It’s 55 years to the day since Neil Armstrong went for a little walk

It seemed appropriate that if Neil Armstrong went on a walk on the Moon, that I should have a little wander around the rock garden on this day in history. I think my walk was more enjoyable but more people witnessed his.

All pictures were taken on 21 July 2024.

The crevice garden continues its interest into midsummer

I had always thought that Dianthus only came in pink and white colours and so was surprised to see the lovely yellow Dianthus knappii in the crevice garden a few years ago. I like the helpful RHS plant label that states it’s a yellow pink. It is found growing in the Dinaric mountains in Eastern Europe, on the border between Herzegovina and Montenegro. A short lived plant that will thrive in a dry area, which it gets on the crevice garden. The plant was named to honour Josef Armin Knapp (1843 – 1899) who was a botanist and artist from Vienna, Austria. There has got to be an opportunity here for a hybridizer, to produce a nice peachy orange cultivar. Now where did I put my pollen brush…

Catchfly or repel fly

Silene schafta is another good garden “doer” as the late great Will Ingwersen said about plants that just perform, year after year, without fuss or drama. Its common name is the autumn catchfly or the Caucasian campion. It comes from western Asia. The origin of the genus name is uncertain but may come from the Greek sialon – saliva, alluding to the sticky exudation on the stems, which will ward off insects. The specific epithet origin has also been lost in time but is probably the name of the place in Russia where it was first found.

The main rock garden also has plenty of interest

In midsummer, the rock garden is more subdued than it is in spring. There is still lots of interest when you look that little bit closer. The following pictures highlight what can be seen at this time of year.

It is too easy to overlook some the “doers” and the next two could easily fall into this category. Sedum middendorffianum can be found growing in Siberia and Mongolia. The plant was named to honour of Alexander Theodor von Middendorff (1826 – 1894) a Baltic zoologist. It thrives in well drained soils in full sun.

Sedum obtusifolium var. listoniae is a true alpine growing above 2000m in mountainous regions of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey. This particular Sedum has an interesting growth cycle. It has tuber-like shoots covered in short, white overlapping leaves. These form a winter rosette of densely packed leaves. In the spring, from the rosettes plants produce stems from which the summer flowering shoots emerge. The stems die back in the autumn to complete the annual growth cycle. The specific epithet is from the Latin obtusus – blunt or obtuse and folium – leaf.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet

Larger sedums have been moved into Hylotelephium. Some authorities are arguing for some of the smaller sedums to be moved into the genus Phedimus. The RHS is continuing to use the genus name sedum for these two.

Fuchsia microphylla ‘David’ AGM

This fuchsia is small enough for many rock gardens. It was introduced by Mr. W.P. Wood in 1949, who was a British hybridizer. I wonder if David was his son? The genus name honours the German botanist, herbalist and physician Leonhart Fuchs (1501 – 1566).  The specific epithet is from the Latin micro – small and – phylla – leaves. It comes from Mexico (south of the Tropic of Cancer) into Panama, growing at altitudes between 1500 – 3400m.

Are you sure this is a good idea?

You would be forgiven in being wary about planting convolvulus in your garden. However, Convolvulus sabatius is a lovely plant that comes from Italy and North Africa. The genus name is from the Latin convolvo – to entwine. The specific epithet is from the  Latin sabatius – from Capo di Noli, Italy. It used to be known as C. mauritanicus – of Mauretania.

Three poolside plants

Astilbe ‘Willie Buchanan’ is a A. simplicifolia dwarf hybrid. Growing only to 20cm, it prefers a cool site. This plant is growing by the Larix pool at Wisley. It has creamy white flowers with red stamens. It was named for William Cullen Buchanan (d1963) who was a founding member of the SRGC. Willie was a retired farmer, grower and plantsman for over 60 years and an all-round legend in the SRGC.

Veronica x bidwillii is a naturally occurring hybrid. It’s common name is Bidwell’s parahebe, it having been formally in the genus of Parahebe. It is a hybrid of P. decora x P. lyalli occurring naturally in New Zealand on the South Island. The plant was named to honour John Carne Bidwell (1815 – 1853) a horticulturalist, hybridizer and plant collector. He was born in England and died in Queensland.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Fugi Waterfall’

This hydrangea is native plant to the mountainous regions of Korea and Japan and as such, at home in the rock garden. It used to be classified as a subspecies of H. macrophylla. This cultivar was raised by Janet Egger of Terra Nova Nursery, Oregon, USA. This clone has very large clusters of sterile and fertile double flowers. At Wisley it is planted about 20 feet from the top waterfall, which is very fitting for its name. That will not be a coincidence, I’m sure.

