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Plant of the month - July 2021

Chamaenerion angustifolium ‘album’

Rosebay Willowherb  

 ‘Weed or Wildflower?’

Rosebay willowherb, aka the gardener’s enemy. It runs rampant through beds, growing over anything and everything in its path. With its underground runners and the speed that it set seeds, it is notoriously difficult to control and remove... So why then, is this plant of the month? The answer is simple; everybody wants to buy it!

Chamaenerion angustifolium ‘album’ is the white flowering form of Rosebay Willowherb. With it’s tall, willowy and graceful; slender spikes of white flowers and apple-green willow like leaves, it’s really quite striking.

Let’s step back a minute and remind ourselves this is not a weed. The very thing that makes willowherb difficult to manage, is in fact an attribute to the white willow herb. It’s very low maintenance, bulks up quickly.  Its attractive foliage quickly covers the gaps created, when the spring bulb displays begin to finish and lose their leaves.

 It is the sort of soft and floaty plant that might appear in a landscape painting. Ideally planted in large drifts in naturalistic plantings or herbaceous borders. It makes impressive displays at Marwood Hill Gardens. The time to view it, is in June and July. You will find it planted in the herbaceous borders and entranced beds.  

 Chamaerion angustifolium 2

Top tip

Ordinarily Rosebay willowherb is notorious for producing copious amounts of fluffy white seeds which quicky germinate spread through and overwhelm plantings, the white form does not self-seed. It is worth removing all the fluffy seed heads before they emerge as this can look quite untidy and detract from the surrounding flower displays.

This plant is tough, tolerant of any soil condition, Loved by bees and butterflies and low maintenance and a welcome addition to any garden. We have been inundated by requests from garden visitors who wish to buy this plant. This plant will be available to purchase from out plant shop from spring 2022. 

 

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Introducing Marwood's new National Collection.....

Marwood Heritage Collection

Marwood Hill Garden's newest National Collection.

This collection is the result of 70 years of plant cultivation resulting in the wonderful and diverse collection we see today in the gardens. It builds on work of the original founder Dr Jimmy Smart and Malcolm Pharaoh (former Head Gardener). The collection show cases a range of plants that are unique to Marwood, many of which were selected, bred, raised or gifted to the garden.

The collection includes the following plants:

Brickell Award 2020

Malcolm Pharoah is awarded Plant Heritage’s prestigious Brickell Award 2020

The National Collection Holder grows over 200 cultivars of Astilbe at Marwood Hill Garden, Devon

Horticultural charity Plant Heritage is delighted to award north Devon-based Malcolm Pharoah, with their prestigious Brickell Award 2020, for his National Plant Collection of Astilbe held at Marwood Hill Gardens.

Coronavirus statement

Updated 20th October 2020

We are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation carefully and regularly, and following current advice and guidelines set by Government.
 
The health and safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff is our number one priority.We ask our visitors to refer to the guidelines and protocols as suggested by the World Health Organization, and UK public health authorities regarding the virus.
 
We are following local and national public health closely. Dependent on national health guidelines, measures typically include:
 

  • Public health messaging displayed.
  • Strengthened hygiene, sanitisation, availability of disinfectants

Visiors are requested to wear a mask when approaching a member of staff.

The National Collection of Tulbaghias

 Tulbaghia Photo Gallery

View the embedded image gallery online at:
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