8 plants you must grow from the Malvern Spring Festival
Straight from the festival's mouth!
Here's a little bonus Plants You Must Grow, as I'm fresh from the Malvern Spring Festival, where I had an amazing day and completely ran out of time, but I had a good old gander around the floral marquee, and here are a few gems for you.
Malus ioensis ‘Fimbriata’ by Frank P. Matthews
I was visiting with my friend Emma for QVC, and we pretty much were wrestling over this gorgeous Crab Apple. The flowers are so beautiful, like a rose, but when we went back, they'd all sold. I think we did a little bit of real life influencing there! Check them out from Frank P Matthews, who are coming to QVC very soon!
Buy them here.
Nandina ‘Pretty Flamingo’
What a funky little specimen. I think this really gets the prize for ‘designer shrub’. I love this ethereal effect that this beautiful Nandina gives. It was new to me as well. I was super excited!
Buy it here.
Tulip ‘Dom Pedro’
I met a tulip that was called Chocolate the other week, and I thought it was beautiful and looked like chocolate - but this one is even better. This is ‘Dom Pedro’ - cool name there - which is this gorgeous, chocolatey red color. It is super special. I'm so pleased that the picture came out well, because sometimes those metallic colours are quite difficult to convey. But this is an absolute joy. And I really wish tulip season wasn't over - it's my LEAST favourite time of year when they fade!
Pre-order them here for next year.
Aeonium ‘Darley Blush’
So much interest. I love this one for its ombre effect, as the bronze kind of fades off from the green in the centre. They seem to be more and more popular. These were from the guys down in Cornwall, and I would love to visit them someday.
Cytisus battandieri (Pineapple Broom)
Oh my gosh, if you don't know this plant, you really need to. It's called pineapple broom, and it really, really smells of pineapple. It is absolutely fantastic. Not only is that silver foliage gorgeous and pretty drought tolerant, this is quite an imposing shrub, and those flowers are the most perfect yellow, but they also have this awesome aftershave scent - even better than Penhaligon’s!
Buy it here.
Opuntia humifusa
Another plant I've been obsessed with for years. This is a hardy cactus: Opuntia humifusa! It is incredibly unique, and does make an edible fruit if it's happy. Really, really good for rockeries, where you have good, free drainage. And I love the way the pads just kind of sit on the top of the soil, not giving a toss about anything. But wait for the flowers - they are silky and yellow, and super gorgeous.
Buy it here.
VIP subscribers can read on to discover an incredible honeysuckle with flowers the shade of a much-loved sweet treat, and a Zantedeschia with head-turning variegated foliage!