6th August

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
Spiders webs in the mist.

Spiders webs in the mist
Spiders webs in the mist
Fruits forming on Sorbus eleonorae.
Sorbus eleonorae
Sorbus eleonorae
The hedgerows now get cut rather later in the year and visitors can enjoy the displays of honeysuckles.
The hedgerows now get cut
The hedgerows now get cut
Clethra monostachya with smaller flowers than for the last two years.
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Purple seed heads and Dipteronia sinensis.
Dipteronia sinensis
Dipteronia sinensis
Escallonia resinosa was a gift from Windsor Great Park.
Escallonia resinosa
Escallonia resinosa
Maackia hupehensis with a good show of flowers this year.
Maackia hupehensis
Maackia hupehensis
Castle Wood grass cutting finished. Just the completion of Old Park to go now. As you can see its well underway.
Castle Wood grass cutting finished
Castle Wood grass cutting finished

2023 – CHW

Hydrangea video day at Burncoose.

Melicytus crassifolius covered in white berries already in a nursery tunnel.
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
Melicytus crassifolius
At last a flower on the attractive Sesbania punicea.
Sesbania punicea
Sesbania punicea
New for next year’s catalogue is Coreopsis ‘Ladybird’.
Coreopsis ‘Ladybird’
Coreopsis ‘Ladybird’
Seed setting on Meliosma oldhamii on the drive.
Meliosma oldhamii
Meliosma oldhamii
Jenny Knuckey now has 2 carers and is at home bedridden. Nevertheless, in her garden, a superb Dierama.
superb Dierama
superb Dierama
Back at Caerhays 2 more drought ridden rhododendrons.
drought ridden rhododendrons
drought ridden rhododendrons
First flowers just out on Hypericum lancasteri.
Hypericum lancasteri
Hypericum lancasteri
Hypericum lancasteri
Hypericum lancasteri
Grass cutting on Old Park going well.
Grass cutting on Old Park
Grass cutting on Old Park

2022 – CHW

The newly planted out Lyonia ligustrina is surviving the drought.

Lyonia ligustrina
Lyonia ligustrina
Very different in leaf to Lyonia ovalfolium.
Lyonia ovalfolium
Lyonia ovalfolium
Dichroa guizhou flowering here for the first time.
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Dichroa guizhou
Hydrangea serrata ‘Mount’ Also nearly over.
Hydrangea serrata ‘Mount’
Hydrangea serrata ‘Mount’
Huge flower on the Melianthus villosus.
Melianthus villosus
Melianthus villosus
We know these seeds are not worth growing on the promiscuous Acer carpinifolium from the Acer society visit.
Acer carpinifolium
Acer carpinifolium
Sitting in the bath I wondered if this plant was actually Meliosma dumicola? The reality is that it is Daphniphyllum glaucescens which does not yet feature on the IDS website.
Daphniphyllum glaucescens
Daphniphyllum glaucescens
Daphniphyllum glaucescens
Daphniphyllum glaucescens

2021 – CHW
A wonderful roadside triangle of betony or Betonica officinalis (formerly Stachys officinalis) under a signpost near Nancor Farm on the road to Carwinnick. Tarmac on three sides and, apart from a couple of knapweed, nothing else growing on this small area. There is betony in fairly nearby hedges but this lot has shown up this year because of no grass cutting at all. Long may it continue!
Betonica officinalis
Betonica officinalis
Betonica officinalis
Betonica officinalis
Betonica officinalis
Betonica officinalis

Time to get the autumn/spring rare plant orders for Caerhays into the pipeline before the European nurseries produce their autumn availability lists. Lunaplant in Germany promise a delivery of a number of their new magnolia hybrids bred by Michael Gottschalk (and others) which we had identified and talked about in the spring. A notable magnolia breeder but not a large nursery. A well-known Belgian wholesale nursery declined our £20k spring order due to Brexit. Will they relent now, as most big European nurseries have already done, and include our Caerhays order for a new collection of Celtis and Zanthoxylum species with the Burncoose order? Two years ago we brought in 20+ new species of cotoneaster and, last autumn, we added a dozen more to the collection of Crataegus species from all around the world. These have done well and are ready to plant out in one spot this autumn. The Cotoneasters and Crataegus are well photographed in this diary.

I thought I would try to obtain a few more very obscure genera:
Campytoptris macrocarpaDichotomanthes tristaniicarpa

Mediago strasseri

Ostryopsis davidiana

Phoebe bournei

These are generally dull shrubs with boring flowers but of considerable botanical rarity and exactly what we should be growing here to entertain, confuse and educate. Do not worry I had to look all of them up as well!

