24th March

FJ Williams Profile Picture
FJW 1955-2007
CH Williams Profile Picture
CHW 2015-
JC Williams Profile Picture
JCW 1897-1939
C Williams Profile Picture
CW 1940-1955


2024 – CHW

The digger is due on site for a week or two next week (if dry) to clear stumps and ‘things’ in the garden. Jaimie and the team have been cutting down a load of “sacrifice’ camellias which have done their time and need to go while uplifting other young trees so that visitors can see them better. To my mind this is the most important thing in any area of new planting which is 15-20 years old.

cutting down a load of “sacrifice’ camellias
cutting down a load of “sacrifice’ camellias
Melicytus crassifolius covered in tiny yellow flowers.
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus obovatus just coming into flower with its tens of thousands of very tiny flowers.
Melicytus obovatus
Melicytus obovatus
Melicytus obovatus
Melicytus obovatus
Tilia endochrysea as splendid as ever.
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
The sales area nicely stocked up for Easter.
The sales area
The sales area
The sales area
The sales area
Rhododendron formosum and Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’ out already.
Rhododendron formosum
Rhododendron formosum
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Rhododendron ‘Countess of Haddington’
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’ and its first flowers here – probably going to be a good colour but very similar to several others.
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’
Magnolia ‘Diana’ also with its very first showing. Not yet looking promising.
Magnolia ‘Diana’
Magnolia ‘Diana’

2023 – CHW
Here are the details of the gift made by the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group to His Majesty on the occasion of his coronation. Caerhays contributed 3 magnolias to the gift.

2022 – CHW
The grand tour of Cornish gardens with the 31 RHS Fellows continues.

Illicium philippinense (CWJ 12466) in flower in the Rookery.

Illicium philippinense
Illicium philippinense
Illicium philippinense
Illicium philippinense
The first time that our Rhaphithamnus spinosus has produced its pale blue flowers.
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Sally Hayward forwards the conclusion of the research into Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’ and ‘Citation’:
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’

My quest for ‘Delia Williams’ is now bearing fruit! From the material that was brought in to the Rosemoor Show, not just from Caerhays, but also from Mount Edgcumbe and by Pat and Peter Bucknell, we were able to clearly identify the marked differences between the many petalled ‘Citation’ and the much neater plant ‘Delia Williams’. Even the foliage shows a marked difference between the two – ‘Citation’ being more rounded, whilst ‘Delia Williams’ leaves are longer and narrower. The ‘Delia Williams’ flowers exactly matched the 1964 photograph – see attached.

I am more determined than ever to get the record set straight in the International Camellia Register. Jim Stevens is actually planning to get involved with UK camellia registrations and is prepared to help me with this so that the plant can be correctly and individually identified in its own right as ‘Delia Williams’ together with the credited RHS Award of Merit given in 1964. There are no records at Trewithen regarding where the plant came from, but we do have the background story to add to the Register. The plant registered as ‘Citation’ by Charles Puddle at Bodnant is somewhat obscure too, but there are no leads to link ‘Citation’ from Bodnant to Trewithen so it seems a mystery as to how the two became linked. Ned Lomax, ex Glendurgan, has now taken up the position of Head Gardener at Bodnant. He has already contacted me to say that he is on the case to see what he can sleuth out at that end!

First flowers out on Magnolia ‘Sundance’.
Magnolia ‘Sundance’
Magnolia ‘Sundance’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ and a blue sky.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’
Rhododendron macabeanum and Magnolia ‘Wada’s Memory’.
Rhododendron macabeanum
Rhododendron macabeanum
Symplocos paniculata in flower.
Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata
Symplocos paniculata
The Fellows gathered on the lawn.
The Fellows
The Fellows
The Fellows at Tregothnan.
The Fellows
The Fellows
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’ on the Bowling Green at Tregothnan.
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Magnolia ‘Milky Way’
Quercus suber and Michelia doltsopa.
Quercus suber
Quercus suber
Pinus montezumae and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’.
Pinus montezumae
Pinus montezumae
Rhododendron protistum – pink in bud but fading quickly.
Rhododendron protistum
Rhododendron protistum
Rhododendron protistum
Rhododendron protistum
The rare Camellia glabsipetala.
Camellia glabsipetala
Camellia glabsipetala
Camellia glabsipetala
Camellia glabsipetala
Labelled Camellia japonica species?
Camellia japonica species
Camellia japonica species
Camellia japonica species
Camellia japonica species
Quercus agrifolia in flower.
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Quercus agrifolia
Rhododendron cilpinense and Rhododendron bauhiniiflorum.
Rhododendron cilpinense
Rhododendron cilpinense
Erica canaliculata and Azalea ‘Amoena’.
Erica canaliculata
Erica canaliculata

