erythronium revolutum

p24

camassia leichtlinii

p16

meleagris

p26

scilla autumnalis

p6

erythonium white beauty

Mail Order Catalogue p24 Autumn 2018

uvularia grandiflora and to in the spring

Telephone 01460 242177 www.avonbulbs.co.uk p58 ) only Orderssent (overUK free mainland £100 of P&P are Winners of… 30 Gold Medals at Chelsea in 31 years Avon bulbs contacts Email: Welcome to the Avon Bulbs [email protected] autumn Catalogue 2018 Web: www.avonbulbs.co.uk You will see references to being RHS Master Growers through Tel: 01460 242177 this catalogue. One nursery is 01460 249060 chosen by the RHS to be the Master Grower at each of the Burnt House Farm five major RHS shows. Our turn Mid Lambrook came at Malvern in early May South Petherton, © RHS where we presented a larger Somerset TA13 5HE than usual exhibit beneath big images provided by the RHS of the nursery and staff. The result was great and boosted what was an already good show for us. It was a major effort, but a successful one.

We had already decided to take a year off from doing the Chelsea Flower Show and with those shows so close together were glad that we had. As it is, we have had a rare opportunity to do a lot more this spring Late without the preparation for Chelsea. We have split more plants at the ‘right’ time, seem to have temporarily got Availability on top of the weeds and hope to have a very busy time and Website at the Gardeners’ World event in June having been able The website now contains a great to prepare better for that. deal more information about all One of the points that we were trying to make at Malvern the bulbs we offer, their history © RHS was that the display was and provenance and more about grown from just the same bulbs that we supply to our the planting situations that suit customers. What you see is what you potentially should them, as well as a repeat of the be able to grow if bought from us. We do try always to planting instructions supplied provide the biggest and best bulbs to achieve this. with the bulbs.

Wishing you good gardening If there is not enough information Chris Ireland-Jones here for your needs, do have a look there instead. We also mark bulbs as ‘Sold Out’ on the The Chelsea question: website when they become Sold Do better results from other shows replace Chelsea for us? They do go some Out, so if you are ordering later way to doing that but the jury is still out and we will have to make a decision this in the season and want to check summer on whether we return. Much has changed since (for us) the best days on availability you might like to of Chelsea some 10- 15 years ago. The winters are warmer (so chilling plants to exhibit in late May gets progressively more difficult), immediate orders that check the website. result from Chelsea have plummeted (as the Internet effect grows), the show is longer and more costly to do (London is very expensive), the TV coverage of Also if we have small numbers of exhibits in the marquee is so limited and patchy that its potential benefit has to be ‘special’ bulbs to sell we do tend discounted (and have you noticed, nurseries now no longer get mentioned in the straplines on TV even if their plants are being filmed?) Most importantly I suspect to offer them on the website – that the public who attend are in the main no longer such interested gardeners, check the Special Offers pages. it seems that a lot of the tickets are going to the ‘wrong sort of people’ for us!!. Chelsea is now an ‘Experience’ or a ‘Destination’ and a Social Event. We provide part of the spectacle but seemingly without much measurable benefit. ii Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Plants and Bulbs that mostly Late Summer 2018 flower in the autumn, soon after planting, Plants and bulbs to flower in the Autumn or else items that just prefer early We aim to deliver orders made from this section mid Aug to early September and will close planting. this section in mid September. Please use the order form at the end of this section.

Amaryllis x amarygia parkeri alba

Colchicum autumnale album Photo credit: GAP Images p Colchicum autumnale Amaryllis x tubergenii

Acis X Amarygia Colchicum parkeri alba 56-10 autumnalis 106-10 Easy to grow in good, deep A hybrid between Amaryllis and moisture retentive soil, these Slender wiry green or russety Brunsvigia producing very large appear from their summer coloured stems, carrying delicate bulbs. Flowering with apple-white dormancy without their leaves Photo credit: GAP Images looking white papery bells. They trumpets with a huge perfume to flower in the autumn – hence p were thought to be autumn arranged all around a green stem. their common name of ‘naked autumnalis flowering forms of the snowflake Sept/Oct • 20” (50cm) ladies’. A pointer to the end of family but are now in a distinct £8.75 summer, their bright last group of their own, ideal for a incredibly well considering their trough or container that stays X Amarine apparent fragility. The leaves autumnale 73-05 drier. the bulbs (only the size tubergenii 56-11 appear in the early spring. Softly, satin-sheened in mauve. of large peas) 3” (7.5cm) deep, They need planting 3” (8cm) They naturalise most effectively Unusual hybrids between Amaryllis nearly touching. deep - perhaps a little more for either in sun or partial shade where and Nerines. Bright cerise pink Aug/Sept • 9” (22cm) ones with bigger bulbs – and 6” they often produce several flowers flowered like Nerines but more like (15cm) apart. They will naturalise £8.00 for 5 from each corm. An easy British Amaryllis in that they are winter effectively, but the mower will native known as Meadow Saffron, growing, so protection is needed have to be restrained until the Wychwood Forest has thousands from severe frosts. leaves wither away in June. Amaryllis flowering each autumn. Sept/Oct • 15” (38cm) Please order early – after the end Amaryllis (and their hybrids) £4.50 each of September they seem to flower Sept • 6” (15cm) are winter growing, hence with regardless of the conditions. £12.00 for 3 exposed leaves in winter they do need to be planted in a sheltered autumnale site where they are likely not RHS Perfect for Pollinators. to be chilled below about -4°C. album 73-06 A cool conservatory should The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark is only The white-flowered form of the be fine, with the pots moved given to plants that support pollinating insects in above, although some outside in the early spring. A gardens. Bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and are pinkish-white. They tolerate summer baking in dry conditions many others visit flowers to feed on nectar and full sun but are especially useful ‘ripens and primes’ the bulbs for pollen; while doing so they transfer pollen and in some shade in damper, but not flowering. In favoured spots one increase seed set and fruit development. Find waterlogged conditions. may be possible to grow them out more at rhs.org.uk/plants Sept • 6” (15cm) successfully outside. £12.00 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 1 Photo credit: GAP Images p Colchicum speciosum album Cyclamen coum Cyclamen coum roseum Photo credit: GAP Images Photo credit: GAP Images Photo credit: GAP Images p p p Colchicum SPECIOSum Colchicum Waterlily Cyclamen coum silver leaf Cyclamen coum album speciosum 73-15 The best of the larger forms for Cyclamen most gardens, and it spreads and These are all hardy, tough and naturalises effectively. Stronger perennial and once established stemmed (and later flowering) than C. will seed about. If you can plant autumnale with longer flower stems them early (as a consequence and more richly coloured with thicker, of ordering from this section) rounded, rosy pink-lilac petals. these Cyclamen will arrive Sept/Oct • 8” (20cm) ‘properly’ dormant and ready to £12.00 for 3 pop in and awake in their new circumstances. You may order them also from the Autumn speciosum section, but by then there will album 73-16 probably be some growth visible Gorgeous shimmering goblets in on them. These are all seed pure white. A very special plant raised in the UK. which could be the highlight of a Cyclamen coum dark pinks carefully chosen planting scheme in fertile soil, ideally where it is not SPRING too dark in the spring, but they FLOWERING could help brighten up a shady coum album 51-118 Plants we list which corner in the autumn. At the end of have received the RHS FORMS White flowered, but even the white Commendation ‘Award the 19th Century the famous firm of ones have a dark pink ‘nose’. of Garden Merit’ are Backhouse in Yorkshire were selling £14.00 for 3 now tagged with them for 5 Guineas each! Worth coum 51-116 the trophy symbol. every penny now! Space does not allow us to add In their first or second flowering coum dark pink 51-131 the hardiness rating – please be Sept/Oct • 8” (20cm) season these were not graded for Tubers that have been selected for aware the award applies to the £6.00 each or £17.00 for 3 ease of cultivation, excellence and colour in the spring so may be white their dark pink flowers. or pink flowered but will be generally constitution, but not necessarily £14.00 for 3 hardiness. Water-Lily 73-23 smaller in size than the colour A multi-petalled variety which selected forms of C. coum below. coum opens out widely in the sun with £15.00 for 5 multiple flower stems, flowering Silver Leaf 51-119 somewhat later than the others. coum roseum 51-117 The rounded leaves are largely Surprisingly resilient to the Graded for flower colour in the spring silvery patterned so a few tubers weather despite its appearance. so these are larger tubered and all planted amongst others with more Oct • 6” (15cm) will show pale pink flowers with the green leaves increases the variety £13.00 for 3 characteristically darker ‘nose’. of the green tapestry, their flowers £14.00 for 3 are mostly pink. £16.00 for 3

2 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Cyclamen hederifolium Cyclamen hederifolium Crocus goulimyi Crocus sativus album silver leaf

Crocus imperati de Jager Cyclamen hederifolium Crocus boryi Crocus speciosus autumn crocus – goulimyi 77-36 sativus 77-20 Too Grecian in origin for ‘ordinary’ The source of Saffron, gathered from flowering autumn outdoor conditions in the UK, but collecting the bright red stigmata in well drained compost in a pot from each flower, individually tiny forms flowering to which you can provide some (half a million per kilo!) justifying Flowering in the late autumn protection (with a dry summer the huge cost of Saffron. They hederifolium (except for one that flowers rest) these are beautiful flowers in need deep planting in rich soil, in a in the very early spring) these both their shape and their soft lilac sunny position and probably need 51-107 bulbs bloom as a reaction to the colouration. Stock limited. lifting and dividing with regularity to These tubers did not flower last lowering of the soil temperatures Nov • 5” (12cm) encourage flowering. Their flower autumn so flowering for the first (and the dampening of the soil) £7.50 for 3 production is triggered by suddenly time may be pink or white (the pink in the early autumn. The spring colder nights, our maritime climate flowering forms (listed in the will dominate). The petals sweep sometimes does not provide that, Autumn section of our catalogue) imperati de up and away from the flower and in which makes reliance on one’s own flower as soil temperatures Jager 77-39 the spring (and for much of the year Saffron production a bit hazardous. after) the ground will be carpeted in rise. Some of these are more Flowering in the very early spring difficult to grow than others, but when the delicacy of these flowers Oct • 4” (10cm) their ivy-leaf shaped leaves. £6.00 for 10 or £15.00 for 30 £14.00 for 5 what is probably the easiest - C. is more than welcome, the outer speciosus, should be a feature of petals are biscuit buff with purple speciosus 77-26 hederifolium any garden providing a dreamy stripes, the inside lilac to purple. violet splash of colour in late From Western Italy and needing The best autumn crocus. album 51-108 September and October. some protection or else a well Dramatically effective, deep lilac Selected white flowering tubers drained sunny rockery. to purple hues, with bright yellow which are especially good for boryi 77-40 Jan • 5” (12cm) anthers. Good in light shade or illuminating darker conditions. A Mediterranean beauty probably £7.50 for 3 under deciduous shrubs, or in £12.50 for 3 best potted and protected over light grass, planted deeply. They winter here, that way you can also will flower later than suggested hederifolium silver give them a warm dry summer rest in their first year, consequent to leaf 51-132 which they need. White flowered them having been out of the soil and dried off in this summer. Do The completely ghostly-silver with pretty orange style branches. get enough of them! Suggested foliage effect is outstanding, literally. Rare and stock limited. RHS Perfect £12.50 for 3 Nov • 5” (12cm) for Pollinators. planting density 15 per sq ft. £7.50 for 3 ® Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm) £4.00 for 15 or £12.00 for 50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 3 Crocus tournefortii Cypripedium Gisela

Hippeastrum x acramannii Gladiolus tristis Crocus speciosus albus speciosus albus Cypripedium Gladiolus 77-27 Gisela 64-07 tristis 88-15 x acramannii All white flowered, great for a contrast amongst the others or a Perfect in spring light and summer Native to South Africa, but here 56-14 bright creamy white splash all on shade in fertile soil as long as the this is a special winter growing The spelling of acramannii is in some their own. slugs are not over hungry. Hardy Gladiolus with a wonderful scent doubt, could it be ackermannii? Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm) orchids are now becoming more in the evenings. It really needs a Having been shown a private £9.00 for 15 widely available and our stocks of sheltered site, providing protection greenhouse full of these bulbs in these are very good. Some of these from temperatures lower than about flower many years ago near Taunton tournefortii 77-38 divisions will produce several flower -5°C as they are in leaf through and admired them hugely (only later to spikes in their first spring. They do January and February. The 5-20 apple Large flowered in pale lavender, find that the owner had since passed not need cossetting, they are hardy white flowers open progressively up sometimes white. Strangely the away and his greenhouse had been and in fact they need a cold spell the long rush-like stems, and produce flowers do not close in dull light or demolished shortly afterward) it was to form their flowers. The price has a generous seed set. at night. Cretan in origin so they much later that I was offered a stock dropped this year as our stocks April/May • 3’ (90cm) require some shelter. from the Isle of Man and jumped at are too good, grab a bargain. More £15.00 for 3 Sept/Oct • 5” (12cm) the second opportunity. These multiply £7.50 for 3 growing instructions on the website. well under unheated glass for us, but April/May • 18” (45cm) £15.00 or £40.00 for 3 reading about them I find that others suggest that they are hardier than one anticipates, confirmed by letters from much more northern growers. They Calling all Galanthophiles... If you are a are early autumn flowering in red and Galanthophile do call us to get your name added to the list to green and in leaf all winter, dormant receive our list of rare snowdrops when they are dormant in RHS Perfect in summer. Aug. This is only sent out as an email. (If you already regularly for Pollinators. Sept • 18” (45cm) ® receive this list there is no need to call!) £13.50

