TOUCHWOOD

Plants and seedlings by post 

Winter/Spring  2009/10

There are always plants for sale at Touchwood Garden, Swansea, especially Aquilegias during the flowering season, however if you live at a distance you may wish to use my mail order system.  Firstly I send out bare-rooted plants during dormancy over the winter period (Nov-March).  Secondly in April to August I send out seedlings...put the date in your diary now!.  Finally, I send bare-rooted Aquilegia plants at end May, early July. these plants have flowered and can be cut back at that time to give strong new foliar growth. Here are the current lists. NB, please contact Carrie regarding shipping prices to other than the UK.

TESTIMONIALS:  "The plants I had last year are all doing well, in spite of my neglect!"  "When the border has matured I will send you photos so you can judge how well the novice has done with the expert's plants!"  "I just thought I'd drop you a line and express my sincere thanks for your time, courtesy and great products! I received them today, excellently wrapped, obviously taken good care of at 'your end' and they arrived in superb condition."    "Buy with confidence from this seller. First class all the way."

       Small and/or young plants at £1.50, or ‘double helpings’ (counts as 1 item) at £2.50:

Aquilegias	Smallish, usually self-sown seedling, unlikely to flower this year, pot luck!   Follow this link for full sized plants
Ajuga reptans variagated leaf form.	Decorative ground cover. Do excuse the photo, I always forget to snap this plant when it's looking good. These are the resting, over-wintering buds, but hopefully they give you some idea.
Alchemilla mollis	Lady's Mantle. Beautiful foliage that catches the dew, chartreuse foamy flowers, great for flower arranging.
Briza maxima	Giant quaking grass
Campanula poscharskyana	Unpronouncable yet indispensable bellfower,covered in purpley-blue starry flowers for months. 10-20cms and spreading. I'm writing this a week before Christmas....and still enjoying some flowers around my doorstep!
Corydalis ophiocarpa	At least I THINK that's what this is, I can't find photos to confirm it. Thanks to Mitch who described this species' attributes to me....before I'd listed it as C. cheilanthifolia. Dusky, pinky, ferny foliage and creamy flowers.
Chelidonium majus fl. pl	Double form greater celandine, a great mound of good foliage, with bright flowers over a long period in summer.
Dipsacus fullonum	Teasel ...these are smaller plants, but likely to flower this year.
Dianthus armeria	Deptford Pink. Deepest pink flowers open individually over a long period. Deptford Pink article
Feverfew	Aromatic foliage. Masses of yellow-centred daisy flowers in summer.
Geranium pyrenaicum	Self-sown seedlings, so pot luck colours!
Geranium rubescens	Like a huge herb Robert! Or a petite Geranium canariense/maderense type.
Geranium x oxonianum	So willing, it will not only clump up, but also self-seed.
Gladiolus papilio 2 corms	Hardy. Delicate colours and tracery on each flower.
Jerusalem artichoke 'Fuseau'	Very good cultivar for large edible roots  10-15' tall plants, yes! With yellow daisy flowers.  cook by boiling, or steaming. For an even better treat, roast about 45 minutes. Nigel Slater in 'The Garden'magasine suggested roasting in butter with the addition of thyme or a bay leaf, adding that they are also good in salads or as soups . My favourite way: atitichoke crisps!
Lamium galeobdolon	Yellow Archangel   Rampant but beautifully silvered leaves. Yellow flowers.
Melissa	Lemon Balm. Rapidly clumps up. Wondrous lemon flavour, my favourite tea is lemon balm tea, take 2-3 top sprigs in a mug, pour over boiling water and drink hot or cold.
Oenothera biennis	Evening primrose
Mentha requenii	Corsican mint, tiny, tiny creeping mint, wondrous scent!     Purple flowers.
Mentha spicata	good form of spearmint for your lamb!