2020 – CHW
Our largest Lindera aggregata has not enjoyed the earlier drought but seems to have stabilised.
Lindera aggregata
Lindera aggregata
No seedpods at all to be seen on the four magnolia species in the Ririeii Opening which is good but not unexpected as gales tore up the flowers. Plenty of buds showing up though for next year.
magnolia species
magnolia species
On the old Lithocarpus cleistocarpa many flower heads (male and female) but no seed clusters unlike on the younger plants as we saw earlier.
Lithocarpus cleistocarpa
Lithocarpus cleistocarpa
Our largest Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’ just showing colour. Multi stemmed with three leaders.
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
One lone goose egg flower on Magnolia kwangtungensis (Manglietia moto).
Magnolia kwangtungensis
Magnolia kwangtungensis
Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’ root shoots have escaped the grass cut.
Tetrapanax papyrifer 'Rex'
Tetrapanax papyrifer ‘Rex’
Viburnum triphyllum from Crûg has made a large shrub.
Viburnum triphyllum
Viburnum triphyllum
Viburnum triphyllum
Viburnum triphyllum
Xanthoceras sorbifolium is a plant we have lost several times. Here it is going well.
Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Eucalyptus crenulata has flower buds.
Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus crenulata
Eucalyptus crenulata
Photinia macrophylla well berried up.
Photinia macrophylla
Photinia macrophylla
The difference between Rhododendron decorum and Rhododendron auriculatum is really in the leaf shape/form and not the flower!
Rhododendron decorum
Rhododendron decorum
Still a last flower on Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’.
Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’
Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’
Grass cutting (first time around) is nearly complete in the main garden. The time it takes to remove weed growth around individual plants is important for their survival as young plants but considerable if done properly. Here a Rhododendron excellens planted this year.
Rhododendron excellens
Rhododendron excellens

2019 – CHW
I had hoped to see some berries forming on the 15 or so new species of cotoneaster bought from Mark Bulk in the spring. However only one had any. This was Cotoneaster wilsonii which had odd bell shaped fruits which are already a strong red colour. We need to find a good shady spot to plant all these out next spring and enjoy them. C. wilsonii is not listed in Hillier’s or the RHS encyclopaedia but it is in the new Fryer & Hymlo guide to cotoneaster. It comes from Ullung island in Korea and has only recently come into cultivation. The picture of the fruits in this book match exactly the picture shown here of our plant. The red berries will turn a dark purple-red later. If it fruits as well as this it may well prove to be an interesting new introduction for the catalogue.

Cotoneaster wilsonii
Cotoneaster wilsonii
Cotoneaster wilsonii
Cotoneaster wilsonii
Also in the frames is Tetradium ruticarpum with three flower heads which have developed into a mass of (so far) green seeds. Something for Asia to collect later on. This is not a species which we have ever grown here as far as I know.
Tetradium ruticarpum
Tetradium ruticarpum
Tetradium ruticarpum
Tetradium ruticarpum
Burncoose conservatory decked out with 70 to 80 different hydrangea flowers for the RHS hydrangea lecture. A full house of 20 attendees on a very hot day. One hour lecture, lunch and a 1½ hour tour of the gardens to look at hydrangeas.
hydrangea lecture
hydrangea lecture
hydrangea lecture
hydrangea lecture
hydrangea lecture
hydrangea lecture
Aesculus parviflora flowering as well as I have ever seen it in Burncoose garden. An oak limb fell down and the 25 year old suckering plant (only 8-10ft tall) has improved with more light.
Aesculus parviflora
Aesculus parviflora
Aesculus parviflora
Aesculus parviflora

2018 – CHW
Wonderful leaves and new growth on Dipteronia sinensis as a young multi-stemmed plant.
Dipteronia sinensis
Dipteronia sinensis
Dipteronia sinensis
Dipteronia sinensis
Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ full out by Georges Hut.
Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’
First flowering with us of the new Clethra monostachya. One for Asia to now propagate. Attractive leaf formation.
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Clethra monostachya
Syringa yunnanensis growing in some shade from a young magnolia is performing well. Its immediate neighbour catches full sun only 5ft away and is nearly dead. This is what microclimates and planting plans are all about in a drought year.
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Syringa yunnanensis
Most eucryphias are flowering poorly in the drought conditions (so far anyway) but Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’ towards the Four in Hand is the exception.
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
Eucryphia nymansensis ‘Nymansay’
Last year this young Rehderodendron macrocarpum was covered in pinkish hanging seed pods. Nothing in this year’s drought.
Rehderodendron macrocarpum
Rehderodendron macrocarpum

2017 – CHW
Eucomis have leaf tufts at the top of the flower spikes. Here they are!

