Plants and news 2026

[charlie]

Rosa bracteata is stunning.  Would it grow as a free standing shrub, or does it need the heat of a wall to ripen the wood in Cornwall?

I've done some hunting through the literature.  Softwood in May/June under mist seems to be the most popular.  Autumn hardwood has the caveat 'takes longer to root than most'. Rooting hormone is universally recommended. 

Chad

It is rather unyielding and has thorns like stanley knife blades so I wouldnt want the job of managing it as a shrub! mine is against a south wall and the one at Tellisick is also on a sunny wall.

Soft wood cuttings in early summer is what I have been trying but it quickly defoliates and unlike other roses doesnt then root, I am about to try more shading on the mist house as I have been having more than a few problems this year

Incidentally, I asked John about callous and no roots as you have been getting on Lonicera calcarata, and checked that with the literature too.  He explains it better.  The literature says 'incising' the callus may help.  John's comment was to 'carve the callous to look like small roots', which I think is the same thing more clearly explained.  The theoretical background is that the irregular surface lets the endogenous growth factors  concentrate [it 'disrupts the gradient'] and encourages true root formation.  A second dip of rooting hormone does not help. 

Yes that works for hilderbrandiana as does simply potting the cuttings up as if they had roots and putting them back at the edge of mist zone and waiting; seem to get about 75% but calcarata is another matter not seen it even try and callus! I am wondering if I need to try very early in the year when it is starting to shoot, January/February? I will keep trying different methods and timings. Since your June visit I am trying the air layer globes on "Just wounded " sections rather than ring barking, I dont think the heat is helping!

[charlie]

Thought it was about time I had a look around the garden, with it being so dry I haven't needed to cut the grass for weeks now and I have got rather distracted on roof replacements, I put the original on 43 years ago and I wanted to increase the slope and put in a roof light, its not a big bit of roof but I have been shocked at how much I cant do now without it hurting!!

Love this evergreen honey suckle came to us originally from Keith Rushforth who has since named it after the mountain he found it on

Lonicera glabrata 'Damchin La' by charliepridham, on Flickr

The great thing about Lillium speciosum is that the Lily Beetles leave it alone

Lillium speciosum by charliepridham, on Flickr

Strangely Hedychium coccinea angustifolia is the first to start flowering this year , miles ahead of spicatum and densiflorum which would normally be weeks ahead of it

hedychium coccinea angustifolia by charliepridham, on Flickr

This lovely yellow Abutilon was a cutting from Madeira via Gerald Luckhurst, he had forgotten the name - we now think its 'Yellow Queen' (let me know if you dont think so!)

Abutilon Lemon Queen by charliepridham, on Flickr

[AndyC]

Love the Abutilon, mine was just starting to flower when I collected it from you at Tregrehan and I expect it will still be flowering when the first frost arrives.

Some first time flowerings for me





Both of these Phytolacca seem to cope very well with dry soil

[charlie]

With this hot dry weather I must admit I have not been feeling the urge to point the camera at stuff! its all looking less good than normal (is there a normal any more?) So far ignoring the grass most other stuff is surviving but things like the Hedychiums have suffered with the early sorts not bothering to flower at all, H. spicatum is normally the first here and this year just one tatty flower on two large clumps! and the Hoheria although flowering is looking very droopy and sad!