Mentha ‘Bowles’ Mint’	Also known as Apple Mint…fantastic!
Phuopsis stylosa	Spherical pink pinhead flowerheads and evergreen foliage. I'd never be without it. Highly recommended....and not just by me: Testimonial: PS: Last years plants are doing very well, especially the Phuopsis, haven't come across it from anywhere else...my little grandson loves saying it too!
Physostegia virginiana,	Obedient plant....because the individual flowers stay where you put them! Pink form
Oxalis  purple leaved Just a quick note to say thanks for the non-rooted Oxalis cuttings I got from you at the end of March. The photograph, (above) shows one of the cuttings in a 12in pot. Marvellous! Thanks, Andrew (11th July 2009)	My star buy in 2008, one plant took over a whole container, cascading all around....everything else died from slugs or the weather!  Too good to loose, I then brought it into the house for the winter! This is 2 unrooted, small, cuttings ...be prepared to mollycoddle them until ready to plant out. Proving hardier that I thought, but I'll wait until all the frosts are over before taking back outside. 2009, a customer sent a photograph to show me the cuttings that he'd had from me, looking incredible early summer!
Persicaria nepalensis syn P. alata	Well marked foliage, pretty pink flowers, until cut down by frosts (November here). This is a brilliant ground cover plant, rapidly covering the allotted area (and then some more!), However, it dies back underground during the winter. You will receive several shoots...which will clump up.	Persicaria nepalensis is grown mainly for its handsome foliage. Well marked leaves form an attractive bank of foliage to about a foot high. Wish I'd taken a pic of the whole effect, sorry.
Persicaria campanulata	Prettily marked velvety leaves in spring. Little bell flowers in August-September. Don't let it flop over other plants! I prop mine against a wall or fence. I just wanted to let you know that the persicaria campanulata you sent me in April is knocking my socks off - whatta plant!    It has a lovely presence.  Is there any way you could send me more?   Or can I reserve some for next year?   (I put all my stock in a client's garden so I'd rather not take cuttings from it...)  Thanks, Sue Davis  Thank YOU Sue, it IS good, isn't it? I can send more, and it expands freely so you should have plenty to enjoy!  Carrie
Saxifraga  'Seven Hills'	Great encrusted saxifrage, small tight rosettes...this photo was taken in winter, when it still looks good spilling over the edge of a small trough.
Saxifraga  Possibly 'Southside Seedling'	Big brother of the above, larger and so more rapidly growing. Occasionally tall flowering stems with red-splashed white flowers. Photo taken in November.
Sedum alba	Jelly bean plant. Fleshy jelly-bean leaves and white flowers on this happy alpine.
Semperivivum	Houseleek. Or, one old name for it is: 'Welcome home husband however drunk you be' Hmmmmm! I have several sorts, but you'll get pot luck really, though you could ask for, eg, smaller sort, green sort, red sort or cobweb sort...and if you're very lucky I might be able to comply! Photo taken in November. Grow it on your roof...to protect your house from lightening. Wonder if the insurance company will allow a discount....like for burglar alarms?  Do let me know!
Schizostylis coccinea,	Kaffir lily, at least 6 small ones to grow on to flowering stage Pink form only available as £2.50 sized, see below
Tolmeia	Piggy-back plant...so called as tiny new plants grow on the leaves! Also used as a houseplant. Small strange flowers on medium height stems,,, strangely d'Arth Vader-like to my way of thinking!	Great ground cover for shade.
Tellima grandiflora	Fringecups. Scented. Great ground cover in shade.
Thymus ‘Pink Chintz’	Creeping thyme, pink flowers
Another alpine sedum	fleshy leaves, yellow flower, unsure what it is! Creeps and roots controllably!

Larger plants at £2.50:

