Magnolia sargentiana var robusta, et alia

Maurice is on last week’s ‘Gardening WithThe RHS’ podcast, talking about hydrangeas: listen here. In Asiatic Magnolias in Cultivation (1955) G. H. Johnstone OBE VMH wrote: “ This magnolia [sargentiana var robusta] is certainly  one of the most spectacular of all those introduced into our gardens and in the running maybe for inclusion in a listContinue reading ” Magnolia sargentiana var robusta, et alia”

 ‘Go east young man’  –  the Magnolia campbellii Mollicomata group

Join us for our spring Open Days to see our 200+ magnolias, 140 camellias and other spring-blooming genera on Mother’s Day, Sunday March 30th and Wednesday April 9th. (£15). To reserve a space, email whitehousefarmarb@gmail.com Magnolia campbellii occurs right along the Himalaya, from Nepal to SE Tibet. Moving further east,  into W. China, in theContinue reading ” ‘Go east young man’  –  the Magnolia campbellii Mollicomata group”

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”

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”

Jack Aldridge, for whom Cornus is not the only genus

by Clare L. E. Foster, WHF Trustee Jack Aldridge, WHF Trustee and Horticulturalist at RHS Wisley, gave a Thursday Garden Chat for Garden Masterclass about his work on Oakwood at Wisley; other recent talks range from ‘Woody Plants that Should be Better Known and Grown’ for Plant Heritage, and an overview of Camellia sasanqua forContinue reading “Jack Aldridge, for whom Cornus is not the only genus”