4 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Delft Blue Hyacinth Pink Pearl Hyacinth White Pearl Photo credit: GAP Images p cyclamineus Narcissus paperwhite Ziva Lilium candidum Iris tuberosa prepared White Pearl 86-34 lilium cyclamineus 113-179 Strong-growing, broad, gleaming An iconic small species, one that hyacinths white flowers. candidum 107-114 is much loved and sought after For December/January blooming £4.00 for 3 or £8.00 for 7 Like the Hermodactylus above, a by many, but they rarely do well in when potted. These are suitable plant that is better started off early, warm, dry, limey soils. Neutral to for forcing for Christmas and inevitably the first orders get acid soils suit them better, moist flowering. For this they need Iris tuberosa the pick of the crop, so ordering in spring and more shaded in to be potted by the end of (Hermodactylus) from this section has its benefits. summer. Grow them where they will September (hence they are sold See page 35 of the Autumn be happy and seed about. in this late summer section), 103-110 Catalogue for more details. March • 5” (12cm) and grown in a cool, dark The ’Widow Iris’ does better from June • 36” (90cm) £5.50 place initially to allow rooting. early planting, and if you have tried £5.80 or £16.50 for 3 They can then be brought into before with limited success, we do more light once they have Paperwhite suggest that you add some of these emerged through the compost. narcissus Ziva 113-152 to a Late Summer order and try Temperature control is critical as Early to flower from being forced; again. Alternatively see page 35 of Also see the main Autumn too much heat will make them we reckon on about eight to ten the Autumn Catalogue. Translucent Catalogue pages 38-43 for the flop. The process of preparation weeks to bloom from potting, so black and jade-green flowers are main listing. These either need means that these are not work your potting date out from preceded by long rush-like leaves. early planting (N. cyclamineus) or available until early September. when you want them in flower. They require time to establish and could provide a very early display White flowered and multi-headed, flower better in the spring following from bulbs potted early (Ziva). Delft Blue 86-05 with a huge room filling perfume. a hot summer. They love growing A compact, pale blue spike set off Grow them in good light and at around heat absorbing sun- by the emerging dark green leaves. cool temperatures without freezing drenched paving, or at the base of £4.00 for 3 or £8.00 for 7 so they don’t get too tall, only a warm wall in the sun. bringing them in to admire at room April • 6” (15cm) Pink Pearl 86-35 £5.50 for 10 temperatures for their final flourish. Delicately pink, and like the others Not reliably hardy. deliciously fragrant. Dec/Jan • 15” (38cm) £7.00 for 5 or £13.00 for 10 £4.00 for 3 or £8.00 for 7

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 5 Photo credit: GAP Images p Scilla autumnalis Scilla lilio hyacinthus albus Tecophilaea c. leichtlinii

Nerine flexuosa alba nerine lilio-hyacinthus 125-28 flexuosa Broad and tidy leaved, with pretty, alba 33-23 delicate of soft pale blue. A winter growing species (all Neat looking mounds of foliage the others we grow are summer and a joy when in flower. The bulbs growing) so these require a bit are formed of loose lily-like scales more shelter. The frilly white petals which dislike being dried out. however last ages in flower and Clump forming and best in some Scilla lilio-hyacinthus in sheltered gardens are a treat in shade. A great addition to the early the autumn. spring tapestry. Sept/Oct • 14” (35cm) Mar/April • 8” (20 cm) £7.50 for 3 £10.00 for 3 tecophilaea cyanocrocus leichtlinii 128-04 lilio–hyacinthus Chilean bulbs from a high scilla White centred with gentian blue alba 125-29 altitude, so one would expect them to be cold tolerant, but petals. autumnalis 125-18 This pretty form has all the where they come from is relatively March • 5” (12cm) Hardy, but uncommon small bulbed attributes of the blue but the dry, and our winters are really £4.50 or £12.00 for 3 natives of the south-west, these flowers are white and the leaves are too wet for them. If you can grow are incredibly long-lasting in flower. slightly paler than those of the blue them under some protection cyanocrocus Bright blue flowers up a fine wiry flowered form above. Best grown in (particularly from rain) and you’ll violacea 128-06 stem, lasting ages. They need a some shade. be amazed by the depth of colour Amazingly brilliant dark blue sunny, well-drained soil. Mar/April • 8” (20 cm) in the flowers. Their blue is like petalled. Aug/Oct • 5” (12cm) £10.00 for 3 the dazzling displays produced £8.50 for 3 by some exotic butterflies. March • 5” (12cm) £4.50 or £12.00 for 3

6 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Order for Late Summer Despatch 2018 Bulbs that need Early Planting this Autumn Please specify plants and costs here, and complete the other side of the form

Stock Price & No of £ ref. no. Plant name Pack Sz Packs

113-152 N. Paperwhite Ziva (EXAMPLE ONLY) 7.00/5 1 7.00

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus violacea

Tropaeolum tricolor

subtotal tropaeolum The normal postage and packing costs on any carriage A winter-growing form of these climbing Late Summer Order is £4.95 (UK Mainland only) plants, they start to grow in late September Orders over £100 are sent free of P&P total and flower in late spring. They are not hardy if they experience temperatures below about -5°C, but grown in pots with The example at the top shows the information we need – in particular, the reference number something to climb up and are protected given beside the plant name in the catalogue during the coldest weather they are actually If possible, specify acceptable alternatives in case some of your choices are not available happier grown somewhere cool rather than too warm. If you want your order to be sent as a gift to someone else (invoice to you), tick the box and put the tricolor 47-06 recipient’s name and address and postcode in the space provided in Other Delivery Instructions.. Exhibiting shoals of stunning red, black and Is this an order for collection? yellow flowers that last ages in flower. A climber Is it a gift? that starts into growth very early in the autumn so early ordering is a must. One of the most

spectacular plants that we sell, and a favourite

of mine. Please record personal and payment details overleaf Spring • climbing up to 4’ (120cm) £5.50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 7 GDPR The new rules on Data Protection that came Order for Late Summer Despatch 2018 into force in May apply to everyone storing Bulbs that need Early Planting this Autumn and using your personal data. We collect information about you when you register with us or place an order for products or services. We also collect information when you voluntarily complete Office use only: customer surveys, provide feedback and participate in competitions. Website usage Date received: Order No: information is collected using cookies. Although we take payment details when Avon Bulbs Ltd • Burnt House Farm • Mid Lambrook you place an order, these details are held South Petherton • Somerset • TA13 5HE by our payment processor WorldPay and only an encrypted “token” is sent back to Avon Bulbs. The card number data remains Title: Mr Mrs Miss Other ______securely stored on WorldPay’s PCI Level 1 Name: ______Compliant servers. We only have access to the last four digits of your payment card for House Name/No: ______identification purposes. Avon Bulbs has a formal agreement with WorldPay to accept Street: ______payments on our behalf. Any information Town: ______that is submitted to WorldPay is used solely for the purpose of completing your County: ______transaction with Avon Bulbs. Country: ______Postcode ______We collect information about you to process Contact Number: your order, manage your account and to enable us to contact you if there is a Tel:______Mob:______problem with your order or delivery. We use Email address: ______your information collected from the website to personalise your repeat visits to our website. In processing your order, we will share your name and address and email Other Delivery Instructions/Safeplace leaving: ______address/ telephone number with Royal Mail ______and DPD Local to facilitate delivery. These companies are also GDPR compliant. ______

______We will hold Information about services or products that we have provided to you in the ______past, including the service(s) or product(s)

______provided, when and where, the amount that you paid, billing address and where ______the item was sent (if applicable), and any other information required to process a transaction. We will retain your information Please complete these questions (We now need your permission to stay in touch, for as long as is required to provide you with except with regard to this order) a good service whenever you contact us regarding past orders. By Post: Are you happy to receive our printed catalogues in the future? Yes No Once you are a customer or have requested By Email: Do you wish to receive occasional emailed Newsletter from us along with any an Avon Bulbs catalogue, we will send you Special Offers? Yes No further catalogues in the post from time (We will not sell or pass on any contact details except to manage your order (see to time, which is allowed under the GDPR GDPR information across) regulations as a ‘legitimate interest’. You can, of course, contact us and request that we stop sending you direct mail. If you are Payment: a new customer and give your permission or If you subscribe to (and thereby give your Orders are not accepted without payment except by prior agreement. consent to receive) our newsletter via the Please include payment or please charge my Visa/Mastercard account. Avon Bulbs website, we may occasionally email you about our products and services Cheque enclosed Yes, value £ ______, or that we think may be of interest to you. You Card No. . . . can unsubscribe to these marketing emails by following the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the Valid from date / Card expiry date / bottom of each email. If you have consented to receive marketing information, you may Security code (last three digits on reverse of card) opt out at any time by contacting us. You have the right at any time to stop us from contacting you for marketing purposes. You Signature ______will shortly be able to update your mailing preferences through your website account.

8 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Autumn 2018 Plants and Bulbs to plant in the Autumn, mostly to flower in the following spring. Despatch of these items begins in early to mid September with the intention of sending everything on your order in one parcel. For further information see the ‘Ordering from Avon Bulbs’ section at the back. are always welcome to gardeners in the early summer as the flowers offer height and distinction when most gardens are not quite so colourful. Their exclamation mark shape differentiates them from the plants around them, and those companion plants in turn ‘hide’ what is sometimes distracting foliage, which (in most of these Alliums) is beginning to yellow at flowering time. They are generally plants of sunny and well-drained soils, and can be used either in dramatic eye-catching sweeps, or else, in a more cottagey style, in isolated small groups to equally good effect. Photo credit: GAP Images Everyone seems to love Alliums p and, knowing that the beneficial Allium ambassador insects and bees are struggling nowadays, it is worth a reminder that Alliums provide a fantastic food supply for those insects, Allium especially the late flowering forms. Our beds of A. angulosum, A.glaucum and A. tuberosum shimmer with activity on sunny summer days. Try out a number allium angulosum of different forms to see which do best in your circumstances? The results of a trial over the past 3 years at Wisley have been published in a useful booklet called the RHS Grower Guide on Ornamental . Ambassador 53-60 Beginning to flower in late May these flowers should see one through all of June and into July with very tall stems topped by their mid purple heads about 6” (15cm) across. Very big bulbed plants benefitting from deep planting to cæruleum 53-14 allium cæruleum ensure that the stems remain firmly Unusual blue flowered drumstick upright. Good seed heads follow flowers originating from the steppes the main flower show. of Russia and China. They will do June/ July • up to 50” (130 cm) cristophii 53-11 £8.50 for 3 best in a well drained sunny spot or rockery where the small bulbs can If you only ever buy two or three be planted quite closely, only 1-2” Alliums, this must be one of them. angulosum (2.5-5cm) apart. Sculptural flower heads, initially (pyrenaicum) 53-28 June • 18” (45cm) greenish purple, are gradually Wonderfully easy to grow plants. £4.50 for 15 transformed as they are pollenated Bright glossy green leaved with lots into metallic silvery-violet coloured of pale lilac flowers in the height cernuum 53-04 spheres about 8” (20cm) across, all borne on quite stocky stems. The of summer when butterflies and Dainty chandeliers formed of allium cristophii hoverflies jostle to feed on them. dozens of small claret pink round melon sized heads naturally We supply small clumps to be flowers hanging off the nodding complement the purples of rampant planted 9” (22cm) apart, in the sun stem so the bees have to hang geraniums or the spikier silvery where it is not too dry. Divide them upside down to get at the flowers, blues of Lavender. Buff coloured RHS Perfect again when they are thick. sometimes several heads form in seed heads follow. Plant them for Pollinators. July/Aug • 12” (30cm) a succession. Easy to grow and 8+” (20cm) apart in sunny well ® £7.50 for 3 - (divisions, not true seeding themselves in lighter soils drained soils in borders or even bulbs) in the sun. Delivered as fresh dug rough grass, they will also grow in a The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark flowering size plants rather than degree of shade, but will be taller. is only given to plants that support bulbs. June • 10-24” (25-60cm) pollinating insects in gardens. Find £3.80 for 3, £11.00 for 10 out more at rhs.org.uk/plants Summer • 18” (45cm) or £21.00 for 20 £7.50 for 5

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 9 Photo credit: GAP Images p Allium Early Emperor Allium GLOBEmaster Allium His Excellency

Allium gladiator Allium giganteum Allium hollandicum

Early Gladiator 53-55 Globemaster 53-46 hollandicum 53-08 Emperor 53-68 With rounded, slightly domed Probably the best of the large Best for bigger gardens, or where The parentage of this hybrid flowers this is a solid garden headed Allium hybrids with ever you might want a more subtle means that while it is still a big worthy hybrid between A. exceptionally long lasting flowers. and textured display. They provide flower at about 6” (15cm) across. aflatunense and A.macleanii. The The first array is replaced by that irregularity in colour, height, It flowers rather earlier than the flowers are sweetly scented in a another second flush of their deep size and maturity which adds other large headed Alliums and it pinkish purple shade on strong violet-purple flowers. The insects subtlety and charm to any planting, is not quite so tall. The flowers are stems leaving an attractive residual still love to feed on them, although especially one on a bigger scale. rosy lilac with contrasting silvery seedhead. Easy, increasing and despite their attentions you’ll not be Deep lilac to pale purple flowers white providing a halo supplied as big bulbs these always left with a remnant seed head as about the size of an orange. Easy like sheen. flower and last well. they are sterile. Tidier leaved than in any free draining soil in the sun, May • 30” (75cm) June • 40” (100 cm) most, even at flowering time. Plant planted about 6” (15cm) apart. £9.00 for 3 £9.00 for 3 them about 12” (45cm) apart in well May/ June • 24-36” (60-90cm). drained soils in good light. Great £3.80 for 5, £7.00 for 10 giganteum 53-20 planted with Astrantia ‘Roma’. or £13.00 for 20 May/June • 40” (100cm) Densely filled heads in pale purple £15.00 for 3 the size of a grapefruit top each tall bare stem. A central Asian species requiring well-drained His Excellency 53-69 soils and a sunny site, by the time Violet purple heads about 5” across that they flower the leaves have (12cm) on clean long tall stems mostly withered away. Its name is June 48” • (120cm) £9.00 for 3 a reference to its impressive height rather than to an enormous flower. Late June/July • 48” (120cm) £13.00 for 3

10 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: GAP Images p Allium Purple Sensation Allium ivory queen

