10th 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


2025 – CHW

Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’.

Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Deep Purple Dream’.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Deep Purple Dream’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Deep Purple Dream’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’.
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’
Good to see a young replacement Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Copeland Court’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Werrington’.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Werrington’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Werrington’
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’.
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’.
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’
Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Wakehurst’.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Wakehurst’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Wakehurst’
The sister seedling to Magnolia ‘Leonora’ – even better than ‘Leonora’.
sister seedling to Magnolia ‘Leonora’
sister seedling to Magnolia ‘Leonora’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’.
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’

2024 – CHW
The east wind continues and the magnolias are not improving in it but far from blown away. 22 on the Magnolia lecture tour.

Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta behind it.

Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’ is now more fully out and I particularly like the pink veining on the tepals which is irregular but pronounced.
Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’
We have a Record Tree of Roy Lancaster’s collection of Aucuba omeiensis from Mount Omei. Roy saw it a week ago in full flower as here but I was not with him myself. I had thought that I had photographed berries on this small tree in the past but a search of the Diary pictures proves me wrong. Roy confirms that this is a male plant. So we need to ‘borrow’ a female plant from Tregrehan to grow nearby. Then we too will have berries!
Aucuba omeiensis
Aucuba omeiensis
Aucuba omeiensis
Aucuba omeiensis
Aucuba omeiensis
Aucuba omeiensis
Roy also found Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757) growing near Tin Garden. It is an evergreen and, very unusually for a Viburnum, a native of Columbia which Bleddyn Wynn-Jones collected there some years ago. The stems on the new growth are hairy. We need to propagate this vigorous growing species.
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Viburnum triphyllum (BSWJ 10757)
Stachyurus yunnanensis with a hint of pink. Leaves nibbled by deer.
Stachyurus yunnanensis
Stachyurus yunnanensis
Stachyurus lancifolius (BSWJ 5690) is now a huge spreading shrub and, again, covered in flower.
Stachyurus lancifolius (BSWJ 5690)
Stachyurus lancifolius (BSWJ 5690)
Stachyurus lancifolius (BSWJ 5690)
Stachyurus lancifolius (BSWJ 5690)
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ has survived 48 hours of easterly gales.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Rhododendron ‘Chink’ is semi-evergreen. Grows just below the bishop.
Rhododendron ‘Chink’
Rhododendron ‘Chink’
Rhododendron ‘Chink’
Rhododendron ‘Chink’
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’; one of several now getting established in the garden. Sometimes I think they are OK and sometimes I think a pretty poor form of sargentiana with small flowers.
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329) is developing well and about to give a fine show.
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
Magnolia sprengeri var. sprengeri (84329)
The Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling in the Aucklandii Garden has not been destroyed yet by the East wind.
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling
Magnolia campbellii var. alba seedling

2023 – CHW
Finished the very last of this seasons planting today with 25-30 tender varieties needing very particular siting dotted about here and there. The planting has taken the team about 6 days in all starting in early February (plus 2 days on the Malus in January and 3 or 4 days in October). The wire netting surrounds, ties and proper staking take far longer than the planting itself.Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ in the Isla Rose Plantation really does have a gorgeous scent and is making a nicely shaped tree. Very floriferous at a young age.
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’ has suddenly appeared in flower high up.
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
Ribes malvaceum, a previously unknown species here, flowering for the first time in the Isla Rose. Quite pretty and certainly different. Vigorous habit and in leaf already. Forgot to check if it had any scent.
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Ribes malvaceum
Vases of Caerhays magnolias at the Spring has Sprung launch at The Nare Hotel – 100 people attended.
Vases of Caerhays magnolias
Vases of Caerhays magnolias
Vases of Caerhays magnolias
Vases of Caerhays magnolias
The speeches at the end of the event.
The speeches
The speeches
The speeches
The speeches

2022 – CHW

A Burncoose day to place out the plants for planting out in new areas in the garden.

Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’ adorning the cash point.

Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Placing out by the old walled garden.
Placing out
Placing out
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’ offset nicely by Ilex mutchagara.
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
Magnolia ‘Shirazz’
A clump of Rhododendron moupinense on the drive.
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
And also of Rhododendron racemosum.
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Rhododendron racemosum
Magnolia (Michelia) macclureii is just into flower on the drive. The third or fourth time it has performed.
Magnolia (Michelia) macclureii
Magnolia (Michelia) macclureii
Rhododendron moupinense now out.
Rhododendron moupinense
Rhododendron moupinense
Three more yellow magnolias (and 10 Matsumae cherries) added to the yellow magnolia collection in Tunnel Field. Only one or two casualties from last year’s planting and all settling in well.
Tunnel Field
Tunnel Field
Tunnel Field
Tunnel Field
An Italian grown batch of agave have just arrived in the nursery.
agave
agave
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Snow Queen’ in flower.
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Snow Queen’
Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Snow Queen’
Sophora ‘Sun King’ full out now.
Sophora ‘Sun King’
Sophora ‘Sun King’
Correa nummularifolia is new to the catalogue.
Correa nummularifolia
Correa nummularifolia
An odd contrast between Corylopsis pauciflora in flower and the Russian cypress, Microbiota decussata, with its brown foliage.
Corylopsis pauciflora
Corylopsis pauciflora
Then a visit to Hayle to a farm which now produces compost from green waste collected by Cornwall Council’s green recycling system. This is the green waste compost into which we have potted circa 20,000 of our herbaceous plants. So far the peat grown and green waste compost has produced broadly similar plant growth and plant root systems. It may be fine for growing non ericaceous plants despite its obvious drawbacks in having poor water retention (i.e. needs more watering) and loose soil at the top of the pot which may be an issue in transit. We will know more by September. The green waste compost is guaranteed weed seed free due to the shredding and mixing process it goes through before being mounded up in a huge heated pile. It is a third of the price of bought in peat compost and ‘just down the road’ as they say in Cornwall.
A typical pile of virgin green waste as delivered in by the council.
pile of virgin green waste
pile of virgin green waste
Compost mix down to 40mm ‘bits’.
Compost mix
Compost mix
And then 20mm bits as we have used with fertiliser mixed in.
20mm bits
20mm bits
The 10mm mix was too thin to use and too hard to keep wet.
10mm mix
10mm mix
A heating pile of shredded green compost with plastic and metal removed during the sifting process.
heating pile
heating pile
Then an inspection of the remarkable progress made by Cressy Knuckey since her arrival to run the propagation department last summer.
Rhododendron seed of scores of varieties now sown.
Rhododendron seed
Rhododendron seed
A fine crop of pricked out Puya seedlings. We have never managed results like this before.
Puya seedlings
Puya seedlings
Azalea and rhododendron liners in profusion – just potted.
Azalea and rhododendron liners
Azalea and rhododendron liners
Azalea and rhododendron liners
Azalea and rhododendron liners
Dodonea viscosa seedlings from seed off our own stock plant.
Dodonea viscosa seedlings
Dodonea viscosa seedlings
An excellent crop of home produced scented rhododendrons nearly ready for sale.
scented rhododendrons
scented rhododendrons
Camellia cuttings looking excellent – the best crop we have ever produced and more varieties as well.
Camellia cuttings
Camellia cuttings
Camellia cuttings
Camellia cuttings
Our new hydroponic propagator. Cressy has managed to get cuttings to callous up after only a week! I will report further on progress with propagating very rare plants in this way as time goes on.
hydroponic propagator
hydroponic propagator

2021 – CHW
Filmed more topical tip video clips with Karol & Asia in the greenhouse. Four different ways to propagate Hoya carnosa tested us a bit when the microphone batteries failed. Hopefully the expletives do not make it into the video clips. In the last 10 days we have completed 18 more video clips and two promotional vlogs of 10 minutes each plus two drone overflies of the garden and magnolias. Last year (2020) visitors to the Burncoose Nurseries website and YouTube spent 68½ weeks (24-hour days) viewing our 600 or so video clips of how to care for, propagate and grow the plants which Burncoose sells. These seasonal topical tips and ‘how to care for’ videos have been made over the last five years with a huge amount of time and effort, but it is demonstrably worth it.

Karol & Asia in the greenhouse
Karol & Asia in the greenhouse
Clearing the fallen beech tree at Higher Quarry Nursery which fell around Christmas. The second time this has happened but fortunately no other tree is left that could repeat this.
fallen beech tree
fallen beech tree
fallen beech tree
fallen beech tree
Many small rhododendrons and the nursery bed fence smashed up, but a few have survived.
smashed up
smashed up
smashed up
smashed up
Now the worry is these two other adjacent elderly beech trees which will need the tree surgeon this summer.
elderly beech trees
elderly beech trees
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ now out low down and a good colour.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’
I cannot resist more pictures of Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Dusty Pink’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’ just out. An Ian Baldick introduction from New Zealand previously called ‘Ian’s Giant Pink’. It is not that ‘giant’ as yet?
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’
The quince is now covered in flowers with the old fruit.
quince
quince
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ in its pomp (unfrosted!).
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’
Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Charles Raffil’ – not perhaps the best example of the Raffil Group that I have seen.
Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Charles Raffil’
Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Charles Raffil’
The first properly out elderly tree of Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta (unfrosted).
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ just out in Rogers Quarry. The colour will still improve.
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’
The young Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ above Crinodendron Hedge is now fully out and excellent!
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Rhodoelia parvipetala has just been planted out. A wonderful contrast between the white undersides of the leaves and the reddish-pink bark on the newer growth.
Rhodoelia parvipetala
Rhodoelia parvipetala
Thirty-three people visited the gardens yesterday which shows that families are beginning to exercise.