'Aubrieta Reminds Me Of Grandad'

When I was little Id follow my grandad, Charlie, around.

The first plant I ever grew

The first task I helped with was cutting back aubrieta after it had flowered. I now regard them as especially mine and I always think of him when I’m giving them a trim.

The plant that shaped the gardener I am today

Unusually, it’s a little-known conifer, Podocarpus macrophyllus. It wasn’t so much the plant itself that shaped me, but the book it came from. My plant bible at that time was The Colour Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs from Hillier Nurseries. In those days Hilliers carried the widest range of trees and shrubs in the world and I thought that they sounded like a good nursery to work for. Fast forward six years and I started a 27-year career there, ending up as plant buyer for their garden centres.

My favourite plant in the world