Another plant from Majorca

Teucrium subspinosum is known as the spiny germander. The genus name commemorates Teucher, a Trojan Prince who used one of the plants for medicinal purposes. The specific epithet is from the Latin sub – usually and spinosum – spiny / with spines. I can confirm it is very spiky.

x Phylliopsis are dwarf evergreen shrubs, hybrids between species of Phyllodoce and Kalmiopsis. The plants have small, oblong, glossy dark green leaves and terminal racemes of open-bell-shaped flowers. It is spring-flowering with further sporadic blooms later in the season. Both genera are native to North America and Eurasia.

California dreamin’ (but not on a winters day)

In a parallel universe I’m sure there will be people in California dreaming about visiting Wisley.

Epilobium canum ‘Dublin’ (Syn Zauschneria californica ‘Dublin’) allows us to see some Californian sunshine, here in the garden, while we dream about being on the west coast. It was originally named in honour of Johan Baptista Josef Zauschner (1737 – 1799) who was a professor of medicine and botany in Prague. Its new genus name is from the Greek epi – upon and lobos – a pod, the flowers appearing to grow from the seed pod. The specific epithet is from the Latin canum – whitish-grey.

One place two names

There are two plants in circulation named ‘Dublin’ or ‘Glasnevin’. These are the same, named for the National botanic gardens of Ireland, located in Glasnevin, Dublin.

There are some very interesting dwarf trees on the rock garden

Larix decidua ‘Puli’ is a weeping European Larch. Larch was introduced to the UK 400 years ago for timber. The specific epithet is from the Latin for falling off at maturity. It is the only deciduous conifer in Europe. In folklore it was said to protect against enchantment and was worn or burnt to ward off evil spirits. This cultivar was a seedling grown in the mid-1990’s by Jozsa Miklos, from Szombathely, Hungary. He named it for his dog! I’ll bet his wife was pleased, assuming he was married. Is it just me that thinks it looks like a sniper that’s hiding in a ghillie suit? Just me then.

Thuja occidentalis ‘Mr Bowling Ball’

This Thuja is a native of north-eastern America and south-eastern Canada. It grows in wet forests, swamps and along lake shores. The genus name is from the Greek name of a type of Juniper and the specific epithet is from the Latin for from the western (occidental) world. The plant was found by Joe Stupka around 1985 as a witches broom, near Linesville, Pennsylvania. It is classed as an Arborvitae cultivar, from the Latin arbor – tree and vitae – life. It’s an evergreen with closely overlapping scale-like leaves.

In the Alpine Display House there were also some interesting plants in flower

A plant with strongly foetid flowers would seem an unlikely choice for the alpine house. Eucomis vandermerwei deserves its place. It is classed as an alpine bulb with fleshy perennial roots. Threatened in the wild from habitat loss it grows in only 6 to 8 populations in north-eastern parts of South Africa, at 2200 – 2500m. It thrives in well drained sandy acidic soils on south and east facing slopes, experiencing dry cold winters. This helps us to identify its growing requirements.

Plants can be very clever

First collected in 1937 by Dr. Frederick Ziervogel van der Merwe (1894 – 1968) and named in his honour. The genus name is from the Greek eu and komos – beautifully haired which refers to hair like bracts that overtop the inflorescence. It is the only Eucomis with cryptic leaves (colouration or markings which acts like camouflage) to reduce herbivore damage. I’m going to look for a Hosta with cryptic leaves and see if it can fool the slugs in my garden.

Double flowers often divide opinion between gardeners

Campanula cochlearifolia ‘Elizabeth Oliver’ AGM has lovely powder blue double flowers that still manage to keep their charm. It was raised by Mr. Bull from Nottingham, in the 1970s and was named for his daughter.

From the Baleares (the Spanish name for the Balearic Islands) there were two Limoniums in flower.

The first, Limonium minutum, the dwarf statice is one of the sea lavenders. It can be found in costal habitats. The common name, statice, is documented in works as old as those by Pliny the Elder. The genus name comes from the Greek limne – a marsh, as plants grow in salt marshes. They are classed as halophytic, plants that grow in soils or water of high salinity. The specific epithet is from the Latin for very small, minute.

