5 plants you must grow now

Which ones are on your radar?

Hey guys, welcome to “5 plants to grow now”, plus an extra 3 if you’re a premium subscriber! The blend of plants that are already in the marketplace, as well as sneak peaks! Where plants are already available to buy as a consumer, I’ve added links where possible.

1. Pea “Acacia” by Semo Seed Company

A very interesting development, by the Czech breeding company, Semo, which is looking at one of the most popular garnishes in Europe right now, the humble pea shoot!

They have realised these could be much more decorative, so decided to breed them for super fancy “fronds”, pretty much like an acacia as the name suggests, with much less focus on the quality of the actual peas! The plants will usually only be grown to a very young stage, so the breeding focus can really switch!

2. Celosia Pastel Colours by Hem Genetics

This is a top-secret, sneak peek, as I was allowed behind-the-scenes of Hem Genetics in the Netherlands recently.

Celosia are spectacular plants, I remember growing them with my Grandma when I was young, but typically they would only be in the brightest colours. Whilst these are uplifting, they are not everyone’s taste. Quite excitingly, Hem are working on some very tasteful pastel colours, what do you think?

3. Mini lobata

This is a classic climber, which we don’t grow enough. It’s as easy to grow as a morning glory, and indeed part of the same extended family.

That was absolutely spectacular with the colours of a Spanish flag, which also gives it one of its other common names. With many of these climbers, they don’t tend to start until later summer in our cooler summers, so just be warned. But they are defo worth the wait!

Buy seeds here.

4. Coleus by Syngenta Seeds

A very interesting genius, undergoing a lot of development at the moment. I was very interested to be taken around the breeding at Syngenta, one of the focus there is to raise Coleus with much less flower power. That sounds odd? Right??

As most people know, the flowers of Coleus are bright blue, a hue which often jars with the patchwork colour schemes that most of the varieties offer. I do remember when I was young, my Grandma teaching me to pinch out the flowers, she was the original botanical style icon I guess!

5. Dahlia 'Pacific Time'

Visiting the CNB Dahlia trial at De Tulperij in the Netherlands is always a treat! This cultivar really stood out for the colour changing, shape shifting blooms, but also the incredible flowering performance. This looks like a true spreading, bedding dahlia and I love it!