Contents of the Summer 2008 Northants News

             Succulents - the new trend setters                   Roland Tebbenham

I have enjoyed RHS Shows and National Gardens Scheme open gardens recently and I reckon that succulent plants are becoming more widely used in garden displays.

Cacti appear still to be ‘Marmite’ plants – people either love or hate them, with no centre ground. Brian Goodey continued to fly the flag in terrific style at RHS Chelsea with another gold medal to his credit. Four cactus exhibitors were present in the floral marquee at RHS Malvern winning various awards; all were attracting attention, stimulating discussion and making sales. Furthermore Fernwood Nurseries were selling Sempervivums as fast as they could bring in stocks.

Many plants from the ‘other succulents’ were in evidence at Chelsea, and not only in the South African displays from Kirstenbosch and Durban, both of which were brilliant. The Kirstenbosch display, which included the effect of climate change on Aloe dichotoma habitats, won the RHS President’s Most Creative Award in the Great Pavilion. A number of the garden designs included succulent plants from Agavaceae, Crassulaceae and Compositae within both large garden and courtyard garden sections. The spiky leaves of Agave cultivars were used for sculptural effect, sometimes contrasted with the softer forms and colours of Aeonium, Echeveria and Sedum. Hardy Sempervivum and Sedum species and cultivars were also employed widely, as well as some mat-forming Mesembryanthemaceae to add bright flower colours to the designs. These displays do capture the public’s imagination and influence the design of private gardens; also they offer opportunities to create interesting containers or gravelled areas.

 

Two display gardens at RHS Chelsea featuring the contrasting forms and colours of succulents.

Top Blackdown Bottom ‘Elevations 6’

 

I have seen good examples of succulents in containers and varied colour groups in gravelled areas during my travels around gardens in the midland counties. Some of the plants grow easily in protected areas and many collectors disdain them in favour of more difficult challenges. However we have an opportunity to tap into the public demand for more drought tolerant subjects. We need to have sales plants to engage people who wish to experiment with outdoor containers and dryer areas in their gardens. Also those with small plots can have colourful and interesting arrangements using selected succulents.

The BCSS stand at RHS Malvern Spring Show featured some large pans containing plants following generic themes. They deserved public admiration and helped us to engage with those showing an interest. We did not have a group of hardy or marginally hardy plants; this was a significant omission that we must remedy at future public shows. We must not forget that most beginners start with easier subjects and may develop an interest in more challenging miniature cacti or the testier members of the Apocynaceae! The CactusWorld Editor has striven to include a good mix of pieces designed to appeal to our members’ various interests: we should support his efforts at our sales and recruitment events by offering easier plants that can be attempted in gardens, outdoor containers, or cool conservatories.

If any member can propagate cold-tolerant or attractive cultivars from amongst the other succulents then please contact Jeff Capel to ensure we have a good selection of sales plants to engage public interest. Some people are tiring of ‘climate-change’ messages, but they do offer us an unrivalled opportunity to encourage gardeners to experiment and create new dimensions in their plots and designs.

Roland.

 

 

Above: A display of Sempervivums at the Fernwood stand at the RHS show at Malvern.

Below: The Gold Medal award cactus display by Southfields.

 

Bowl gardens with succulents seen on the patios of gardens open under the National Gardens Scheme. The bowl on the far left features Echeverias and would require a very sheltered spot or winter protection. The other features hardy succulents.

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