Allium Mount Everest Pink Jewel Allium nigrum hollandicum Purple hyalinum 53-70 mount everest nigrum Sensation 53-09 A species from where it 53-43 (multibulbosum) 53-24 An intensely deep purple coloured grows on shady canyon slopes in Probably the best tall white flowered Greeny-black ovaries in the centre strain, with heads the size of small the around 1200m. Allium. Grapefruit sized heads of each floret provide the reason for oranges. Another of that select Star shaped flowers in pale pink top a tall glossy green stem. The the name, though the suggestion of group of those ‘must have’ Alliums. with grey, rather limp leaves, but leaves persist, so are not too blackness somehow does not sit so They provide purple polka dots very floriferous. They need good obtrusive at flowering time. Lovely well on what is otherwise a creamy to your planting scheme, adding drainage and drier summer rest. when combined with other strong white flower! The flower head shape colour, texture and geometric Naturally small bulbs setting lots coloured flowers such as Gladiolus is less rounded and more flattened silhouettes to your borders. Derived of seed. They survived last winter byzantinus, and ideally planted and they are easily grown in from a clone these should all be the outside and have had no ill effects. against a dark backdrop, though sunny well-drained soils with a dry same hue. The RHS trial reported May • 12” (30cm) some planted in the dappled summer rest. £5.00 for 5 on them “an excellent performance shade of a Laburnum are great, we June • 24” (60cm) and is reliably perennial”. suggest that they are planted about £6.00 for 5 or £11.00 for 10 May/ June • 35” (90cm) karataviense 12” (30cm) apart. £4.80 for 5, £8.80 for 10 or Ivory Queen 53-23 May/June • 36” (90cm) nigrum £16.50 for 20 A selected form of A. karataviense. £8.50 for 3 or £13.50 for 5 pink jewel 53-65 These are similarly very broad A pale pink form of the plant above, leaved and grow close to the one which was much admired in the RHS Perfect ground with a pale margin around earlier Allium trials at RHS Wisley the leaf and an apple-white flower. for Pollinators. in 2014. Large domed pale pink ® Their best use is in full sun on a heads with dark centres. raised bed or rockery where the May/June • 36” (90cm) The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark foliage provides a very metallic £10.00 for 3 is only given to plants that support looking and modern effect long pollinating insects in gardens. Find before (and after) the flowers. out more at rhs.org.uk/plants May/June • 10” (25cm) £5.00 for 5 or £14.00 for 15

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 11 Allium Powder Puff

Allium Round ‘n’ Purple

Allium schubertii

Allium Purple Rain Allium Pinball Wizard Allium obliquum

obliquum 53-26 Powder Puff 53-66 Purple Rain 53-67 schubertii 53-31 These are Siberian in origin so are A broad leaved allium with violet A product of the cross between Spectacular and eccentric. incredibly tough despite being in purple flowers about the size A. Purple Sensation (from which Emerging early in the late winter leaf all winter. They never really of a tennis ball held on much it gains its height and deeper these are at some risk in extreme seem to be fully dormant. Their shorter stems than would normally colouration) and A. cristophii (which winters but when planted in a warm flowers are the size of large hens’ be expected for an Allium with gives it the open structure) with sunny garden and given a dry eggs in June when they eventually this size of head. It is a hybrid heads about 6” (15cm) across. warm summer rest following their straighten from their crook like between A. nevskianum and A. With such popular and eminent flowering they can be fabulous. Like stature to stand erect, greenish- sarawschanicum, both from Central parentage these should be superior a tumbleweed, the long spokes are yellow in colour and increasingly Asia. Great for windy sites. The and indeed they performed what they might roll away on when ‘fluffy’. They set lots of seed as well RHS trial reported on them that they superbly well in the Allium trials at dry, the seeds held on the shorter as forming clumps in time. “bulked up well, one of the best in Wisley and were judged “the best extensions. A vegetable explosion June • 24” (60cm) the trial, great from patios or the in the trial”. or firework caught mid burst ! £8.50 for 3 front of the border”. June (later than Purple Sensation) June • 18” (45cm) May/June • 15” (35cm) 34” (85cm) £11.50 for 3 Pinball Wizard 53-61 £9.00 for 3 £7.00 for 5 or £13.00 for 10 Fully 6” (15 cm) across, these Round ‘n’ Purple heads are not as densely packed 53- 62 with flowers as those of A. RHS Perfect The leaves on these actually still Globemaster, so the effect is rather look good at flowering time, and more ‘fluffy’ but they are slightly for Pollinators. ® good sized bulbs often produce two taller with thick weather resisting stems each. The heads are densely stems. The flowers are a mid purple The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark packed with silvery- lilac flowers and a bit earlier flowering than is only given to plants that support forming a head about 6” (15cm) most, at their best in mid May pollinating insects in gardens. Find across. Good seedheads follow. May • 40” (100 cm) out more at rhs.org.uk/plants June • 36” (90cm) £9.00 for 3 £3.20 or £8.50 for 3

12 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: GAP Images p Violet Beauty Allium sphærocephalon Nectaroscordum siculum

Nectaroscordum tripedale

siculum 53-32 Tall stemmed (with a pronounced keel – think of the seam in a pair of tights) leading upwards to dozens of hanging green and burgundy marked bells pendulously arranged sphærocephalon stipitatum Violet unifolium 53-40 in a loose head. They enjoy more 53-33 Beauty 53-71 Shell pink heads of quite papery shade than most true Alliums and long lasting flowers, about 15 and seed about in conditions that Butterflies love these egg shaped A dusty violet colour with flowers contained within each head. Easy to they like and have strongly heads (and at their peak they 4” (10cm) in diameter, spherical grow in any sunny and well drained scented foliage when crushed. are about the same size). They except that the base is flattened. spot, especially the rockery. The The bees love them. The dry seed emerge as tight deep green buds This one also did exceptionally well small bulbs should be planted quite heads look like models of multi- in June, turning purple from their in the RHS Allium trial where its close together where their massed turreted fairy castles. tips through July and swaying in usefulness as a cut flower (it has a light fragrance) and its increase effect is very attractive. Early summer • 30” (75cm) the summer breezes on long wiry £3.80 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 over the three years of the trial May • 10” (25cm) stems. Woven through a summer £6.50 for 20 impressed. border, often as rivers of colour, they tripedale 53-25 visually ‘tie things together’. Easy May/June • 27” (70cm) £4.80 for 5 or £8.80 for 10 Like N. siculum above, but with and inexpensive for the effect that nectaroscordum more numerous flowers in a they provide, just do plant enough gorgeous soft pink, which emerge of them for a generous display. We tuberosum 53-38 Much like the Alliums, with the same ‘oniony’ scent when the like hatchlings from their translucent always supply bigger bulbs than are As much a herb as a (as are leaves are crushed, and with very sheath. Happy in sun or part shade generally available, ensuring that the ) but with a long flowering similar looking bulbs armed with and not as difficult to grow as the flowering will be better as a result. period through the summer, the a small spike. Because of their price suggests, but uncommon Plant them 3” (7cm) apart or 10-15 white flowers displayed over lush strong similarities we list them and very select. Persistent and per square foot. foliage on very wiry stems which after the Alliums but out of strict increasing in our heavy loam in Summer • 24” (60cm) persist as dry straw-like markers alphabetic order. £4.50 for 15, £8.50 for 30 or through the winter. They are some summer shade. How should £13.00 for 50 multifaceted plants, and brilliant one say the name? I am not sure, insect feeding stations too. but hope that it should be ‘tripi- dali‘ Aug/Oct • 24” (60cm) rather than ‘tripe-dale’. £6.50 for 3 (small clumps) June • 36” (100cm) £7.00 or £18.00 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 13 Anemone

Anemone apennina Anemone blanda pink star Photo credit: GAP Images p Anemone blanda blue Anemone apennina Anemone White Splendour anemone apennina 57-11 blanda blue 57-07 blanda White An excellent and very pretty plant, I Low growing in shades of blue, The spring flowering anemones Splendour 57-12 should follow the crocuses in late wish it were more easily produced that unconformity adding to their Gleaming white petals surround March for their turn in the limelight. as I think it more attractive than A. attractiveness, with flowers which a hub of golden stamens, which They mark that moment when the blanda in British conditions, but shimmer close to the ground, when ruffled by the wind, show off weather is on the turn for the better it is not a commercialised plant. unaffected by the March winds and their pink tinged backs. Opening and the stronger light of spring White or shades of blue flowered shaking off the rain. Easy in any widely in direct sunshine, their is accentuated by the shiny wet plants with many deeply cut petals summer shaded spot where the flowering is a sure sign that spring foliage resulting from scudding on flowers held well above soft more angled light (and moisture) of has arrived. Compared to the blue showers and windy conditions. This mounds of leaves. Ideal under spring penetrate through. forms slightly warmer soils and is just what Anemones love. And big deciduous trees following March • 4” (10cm) more direct light suit them better, they open wide in the sunshine £2.40 for 10, £5.50 for 25 snowdrops and flowering with in too much shade they get rather though if the light is only dappled or £10.00 for 50 the early daffodils. The colours leggy. They grow from larger hard by dint of still bare branches on the combine very naturally. Plant the irregular corms, which you will trees they won’t mind. small stick-like in small blanda They are not all alike even when receive whole - many providers sell groups 6” (15cm) apart where they ‘resting’: the bulbous (A. blanda) Pink Star 57-08 these cut into smaller pieces. will thereafter seed about. Home forms come as hard, wizened Pale pink flowered plants of the March • 5” (12cm) corms, which need an overnight grown and dug-to-order from same stature. £4.00 for 10, £9.50 for 25 or £18.00 for 50 soak before planting and will take a under trees here the damp packed March • 4” (10cm) long hot summer in their stride. The rhizomes are inevitably rather £4.70 for 10 rhizomatous forms (A. apennina variable in size. and A. nemorosa) need a cooler, March/April • 8” (20cm) shady (but also dry) rest after they £6.00 for 3 have flowered, so they prefer more shaded, woodland-like conditions and hating exposure to air will be damp packed in coir when despatched by us.

14 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Anemone nemorosa

Bomaria salsilla Bongardia chrysogonum

Anemone ran. flora plena

nemorosa 57-20 The wild wood anemone. The simplest looking low white flowers which derive from stick-like rhizomes. For woodland situations, in shade with leafmold rich soils. As with many ‘wild’ plants they often take a while to settle in and take off. April • 4” (10cm) £4.50 for 5 nemorosa Anemone virescens Anthericum liliago major virescens 57-17 For us the most productive of all the Anemone nemorosa forms, anthericum bomarea bongardia many of which sulk after being moved and take ages to get going liliago major salsilla 10-04 chrysogonum 67-04 again. These do not have flowers in 58-05 Mexican and South American A rare bulb with coppery yellow the conventional sense, but frothy Pretty white flowered perennials climbers that one might imagine flowers and attractive grey-green green heads full of that last require protection from severe cold, leaves marked with red, best suited much longer than flowers might. from southern Europe. They grow from an agapanthus-like crown of but recent winters here have left to somewhere sun-baked and dry in April • 4” (10cm) them untouched, buried as they are the summer, As well as being fully £4.50 for 5 thick fleshy roots when dormant in the autumn, providing for splendid, deep in the ground. Long lasting hardy they are also hugely drought ranunculoides informal looking plants that thrive in pink flowers crowd on the ends resistant and love a hot dry soil. Very moisture retentive soil in good light. of thick tangled stems with quite special members of the Berberis flore plena 57-27 When settled, each plant will carry succulent foliage, sometimes the family with pretty, hard, nut-like A European native with bright ten or more flower stems piercing heads look down, or up, but never tubers. yellow double petalled flowers, the upward each carrying a dozen or the same way! They seem happy April/May • 9” (22cm) £4.70 or £13.00 for 3 tubers underground are thicker more flowers looking like little flared with either full sun or part shade but and less stick-like than those of trumpets with yellow stamens, you will need to provide support for the Anemone nemorosa. Easy opening sequentially up the stems. them to grow over. in light spring shade conditions Border plants for good fertile soils in Summer flowering • 30” (70cm) £5.50 amongst the other March and the sun. Plant 24”, (60cm) apart. April flowering woodlanders. May • 24” (60cm) April • 4” (10cm) £7.00 £5.50 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 15 Camassia leichtlinii alba Camassia Maybelle camassia

Camassia leichtlini

Camassia blue candle Camassia leichtlinii caerulea camassia Very hardy bulbs of North Blue Heaven 70-17 American origin that love that Paler blue than all the other heavy, often rather poorly Camassia that we sell and of drained soil that many bulbs shorter stature again. This is find too tough to cope with. If the result of a crossing of C. your soil is too heavy and the cusickii and C. leichtlinii, and a summers too wet to get repeat considerable improvement on the flowering from your Tulips some Camassia blue heaven Camassia Electra pale blue C. cusickii which I think of these might be a suitable (and gives the other Camassia a bad more sustainable) alternative, name - they do not flower well after albeit with a narrower colour the first year (but being widely and palette? Suitable for borders or cheaply sold are often people’s in grassland where one could leichtlinii leichtlinii caerulea first disappointing introduction achieve a full six weeks of interest caerulea 70-06 Maybelle 70-16 to the family). This hybrid form using a few different varieties. Especially valuable and happy in These flower two or three weeks is considerably better at repeat heavier soils and a feature plant later than the one above, are more flowering. leichtlinii for the border in late spring where compact and the flower colour they make magnificent shows with April/May • 18” (45cm) alba 70-07 more blue and less purple than £8.50 for 3 many erect stems of deep lavender those of the plant above. Late Ivory-cream in flower, standing out blue flowers, curving skyward from May can be a time when one is brilliantly against any dark backdrop thick clumps when established. noticeably short of colour in the leichtlinii and a good contrast plant for the They set no seed, only increasing garden so these really fill a gap and Electra 70-10 Alliums in May. They spread their as the bulbs split up. Longer lasting extend the Camassia display, and One of the very best of the seed around freely, and in time sow flowers result from planting in some being somewhat shorter may suit Camassia, although it seems themselves through the herbaceous shade and they love clay soils that more exposed sites? never to be in flower long enough. border in good cottage garden style. hold the moisture. Ideal partners May • 24” (60cm) Large headed with large pale blue They do not naturally make as big might be Polygonatum x hybridum, £5.25 for 3 flowers with a lilac tinge. They set a bulb as the blue C. caerulea and Maianthemum racemosum or no seed so increase only slowly often flower from quite small bulbs, Tellima grandiflora. We supply big Blue Candle 70-19 to magnificent clumps as the big these planted about 9” (22cm) apart. bulbs that should be planted with 5” Rather the colour of the RAF bulbs develop. The original stock These generally flower about 10-14 of soil over them, 9” (22cm) apart. uniform, grey blue with a tidy head. (going back all those 30 years) days later than the ‘standard’ blue April/May • 32” (80cm) It generally forms big bulbs and came from Beth Chatto, and is form of C. ‘caerulea’. £6.00 for 5 or £11.00 for 10 flowers at the same time as still a welcome sight every spring. May/June • 36” (90cm) Numbers will be quite limited. £6.50 for 3 or £18.00 for 9 C. l caerulea but is rather shorter. April/May • 18” (45cm) April/May • 36” (100 cm) £10.00 for 3 £8.50

