name but there are at least 2 forms in cultivation as 'Alba'. One has pale pink buds and outside of petals opening white. One plant from Wisley received from Burncoose has the least pink flush on the flowers and buds. The plant from Robin White was the best exhibited but unfortunately most of others were rather small cut pieces. Some of the palest flowered Peter Smithers seedlings were not dissimilar. Best and distinct forms should be given cultivar names. Perhaps the best should be described and given a cultivar name.

Daman Ridge/ Peter Smithers seedlings

Deciduous, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrubs. Flowers almost white to dark red-purple; scent, flower size and plant habit variable.

Sir Peter Smithers 1971 or 1972 collected a number of plants from Daman Ridge, Nepal at 9000ft. Seed has been collected for distribution from these plants growing in Switzerland and sent to a many gardens and individuals. A large number at Wakehurst show the complete range of characteristics and one or two have been selected and named, such as 'Peter Smithers'. Not a distinct cultivar but a range of seedlings and seedlings of seedlings from original plants collected on Daman Ridge. Best called simply Daphne bholua followed, if necessary, by some sort of descriptive explanation that these are seedlings which originated from plants collected by Sir Peter Smithers from Daman Ridge, Nepal. A group name would be inappropriate as there is no way of defining such a morphologically wide range of plants and it would be unwise to call them "Peter Smithers seedlings" because of the possible confusion with the cultivar 'Peter Smithers'. "Daman Ridge seedlings" would indicate that they were first generation seedlings which of course many are not.

'Daman Ridge Dark'

Very dark red-purple buds

see 'Peter Smithers'.

Selected in 1990 at Wakehurst by Robin White for darker flowers from Peter Smithers seed sent to Wakehurst . Considered to be same as 'Peter Smithers' and R White suggested he market his plant as 'Peter Smithers' and drop the name 'Daman Ridge Dark' which is not yet being sold.

'Darjeeling'

Bushy evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub. Stems with slightly downy appearance. Pale pink to white flowers, very early flowering, often November to December but not invariably. Slightly less hardy than others.

Collected from a plant on south wall of Curators house at Wisley at least 15 years ago; propagated by Hinton Nurseries; distributed initially from Wisley Plant Centre but later by other nurseries such as Starborough. Original plant was received from Ghose of Darjeeling, hence cultivar name, in 1961 and was 3m tall in 1976. (conversation with Chris Brickell 1-00). The original plant is no longer alive at Wisley. One of easiest to grow from cuttings. Recent discussions with Brian Humphrey have highlighted the fact that the flowers of young plants may be slightly darker in colour and may not open white. The corolla tubes of the flowers of young plants are slightly more purplish pink whereas those of the more mature plants are a more pale rose pink colour.

'Glendoick'

Flowers larger and with a richer colour than 'Jacqueline Postill' and plant appears to be tougher.

Not exhibited but will be listed in the next edition of The Plant Finder. Propagated by Brian Humphrey from material received from Peter Cox. Name was originally to be 'Heaven Scent' but this name has not been released and not published and changed at request of raiser.

'Gurkha'

Deciduous, tall, fairly upright shrub. Very fragrant, dusky mauve pink and white flowers.

Major Tom le M Spring Smyth 18 March 1962 on the Milke Dhanra ridge, E Nepal, 10,000-10,500ft. Growing in open grassy terrain with Rhododendron arboreum and R. barbartum. Collector's number TSS 132B. Named 'Gurkha' as the collector was an Gurkha officer. Several specimens exhibited were incorrect and 'Gurkha' should always be deciduous. Illustration and description of collecting in The Garden (1976) article by Roy Lancaster, p. 454-457. (AGM 1993).

'Jacqueline Postill'

Evergreen or semi-evergreen, vigorous, upright shrub. Large bright rosy pink, very fragrant flowers.

Selected in 1982 from 3 (self pollinated) seedlings of 'Gurkha', the only one which was not deciduous, by Alan Postill at Hilliers Nursery and named after his wife. (FCC 1991, AGM 1993). Growing conditions appear to affect the stem colour as plants growing vigorously appear to have a more grey bark than the brown bark seen in other plants propagated from the same parent stock.

'Peter Smithers'

Evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub. Buds dark red-purple opening darker than other evergreen cultivars.

Selected as a very dark flowered plant by Chris Lane and propagated by Colin Tomlin of Starborough Nursery about 1993 from the generations of Sir Peter Smithers seedlings from original plants collected from Daman Ridge, Nepal at Wakehurst. The original dark one has died at Wakehurst according to a letter from Tony Schilling (2-2-00). Considered by committee to be the same as 'Daman Ridge Dark' and this name retained. The plant was first listed in Starborough catalogue in about 1996. (AM 25 January 2000).

'Rupina La'

Deciduous with rather thick stems. Very large, long dark purplish flowers. Best grown as a conservatory plant except in mildest areas.

Collected by Tony Schilling 3-April-1983,(Schilling 2611) N.E. Barbak, Gurkha Himalayas, Central Nepal at c. 9000ft. Selected from 9 seedlings and raised at Wakehurst. Deciduous but not as hardy as other named cultivars. Illustrated in the wild in The Garden (1985) article by Tony Schilling, p170-174.

'Sheopuri'

Semi evergreen to evergreen, compact shrub. White flowers slightly flushed purple at base; buds pale pink.

Selected from seeds collected by Dr G Herklots 1962. The original plant was at Windsor (AM 1973) but now dead and there are probably no others in cultivation. It would probably fit into f. alba but none of the existing plants of "Alba" have the same combination of small flowers and broader leaves.

Wakehurst

A selection from 'Sir Peter Smithers seed but no description of an exact cultivar and the name appears to be used for different seedlings. Not a named cultivar but a name given inappropriately to plants from Wakehurst.

acutiloba x bholua (male)

Evergreen bushy shrub, probably hardier than bholua with smaller but spicy scented flowers. Leaf undulate with prominent midrib on under surface.

Raised by Robin White and to be described as a new hybrid by C D Brickell in issue of The New Plantsman 2000.

'Gurkha' x 'Alba' (male)

Vigorous semi evergreen to evergreen shrub. Like 'Jacqueline Postill' but paler in colour

Raised Mark Fillan

1a

 Fruits black; some purple colour on flowers

 bholua

b

 Fruits red fruits and white or greenish white flowers

 2

2a

 Flowers not fragrant and leaves dull dark green

 papyracea

b

 Flowers fragrant; leaves pale shiny green (not very hardy)

 sureil