“Per aspera ad astra“ That quote punningly just about sums up this season for Hydrangea aspera: translated as roughly ‘Through asperities (hardships, adversities, rigours) to the stars.’ The ‘aspera’ in H. aspera is usually taken to refer to the rough texture of the underside of the leaf, but I have not since 1976 experienced suchContinue reading “White House Farm Open Day on Hydrangea aspera”
Category Archives: Horticulture
Hydrangea serrata: a lesson from Japan
A few spaces are left for our Open Day on Wednesday June 25th, with a focus on hydrangeas – serratas, but many other hydrangea species too. Coffee and intro talks at 10.30, tours at 11am and 2pm – tea and Q & As at 4.30pm. Bring your own picnic lunch, we provide biscuits and drinks TOContinue reading “Hydrangea serrata: a lesson from Japan”
Wild roses in the garden
For those like William Robinson whose taste is inclined away from ‘fat, complex and overbred roses’, rose species can be a very satisfying contrast. Where there is space for them to flourish, they are a good enough reason on their own to justify a remark allegedly made by one of the Rothschilds, that ‘every garden,Continue reading “Wild roses in the garden”
Deutzias: the WHF collection
There will be an IDS Deutzia Study Study here on Saturday May 24th. Book here. I’ve been surprised this year how robust our early Deutzias have proven to be, with the driest March and April on record for Kent followed by some weeks of daily sun and temperatures over 20C. It’s a new discovery toContinue reading “Deutzias: the WHF collection”
Melliodendron xylocarpum
It has been a very good year at White House Farm for Melliodendron xylocarpum, which has lived up to its reputation as an outstandingly attractive newly introduced small tree. A quiet, warm, sunlit spring, and cool at night has meant the flowers have lasted well, and the trees have been effective for two months. WeContinue reading “Melliodendron xylocarpum”
The majesty of Magnolia campbellii
Archibald Campbell was a political officer at Darjeeling in N. India at the time of Joseph Hooker’s celebrated 1849 visit to the Himalaya, which he helped to expedite. He was perhaps fortunate to have the most spectacular flowering tree yet discovered – the pink type species of Magnolia campbellii – named for him by Hooker.Continue reading “The majesty of Magnolia campbellii”
Mahonias: mainstays of the garden from September to March
One of our main occupations at present is to review all genera in the collection here at White House Farm, with a view to completing an accurate database, and creating permanent labels. Trustees Chris Sanders, Jack Aldridge and Rod White have all recently been trawling through the Mahonia collection in a valiant attempt to sortContinue reading “Mahonias: mainstays of the garden from September to March”
Four super-performing tree-climbing roses at WHF
Yunnan in Western China is probably the epicentre of rose species – and many of them, such as members of the Synstylae group, have huge vigour, which they seem to pass on to their various hybrids. The best known is probably Rosa filipes, of which the remarkable ‘Kiftsgate’ is a form or hybrid. The typeContinue reading “Four super-performing tree-climbing roses at WHF”
Summer colour at White House Farm: the Hydrangea reappraised
by Clare Foster, Chair of the Board of Trustees, WHFAF On Wednesday July 10th we will hold an afternoon Garden Masterclass tour of White House Farm with Maurice Foster, Caroline Jackson, Jack Aldridge and Annie Guilefoyle, exploring White House Farm’s collection of Japanese serrata cultivars and Maurice’s own serrata hybrids. A few places are stillContinue reading “Summer colour at White House Farm: the Hydrangea reappraised”
Cherry-picking for bark
WHF Trustee Chris Lane, who holds the national collection of prunus at his Witch Hazel nursery suggests some Prunus worth growing for their beautiful trunks alone, with flowers the icing on the cake (or cherry on top….) Reproduced with the kind permission of the RHS Plant Review (March 2024). Upcoming events at White House FarmContinue reading “Cherry-picking for bark”
White House Farm Garden and Arboretum 