16 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Chionodoxa Blue Giant

Camassia Sacajawea Camassia avon’s stellar hybrids

Chionodoxa luciliae

Photo credit: GAP Images chionodoxa

p Our ‘friends’ the nomenclature quamash (esculenta) Camassia semi plena police are about to merge the Chionodoxas into the Scilla family. On such matters we are slow adopters of the new ! The Chionodoxa Pink Giant leichtlinii Avon’s leichtlinii bigger spring bulbs exhibit a Stellar hybrids 70-11 Semi-plena 70-08 huge range of bold shapes and strong colours. As a result if A seed raised form, these are the A tall tower of full petalled, almost one does not follow a theme or forbesii result of hybridisation and selection fluffy looking, cream coloured stick to a limited pallet I feel that Pink Giant 72-10 work done here. The plants flowers. A sterile form of the the whole effect can look a bit With a spike of very pretty pale exhibit widely varying colours, cream flowered plant that is the haphazard. A way to help with pink flowers, this is a taller and combinations of purple blue, species: C. leichtlinii alba. But the this is to use a range of the ’little slightly earlier flowering alternative mauve, greyish, purplish, green and benefit of sterility for gardeners is blue bulbs’ to create a more to the more common blue shades. pale pink. We cannot guarantee a longer flowering season. Better unifying backdrop. This ties the Being taller it needs to receive what you might receive, it is ‘pot where they receive more sun than louder colours together and more light to avoid it getting too luck’ but many are individually eye- shade and better still where the provides a steadying consistency. leggy and flopping over. Plant catching and from the seed that soils are damp all through spring Any of the Chionodoxa, Muscari, about 1”- 2” (2.5-5cm) apart, or 15 they in turn produce, who knows and early summer. Scilla and Anemone are the sorts per square foot. June • 36” (90cm) of bulbs that do just this, but you what you might raise yourself! The Feb/March • 5” (12cm) £10.00 for 3 could use other non bulbous bulbs also vary somewhat in size. £3.30 for 10 or £8.00 for 25 May • 36” (90cm) - colours will vary plants as well such as Brunnera or Mysotis (Forget-me-not). £6.50 for 3 quamash forbesii (esculenta) 70-05 luciliæ 72-04 Blue Giant 72-11 leichtlinii The shortest of all the Camassia, Multifunctional small bulbs, they Larger flowered than the C. Sacajawea 70-15 suitable for naturalizing in rough, can go into your beds of perennials luciliae above with a more Carrying cream coloured flowers very late mown grass, or to dot in or be allowed to seed about in noticeable central white throat. these are a variegated form with groups informally in the borders. rock gardens in the sun or part The photo was taken of them in a bold cream coloured edge to Much smaller bulbed than all the shade, where they combine well a pot of tulips that were yet to the leaf, this nicely accentuates forms above, these give rise to with the daffodils, grape hyacinths, flower and the C. Blue Giant were what is (in Camassia generally) not rich, dark purple-blue flowers with crocuses and other small spring flowering their socks off, providing very interesting foliage. The name startling yellow stamens. A true bulbs. They can also be naturalized a very good early show. honours a native American Indian meadow plant. The bulbs are often in grass (though mowing too early March/April • 6” (15cm) woman who saved the starving pitted and marked when dormant, or too short needs to be avoided). £4.50 for 10 or £10.00 for 25 explorers on the Lewis and Clark though this seems to make no Brilliant blue with white centres. Buy expedition of 1805 as they crossed difference to their growth, plant lots, planting densities need to be America east to west (and back them 3-4” (10cm) apart. generous, though they will seed again) for the first time feeding May/June • 12” (30cm) about in time. You’ll initially need them the native ‘quamash’ bulbs. £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25 about 30-40 per square ft. Again 10-14 days later into flower Feb/March • 4” (10cm) than C. caerulea. £4.50 for 20 or £10.00 for 50 May/June • 36” (90cm) £9.50 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 17 Convallaria majalis rosea

Convallaria majalis Hofheim Convallaria majalis Fernwood’s Golden Slippers

Convallaria majalis Blush Convallaria majalis Hardwick Hall Convallaria majalis Fortins giant convallaria majalis Blush 75-10 majalis Hardwick majalis Fernwood’s In paint terms these are probably Hall 75-09 Golden Slippers 75-11 Lilies of the Valley. Spring rose white, so they are the palest Wide leaved with a creamy coloured A startlingly golden leaved form, flowering plants of woodland of pinks but they increase well. margin to the leaf, providing a particularly in the early spring origins with stringy rhizomes Do plant them in light shade so feature of interest even before they before the flowers appear. They under the soil. They like humus avoiding direct warm May sun on appear perfectly stable as there has rich soil and part shade but flower. The flowers are large, white the flowers which bleaches the pink. and scented. been no reversion to green. There everyone’s experience of growing £6.50 for 3 these is different and (as is £10.00 for 3 is an ongoing argument regarding reported to us) they will grow in the name, should it be Verwood, the most unlikely places. But the majalis Fortins majalis Fernwood or what? We obtained the critical commonality is that they Giant 75-05 Hofheim 75-12 initial stock from the late Stephen do need patience to begin with Taffler (inveterate variegated plant Larger flowered and taller than the A creamy yellow edge to the and tales of them taking 2 or 3 ‘common’ white Lily of the Valley addict) who used to live nearby. otherwise plain green leaf £7.00 for 3 years to settle abound. They are but equally scented. For sun or all about 6” (15cm) tall when in marks these out, these marginal shade but in the former they need a flower in May. highlights are considered rather more moisture retentive soil. Good, stronger in this form than it is in C. majalis rosea 75-07 strong, fresh-dug rhizomes (stringy Hardwick Hall, the flower is creamy Like small and very exclusive pink roots) to plant horizontally about 2” white and scented. pearls, a vigorous form which we deep (5 cm) and double that apart. £4.00 know to be tough and productive £3.80 for 5 with lovely pale pink fragrant flowers, Best in dappled light or part shade, direct bright sunshine tends to burn out the pink. As with any Convallaria you’ll need a degree of patience before they thicken up. £8.00 for 5

18 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 chrysanthus Cream Beauty

Corydalis China Blue Corydalis George Baker

chrysanthus Blue Pearl

crocus Corydalis solida Corydalis Beth Evans Corydalis Blue DRAGON (spring flowering) corydalis flexuosa solida The C. tommasinianus forms are perfect for planting in light A family with snapdragon-like Blue Dragon 76-12 Beth Evans 76-16 grass or borders, self-sowing flowers – but those we sell fall Bronze purple foliage, its colour Pale pink with pale green leaves, and increasing where happy and into two distinct groups, the blue heightened when planted in some very pretty. These do set seed potentially getting everywhere. flowered flexuosa forms which direct sunshine, particularly in the and the resulting seedlings may The bees love them and their do not form a distinct bulb so early spring, with deep purple-blue themselves produce varied colours. opening is always a certain these we supply already growing March/April • 4” (10cm) flowers. Sold by the potful. sign of spring arriving. The in pots, and the solida types with £3.00 or £8.50 for 3 Spring/Summer • 6” (15cm) hybrid forms of the species corky tubers. The latter will cope £3.30 C. chrysanthus in particular anywhere in sun or part shade solida George have been raised for garden and will seed about, the former solida 76-15 use but need more particular need encouragement to grow Baker 76-04 situations than do the ‘tommies’. away from the compost in which Small wizened pebble-like tubers, A vibrant red coloured clone, They are palatable to mice and they will be established before the size of small marbles which originally discovered in Romania squirrels as are some other small they settle in with you. produce froths of grey-green foliage in the 1930s and further selected carbohydrate rich bulbs. Mesh and attractive spikes of spurred in Holland, being named after a flowers in lilac, pink and purple hues. baskets sold by garden centres flexuosa famous mountaineer. These do and DIY stores for aquatic plants Easy in any well drained soil, even set seed, though the resulting are a great help (with the addition China Blue 76-22 in our heavy loam they happily seed seedlings may themselves produce of a home-made wire lid) these Exhibiting beautiful pink-fringed about planted in summer shade. varied colours. buried containers mostly thwart juvenile foliage when planted in March/April • 4” (10cm) March/April • 4” (10cm) those opportunistic raiders. The £4.50 for 10 some sunshine and startling pale £3.80 or £10.50 for 3 bigger and later flowering C. blue flowers, this still remains a ‘buy vernus or ’Dutch’ forms of Crocus on sight’ plant. Sold by the potful. are much bigger bulbed and Spring/Summer • 6” (15cm) seem to both persist better and £3.30 are less affected by rodents.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 19 Photo credit: GAP Images p chrysanthus dorothy minimus spring beauty crocus Photo credit: GAP Images p chrysanthus prins claus chrysanthus Snow Bunting 78-18 Ivory-white with a yellow throat inside and on the outside some purple brushing over the white background. £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 korolkowii January Gold tommasinianus Whitewell korolkowii Purple January Gold 78-67 Flowering so early this requires a sheltered sunny spot, or probably to be grown in a pot where you can chrysanthus Snow Bunting admire it up close. The species is Afghan in origin and has some subtle differences from its more chrysanthus western cousins such as more Blue Pearl 78-12 leaves and a subterranean seed capsule. Shiny and golden within the A lovely goblet shaped flower with flower, more dusted on the reverse. a soft lavender-blue exterior, pale £2.70 for 3 or £5.80 for 7 silvery blue inside, and bronzing at the base. £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 minimus Spring Beauty 78-59 chrysanthus Cream Lovely lilac petals open wide in the Beauty 78-14 sun, but notice their backs, richly feathered along their length on a Elegant, with pale-cream petals much paler background they really tommasinianus Ruby Giant Yalta brushed with charcoal on the enhance that lilac. reverse and bright orange stigmas £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 when open wide in the sun. £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 tommasinianus tommasinianus Yalta 78-64 Ruby Giant 78-44 Whitewell Bigger and bolder than the chrysanthus hybrids above but chrysanthus Deep pinkish-silvery purple Purple 78-45 not as big as the Dutch types Dorothy 78-69 flowered with contrasting yellow Free-flowering with silvery mauve- below, some left over bulbs have Bronzy yellow throughout, the open anthers. Excellent for naturalising pink flowers and bright yellow survived in some rough grass flowers mirroring the sun with a and an ideal accompaniment to the anthers, this form is a little finer and under a birch and done quite well shiny sheen. Bright and cheery. early dwarf daffodils and to follow paler in hue. They are ideal to plant here so come recommended, our £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 the Cyclamen coum. Don’t be with the intention of allowing them heavier soil generally does not deceived by the deceptive naming, to seed about and naturalise. They suit the smaller crocus, though they are neither Ruby nor Giant, don’t last long in blazing March chrysanthus the ‘tommies’ do brilliantly. just ‘chubbier’ and darker than sunshine so try them in dappled Prins Claus 78-70 Alternating deep purple and silvery Whitewell Purple below. shade. Don’t mow till the leaves A slightly bigger two tone flower £4.30 for 20, £9.75 for 50 backed petals contrast nicely. have gone if planted in grass and, £3.70 for 10 or £8.30 for 25 with ivory white within and a smoky or £18.00 for 100 if you remember, look out for the purple blue reverse to the petal. seed-heads at soil level in June. Grouped together one seems to £4.30 for 20, £9.75 for 50 frame their neighbour and so they RHS Perfect or £18.00 for 100 show themselves off magically. for Pollinators. £4.30 for 20 or £9.90 for 50 ®

20 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 New ‘Family’ shot of mixed crocus at Wisley – 9565 Photo credit: GAP Images Photo credit: GAP Images p p Crocus Queen of the Blues crocus flower record

Crocus vernus

Crocus pickwick mixed crocus at Wisley crocus vernus Pickwick 78-53 Strongly striped and feathered in ‘dutch’ hybrids violet over a white background. Selected over the centuries, A larger flowered and vigorous originally from C. vernus these crocus, generally with several are useful for planting in grassed flowers per corm. areas to provide an early spring £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 show (though in February and or £15.00 for 60 March the grass will hardly be growing) and being bigger Golden Yellow bulbed they can be planted more 78-52 deeply and would cope with Bright golden yellow flowers. rougher grass cover than lawn grasses. Each corm produces Either use them alone or in multiple flowers. Flowering into combination with the purple Crocus Jeanne D’Arc the early Daffodil season they can forms (it flowers fractionally Photo credit: GAP Images be an effective contrast to the sea earlier). It has been found not to p of yellow in the March garden. be a true C. vernus form at all Crocus remembrance Plant them 4-6” (12-15cm) apart, but a triploid hybrid between C. Queen of the or roughly 7- 12 per square vernus and C. angustifolius. Blues 78-68 foot. They do not quite all flower £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 Lavender blue, with a whiff of or £15.00 for 60 together (which is a benefit) so purple in some lights but with an choose a few varieties to provide incredible depth of colour and a slightly greater spread of Jeanne D’Arc 78-51 slightly shorter stemmed. flowering. Late February and early A superb goblet shaped white £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 March flowering 5” (12cm) tall. crocus (occasionally with purple or £15.00 for 60 flecking) with strong stems. Great Flower Record 78-71 planted alone or else supporting a Remembrance 78-63 The deepest purple form, providing mix of other colours. But also nice The deep purple blue, and again that darker contrast in a mixed with late snowdrops or as a foil to slightly shorter stemmed. Brought planting. any of the Greigii tulips which flower back into our list by popular demand. £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 at the same time. One could try a £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 or £15.00 for 60 combination of your own of any of or £15.00 for 60 the ‘Dutch’ crocus and any Greigii RHS Perfect tulip in pots? Photo credit: GAP Images for Pollinators. £4.30 for 15, £8.00 for 30 ® or £15.00 for 60 p crocus golden yellow

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 21 cyclamen Cyclamen tubers tend to do best in drier sites in lighter soils that have benefitted from the addition of some humus or leaf-mould. Here they seed through and pop up in our heavy soils even in grass. Though not cheap to begin with (these are often 4 years old already) they can be expected to live many years and the autumn flowering forms can reach dinner plate size and a great age. These are all in leaf throughout the winter and spring cyclamen months so do take their attractive foliage into account and aim for Photo credit: GAP Images that varied green tapestry that p a mix of the spring and autumn Cyclamen coum silver leaf Cyclamen coum dark pink flowering forms provides. They are all completely hardy except C. repandum which will need more careful placement, although Mary Keen in the Telegraph wrote that they too had survived recent winters deeply planted in the Cotswolds. We would suggest you plant them all about 5” (12cm) apart.