Eucomis
Eucomis
Eucomis
Eucomis
Cantua boxifolia grown over a wall so the trumpet flowers show up when they hang from its arching branches.
Cantua boxifolia
Cantua boxifolia
Dierama pulcherrimum – seeds formed already on this fine clump although some flowers are still out.
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Dierama pulcherrimum
Acacia baileyana – 15-18ft tall.
Acacia baileyana
Acacia baileyana
Acacia baileyana
Acacia baileyana
Acacia baileyana
Acacia baileyana
Grevillea rosemarinifolia – a rather tired old plant.
Grevillea rosemarinifolia
Grevillea rosemarinifolia
Grevillea rosemarinifolia
Grevillea rosemarinifolia
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ with flowers! I had never noticed any before.
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
Grevillea johnsonii – I am gobsmacked by this superb plant every year!
Grevillea johnsonii
Grevillea johnsonii
Grevillea johnsonii
Grevillea johnsonii
Carya ovata with large fruits on a hot bank.
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
Carya ovata
More Clerodendron bungei suckers.
Clerodendron bungei
Clerodendron bungei
Fruit on Cornus mas. Looks edible but not sure?
Cornus mas
Cornus mas
Cornus mas
Cornus mas
Pyrus x michauxii with small pears. A record tree here.
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Pyrus x michauxii
Hoheria angustifolia in full flower.
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Hoheria angustifolia
Correa bachhousiana with its first two flowers out very early and loads of buds to come
Correa bachhousiana
Correa bachhousiana
Correa bachhousiana
Correa bachhousiana
Correa bachhousiana
Correa bachhousiana
Morus nigra just ripening.
Morus nigra
Morus nigra

2016 – CHW
This is the fuchsia purchased on the Isle of Wight for propagation. Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’ is not a climber like our Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’ which is. It appears to be a Fuchsia magellanica variety which is entirely hardy and may well not die down at all in the winter. An attractive colour combination with the red corolla fading to blueish-purple. I cannot find this one in my reference books. It will be a nice new entry in the catalogue one day.
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’
Fuchsia ‘Lady Bacon’

2015 – CHW

A plant in the Higher Quarry Nursery has been another identity puzzle. A deciduous small tree or large shrub with striated bark and long panicles of white flowers in mid summer. Since this nursery bed has been in existence for around 100 years this plant looks as though it was one of those things too rare or obscure ever to get planted out. So it has sat undisturbed and unadmired ever since.

Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia

After much head scratching and research Jim Gardiner and Roy Lancaster thought it was a LYONIA; supposedly an American plant. However the reference books list four species of lyonia of which two are from the US and two are Chinese. Mr Lyon was a north American plant hunter who died in 1818 so Jim was nearly right!

It is possible that a US species did come to Caerhays perhaps from the Arnold Arboretum. However, far more likely is that it is a Chinese introduction. Forrest collected Lyonia macrocalyx in 1924 and Bean says plants were raised at Trewithen. He also collected Lyonia ovalifolia in Yunnan in 1930 to 1931 under F30956.

Today’s quest is to see if it is in flower and to nail down its identity or, rather, to confirm Susyn Andrews’ 2011 identification. From the size of the plant it grows larger than any of the other species of lyonia so should be Lyonia ovalifolia.

Sadly no flowers, remains of flower heads or seedpods – this year’s or last. The terminal buds may be flowers or secondary new growth or it may just not be flowering. The plant is well over 20 ft tall now with four separate trunks and many suckers from ground level and up the main stem. All I can show you today is therefore bark, leaf form and habit. The reference books say it flowers in July but I suspect later. The good evening’s rain has bucked up the young rhodos transplanted this year into the nursery. A wonderful shaded and sheltered environment partly due to the lyonia.

Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia
Lyonia ovalifolia

1940 – CW
Aunt Charlotte to tea, she saw Eucryphia nymansensis at its best – pinnatifolia past but not over – cordifolia just coming to be good and can be seen from front door. Several Auriculatum hybrids still good – an azalea (red) under Denudata seedling nice. Very nice hydrangea on top of Donkey Shoe nursery. Mag delavayi, I find a much finer flower at dawn – clearly opens at night.

1915 – JCW
Buddleia veitchii wanes. Myrtles good. R decorum nice. R auriculatum opening.

1906 – JCW
Sweet peas and tea roses good, leaving for Scotland.

1900 – JCW
Some lapageria flowers open.

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