counts as 1 'item' re p&p

Fern	un-named, in variety, pot luck!
Alchemilla mollis	Lady's Mantle. Beautiful foliage that catches the dew, chartreuse foamy flowers, great for flower arranging.
Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’	Decorative variegated 'grass'. Evergreen in green and yellow.
Acorus gramineus   I think! cream and green	Decorative variegated 'grass'. Evergreen in green and cream.
Green and white decorative grass	Photo taken November...as the 2 above are...imagine how much better in the summer! Much softer than the above, which is more glossy
Allium triquetrum (5)	3-cornered leek - edible flowers, and leaves through the winter. and early spring, just when chives is below ground!  One of the early spring bulbs, very delicate looking yet tough as old boots.  Called 3-cornered leek as the flower stems have 3 corners.  It'll multiply and clump up nicely from the bulbs, DON'T let it seed or it can take over....just deadhead and throw the spent flowers in the bin. - supplied in active growth
Arisarum proboscideum	Mouse plant. Mouse-like flowers, complete with tails!.  'Bulb', flowers in spring. Hardy, easy.
Crocosmia  'Lucifer'  3 corms	Tall, brilliantly blatant scarlet flowers.
Campanula poscharskyana	Unpronouncable yet indispensable bellfower,covered in purpley-blue starry flowers for months. 10-20cms and spreading. I'm writing this a week before Christmas....and still enjoying some flowers around my doorstep!
Corydalis ophiocarpa	At least I THINK that's what this is, I can't find photos to confirm it. Thanks to Mitch who described this species' attributes to me....before I'd listed it as C. cheilanthifolia. Dusky, pinky, ferny foliage and creamy flowers.
Chelidonium majus fl. pl	Double form greater celandine, a great mound of good foliage, with bright flowers over a long period in summer. Larger sized plants.
Cyperus spp	Hardy, perennial, short, umbrella plant. About 18" high, forming a slowly spreading clump. Does not self-seed.
Dipsacus fullonum	Teasel Large plant
Eupatorium cannabinum	Hemp agrimony. 5' hardy perennial with flattish topped light pink flowers, loved by butterflies.
Feverfew	Aromatic foliage. Masses of yellow-centred daisy flowers in summer.
Geranium pyrenaicum	Self-sown seedlings, so pot luck colours!
Geranium phaeum	Mourning widow. Very early, dusky flowers held well above foliage. Long season, bees will thank you!
Geranium phaeum hybrid	Another early flowerer. More purply, more sharper-pointed flowers
Geranium unknown,	Pink flowers, ask for the 'back garden, front of border' to distinguish from the other unknowns!
Geranium unknown,	Pink flowers, ask for the 'near moss rose one' to distinguish from the other unknowns!
Geranium x oxonianum	So willing, it will not only clump up, but also self-seed. Grows to 2-3'
Geranium rubescens	Like a huge herb Robert! Or petite Geranium maderense/canariense type.
Gladiolus papilio 5 corms	Hardy. Delicate colours and tracery on each flower.
Jerusalem artichoke 'Fuseau'	Very good cultivar for large edible roots  10-15' tall plants, yes! With yellow daisy flowers.  cook by boiling, or steaming. For an even better treat, roast about 45 minutes. Nigel Slater in 'The Garden'magasine suggested roasting in butter with the addition of thyme or a bay leaf, adding that they are also good in salads or as soups . My favourite way: atitichoke crisps!
Luzula sylvatica 'Aurea'	Golden wood-rush. Photo taken in winter.
Lysimachia ciliata 'Firecracker' x3	Dark purple dramatic foliage, sprays of yellow flowers. A showstopper. spreads.
Lysimachia punctata x6	Yellow Loosestrife. Super cottage garden perennial. Very quickly forms a large mat with yellow flowers over a long period in summer. Yes, an enthusiastic spreader!
Milleum effuseum aureum	Bowles’ golden grass
Montbretia   6 corms	Rapidly spreads! Very lovely, well marked orange flowers.
Oenothera biennis	Evening primrose,  larger plant
Oxalis  purple leaved Just a quick note to say thanks for the non-rooted Oxalis cuttings I got from you at the end of March. The photograph (above) shows one of the cuttings in a 12in pot. Marvellous! Thanks, Andrew (11th July 2009)	My star buy in 2008, one plant took over a whole container, cascading all around....everything else died from slugs or the weather!  Too good to lose, I then brought it into the house for the winter! These are 4 unrooted, small, cuttings ...be prepared to mollycoddle them until ready to plant out. Proving hardier that I thought, but I'll wait until all the frosts are over before taking back outside.
Persicaria nepalensis syn P. alata	Well marked foliage, pretty pink flowers, until cut down by frosts (November here). This is a brilliant ground cover plant, rapidly covering the allotted area (and then some more!), However, it dies back underground during the winter. You will receive several shoots...which will clump up.	Persicaria nepalensis is grown mainly for its handsome foliage. Well marked leaves form an attractive bank of foliage to about a foot high. Wish I'd taken a pic of the whole effect, sorry.
Persicaria 'Red Dragon'	Fantastic chevron-marked purple foliage. Not totally hardy, always gets cut back with late frosts, even here....but still keeps coming. You will receive 3 very small shoots...which will make a decent statement during the first year, and clump up well. Please don't order too early unless you can protect the small plants....March or April will do. Note, counted by shoot not root...some roots have more than 1 shoot!
Persicaria campanulata	Prettily marked velvety leaves in spring. Little bell flowers in August-September. Don't let it flop over other plants! I prop mine against a wall or fence. I just wanted to let you know that the persicaria campanulata you sent me in April is knocking my socks off - whatta plant!    It has a lovely presence.  Is there any way you could send me more?   Or can I reserve some for next year?   (I put all my stock in a client's garden so I'd rather not take cuttings from it...)  Thanks, Sue Davis  Thank YOU Sue, it IS good, isn't it? I can send more, and it expands freely so you should have plenty to enjoy!  Carrie
Schizostylis coccinea, pink or red forms	Kaffir lily, at least 6 small ones to grow on to flowering stage Pink form also available
Rubus  ‘Golden Vale’.	Great arching stems with bright yellow leaves. Brightest gold in full sun, nevertheless it brightens up a shady place. Even in the winter when you have the bare white stems arching architecturaly.