Cyclamen coum flowers in the early spring with slightly chunky flowers with foliage that is smooth edged and rounded, Cyclamen hederifolium flowers in the early autumn with more elegant flowers and distinctively heart or arrow shaped foliage. The two foliage types complement each other Cyclamen coum roseum Cyclamen repandum well, though the flowering is about 5 months apart. They can be successfully planted together.

These are all nursery grown in the UK from seed and may be ordered for either Late Summer or Autumn despatch. In the autumn the tubers start back into growth and so where orders are despatched after mid- September the leaves and roots may be showing, though this causes no harm. spring flowering forms Cyclamen coum Cyclamen coum album coum 51-16 coum roseum 51-17 coum dark Pink 51-31 repandum 51-29 Plump tubers throwing what are Pale pink flowered, the easiest colour These exciting forms have more Better in more sheltered conditions mosty pink flowers with hugely to combine with those other early strongly coloured carmine pink and certainly needing more varied leaf markings around the spring gems. A year older than those flowers. The leaf markings will vary shade and leaf mould in the soil silvery ‘Christmas tree’ outline within above as they were graded by colour enormously from all matt green to where they need to be planted the rounded leaf. I think they are when they flowered last year, they largely silver etched forms. more deeply. Only properly hardy the perfect companions to the early will have bigger tubers and so will Jan/March in the south, though special spring display of winter aconites, produce more flowers in their first year. £14.00 for 3 circumstances may affect that dwarf crocus and snowdrops under Jan/March generalisation, small bulbs which trees or shrubs, perhaps with one of £14.00 for 3 coum need careful handling - I feel that the deliciously fragrant Sarcocca? Silver Leaf 51-19 I am using too many caveats! The These will be about 3 year old positives are many - they provide coum album 51-18 Demonstrate a silvery sheened tubers from seed, but even at that spicily fragrant, deep carmine Always showing a pink ‘nose’ but leaf, still outlined within a deep age, a year younger than the colour coloured flowers in late spring and the flower is otherwise white, the green edge. When planted with the selected forms below. like the others do set seed and petals twisted and swept back. other forms one builds up a low Jan/March Ideal to provide a bit of contrast spread where happy. £15.00 for 5 ‘tapestry’ of interest created from amongst other pink ones, or April/May the leaves alone, the flowers could £5.40 each or £15.00 for 3 planted with your snowdrops, to be any colour. maintain an all-white theme. Jan/March Jan/March £16.00 for 3 £14.00 for 3

22 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Dichelostemma Ida maia Cyclamen Hederifolium Dichelostemma congestum

Cyclamen Hederifolium album autumn dichelostemma flowering Allium-like bulbs of North West America with nice stories to go forms with them. They are obviously very unusual plants to be found in UK gardens but they are hardy hederifolium 51-07 and tough enough to grow in Erythronium The toughest and most enduring lighter and free draining soils. They grow much as any Allium of all cyclamen, with long petalled but flower later. The sap from cut (and mostly) pale pink flowers in stems can be caustic to the skin. the autumn (when flowering without their foliage) followed by glossy Erythronium dens canis dark green heart-shaped foliage congestum 82-04 through winter, often beautifully From the far west of America, marked. These will be three or producing a compact, hens egg dens canis 84-08 more years old and will get better sized flower head much like an erythronium The European Dogs Tooth Violet and better over the years, their Allium, formed of very long-lasting The Dog’s Tooth Violet is the only with magically mottled leaves with tubers eventually becoming very lilac-purple flowers, on a slender but European form (that common name brown and purple markings. The large and corky. very wiry stem. They will grow where referring to the shape of the bulb) Aug/Oct one would expect Alliums to thrive. The others are all American species flowers are pale pink through to £14.00 for 5 June • 24” (60cm) or hybrids where the common name lilac or purple. They benefit from £5.00 for 5 or £9.00 for 10 for them in America is the Trout Lily good spring light but with shade hederifolium (due to the markings on the leaves). from about April. Plant them 3-4” ida-maia 82-05 They grow best where they have (7-10cm) apart. album 51-08 cool humus rich soil conditions in March • 4” (10cm) Spectacular red, yellow and green White flowered tubers of the form the spring, usually grown in dappled £5.50 for 3 coloured flowers, shaped like above, these were selected by shade, with a drier resting phase colour when they flowered last cigars, opening at the tip of a wiry in what will be deeper shade in the autumn. Use just a few to provide stem. Named after the daughter summer. They all have interesting an interesting contrast, or alone as of a Californian stage coach-driver leaves and look great with Dicentra, a beacon in October to lighten up a and pollinated (in the wild) by Trilliums, Epimedium and the dark corner. humming-birds! Grown much as wood Anemones. Knightshayes Aug/Oct any Allium. Court, or The Garden House at £12.50 for 3 June • 18” (45cm) Buckland Monachorum, both £3.30 for 5 or £9.00 for 15 have good displays.

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Erythronium Old Aberdeen

Erythronium White Beauty

Pagoda 84-17 A more vigorous hybrid first discovered in the late 19th Century, it is a bigger plant altogether, with creamy yellow flowers. They are Erythronium Knightshayes easier to grow than any of the Pink others and one starts with a big finger sized tuber. Ideally planted in some shelter from spring gales (the dens canis Old large leaves tend to crack in strong Aberdeen 84-09 winds) and ideally in humus rich Noted for their exceptionally dark soils where they will clump up. Plant leaf markings the flowers are 7” to 9” (16-20cm) apart. also more deeply coloured than April • 12” (30cm) the standard E. dens canis. First £5.00 for 3 or £10.50 for 7 named (I believe) by Carol Scott whom I met and stayed with 30 revolutum 84-21 Erythronium revolutum plus years ago near Glasgow. They The ‘wild’ pink flowered should increase quite rapidly but Erythronium, originally from the E. dens canis is never in flower for western seaboard of North America, long, so the great foliage is a strong right through from California to revolutum White Beauty 84-15 reason to grow these. Vancouver now a welcome highlight Knightshayes Probably the best Erythronium March • 4” (10cm) in woodland gardens here. More Pink 84-13 in Britain for more formal small £4.00 or £10.00 for 3 gardens and a favourite, if you have subtle and refined than E. Pagoda, Named after the garden in which visited Knightshayes in Devon in but if you can grow that then these these abound in Devon, this strain dens canis early April you’ll know why. A very are a definite possibility. They seed has even more heavily marked neat and compact hybrid with Snowflake 84-11 around quite vigorously and mix in leaves with pale pink flowers, but do mottled leaves and creamy white A white flowered selection, worth a very naturally with wood anemones, handle the tubers carefully, they are flowers, often multi-stemmed on closer look when in flower (though Anemone apennina, and all those long and brittle. established plants. The whole plant this can be awkward as they are low growing gems of April. A cool April • 8” (20cm) very close to the ground) in order April is best, otherwise they are £5.50 or £15.00 for 3 is nicely proportioned. Pamper to admire the extraordinary mauve- too quickly over. Some will be them with deep leaf mould rich soils purple stamens. marked with lovely brown flecks in the summer shade of trees or March • 4” (10cm) on the leaves. shrubs. Plant 5” (12cm) apart. £5.00 April • 8” (20cm) April • 8” (20cm) £12.00 for 3 £5.50 or £15.00 for 3

24 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Fritillaria acmopetala Fritillaria rascal Chopin Fritillaria William Rex

Fritillaria elwesii fritillaria elwesii 85-07 Dark stemmed with narrow, more The plants listed below are Fritillaria illustrative of the amazing tubular, slate and green flowers diversity of the family, from covered in a fine bloom held atop a small bulbs of moist riverine fine stem. They hail from southern meadows to giants of near and will happily survive our desert like locations. Sadly few cold winters, but would do better for Fritillaria imperialis lutea of the many species of Fritillaria a dry summer rest, so that calls for are well suited to ‘ordinary’ well drained soils. garden conditions in Britain but, April • 15” (35cm) particularly if you can invest £7.00 for 3 imperialis rascal imperialis some effort into their planting and Chopin 85-23 lutea 85-21 exercise judgment in where to imperialis The Rascal series is the result of Bright yellow flowered on a pale plant them, the following are to years of interbreeding F imperialis green stem, no more difficult to be recommended. Our website William Rex 85-20 and F.raddeana to produce grow than the red flowered form. does provide more detail on all Deeply coloured orange-red flowers bulbs that flower younger, aiming Both grow very rapidly in the early of them. which surround a strong dark stem. A selected and named form of (eventually) to bringing the cost spring and needing to quickly acmopetala 85-04 the Crown Imperial Lily. A top knot down, but they are still relatively replenish that effort, we suggest of green leaves above the flower new ! I like their daintier stature, that they benefit from liquid feeding A native of the Eastern makes them look quite exotic. For their less regimental stance and whilst in growth to encourage Mediterranean with one or more rich sunny soils, well-watered in the earlier flowering which ought flowering in subsequent years. hanging jade green bell shaped spring but well drained in summer, to allow more time for them to ‘put April • 36” (90cm) flowers, reflexed at the opening, £6.00 or £16.00 for 3 sheltered from wind and planted on weight’ before going dormant with chocolate brown markings. 6-8” (15-20cm) deep. again, a requirement if they are to Grow them in a little shade in fairly April • 30” (75cm) flower well in future years. well drained conditions out of the £6.00 or £16.00 for 3 March/April • 30” (75cm) strongest wind. £6.00 or £16.00 for 3 April/May • 12” (30cm) £6.00 for 3 or £9.20 for 5

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 25 Fritillaria uva-vulpis Fritillaria Pontica

Fritillaria raddeana

Fritillaria meleagris Fritillaria pallidiflora Fritillaria michailovskyi meleagris 85-27 michailovskyi 85-31 pontica 85-39 uva vulpis 85-42 The ever popular Snakeshead A striking small plant with a yellow Bell shaped flowers (hardly showing The name is latinised for the Turkish Fritillary. Serpent like with darkly band around the rim of the chunky, any of the flared lip that you see ‘fox-grape’, its common name in chequered nodding bells, a reddish brown, bell shaped flower. in F. acmopetala) with green and the Levant. There they are plants smattering of which may be paler or These need a well drained soil to brown markings. Shorter too and of cornfields and meadows but in even white. In Elizabethan times it persist in the ground, otherwise more suited to a bit more shade, our higher latitudes they need to was widespread – typically in damp, growing them in a pot in the seeding freely where happy. be grown in the full sun, they are grassy, late-cut meadows and in protection of something such as April/May • 9” (25cm) tall enough anyway without being moist alluvial soils. So aim for these a bulb frame to keep them drier, £2.50 or £7.00 for 3 made taller by dint of them growing conditions to have them increasing particularly in summer, is advisable. in shade. So another sunny well and self-seeding yourself. They are March / April • 8” (20cm) raddeana 85-41 drained spot out of the wind is best ordered early to allow for timely £3.00 for 3 Closely related to the Crown called for. planting. Plant 4” (10cm) deep in Imperials above but rather shorter March/April • 10” (26cm) drifts, 4” (10cm) apart (10-15 per pallidiflora and less formal arrangement of £3.00 for 5 sq ft.) 85- 36 flowers in yellowish green. They March/April • 12” (30cm) Pale straw green bells, speckled root early in the autumn and then £3.60 for 15, £11.00 for 50 emerge early and race up to flower or £21.00 for 100 within the bell with darker flecking. Usually the broad leaves and quickly. They will need a bit of relatively large flowers act as a shelter from the wind and good sail and the stems becomes more light, though are very cold tolerant. S shaped. This actually makes Mar/ April • 18” (45cm) £6.00 or £16.00 for 3 it easier to see inside the flower! None too difficult and charming in a raised bed or in well drained soils. April • 12” (30cm) £4.20

