PERENNIALS 2008
ARCTIC BRAMBLE (Rubus arcticus)
A native of our northern neighbours, it is also known as the Nagoonberry, or in Finland as Mesimarja. A low growing herbaceous perennial, (no more than about 30cms high) it makes a good ground cover in the sun with pretty pink flowers in late spring, delicate pale green foliage and bright red bramble like fruit all through the summer. It is of course, very tolerant of the cold and generally quite tough, happy in most soils.
The flowers and fruits seem to continue through most of the summer giving a few sweet/acid berries to add to a mixed fruit salad (or nibble) rather than a large crop all at once, birds allowing.
£4.50
BALLOON BERRY (Rubus illecebrosus)
Or Strawberry-Raspberry as it is often called, is from Japan. Short and spiny it is perennial in nature like the above but tougher and taller.
Easy to grow in any soil that’s not too wet and plenty of sun, it can even be a little invasive, spreading underground like mini raspberries. With large white flowers in the spring there is nothing mini about the fruit though which is large, red and sweet but better cooked.
£5.00
BUNCHBERRY (Cornus canadensis)
Or Pigeon berry, or Pudding berry, or even Cracker berry if you prefer. This widespread little plant is even made use of in Japan, where it is called Gozen-tachibana. A herbaceous perennial of about 20cm in height, it makes a very good ground cover, preferring a moist, shady spot and a soil that is either acid or neutral. It has white flowers in the spring followed by red berries in the summer; evidently much used worldwide in ways hinted at by some of the names.
£5.50
HIMALAYAN MAYAPPLE (Podophyllum hexanderam)
Actually, this is a hardy perennial. Unusual and attractive, it is a useful addition to the ground story of any woodland garden, which is its natural habitat where it will spread under ground and tolerate quite deep shade.
The leaves unfold in the spring like small dark green umbrellas, just two, followed by a single large white or pink flower. The fruit is bright red, egg shaped and surprisingly big, about 5 cm. Pleasantly flavoured when fully ripe which is usually the early autumn though a bit on the seedy side, it is eaten either raw or cooked.
£4.50
ROEBUCK BERRY (Rubus saxatilis)
Although a member of the Raspberry family in leaf and habit it more closely resembles a strawberry plant, spreading along the ground by runners. Very hardy and a native to Scotland and Northern Europe, in Sweden it is called Stenbär, which means stone plant and indeed it's low growing and creeping nature makes it an interesting addition to a rockery where it would be most at home. Easy to grow, self fertile, it prefers an alkaline soil with sun or shade and may even reward you with some fruit, which is like a red Bramble with an acid but agreeable taste.
£5.50
SPIKENARD (Aralia racemosa)
A North American herbaceous perennial from the woodlands is this curious plant that is apparently related to Ginseng. It prefers a rich organic soil and part shade, reaching up to1m or so when it flowers. These are white and produced in clusters in July followed by reddish to dark purple berries at the end of the summer. Good plant for a dry shady spot under trees.
Although said to be edible, we have been unable to find out what you do with them. The roots however are used cooked and in beer making.
£4.50
STRAWBERRIES (Fragaria ssp)
These are not the common cultivated strawberries, which are hybrids, but different wild forms from around the world, which are much less prone to diseases and if left to their own devices will spread with a mass of runners to make brilliant ground cover anywhere. They will thrive in almost any soil and being woodland plants don’t mind the shade though they will always fruit better in the sun.
We have five different types currently on offer all at the same price:
Beach Strawberry, F. chilensis. This is a very drought tolerant plant from South America. It is hardy and evergreen, low growing with dark glossy leaves and large flowers April-May, firm, dull red fruits of a good size in June-July. A parent of our modern hybrids.
Green Strawberry, F. viridis. This is a very determined plant that will cover any ground anywhere. It is handsome and evergreen with dark green, shiny strawberry leaves and masses of white flowers in the spring. The berries are not all that numerous, indeed you have to hunt for them under the leaves throughout July, but are well worth the effort being more of a translucent orange than green, extremely sweet and juicy and larger than most wild strawberries.
Musk Strawberry, F. moshata. These are delicious and were once more widely grown than they are now, being known as the Hautboy Strawberry, or Hautbois in France. A deciduous species, they have large pale green, downy leaves and flowers produced on upright stalks making the fruit easier to find. The berries are variable in size some being quite large and they tend to remain uneven in colour as they ripen. As the name suggests, they have a musky aromatic flavour that some say is reminisant of pineapple.
Scarlet Strawberry, F. virginiana. A Native American plant much appreciated by the Native American people, the Mohawk name being Noontak tek hah Kwa, which means, ‘growing where the ground is burned’. Deciduous, it has slender leaves and is tall for a strawberry, with masses of small white flowers in spring followed by tiny sweet red fruits in early summer. Another parent of our modern hybrids.
Native Wild Strawberry, F. vesca. Speaks for itself really. Delicate but will spread to give a good deciduous ground cover quite quickly. Happy under trees but fruiting better in full sun. Tiny but yummy.
All Strawberries are;
£3.00
Strawberry special offer! Any three for the price of two.
TREACLE BERRY (Smilacina stellata) SOLD OUT
Coming from the woodland, this is a useful plant, preferring as it does a good deal of shade. A herbaceous perennial, it will grow about 60cms tall and once established it can spread to form large clumps. Masses of white star like flowers are produced in spring and are followed by small orangey red fruits in the autumn, which have an unusual bittersweet flavour said to be reminiscent of treacle.
£5.00