ONE of the most useful—and least trumpeted—services provided by the RHS is its Plant Trials. Many varieties of the same plants are grown side-by-side in controlled conditions at RHS sites around the country and observed by expert members of the relevant Plant Committees, sometimes over several years, to see how they perform. Varieties are judged on a wide range of criteria and the best will be given the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Plants range from favourites such as catmint, the subject of the trial we report on today, to the new and less well known and the results are published, free, online, so all gardeners can look up to see which plants will work best for them.
The current Nepeta Trial, being held at RHS Wisley, showcases more than 120 varieties of catmint from a total of 250 species found in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. It includes established stalwarts, such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, alongside brilliant new introductions, including ‘Summer Magic’ and ‘Hill Grounds’. Some varieties definitely fall into the catmint category, with clouds of tiny soft-blue flowers rising above aromatic grey-green foliage. Others have showy, darker blue tubular flowers and green leaves, which indicate a need for better soil and a tolerance of partial shade. A third variation on the theme, Nepeta nuda, offers branching heads of pale flowers on tall, very upright sultry stems. These are suited to prairie planting, offering structure and winter silhouette, although they’re not very widely grown—yet.
Denne historien er fra January 20, 2021-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January 20, 2021-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Kitchen garden cook - Apples
'Sweet and crisp, apples are the epitome of autumn flavour'
The original Mr Rochester
Three classic houses in North Yorkshire have come to the market; the owner of one inspired Charlotte Brontë to write Jane Eyre
Get it write
Desks, once akin to instruments of torture for scribes, have become cherished repositories of memories and secrets. Matthew Dennison charts their evolution
'Sloes hath ben my food'
A possible paint for the Picts and a definite culprit in tea fraud, the cheek-suckingly sour sloe's spiritual home is indisputably in gin, says John Wright
Souvenirs of greatness
FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
Seventy years after Christian Dior’s last fashion show in Scotland, the brand returned under creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri for a celebratory event honouring local craftsmanship, the beauty of the land and the Auld Alliance, explains Kim Parker
Nature's own cathedral
Our tallest native tree 'most lovely of all', the stately beech creates a shaded environment that few plants can survive. John Lewis-Stempel ventures into the enchanted woods
All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