26 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Gladiolus The BridE

Gladiolus Nathalie

Gladiolus Nymph

Gladiolus

Gladiolus Mirella Gladiolus byzantinus Gladiolus Atom gladiolus The ‘named’ dwarf gladioli Atom 88-18 Nymph 88-11 flower in the early summer. Short Dusty orange-red flowers, each White flowered, but clearly marked byzantinus 88-04 enough not to need staking, they petal margin enriched by white with luscious pink and purple Rich magenta coloured flowers do not tower over the garden as piping, which highlights their lipstick kisses on the lower petals. with white flashes. These are free do the larger forms. These make individual shape. This is particularly Much less formally upright, the particularly good cut flowers flowering plants with large strongly effective where the petals overlap bigger flowers bending the stems too. They also grow away early, coloured flowers, and generally one another. Best in well drained this way and that, so they weave and this may result in the foliage infertile as the plant is tetraploid. being susceptible to severe late soils and in the sun. through surrounding plants with an They are lovely, persisting colourful frost, so mulching is a possible July • 30” (75cm) appealing informality. £5.50 for 10 or £10.50 for 20 cottage garden plants for the early requirement in very cold gardens. May/June • 24” (60cm) summer, but the leaves do emerge Plant them in a sheltered site in £5.50 for 10 or £10.50 for 20 early in the year and in very cold well-drained soil, 6” (15cm) deep, Mirella 88-17 gardens (or in the north) they may 4” (10cm) apart on a bed of sharp Flowers in pillar box red (though The Bride 88-06 need a mulch over winter. There is sand. The winter dormant hybrid around here the post boxes badly Starry, tapered, gleaming white skulduggery about regarding what is forms are also sold in the spring, need a new coat) with good upright flowers tinged with green at the sold under this name. A poor relation if yours is a cold garden buy them stems. Clean and bright. throat, a strong-growing favourite to what we sell is G. byzantinus ssp. then instead. July • 30” (75cm) of ours and our customers. Do communis which is often passed £5.50 for 10 or £10.50 for 20 ensure that the soil is well drained off as the same plant and is a good and if you have failed before, try deal cheaper. The two are like chalk Nathalie 88-19 them again planted in deep pots and cheese. For sun or slight shade. Predominantly pink flowered with protected from the worst of the cold Plant 4” (10cm) apart. the bottom petals on each marked till spring and then plant these out June • 24” (60cm) with a darker rose and cream into your sunny border. £5.00 for 3 or £10.00 for 7 coloured flash, pretty and easy to fit June • 18” (45cm) into the summer colour theme. £5.50 for 10 or £10.50 for 20 July • 30” (75cm) £5.50 for 10 or £10.50 for 20

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 27 Hyacinthus

Hyacinthoides non scripta Hyacinthus Woodstock

Hyacinthus Carnegie

Hyacinthoides

Hyacinthoides non scripta alba Hyacinthus Delft Blue Hyacinthus Gipsy queen

hyacinthoides non scripta hyacinthus Delft Blue 86-11 The family name that covers all alba 125-12 The ‘prepared’ bulbs in the Late Compact spikes of purple- blue with the varied ‘Bluebells’. Wild populations of English Summer section (Page 5) are a darker stem. £3.60 for 3 or £8.00 for 7 Bluebells are nearly all violet-blue, more suited to forcing for very but rarely white flowered plants early indoor display or if planted non scripta 125-10 occur and it is from those that these out will flower in early March. The Gipsy Queen 86-36 The English Bluebell. Violet-blue derive. They will stand out in a sea ones below can be potted for Neither yellow nor salmon, but not nodding bells which glisten in damp of blue. These will always stay white use in the house, where they will pink either. Quite a refreshing colour shady glades. Always in demand and will increase below ground, flower in March and look equally in the spring when there is likely to magnificent in pots, or can be and providing that perfect moment though their seedlings will almost be so much yellow about. planted directly into the garden in April when the woods turn violet. certainly be blue. £3.60 for 3 or £8.00 for 7 to flower in March and April. Self-seeding, so increasing steadily April/May • 12” (30cm) £7.50 for 3 All are tremendously fragrant. once established. Plant 4” (10cm) They prefer very well drained Woodstock 86-17 deep and 4” (10cm) apart, working and sunny situations, reaching a Deep beetroot purple, one of the on up to 15 per sq. ft. height of 12” (30cm). most dramatic. It makes a smashing April/May • 12” (30cm) twosome planted with Carnegie. £5.00 for 10 or £11.50 for 25 Carnegie 86-12 £3.60 for 3 or £8.00 for 7 Dense glossy white flowered spikes with a hint of yellow in the buds before they open. £3.60 for 3 or £8.00 for 7

28 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Hyacinthus Anastasia Hyacinthus Roman blue Ipheion Alberto Castillo

Ipheion

Hyacinthus multiflora Hyacinthus Roman white Ipheion Charlotte BishoP

multiflora ‘roman’ Blue Roman Alberto Anastasia 86-20 hyacinths 86-33 Castillo 97-09 The forms above are looked on as hyacinths £5.90 for 3 Vigorous, with very white starry being a bit ‘chunky’ and soldierly The ‘wild’ forms originating in flowers over grey green foliage by some, the multiflora forms below southern France went out of smelling of onions when crushed. are more slender, less dense and fashion as breeders produced ipheion Longer stemmed, which raises the more informal in appearance and more and more sophisticated These little bulbs often start flowers well above the foliage and maybe less dominating of the little colours and forms, there was pushing up one or two stems they pick well for small posies but flowers with which they bloom so a time when there were many very early with pretty star shaped to prevent those longer stems from hundreds of varieties of Hyacinth early, this is the prettiest deep blue flowers, but their main display is flopping you must plant them in grown, but not now. We have a with dark stems. reserved for late March and April. fairly good light. limited number of white or blue £7.30 for 3 or £11.50 for 5 They are easy in any reasonably March/April • 9” (22cm) flowered bulbs – with well- well drained soils and a moderately £3.30 for 7 multiflora spaced, narrow, flared flowers sunny site and although the leaves on multistemmed plants. Natural, can be burnt off in a heavy frost white 86-09 unregimented and simple, as (with an associated garlic smell) uniflorum Simply white when fully open well as fragrant. They do flower they seem to recover in weeks. The Charlotte but quite yellow in bud. Slighter very early in their first season, we named forms are better and more Bishop 97-10 think that they will ‘settle down’ and somehow simpler than the interesting than the species forms A pretty pink flowered form, dark to a more expected March/ April which are widely available but tend ‘standard’ orientalis forms. pink on opening, fading gracefully flowering in subsequent years. to be more invasive (and which we £7.30 for 3 or £11.50 for 5 in the sun. In well drained soils they do not stock). The biggest bulbs White Roman of the first one are the size of a are vigorous and will increase. small clementine segment, but the March/April • 6” (15cm) hyacinths 86-32 £3.80 for 5 others are much smaller. £5.90 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 29 Iris Prof Blaauw

Ipheion Froyle Mill Photo credit: GAP Images p Iris lion king

Iris Photo credit: GAP Images p Iris blue magic Iris Apollo Iris Gypsy Beauty uniflorum Froyle Apollo 99-04 Gypsy Beauty 99-06 Professor Mill 97-08 On sturdy plants the broad yellow Tongues of yellow at the mouths Blaauw 99-08 First selected in Hampshire which falls (the three lower part of the of the broad lilac veined falls lead The deepest of rich blues with explains the name, with starry, iris flower looking like a tongue) one’s eye up to the violet purple a yellow flash. You should really velvety-violet flowers, similarly the colour of free range egg yolks colours in the rest of the flower. expect two flowers per stem, and vigorous in sunny conditions. contrast with the creamy white, May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) will observe the pregnant swelling March/April • 6” (15cm) even blue tinted, standards (the £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 of the buds within the stems before £3.80 for 5 three upright parts). they burst open. May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) Lion King 99-13 May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 Deep reddish violet and greeny- £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 iris x brown petals, a combination that hollandica Blue Magic 99-12 should sound pretty enticing? Dark A deep violet-blue flower with a leaved as well providing additional These are hybrid forms of Iris yellow signal marking (edged in contrast, late flowering. xiphium that florists use lavishly white) on the lower petals. They June • 18-24” (45-60cm) in the late spring and summer, increased well at the RHS trials and £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 but the bulbs are reasonably were awarded an AGM. inexpensive and you could May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) easily grow your own? In the £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 garden they are likely to last far longer than cut flowers too! These would be planted 4-6” (10-15cm) apart in sunny conditions and in lighter soils.

30 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Iris Gordon Iris Lady Beatrix Stanley Iris George

Iris Silvery beauty Iris harmony Iris Red Ember Iris Katharine Hodgkin

Red Ember 99-10 dwarf iris histrioides Gordon 101-20 Rust coloured, though in some Pale dove-grey blue on the three erect These are derived from plants George 101-06 lights they also have a deeper raised standards, the lower three falls native to the Middle East and do Broad, ripe plum-purple petals with tinge of purple on the standards, best in well drained conditions a yellow and white blotch on the are darker, and marked with orange altogether an unusual hue. with a warm dry summer rest. In falls, at flowering time the leaves and white. Earlier flowering. Recommended at the trial of these UK conditions with our summer are undeveloped so that you Feb/March • 6” (15cm) bulbs at Wisley rain this is not easy to achieve so can get your nose close for that £4.00 for 15 or £6.00 for 25 May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) they sometimes do not do well glorious scent which is unmissable £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 year on year. It helps to plant in warm sunshine. Harmony 101-11 them deeply 5” (12cm). The best Early Feb/March • 6” (15cm) Flowering with amazingly intense £4.00 for 15 or £6.00 for 25 Silvery situation would be a raised bed gentian blue flowers, only marked Beauty 99-11 in the sun with well drained soil with a small yellow and white crest conditions. There you’ll be able histrioides on the falls. The most popular of all Simply fresh and somehow a bit to admire them up close, and Lady Beatrix the forms. ‘lighter’ this is probably my favourite smell the scented ones. 15 bulbs Feb/March • 6” (15cm) form with white and pale violet will nicely fill a 9” (20cm) planter Stanley 101-22 £4.00 for 15 or £6.00 for 25 flowers above leaves that display or pot filled with sharply draining A velvety blue flowered form with the silvery sheen implied in the compost for an early spring treat. pale flecking on the lips and with a name. Roundly admired at Wisley. yellow stripe down the length of the Katharine May/June • 18-24” (45-60cm) falls, scented of violets. Flowering Hodgkin 101-07 £3.30 for 5 or £9.20 for 15 before the leaves extend so these An utterly distinct hybrid raised are not too evident at flowering time. by EB Anderson in the 1960s. Feb/March • 6” (15cm) Predominantly yellow with blue and £3.80 for 5 sea-green veining and markings over the wide petals. Probably the most persistent and perennial form when planted in a rich, gritty soil in a sunny site. Feb/March • 6” (15cm) £3.20 for 5 or £6.00 for 10

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32 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photographs by Neil Hepworth A small family www.neilhepworth.co.uk © RHS run nursery

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 33 Iris unguicularis marondera Iris unguicularis Mary Barnard Iris unguicularis alba Photo credit: GAP Images p Iris Pauline Iris pixie Iris unguicularis Walter Butt Iris unguicularis

Pauline 101-13 iris Mary Walter Butt 102-06 Narrower petalled with dark Barnard 102-05 Palest of pale ice blues with some velvety purple flowers with bright unguicularis The darkest of them all and a fine purple veining, drawing ones white highlights on the falls. Mid- (stylosa) glossy marvel in the winter. Tissue- attention to the fact that they are not season flowering. like velvety purple blue flowers with white. Longer leaved and with more Feb/March • 6” (15cm) A firm favourite for the winter white and golden markings on the upright, paler, foliage. The first form £4.00 for 15 or £6.00 for 25 garden. They need a sunny site falls, the foliage shorter and darker to flower with the largest flowers and are often found growing in than the other forms. Discovered by and the most scented too. Pixie 101-23 rubble right up against the house E.B. Anderson near Algiers in 1962. Nov/Feb • 18” (45cm) wall or in very poor soils but £6.50 Closer to I. George in appearance Feb/March • 15” (32cm) they will perform even better if £6.50 these are similarly wide petalled but the growing conditions are not unguicularis 102-04 these are of the deepest of blue, too harsh. Avoid the inclination not purple, and are equally scented. to shear off the untidy foliage Marondera 102-13 The species plant with pale mauve Feb/March • 6” (15cm) in the summer, instead rake out Bigger flowered than the ‘ordinary’ flowers, the standards slightly paler £4.00 for 15 or £6.00 for 25 some of the dead leaves in the unguicularis and slightly darker, this is and more silvery. A tough survivor early autumn and give the plant a strain that goes back to a garden in even in poor soil conditions. some water and a liquid feed the town of that name in Zimbabwe. Feb/March • 15” (32cm) at the same time. It is then that It is as good and tough as all the £5.50 they make their new roots and others, and goes back a long way. are initiating their flower buds so Sadly a wedding present to us from unguicularis that should result in more flowers New Zealand has not survived, alba 102-11 in the following winter. New though its name remains etched in Narrower petalled with all white divisions need careful planting my memory - Starkers Pink. and firming in, regular watering flowered except for the yellow Feb/March • 15” (32cm) markings at the throat. Reportedly till established and possibly some £6.50 protection in their first winter. slightly less tough than its sisters but they have grown apace despite the cold winter. Feb/Mar • 15” (32cm) £7.00

