30th August

…again no prickles to speak of so why the name? Crataegus horrida Crataegus horrida Crataegus jozana with just a few dark purple-red fruits as yet. N.E. Asia. Crataegus jozana Crataegus…

10th March

…‘Chindit’ Magnolia ‘Purple Sensation’ just coming. 2010 planted and 15-18ft tall already. Magnolia ‘Purple Sensation’ Magnolia ‘Purple Sensation’ The first large leafed Rhododendron sinogrande seedling which I have seen out…

18th July

…slavinii ‘Hillieri’ Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ and Hydrangea ‘Generale Vicomtesse de Vibraye’ look good together. Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ 2023 – CHW A marvellous garden hidden away at the back…

10th October

…Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’ is only briefly purple as far as its new leaves are concerned. Lower branches are showing some good yellowing leaves. Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’ Stewartia monadelpha putting on…

25th April

…old plants of Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ nearing their last ‘hurrah’. Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ First flowering here of Magnolia ‘Purple Prince’ which I first saw in the Valley…

9th November

…blackish-purple hue if it is indeed true to name? We have a few other plants from different sources which do not have this distinct autumn colour. No seeds as yet….

4th March

…Magnolia ‘Vairano’ (Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ x Magnolia campbellii) as good as I have seen it yet. Magnolia ‘Vairano’ Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’) just coming….

7th March

…‘Black Tulip’ x M. x soulangeana ‘Deep Purple Dream’ also 2013 planted. I think this is now called ‘Antje Zandee’ but ‘Aphrodite’ and ‘Pink Fruity’ are different named plants from…

16th April

purple to reddish purple and with or without central blotches. Rhododendron kiyosumense (search elsewhere in the diary to see) is also a form of reticulatum but the Japanese recognise several…

22nd June

…new growth is purple-red when it unfurls (a bit later than Q. glauca). Our ‘hedge’ certainly has attractive purple-red new growth. Alan then says that the undersides of the newer…