Larger plants at £3 plus actual postage costs:

	These are so big and heavy, please ring to find out postage cost.  Cost £3 plus actual postage.
Mirabilis jalapa  …… not quite hardy treat as dahlia tubers.	Enormous roots of Mirabilis jalapa  …… not quite hardy treat as dahlia tubers.  Red or white, pot luck, most of mine are red. Fantastic scent in the evening, if they could bottle it they'd make a fortune!
Rubus  ‘Golden Vale’. LARGE ROOT	Great arching stems with bright yellow leaves. Brightest gold in full sun, nevertheless it brightens up a shady place. Even in the winter when you have the bare white stems arching architecturaly.
Dryopteris ex 'The King'	Fimbriated fern...lots of extra frilly bits at the edges of the fronds...and at the top.
Blechnum chilense	New for 2010. I am thrilled to be able to offer these hardy, Chilean ferns. Their tough, leathery, shiny leaves last throughout the year. Rather different, and definitely necessary for the Jurassic dinosaur look!         3'

Aquilegias, varied prices:

I send out bare-rooted Aquilegia plants Nov-March and June.

In winter they are 1 year old seedlings (ready to flower this season), or 2 year old, already flowered plants.

Prices depend on the size of the plant, whether it has already flowered, and its rarity and desirability, eg a £3 blue, already-flowered plant will be far, far larger than a tiddly red-and yellow unflowered seedling at the same price.

Aquilegia pot luck plants	I  have some  'pot luck' lost-label plants! Or self-sown seedlings. They are £1.50 each. There are also a few larger ones at £2 and £3, and possibly some smaller ones at just £1
	ALREADY FLOWERED PLANTS	These flowered last summer so you know what you're getting
Flower Colour	Please email me with your phone number and preferred colours and types, and I will call you with availability.	Prices £1-£4.50
Blue, single	Only lost label blues....may be singles!
Blue, doubles	Includes gold leaved indigo double (Roman Bronze type), and variegated leaved indigo doubles (Woodside Blue, Leprechaun Gold etc)
Pink singles, pink doubles including light pinks. and rubies.
Pink and white singles and doubles
Black	doubles
Black	Barlow types
William Guiness	And double form
White single	Sold out 2010
Not supplied this year Not much uptake last year,	NOT YET FLOWERED PLANTS   Buying unflowered aquilegia seedlings is something of a lottery!	However, you WILL get them cheaper this way than when it actually flowers and proves its desirability! Many you can’t find elsewhere. Photo is of parent plant, or of what the species or cultivar should be.
Seedling FROM:	Price, and number of each available	updated Dec 2009

  Follow this link to return to the first table of plants

I just thought I'd drop you a line and express my sincere thanks for your time, courtesy and great products! I received them today, excellently wrapped, obviously taken good care of at 'your end' and they arrived in superb condition. Your voucher was very welcomed (and will indeed be used!) and so too were the instructions. Regards, Stella 

All plants beautifully growing, they have established in their pots very quickly, obviously from good stock, and the Aquilegia seeds are up, a very successful buy!!