34 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: GAP Images

Iris bucharica Iris tuberosa (Hermodactylus) p Lilium Claude Shride Lilium candidum iris (other types) bucharica 103-09 Easy to grow in any sunny border or a well drained sunny site where little else seems to do well. They originate from Central Asia with bright glossy leaves, creamy white and yellow flowers over low, bright, shiny foliage. March/April • 12” (30cm) £3.30 for 3 tuberosa Leucojum Gravetye Giant (Hermodactylus) lilium 103-10 Translucent black and jade-green lilium flowers on rush-like leaves known Lilies would have to come near the as the Widow Iris, more kindly it is top of any list of most gardeners Lilium regale Lilium martagon Scarlet also known in the Mediterranean favourite bulbs. For stature, grace Morning as Hermes’ finger after the shape and perfume they are unbeatable, of the tubers. Requiring time to but to ensure longevity it helps candidum 107-14 martagon Scarlet establish, plant them in full sun to get things right. Unless it says The ‘Madonna Lily’ often depicted Morning 107-44 where they love growing near heat otherwise (in the text below) do as a religious icon in early Christian Russety scarlet coloured flowers absorbing sun-drenched paving out incorporate plenty of organic paintings. Large, loose scaled and matter in the area to be planted, with quite thick petals, yellow of too much wind. Do try and order slightly shaggy bulbs are typical of early for early autumn planting or having chosen a site that is of striped on the reverse with yellow good, probably rich soil, not this plant. They grow away early and freckling at the throat on the inside. you could include some on a Late bulbs may already have begun to Summer order (see page 5). too dry in summer, and possibly June/July • 36” (90cm) shaded – many lily flowers will leaf up before they are despatched. £8.00 April • 6” (15cm) Satin white flowered with a delicious £5.50 for 10 last longer in cooler shade. Plant at least 5” deep (except fragrance. They need shallow regale 107-04 planting in a warmer sunny spot and L. candidum). If planting in the Familiar and much loved favourites seem to do better in relatively poor leucojum confinement of a container, try with ivory-white trumpets, flushed to ensure regular watering. Lily soil (also available from the Late with pink on their backs, providing beetle are a problem in warmer Summer Section, on page 5). Best æstivum Gravetye great wafts of beautiful scent. parts. Readily seen as red and ordered before mid September. Giant 106-07 Accommodating in most gardens, black beetles they eat any foliage June • 36” (90cm) The Loddon Lily, also known as of the (which includes £5.80 or £16.50 for 3 either in borders or large deep pots. Summer Snowflakes, with white, the Fritillaria) These beetles drop Autumn planted L. regale bulbs hanging, bell-shaped flowers and off and hide on the ground if you martagon always seem to do better than often confused with snowdrops alarm them, but sneakily picking spring planted ones. With longer despite them flowering later (but off the adults and cleaning the Claude Shride 107-41 to root over the winter before they not really in summer). Strings of messy black ‘eggs’ off the foliage A dark mahogany red selection flower that would be logical? emerald-tipped white bells hang is moderately effective (and of the martagon lily with yellow July • 36” (90cm) from bare upright stems above squashing them satisfies a lust for fleckling at the throat. The species £8.00 for 3 or £12.50 for 5 glossy green daffodil-like foliage. retribution) although Provado used plants from which these derive (and Particularly happy in damp, even systematically seems to reduce which are more variable) is now winter-flooded situations, but future generations more effectively. not grown commercially and we they will do anywhere where the Please Note: The martagon lilies have had to withdraw them from are usually not ready for despatch soil is heavier and more moisture sale. These are grown by micro till mid-October so if you include retentive. Daffodil-like bulbs, propagation initially so will be them on your order it may affect the planted 5” (12cm) deep and 6” delivery time of your whole order identical plant to plant. (15cm) apart. (we do try to save costs and have June/July • 36” (90cm) £8.00 April/May • 18” (45cm) your order all come at once)… £4.30 for 3 or £9.30 for 7

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Maianthemum bifolium Muscari Ocean Magic Muscari azureum kamtschaticum

Maianthemum bifolium Mathiasella Green Dream Muscari Blue Magic maianthemum mathiasella Blue Magic 111-20 bifolium 110-04 A Mexican umbellifer which was The ‘Grape Hyacinths’, and as the first described only in 1954. name implies some are heavily Bright blue with white rims to the An unusual native of northern These are architectural plants scented. All do well in the drier, mature flowers. These selected England. Plants with leaves that and seem to do well in full sun sunny conditions provided under colour forms are derived from the look a bit like small Hostas. These or part shade with green foliage deciduous shrubs in the early species which is native to alpine are plants for shade with ground in spring, and in autumn pink spring, with summer shade later turf in Turkey, they will not be covering possibilities in nice, leafy, and purple tints. They are sterile in the year. Part of the group of invasive here. damp, dappled shade where they and consequently last for several ‘Little Blue Jobs’, that create April • 5” (12cm) can then form a dense mat. The months in flower, lime green the backdrop and provide the £3.50 for 10 or £8.00 for 25 leaves open in the spring with a when they first open but coloured ‘chorus’ to the spring display. welcome fresh greenness growing with purple later in the year. Two may be better in warmer and aucheri from the small wiry roots. The more protected situations (see flowers are like small white plumes. the individual entries below). The Ocean Magic 111-21 May • 4” (10cm) bupleuroides common and weedy ‘ordinary’ Dark blue at the base of the flower £4.50 for 5 Green Dream 69-04 Grape Hyacinth (M. armenaicum) spike, but those flowers spiralling is undoubtedly best avoided - it above these are sea blue with pale Unfamiliar plants to many which look gives the well behaved Muscari a bifolium var to have some of the characteristics tips like white bubbles on the surf bad name. Plant them 4” (10cm) line, I suspect a possible source of kamtschaticum of some other well known garden deep and 2” (5cm) apart. 110-05 plants - Hellebores, Angelica and the inspiration for the name? maybe even Euphorbia, so one April • 5” (12cm) Much larger than the European azureum 111-15 £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25 can see how these have become form, these are native to the Pacific desirable. Plants from 9cm pots Probably the easiest to grow and not rim. In leaf very much earlier than that ought to settle in this winter and at all invasive. Tightly packed powder- the form above and a bigger plant flower in 2019. blue flowers, flared open at their tips, with bright green foliage and shiny May • 24” (60cm) emerging initially cone shaped but sculptured leaves with tassle-like £7.00 becoming more rounded as more white flowers. flowers open. For a well-drained sink May • 8” (20cm) or rockery or in light soils at the front £4.50 for 5 of a spring border. March • 5” (12cm) £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25

36 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Muscari Golden Fragrance album Muscari MUSCARIMI Photo credit: Linda de Goede p Muscari Valerie Finnis Muscari White Magic Muscari Baby’s Breath aucheri botryoides macrocarpum muscarimi 111-11 White Magic 111-14 album 111-06 Golden Fragrance Outstandingly sweetly musk The aucheri forms are less A smaller form with pale leaves, 111-10 scented, a strong and lovely perfume from a creamy yellow vigorous, (and by implication certainly no thug, with neat strings A form of M. macrocarpum, which flower that fades to a gunmetal not invasive) so suited to smaller of little pearls strung on pale was evidently selected from the blue-grey colour. A sunny scree bed gardens. This selection has stems. Scented. species for its cold tolerance. or a sheltered rockery may do. They attractive pale green flower buds April • 6” (15cm) Grow this where you can enjoy its £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25 will need a warm sunny dry spot to opening white, initially quite pointed heavenly banana-like perfume, thrive, but do it just for the perfume. but rounded when in full flower. growing in a sunny sheltered spot April/May • 6” (15cm) April • 5” (12cm) where it gets dry in the summer £5.50 for 10 or £13.00 for 25 £4.70 for 3 whilst they have a rest. These have thick and fleshy roots to anchor Baby’s Breath (Jenny them into difficult niches. Violet Valerie Finnis 111-18 Robinson) 111-23 RHS Perfect flowers, turning yellow as they age. Tightly packed ropes of scented powder blue flowers, best grown This form of M. neglectum was found for Pollinators. April • 7” (18cm) in open sunny conditions. It by Jenny Robinson, the then holder ® £5.00 for 3 arose in Valerie Finnis’ garden in of the National Collection of Muscari Northamptonshire (by then she was in . Opening from lime green The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark Lady Scott). buds the flowers are in the palest of is only given to plants that support March • 7” (18cm) blues with a wonderful scent. pollinating insects in gardens. Find out more at rhs.org.uk/plants £5.50 for 10 or £13.00 for 25 April • 6” (15cm) £5.00 for 10 or £11.50 for 25

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Narcissus cordubensis Narcissus Angel’s Breath Narcissus Bath’s Flame narcissus (daffodils) The highlight of the April garden in a ‘normal’ year, though some earlier ones are often welcome and the last will flower in May. Do plant them really quite deeply with 4-6” (10-15cm) of soil over the biggest bulbs, where they will remain cool and moist in the spring and safe from gardening activity above them in the summer. Do not be tempted to cut back or tidy the foliage after flowering – this period of replenishment of the bulb’s starchy food reserves is critical to future flowering. A liquid feed whilst the leaves are Narcissus Butter and Eggs Narcissus paperwhite Ziva still green will benefit clumps in poorer soil, but generally feeding is unnecessary. I would Butter and Eggs (4) suggest that you plant in groups narcissus – narcissus – (and particularly any that you 113-18 ‘naturalise’) resulting in swathes protected garden For purists this may be beyond of the same variety and not a For indoor or very protected comprehension, but the fact that jumbled crowd – the effect is varieties this variety has been in cultivation generally better. Most should situations. These are best suited to forcing in pots for indoor Angel’s Breath (5) for more than 200 years says that clump up from being planted it has been admired for many about 4-6” (10-15cm) apart, display with a huge scent. They do need lots of light and only 113-99 generations at least. There is a further apart for more ‘relaxed’ A selected named form of jonquil planting. protection from actual frost, certain dishevelled charm from the so nothing too warm. They are with several pale yellow bells with pale yellow jumble that is this flower. Divisions: The number in brackets also available for even earlier fractionally darker cups hanging off April • 20” (50cm) after the name represents the planting if you order from the Late clean stems supported by narrow £6.50 for 3 type of flower expressed by the Summer section. foliage. Best in well drained soils in divisions within the Narcissus sheltered conditions, perhaps use cordubensis (13) family: 1= trumpet, 2= large Paperwhite Ziva (8) them as part of a melange of such cupped, 3= small cupped, 4= treasures in a sunny trough? 113-103 double flowered, 5= triandrus 113-52 April •10” (25cm) A small bright yellow jonquil forms, 6= cyclamineus types, These flower very early, and £4.00 for 5 with what I think of as a jaunty 7= jonquilla forms, 8= tazetta grown under protection from frost attitude. Generally with several forms, 9 = poeticus types, inevitably seem to race up to flower. Bath’s Flame (3) small gleaming fragrant flowers on 10= bulbocodium types, 12 = We work on about eight to ten each stem and narrow grass like miscellaneous, 13= species and weeks to first bloom from potting, it 113-07 foliage. A raised bed in the sun is a wild variants (more suitable for can be quicker if warm. White and Pre 1913. One of the many forms likely requirement for it to increase naturalising). multi-headed with a huge perfume. that supported the Cornish cut happily. Naturally small bulbs. Plant them shallowly in the compost flower trade up to WW2, raised by April • 10” (25cm) The suggested flowering month Rev. Engleheart. Long stemmed £4.00 for 5 should be used as a guide only – and in good light so they don’t get too tall. Not reliably hardy outside. with petals that are wide and thin so annual variation can be great, as that they dance in the breeze, more this spring has shown. Big bulbs. Dec/Jan • 15” (38cm) modern ones are far more ‘rigid’, excellent for picking. Primrose Flowering height that we suggest £7.00 for 5 or £13.00 for 10 is the height at which the first yellow with an orange cup. flowers open, the stems often April • 20” (50cm) £6.50 for 3 extend thereafter.

38 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Narcissus Elka Narcissus Hawera

Narcissus February Gold

Narcissus Julia Jane Narcissus martinette

Elka (1) 113-61 Little Sentry (7) A perfectly proportioned pale 113-102 bicoloured miniature with a relatively Narcissus little sentry A great little jonquil producing long cream coloured trumpet and golden yellow flowers that fade to milk white petals. It was raised cream. Like most jonquils these by Alec Gray, a Cornish flower would need a drier and warmer soil. grower and distinguished daffodil Hawera (5) 113-38 Julia Jane (10) 113-101 April • 9” (22cm) hybridiser of the 1940s and 50s. Small clear lemon-yellow flowers Soft pale yellow with billowing skirts, £6.50 for 3 March/April • 6” (15cm) with prominent cups and narrow a named form of N. bulbocodium £4.00 for 5 deep green foliage typify this romieuxii, the species which derives Martinette (8) 113-84 plant. It is much happier in a drier from high on the Atlas mountains. Brilliant yellow with several flowers February Gold (6) and sunnier site than many of its Charmingly petite and early on each stem, the centres darker, 113-09 cousins. Shorter and more wind flowering they look better and flower with a small, more orange coloured Dating back to 1923. Early flowering tolerant. Pack them in quite tightly for longer if protected from too cup with an enormous scent. but, despite the name, only opening for a mass of colour on a rockery. much wind and rain, but are totally Narrower leaved and taller, not one in late February in very mild winters. First bred in New Zealand. hardy with regard to the cold. In the for the shadier garden. A long lasting, upright, golden April • 10” (25cm) summer they should stay dry. Small March • 14” (35cm) yellow garden favourite with slightly £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 bulbs as you would expect. £3.50 for 5 or £9.50 for 15 or £28.00 for 50 swept back petals and a good Feb • 6” (15cm) £3.50 for 5 stature, also good for pots or tubs. Feb/March • 12” (30cm) £4.80 for 10, £10.70 for 25 or £19.50 for 50

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Narcissus Mite Narcissus minnow Narcissus Niveth

Minnow (8) 113-51 Mite (6) 113-34 Moonlight moschatus (13) Multi-headed, with many small This is one of the most charming Sensation (5) 113-105 113-94 primrose yellow flowers held flat of the small daffodils with dainty Pale yellow throughout, fading to Palest creamy-white with a flower only just above the top of the proportions and a long slightly a pale primrose, the combination that always seems downcast foliage, the small cup rather darker flared trumpet. The flowers are deep of darker buds and paler flowers in the way that it hangs – some when they first open. It also needs yellow and it flaunts its cyclamineus is enchanting. Expect 2 or 3 stems describe it as swanlike? They more sunny conditions and to be parentage with sharply swept back per bulb each with 3-5 flowers with seem to prefer damper soil in grown in better drained soils, but Is petals flying back from the relatively a sweet fragrance. more shade than most daffodils, one that I wouldn’t be without. long trumpet. April • 9” (25cm) but the pale colours show in March/April • 12” (30cm) March • 9” (25cm) £5.00 for 5 or £14.00 for 15 £3.90 for 10 or £9.00 for 25 £4.00 or £11.00 for 3 shadier conditions perfectly. April • 12” (30cm) More and More (7) £6.00 for 3 113-104 Niveth (5) 113-85 Collection Times Although I can’t say that I like the Glistening white with broad petals We are primarily a business that operates by Mail Order. But name very much I can see how it behind a flared trumpet. Pleasantly if you live nearby, or are passing by when we are likely to be occurred to someone. Each bulb scented and nicely proportioned, produces 4 or 5 stems each with getting your order ready, you might like to collect your order an old variety dating back to several flowers on a short stem. 1931, another winner from the and save on the postage? Low growing and late flowering Backhouse stable. We are open for such circumstances by arrangement from ideal for a rockery or in a planter. April • 12” (30cm) April • 9” (25cm) £3.80 for 5 or £6.80 for 10 17 September to the end of October 2018. £5.00 for 5 or £14.00 for 15

