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JEARRARD'S HERBAL

Thats enough introduction - on with the plants!
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... out in the garden.

21st June 2026

Stewartia pseudocamellia Koreana Group.
The week started with patches of mist and fog which swirled around until Friday, occasionally drifting in and out of drizzle like an unfunny stand-up comedian mising the mark. It could have been refreshing weather but it was a warm mist, stiflingly humid. By the end of the week the sun had appeared and the temperature has soared. I'm sitting indoors with the front and back doors open hoping to catch the lightest breeze but there is nothing coming in but the sound of lethargic traffic.
In the garden the Stewartia has been flowering. It has reached the stage where it might be considered a small tree. I wish I had planted twenty of them when this one went in. I saw a cheap sapling in a garden centre and though I had better grab one while I could. The thought of having them all didn't cross my mind. As a result I have a row of field maples and a Stewartia.
I'm not complaining, it is a good Stewartia.


21st June 2026

Pitcairnia bergii .
It is too hot to linger for long in the greenhouse but Pitcairnia bergii is shouting for attention. The tousled potful of un-bromeliad like leaves has resolved into an un-bromeliad like flower spike. This is the only Pitcairnia that I could claim as a success. I have a couple of others that had not died over the last decade but that is as much as can be said for them. I have never worked out why this one prospers with so little attention but I am grateful for it. Sporadic spikes of scarlet flowers add unexpected drama.
The leaves look a bit like a Monday-morning Carex without the callous sneer.


21st June 2026

Utricularia dichotoma .
In the greenhouse, Utricularia dichotoma has been flowering for a couple of weeks and spreading in its willy-nilly way. Outside it has jumped ponds and is now growing best with this Nymphaea 'Pygmaea Rubra'. It has been an unexpected successs, I knew that it was tough enough to take a freeze but I hadn't expected it to be vigorous and flower so freely.
Utricularia praelonga has been equally vigorous in the greenhouse and grew well in a tub last year but I haven't seen any sign yet of its return.
I'm a little sad but also a little relieved. How many vigorous utricularias do you need in a small collection of tubs?



21st June 2026

Iris x pseudata 'Aichi no kagayaki' .
Iris are delightful and endlessly appealing. Every time I think that I have done with them, something comes along with charm and poise and distilled essence of Iris. It's a worry.
In the new herbaceous border Iris ensata has started to flower. I don't mind but I am disconcerted. The new herbaceous border is reserved for things that can be mown and weed-killed in December when Iris ensata is still green. Notwithstanding, it persists. I planted all of the cultivars around the garden last time I decided that I was spending too much effort fussing with Iris in pots.
At the same time I kept the forms of Iris pseudacorus contained. It's a thuggish thing, even in ordinary soil, and I wanted to be sure I could control it.
The other thing I kept was the hybrid between the two species, Iris x pseudata 'Aichi no kagayaki'. It is a slow delight unfurling moonlight-kissed flowers in light shade. I have only had four flowers so far this year but I feel rich.


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Acorus Alocasia Anemone Arisaema Arum Asarum Aspidistra Begonia Camellia Cautleya Chlorophytum
Clivia Colocasia Crocosmia Dionaea Disa Drosera Epimedium Eucomis Fuchsia Galanthus Hedychium
Helleborus Hemerocallis Hepatica Hosta Impatiens Iris Liriope Nerine Ophiopogon Pleione Polygonatum
Polypodium Ranunculus ficaria Rhodohypoxis Rohdea Roscoea Sansevieria Sarracenia Scilla Tricyrtis Tulbaghia Watsonia

To find particular groups of plants I grow, click on the genus name in the table above. Click on the "Index" box at the top of the page for the full list.
I have a lot of good intentions when it comes to updating this site, and I try to keep a note about what is going on, if you are interested.
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