2018 – CHW
The first berries on a young Viburnum setigerum which was a Wilson introduction. The berries go from yellow-orange to red when ripe.


2017 – CHW
As in previous years Clethra pringlei is the last of the clethras to flower. This plant was slow to get away and is clearly sensitive to cold but is now performing well.
Sad news. The recently registered (as new) Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ has split in half overnight. We have had a week of unusual strong south east winds which are mildish in temperature but strong enough to break much debris onto the drive and split a magnolia in full leaf. We will send cutting material to Burncoose tomorrow. I promised a review of the newer bamboo species and how they have progressed in a year since they were last photographed:Hibanobambusa tranquillans ‘Shiroshima’ had seemed a dwarf but is now racing away to 6ft. A very attractive variegated bamboo and one we must get for the nursery to stock. We could dig a few canes here soon.
I see on the plan that I have missed the seventh one – Himalayacalmus falconeri. This has grown poorly and only two survive from the original clump of three or five. This lot are more exposed to wind but the survivors seem fine today.I think I am sick of new bamboo species and their bizarre unpronounceable names so I will spare you pictures of the dozen or so other new ones planted this spring. At least the fucking deer do not eat bamboo! Much evidence of new nibbling all over this area.
2015 – CHW
A very happy two and a half hours collecting and swapping seed with Tom Hudson. We inspected the following styrax and collected seed from most of them:
Styrax odoratissimus (veitchiorum) (above greenhouse) – very different to Tom’s
Styrax serrulatus (by Magnolia Atlas)
Styrax hookeri (several mature plants – Rockery, Slip Rail, Georges Hut)
Styrax obassia (Drive and Bond Street – old plant at Crino Hedge nearly dead)Styrax formosanus var formosanus (above Crino Hedge in new planting)
Styrax japonicus ‘Fargesi’ (above Crino Hedge in new planting)
Styrax japonicus (old plant on Burns Bank)
Styrax wuyuanensis (above Crino Hedge in new planting)
Styrax faberi (above Crino Hedge in new planting)
Styrax japonicus var hayatiana (perhaps formosanus var hayatiana – there is one in Kennel Close and one above Crinodendron Hedge)
Styrax hemsleyanus (above Crino Hedge in new planting)
Styrax officinalis (above Crino Hedge in new planting – one survivor from two planted?)
Styrax shiraianus (Burns Bank – small plant)
We did not find Styrax wilsoni or Styrax dasyanthus on our travels. The former may have died out but I remember planting several seedlings. Our original plants of Styrax hookeri and Styrax hemsleyanus have been dead for some time by Charles Michaels Nursery. I think we have also planted out a Styrax confusus and perhaps Styrax calvescens.
Clearly there are several more species to hunt for to add to our collection: Styrax suberifolius, Styrax redivivus, Styrax platanifolius, Styrax limprichitii.
Tom very kindly gave us plants as follows:
Lapageria (pink) x 1
Quercus lomboldtii boadta x 1
Magnolia cathcartii 13215 x 3
Styrax 2975 x 3
Styrax 1390 x 3
And seeds as follows:
Styrax confusus TH2200 from Lu Shan Jiangxi
Magnolia sprengeri (shell pink) TH2823 from Leigon Shan, Guizhan
Rhododendron yuetengense TH2785 from Maoer Shan
Styrax limprichtii 2+F Coll Erhalpk Dalai Yunnan
Pterostyrax psilophyllus var leveillei
Camellia yunnanesis yunnanense TH452
Returned from Scotland, a great rhododendron year. Martin’s seedling rhodo’s quite unbeaten by anything I have ever seen. Hydrangeas very nice.