Shire Plants Blog

Heritage Pinks (Dianthus)

9th May 2019

The wonderful variety of heritage pinks (Dianthus). They make long-lasting cut flowers and the scent is heavenly. These are cut from our stock plants and are currently brightening up the office.View o … read more

Black and White Violas

8th May 2019

I love the contrast of the jet black Viola 'Molly Sanderson' next to the pearly white Viola 'White Pearl'. Just two of the twenty or so Victorian violas we currently sell. So much better than the mode … read more

Helianthemum 'The Bride'

29th Apr 2019

This Helenthemum is looking stunning in our alpine sink at the moment. Such an easy and rewarding plant.Full plant details … read more

​Kitaibelia vitifolia (Russian hibiscus)

25th Apr 2019

This wonderful plant is not often offered in the UK. It can be difficult to find a tall, flowering perennial that grows in shade and has impressive flowers but this does just that.Related to hollyhock … read more

Night-Scented Phlox

24th Apr 2019

This Night-Scented Phlox is looking stunning at the moment. They are fantastic patio plants, either in the border or in a container, because the flowers release a beautiful fragrance in the evening, t … read more

Erysimum 'Bowles's Yellow' - Hardy Plant Society Endangered Plant

18th Apr 2019

One of our goals is to ensure the continuation of plants which have been grown in British gardens for generations but have become either very difficult, or impossible to source.This is usually because … read more

​The power of a GQT recommendation

9th Apr 2019

On Friday last week, BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time's panel recommended one of the plants we sell; namely, Trachystemon orientalis. We agree that it's a brilliant plant for those dense shade a … read more

Our stall at yesterday's Rare Plant Fair

8th Apr 2019

Independent Nurseries

8th Apr 2019

For more than 30 years, Royal Horticultural Society's Plant Finder has been a record of the hundreds of thousands of plants available in cultivation in the UK and, importantly, the nurseries that stoc … read more

​Primula 'Quaker's Bonnet'

2nd Apr 2019

Primula 'Quaker's Bonnet' - a very old English Primula which was nearly lost to cultivation but has recently been rescued and we're happy to include it in our offering. Beautiful and a strong grower, … read more

Hollyhocks

24th Mar 2019

Hollyhocks have adorned country gardens for centuries and no traditional cottage garden would be complete without them. These days they also have a useful role to play in adding vertical interest to c … read more

Saving Heritage Plants

24th Mar 2019

One of our passions is to preserve wonderful plants which, for various reasons, have slipped into obscurity and are no longer commercially available. In many cases, these plants have stood the test of … read more

Mail Order Plants

18th Mar 2019

Some of the plants for the current batch of orders waiting to be packaged up to go to their new homes and sporting our smart new labels.

Spring on the way

2nd Mar 2019

Some photos of early signs of spring from around the site. The frog was sunning himself underneath a polytunnel door. No frogspawn evident in the pond yet, although the frogs are very verbal so presum … read more

​Doronicum x excelsum 'Harpur Crewe' (Leopard's bane)

28th Feb 2019

Walking around the nursery today, I spotted this amazing plant in flower. Looking at it you would think it should be flowering on a hot sunny day in July, not February! Admittedly it was in a polytunn … read more

​Spotlight on: Perennial Wallflowers (Erysimum)

19th Feb 2019

Mention Perennial Wallflower and most people think of the ubiquitous 'Bowles Mauve' but there are many other varieties available, offering a wide range of colours and sizes.In the 12th century, Trouba … read more

'Forcing' or 'Bringing On' plants by Garden Centres

15th Feb 2019

A very insightful article in the latest of copy of the Royal Horticultural Society's 'The Garden' magazine about the practice employed by garden centres of 'forcing' plants and displaying them with mi … read more

Ficaria verna 'Brazen Hussy'

12th Feb 2019

I love the contrast of the bright yellow flowers against the dark brown polished leaves of this celandine, which look metallic in certain light. A perfect plant to brighten up the late winter/early sp … read more

'New' apple and pear varieties

10th Jan 2019

73 new varieties of apple and pear trees discovered growing in old orchards and gardens in Wales. I wonder how many more are dotted around the UK waiting to be discovered? Sadly, many old varieties of … read more

Willow cuttings

5th Jan 2019

Love the lime-green, yellow, chocolate-brown, orange and red colours of these willow (Salix) cuttings. All being well, these plants will be available to buy later in the year. … read more