2021 – CHW
Finally, our long-planned trip here with Nick Lock to view some of the dull and rare plants in the following families – Schinus, Foresteria, Shepherdia and Melicytus. Nick had sent me pictures of his Schinus latifolius (attached here) which came from Burncoose many moons ago. We looked at what I think may be our Schinus polygamus or Schinus mole which had lost most of its leaves in the cold below Tin Garden. Neither of us are sure if it is correctly identified as either. We expected Melicytus crassifolius to have yellow flowers but ours has pinkish ones. The plant of M. crassifolius which Nick kindly gave us did have white rounded berries. I have never seen any berries on our plant. It may be another species of Melicytus or it may not but we do have another plant with smaller darker leaves which looks more true to name.
Schinus latifolius
Schinus latifolius

Not much further on with these dull plant puzzles.

Nick left the following plants with us:
Coprosma ‘Autumn Orange’
Coprosma grandiflora
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus obovata
Myrsine aquilonia
Pittosporum michei
Metrosideros ‘Mistral’
Aristolochia delavayi

Schinus latifolius
Schinus latifolius
Schinus latifolius
Schinus latifolius
A few white berries left on Melicytus crassifolius.
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Tiny and intricate leaves on Pittosporum michei.
Pittosporum michei
Pittosporum michei
Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’ just coming out in Kennel Close.
Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’
Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’
Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’
Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ with a few low down and perfectly coloured flowers.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Albatross’ now full out.
Magnolia ‘Albatross’
Magnolia ‘Albatross’
Magnolia ‘Albatross’
Magnolia ‘Albatross’
First flowers opening on Magnolia ‘Atlas’.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Rhododendron gingongshanicum (AC 5108) is extraordinarily rare. Here it is making a fine plant.
Rhododendron gingongshanicum
Rhododendron gingongshanicum
Rhododendron gingongshanicum
Rhododendron gingongshanicum
A couple of good coloured young plants of Rhododendron calophytum by Georges Hut.
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron calophytum
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’
Rhododendron arboreum ‘Tony Shilling’
I had wondered if these were Rhododendron irroratum but, now fully out, I can see the blotching in the trumpets.
Rhododendron irroratum
Rhododendron irroratum
Rhododendron irroratum
Rhododendron irroratum

2020 – CHW
The Prime Minister announces at 8.30pm last night that ‘we all have to stay at home’. Lockdown finally so I rush down to Burncoose with Michael Gove’s announcement this morning that building sites could stay open (with social distancing). KPK have already decided to close completely and we ‘furlough’ our 13 fulltime staff and lay off a similar number of subcontractors who will have to fend for themselves with a government handout. All the builders merchants are shut so work on sites cannot continue and our customers on sites have asked us to leave. Not what I had expected from meetings only last Thursday.

Burncoose Nurseries is now shut to the public as of this morning. However mail order orders continue to arrive on the internet faster than we have ever experienced before. Some have gone home but most staff remain picking and packing orders. The couriers are adamant that home deliveries will carry on so we carry on for as long as we can to fulfil them. Internet mail order businesses are having a bonanza which will no doubt engender a public backlash soon. If we do have to shut down totally we will still have four staff doing the watering who live on site with Andrew supervising and Steve manning a phone from home if need be.

The end of ‘freedom’ but have we ended up with fascism or communism? Not much difference perhaps but state control is state control. Boris would argue he has, so far, avoided anything other than pleading with us to ‘obey’. The Chinese saw it rather differently with armed authority and the Italians are showing that dictatorial powers are alive and well in a former fascist state. Will ‘normality’ as we have known it ever completely return?

A few fleeting plants on show to nobody in the nursery sales point.

Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’

Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Prunus incisa ‘The Bride’
Chaenomeles ‘Geisha Girl’
Chaenomeles ‘Geisha Girl’
Chaenomeles ‘Geisha Girl’
Berberis linearifolia ‘Orange King’
Berberis linearifolia ‘Orange King’
Berberis linearifolia ‘Orange King’
Back at Caerhays a few more magnolias on the drive.
This Magnolia ‘Shirraz’ is perfect today while the other two big ones were destroyed by last week’s hailstorms.
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
Magnolia ‘Sayonara’
A large Magnolia ‘Atlas’ above Red Linney.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
And a small Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ just below it.
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
This was another of Dad’s hybrids which he refused to name saying it was not good enough. Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ by the look of it and therefore very similar to Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ which we named recently. It is rather good here today and one of the last trees to come fully out. I can remember this first flowering 45 or so years ago.
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’
Magnolia sargentiana robusta x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’

2019 – CHW
Some nice things along Sinogrande Walk.

Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’ with its new leaves emerging.

Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’
Acer x conspicuum ‘Red Flamingo’
Magnolia ‘Purpurascens’ – second flowering. This is very good too as I thought last year. Should the name really be M. denudata var. purpurascens. I assume so.
Magnolia ‘Purpurascens’
Magnolia ‘Purpurascens’
Magnolia ‘Purpurascens’
Magnolia ‘Purpurascens’
Carpinus laxiflora with reddish catkins. Ten years old tree. Not seen before.
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Carpinus laxiflora
Magnolia ‘Blushing Belle’ – I do not quite get the name when it is so dark? Second flowering.
Magnolia ‘Blushing Belle’
Magnolia ‘Blushing Belle’
Athrotaxus cupressoides with its peculiar foliage.
Athrotaxus cupressoides
Athrotaxus cupressoides
This elderly camellia has not flowered for several years after it split apart leaving only one shoot. White flowers. We have always called it Camellia taliensis but this does not fit with the Chinese book on camellia species.
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Camellia taliensis
Magnolia ‘Avocet’ – first single flower in the Isla Rose Plantation. Nothing startling as yet.
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
Magnolia ‘Avocet’
First flowering here of Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’ which I first saw at Windsor. Huge flowers. An excellent magnolia which I think they bred and named although not in Jim Gardiner’s magnolia book? Who was Phelan Bright?
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’
Magnolia ‘Phelan Bright’

2018 – CHW
A garden tour with shooting friends and clients in the rain. The gator for the 89 year old who very much enjoyed it and had a proper Cornish accent! The cold damage which we saw is now sadly far more evident.Leaf drop from frost damage on the evergreen Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’. The tree is almost completely defoliated although it looked fine 10 days ago. I had feared the worst for these variegated Hoherias.
Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’ hardly has a leaf left on it either. I doubt it will survive but the twigs remain alive so there is hope.
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’
Hoheria angustifolia is a semi-evergreen and looks in better shape. No real harm here I suspect although no leaves remain.
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’ has started a leaf drop too. I suspect not all will drop. In a previous very cold spell in March 2012 it fared better than Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’. Silver variegation hardier than the yellow variegated form? Anyway we can show that Hoheria populnea is the most tender species of the Hoherias. H. populnea itself is however not an evergreen and should be fine. It is well hidden in shelter too.
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’
In the lee of the east wind Michelia doltsopa is fine. On the other side of the tree total leaf drop now. The flowers seem to be intact still on one side and I am not worried yet about the plant surviving as we have seen this on a lesser scale before.
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Michelia doltsopa
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ is just coming out and thankfully more or less undamaged.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’
The evergreen Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ has also now dropped most of its leaves but the buds are fine and I think that when the sap rises and they open the new growth will then appear perfectly fit and well on this young plant.
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’
Cubby following the gator rather than the party on foot.
Cubby
Cubby
The leader has been blown or snapped out of Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’.
Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’
Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’

2017 – CHW
A Burncoose day to decide how to cope with a 34% increase in internet order numbers over last March and to prepare emergency measures if the packing sheds do get swamped. Still time for a few more new website pictures though.

The purchases (mainly acers) from the Lees & Co closing down sale have arrived in good order.

purchases (mainly acers) from the Lees & Co
purchases (mainly acers) from the Lees & Co
purchases (mainly acers) from the Lees & Co
purchases (mainly acers) from the Lees & Co
Some bought in Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’ were in full flower.
Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’
Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’
Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’
Leucospermum cordifolium ‘Copper Carnival’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’ also just coming out but already put aside as sold!
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Leucadendron salignum x discolor ‘Sixteen Candles’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’ with more flowers than I have ever seen on a small tree.
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Cercis chinensis ‘Arondale’
Akebia x pentaphylla now full out rather than just in bud as we saw 10 days ago.
Akebia x pentaphylla
Akebia x pentaphylla
Akebia x pentaphylla
Akebia x pentaphylla
Epimedium x warleyense – first flowers with old leaves still present.
Epimedium x warleyense
Epimedium x warleyense
Epimedium x warleyense
Epimedium x warleyense
Pinus strobus with delicate small needles.
Pinus strobus
Pinus strobus
Pinus strobus
Pinus strobus
We have been trying to get Edgewarthia chrysantha ‘Red Dragon’ for several years with many promises from Holland and Italy. At last we have some very small plants. Much better colour than the normal yellow one.
Edgewarthia chrysantha ‘Red Dragon’
Edgewarthia chrysantha ‘Red Dragon’
Parriotopsis jacquemontiana is not an evergreen and the flowers are a great improvement on Sycopsis sinensis which is the same cross the other way around and photographed last week
Parriotopsis jacquemontiana
Parriotopsis jacquemontiana
Parriotopsis jacquemontiana
Parriotopsis jacquemontiana

