Plants to Take Home

The Silk Tree (Albizia julibrissin) is a refined relative of the mimosa

There was a world of  plant temptations at the show, most of which I managed to resist on the basis of the fact that my garden is pretty well full to overflowing and I need to be editing out rather than adding at the moment. However, seeing the Silk Tree in the Palaeontologist’s Garden reminded me what a lovely airy small tree it is and it is now top of my list to go in a bed that is due to be trashed by builders and will need replanting.  The one plant I did carry home was a Francoa – I saw this recently in a friend’s garden where it puts up with being tucked beneath a magnolia where the soil can be very dry. It keeps its foliage overwinter and then produces soft pink flower spikes in early summer.  You can buy Francoa at the show, online or by visiting Culm View Nursery.

Francoa is a new favourite