The second species is also from the Baleares: Limonium caprariense var. caprariense.

The school summer holidays have started

To mark this event, the first of the autumn flowering South African plants has made it into the display house. Scadoxus multiflorus has a number of common names such as the Blood flower, Blood lily or Fireball lily, the flowers are also scented. The genus name is from the Greek sciadion – parasol / umbel and doxa – glorious. The specific epithet is Latin for many flowers. It is a tender bulb native to most of sub-Saharan Africa, Arabian Peninsula and the Seychelles. It used to be included in the genus Haemanthus.

Time for some more Greek mythology in the Cushion House

The purple poppy mallow, Callirhoe involucrata is at home on the Great Plains of America and down into northern Mexico. It can be evergreen in milder climates. It is also called the buffalo rose or winecup. The genus name is after the water naiad (nymph) Kalirrhoe (Callirrhoe), daughter of a water god. She inhabited a spring or fountain in Acarnania (central Greece). Kallirrhoe inadvertently brought about her husband’s death by demanding the cursed necklace of Harmonia as a wedding gift. According to legend it brought great misfortune to all of its wearers or owners. I would consider that a misfortune; be careful what you wish for. She was apparently very beautiful, but aren’t all the water nymphs? I’ve not read about a plain one yet.

Lippia ‘Mallorcan Pearls’

The genus name is to honour Augustus Lippi (1678 -1705), a French botanist and naturalist. In doing my research I now know more about Majorcan cultured pearls than I did (than I wanted to), but not any more about who raised or selected this plant. It can be a little invasive, spreading by runners. It is very charming and so easily forgiven for its enthusiasm. Additional unwanted plants can easily be pulled out, but do it often to keep it in check.

Another of the sea lavenders, this one is Limonium gougetinum from Algeria and the Baleares. Chaenorhinum origanifolium has the common name of the Malling toadflax or dwarf snapdragon. It is native to the Iberian peninsula and Baleares, often growing on limestone cliffs, in mountainous regions. The specific epithet is from the Latin origanum – aromatic herb and folium – leaved. The genus name is from two Greek words chaino – to gape and rhis – a snout, referring to the open throat of the corolla compared to Linaria and Antirrhinum.

The carnivorous bed is overdue a feature in my diary

The carnivorous bed is home to many Sarracenias and they look so exotic that you’d think they would be tender. Visitors often ask if we lift them for the winter. I can confirm that they happily spend all year outside, in the bed. The majority grow on the eastern seaboard of Texas, the Great Lakes and south-eastern Canada.

Peat free growing medium

The growing medium in the bed was replaced a couple of years ago with a mix of coir, sphagnum moss and composted bark. The old medium which was peat based had become contaminated with a mix of weeds and Mimulus (Monkey flowers), which had also grown into and through all the plants in the bed. The genus name was to honour Dr. Michel Sarrazin de l’Etang (1659 – 1734) who was the French King’s physician and naturalist in Quebec, New France (Canada). He arrived in Canada in 1685. It was Carl Linnaeus who named the genus in 1753. I have picked four at random, from the many that are in the bed.

Four trumpet pitcher plants

Referred to as the trumpet pitcher plant, the genus contains 8 species, 20 subspecific variants (subspecies or varieties), 17 naturally occurring hybrid variants and dozens of artificially created hybrids.

Sarracenia x ‘Vogel’ was raised by Rene van Kessel, owner of Carniflora Nursery. It was named in honour of Art Vogel, a Dutch botanist who had been the conservatory manager at Hortus Botanicus Leiden. Also raised by Rene, S. x ‘Eva’ was named for his wife. I hope this was the first hybrid plant he raised and named. There might have been strained conversations over the dining table otherwise.

Natural hybrids are as good as the man made ones

S. x mitchelliana is a natural occurring hybrid of S. leucophylla x S. rosea. The original plant was collected from Bay Minette in Florida. It was named to honour Dr. John Mitchell F.R.S. (1711 – 1768) a native Virginian, American doctor, botanist and explorer.

S. x exornata is also a natural hybrid of S. alata x S. purpurea. The original plant was collected near Theodore, Alabama and they can be found in small areas of Alabama and Mississippi. The specific epithet is from the Latin ex – over and above and ornata – adorned / showy.