2016 – CHW
One of the finest things in the garden today after a mild winter is the very tender Rhododendron stenaulum (now renamed Rhododendron moulmainense) from Moulmein in Burma. The plant with its very attractive peeling bark is about 15-20ft tall. We used to have a white form above the wall which once got Dr Davidian, the great rhodo expert and author from The Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, into a huge state of excitement. We have grown this ourselves from seed but never from cuttings as yet.

Rhododendron stenaulum
Rhododendron stenaulum
Camellia ‘Nightrider’ has its first almost black flowers in the greenhouse. It looks very tender. The plant came from a French nursery and is too small to go out for a while yet.
Camellia ‘Nightrider’
Camellia ‘Nightrider’
Camellia ‘Nightrider’
Camellia ‘Nightrider’
Sorting out the next batches of magnolias and a few other climbers with Asia for planting out in Old Park (fifteen) and Penvergate (five) after Easter. A soothing light rain and no wind to spoil the magnolias. This just leaves the rhododendrons in the frames and the nursery beds to deal with to complete this year’s planting out. Around 80 new named magnolias already sorted and in place. Quite a full on year as usual.
Tilia endochrysea is further into leaf in the greenhouse and what a stunning plant this is a fortnight on from when the first buds broke.
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Tilia endochrysea
Maurice Foster gave us Magnolia ‘Chindit’ which is a good new plant for us and this is safely potted on for planting out in 2017 or 2018. Tom Hudson gave us a new neolitsea species and two plants of a new camellia species whose names I forget. Bluebells popping out everywhere before the primroses are at their best. Who has ever seen this before?

2015 – CHW

CAMELLIA Monica Dance
CAMELLIA ‘Monica Dance’

Off to Monica Dance’s funeral in Camborne with a bad hangover.  Monica’s husband, Arnold Dance, ran Burncoose Gardens for 42 years until his retirement in about 2002. Monica’s son, Steve Dance, was born at Burncoose Lodge and currently runs the Burncoose office.

Her coffin was covered with a huge spray of Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ which Arnold bred at Burncoose.

1993 – FJW
Very little rain for 8 weeks – garden very early – most of the Magnolias are over. Visited Marwood Hill.

1980 – FJW
Flower still out on Lanarth seedling above crino hedge.

1979 – FJW
First flower spotted on Magnolia ‘Mr Garden’.

1978 – FJW
Still wet and windy Caerhays Belle excellent – best new USA Camellia Kramer’s Supreme. Poor flowers on Lanarth seedlings above crino hedge.

1976 – FJW
F/M Monygomery died. Frost knocked out Magnolias except in Rookery; the Diva, – Rogers Quarry – all above frosted.

1962 – FJW
Killed Moorhen marked by Copenhagen Zoo.

1960 – FJW
The east wind stopped after a week. The Diva at its best as is the Robusta above E.R’s Quarry. Calophytum sutchuenense hybrids best rhodo in the garden.

1952 – CW
Old Magnolia robusta no buds – 3 out of 5 young out, one fully (Donkey Shoe), Campbellii at best. Also old Mollicomata ¼ out, rest not including ten young with buds. Salicifolia one good. Diva a few flowers. Reticulatas and St Ewe at best. Saluenensis past best. Daffodils mid stream. Barbatum at best.

1941 – CW
Magnolia sargenteana fully out – Mollicomata beginning – Campbellii been out some days. Salicifolia below Engine House good. Denudata not ¼ out. Rhodo Blood Reds at their best also Sutchuenense hybrids, Daffs nearly at their best. Barbatum perfect – Cam reticulata species at their best – Reticulata not out.

1914 – JCW
Blackthorn well out under the drive, picked 3 buds of seedling Poet.