40 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Narcissus oxford gold Narcissus Pipit Narcissus Rijnveld’s Early Sensation

Narcissus Sailboat Narcissus Segovia Narcissus Silver Chimes

Oxford Gold (10) Rijnveld’s Early Sailboat (7) 113-89 Silver Chimes (8) 113-92 Sensation (1) 113-44 Pale and interesting with a pleasant 113-41 A selected form of N. bulbocodium Bright yellow throughout with a perfume, the white petals fly back A lovely multi-headed tazetta form (the hoop petticoat forms) with short flared trumpet. So far not from the slightly flared pale yellow which would best be planted in masses of large, butter yellow- so unusual for a daffodil. But this trumpet on flowers which seem to slightly warmer conditions where blooms which flower quite early with variety’s real star quality is that it hold their chins up ! Keep calm it is not too wet. Broad leaved with a great scent. The foliage is narrow really does flower in the garden and carry on flowering? pure white petals around a pale around New Year, sometimes March/April • 14” (35cm) and needle-like, indicating that they £3.50 for 3 primrose cup with a huge scent. would prefer a sunnier situation. earlier. It is going over when the Big bulbs. April • 6” (15cm) main daffodil season begins. April • 12” (30cm) £5.00 for 5 They provide a blast of spring in Segovia (3) 113-87 £4.70 for 5 or £9.00 for 10 the middle of winter, even before These have a flattened pale lemon Pipit (7) 113-32 the snowdrops. Plant them where trumpet that sits squarely against A multiheaded form called a they might be a bit protected from the bright white petals which flare ‘reverse’ bicolor. These flowers open wintery gales. back slightly. The whole effect is with all parts a sharp lemon yellow Dec/Feb • 10” (25cm) fresh and bright with narrow leaves, £5.50 for 5 or £10.00 for 10 and then fade outwards to a paler, so it would like a brighter spot in creamier colour from the centre of which to grow. April • 6” (15cm) the flower (most bicolors fade from £4.00 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 the tips of the petals inwards) Tough enough to plant in rough grass. April • 12” (30cm) £3.70 for 5 or £6.80 for 10

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 41 Narcissus tete-a-tete Narcissus thalia Narcissus W.p. milner

Narcissus Sweetness Narcissus Toto Narcissus Sir Winston Narcissus White Lady Churchill

Sir Winston Tete-a-tete (12) Toto (12) 113-90 White Lady (3) 113-65 Churchill (4) 113-16 Gorgeously pale and simple Another form raised by Rev. 113-97 Widely grown since it was raised flowered, the trumpet just a Engleheart pre 1897 and another shade darker than the petals and made famous as a major cut Frilly white petals mix with splashes soon after WW2 and many people’s favourite small daffodil. Very short early enough to overlap with that flower variety pre WW2, now sadly of sulphur yellow to produce a blue phase in the garden when rather more rare. Taller stemmed frothy and exuberant flower with when first in flower, extending in stem length as it matures and long the Anemones, Muscari and with soft, more tissue-like white a huge scent. They are quite tall Chionodoxa are at their best, the petals around a small yellow cup, and late flowering. Reliable, with lasting in cool conditions. Deep golden yellow and multi-headed combination is wonderful. sweetly scented. several stems per bulb and each of March/ April • 12” (30cm) April • 18” (45cm) these multiheaded. from the biggest bulbs. £4.40 for 3 £7.50 for 5 April • 18” (45cm) Feb/March • 6” (15cm) £3.00 for 5 or £8.50 for 15 £4.50 for 10, £10.25 for 25, or £19.60 for 50 W. P. Milner (1) 113-47 Attributed to Henry Backhouse’ Sweetness (7) 113-24 Thalia (5) 113-42 breeding in Yorkshire pre 1869 Raised in 1916. A national and evidently named after William Sturdy, simple, bright yellow and treasure, refined and elegant and Pashley Milner his brother in law. deliciously scented with narrow a perfect foil for all those March Pale yellow throughout with swept- foliage that does not get in the way, yellows with a greeny-white, multi- forward petals, beyond which everything a daffodil ought to be! headed, scented flower. A well- peeps the shy trumpet. Long lasting March • 14” (35cm) and good for naturalising being £3.80 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 known classy favourite. March/April • 14” (35cm) smaller in stature. £3.20 for 5, £9.00 for 15, March/April • 9” (22cm) or £16.50 for 30 £4.50 for 5 or £8.50 for 10

42 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Narcissus Naturalising forms

Narcissus lobularis (pseudonarcissus) Narcissus poeticus recurvus

Narcissus obvallaris Ornithogalum nutans narcissus – obvallaris (13) 113-30 naturalising The daffodil that grows wild in forms South Wales is the Tenby daffodil, this looks just like it with a neat and These would be the first choice tidy all yellow flower (though some of varieties to naturalise in the doubt as whether it is exactly the true meaning of the name - to ORNITHOGALum same plant). Perfect for planting use to create a wild effect, where into rough grass to provide ‘bomb- they might increase and multiply proof’ simple yellow daffodils. gently on their own. But they March • 9” (22cm) could equally well go into your £2.80 for 5, £8.00 for 15, Ornithogalum magnum moskou borders, where they would do the or £15.00 for 30 same with little need for attention. poeticus lobularis nutans 117-09 recurvus (13) 113-28 ornithogalum (pseudonarcissus) (13) Very pretty, soft silvery grey-green The ‘Star of Bethlehem’ The Pheasant’s Eye daffodil. flowers, bluebell-like in stature and 113-31 family. Silvery white and green Wild in high alpine meadows in long lasting when picked. They A dwarf form entirely suitable for flowered and generally tough Europe and found gracing old probably should be grown in light naturalising. They only make small gardens and orchards here. White and accommodating, many are bulbs compared to many of the perfect for naturalising. shade. If dry or stressed in May with slightly swept back petals, the foliage tends to naturally begin others, and need time to settle in. highlighted by a stubby, burgundy Moreover they do not always flower to yellow at flowering time. Plant rimmed cup. One of the last magnum Moskou irregularly, about 3” (8 cm) apart, well in their first season, but in our daffodils to flower and deliciously experience improve year on year 117-16 10-15 per square foot. fragrant too. Better planted in May • 9” (22cm) and will fill in the gaps between dappled shade in grass, or in a I have these successfully growing in £3.00 for 10, £7.00 for 25, bulbs with flowering seedlings cool border amongst other plants. some rough (late cut) grass to follow or £13.00 for 50 within about 8 years. Best in cooler, May • 15” (35cm) some Camassias and they are moisture retentive soils, north £4.50 for 5, £12.50 for 15, doing well, but they could also add facing banks or in part shade. White or £23.00 for 30 to a border. Tall, white flowered with petalled with a darker trumpet. dozens of flowers circling a stiff stem. March • 8” (20cm) June • 24” (60cm) £6.00 for 10 or £13.50 for 25 £6.50 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 43 Sanguinaria canadensis Ornithogalum pyrenaicum Paradisea lusitanica

Ornithogalum umbellatum pyrenaicum 117-11 paeonia Tall, slim, waving wands tipped with starry pale green flowers. A emodi ‘Late Wind Paeonia Late Windflower naturalised native in the area of Flower’ 38-11 Bath, and hence called the ‘Bath Rarely offered, and if you order Asparagus’. Easy to grow in free you’ll realise why when you receive paradisea sanguinaria draining limey soil, planted 12” a big unpromising looking piece (30cm) apart. of root. Divisions of established lusitanica 140-04 canadensis 124-04 June • 18” (45cm) field grown plants in heavy soil This species comes from Northern £10.00 for 3 Bone hardy plants from North are ‘untidy’, but full of amazing Portugal and Spain where it grows America which love the same potential. The leaves are olive, in damp meadows. Dormant umbellatum 117-13 conditions as Erythroniums, especially early in the year with their thickened fleshy roots look Trilliums and Uvularia in humus A sun lover and excellent in thin gorgeous 5” (12 cm) wide white a bit like those of a dormant rich shade where the rhizomes grass from what are unpromising flowers in May. Plant into well Agapanthus crown. In flower they will increase slowly. The emerging looking bulbs. Clumps of them in prepared soil in part shade to provide elegant spires of bright stems come up clasped in a single sunny conditions really hug the best preserve the ephemeral floral white flowers providing impressive leaf with red flower stems, from ground and they are especially beauty, anticipating many years uprights in the herbaceous border, which they get their ‘common’ useful for carpeting a sunny bank of enjoyment. Only posted to UK and a great accompaniment to name, the ‘Bloodroot’. Simple white with white in April with their grey- mainland addresses due to size the Alliums. Supplied as fresh dug flowers in April. green leaves and white flowers. and weight limits. divisions, to be planted 4” (10cm) Plant about 4” (10cm) apart, 10 per May • 24-36” (60-90cm) April • 6” (15cm) deep in moisture retentive soil in £6.00 square foot. £15.00 sun or part shade. April/May • 4” (10cm) May/June • 36-48” (90-120cm) £5.30 for 10, or £12.00 for 25 £8.00

44 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Scilla mischtschenkoana (tubergeniana)

Scilla

Scilla peruviana Photo credit: Linda de Goede p Scilla hyacinthioides blue arrow

hyacinthoides peruviana 125-11 Blue Arrow 125-33 Suffering from an unfortunate A large bulb from the confusion when they first arrived Mediterranean, one for the sunny which led to their unlikely name border where it warms up in the (they are of Mediterranean summer, for whilst these are hardy origin) the low broad, fleshy, near they do need that additional warmth evergreen leaved plants produce to flower well. But then they do it a big architectural flower head is style with a tall, erect of bright blue flowers, especially bearing blue starry flowers held dramatic in bud. Easy in good soil Scilla bifolia Scilla siberica spring beauty some way off the stem. but they must be in full light and July • 36” (90cm) planted deeply, they do also flower £4.50 better in the spring following a bifolia 125-05 warm summer. scilla mischtschenkoana May /June • 10” (25cm) The blue Scillas are part of that An easy dwarf species with starry (tubergeniana) £4.90 or £14.00 for 3 group of blue flowered plants purple-blue flowers and waxy such as Anemones, Muscari leaves. Naturalises under shrubs 125-17 siberica Spring and Chionodoxa that enhance or in light grass in summer shade The earliest pale-blue gem. They Beauty 125-14 and embellish the spring display where the massed heads really seem to ignore the winter cold and Bone hardy, these hail from the created by the bigger bulbs. The create an early purple haze, emerge especially early to flower Black Sea area. The Prussian-blue smaller ones, often sold in larger flowering with the anemones and at the same time as the Cyclamen flowers piercing through the cold multiples, are often not used early daffodils. Small bulbs that you coum and the winter aconites - far ground in advance of their leaves, as star performers, but they are need to be generous with, plant earlier than other similar plants. Very especially happy on sandy soils in the unmissable and necessary them 2-3” (5-8 cm) apart, 15 per hardy and well suited to the rockery summer shade. chorus, supporting the prima square foot. or a border. donnas so you shouldn’t be Feb/Mar • 6” (15cm) Mar/April • 6” (15cm) Feb • 4” (10cm) £3.00 for 10 or £6.50 for 25 without them. Their preferred £4.70 for 10, £11.00 for 25, £5.00 for 10 or £11.50 for 25 situations do vary widely. or £20.00 for 50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 45 species tulips

Triteleia foxy Triteleia Rudy Tulipa batalinii Bronze Charm

Triteleia

Triteleia Corrina Triteleia white cloud Tulipa bakeri Lilac Wonder

If we have enough T. sprengeri triteleia Rudy 68-07 species tulips they will be available online, the The same shape and stance as T. Early summer flowering bulbs, The species types tend to have harvest currently looks too small Corrina but white flowered with a also known in the past as small bulbs, typically about the for us to list them this year. Brodiæa but now more accurately broad violet blue stripe down the size of an almond. They are Triteleia. They come from north- centre of each petal. Very eye- particularly grown for their bright bakeri Lilac west America. So often we are catching and ‘different’ with a long bold colours in late April and Wonder 131-53 told that they look like miniature vase life for when you feel that you early May and due to the fact Agapanthus, to which they are have enough to pick. that in the right conditions some Silvery pink with a yellow bull’s eye unconnected. Their papery June • 18” (45cm) persist from year to year and in the centre of each flower, most flowers are a lasting pleasure, £4.50 for 5 or £12.50 for 15 even increase better than do the of which are multi headed and held with up to 25 flowers per stem. bigger hybrid forms. In villages above broad, deep green, glossy Plant in well-drained soil – in foxy 68-15 nearby there are various forms leaves. A dependable sun loving good light, 4” (10cm) deep and White flowered with a purple blue that I see growing and spreading. plant closely related to T. saxatalis. 2” (5cm) apart. They are sun lovers and don’t Late April/early May • 6” (15cm) marking up the centre of each petal, want it too wet, particularly in £3.30 for 10 or £7.25 for 25 effectively more striped than Rudy Corrina 68-06 the summer when the bulbs are which shows more blue. Carol Klein resting. They are attractive to batalinii Bronze A dark flowered form, creating a loved them at the Gardeners’ World mice and squirrels looking for the haze of deep blue when viewed Show in 2017. high levels of the carbohydrates Charm 131-08 from a distance. Wiry stemmed and June • 18” (45cm) that they contain in the autumn, Apricot yellow with increased a deep blue that anticipates the £4.50 for 5 or £12.50 for 15 if that might be a problem there bronzing on the petals in sunnier Agapanthus season to come. is mention (under the Crocus conditions. Grey-green leaved. A June • 18” (45cm) White Cloud 68-14 heading) of a way of keeping really endearing small tulip with £3.00 for 15 or £4.50 for 25 Pure white, and perfect for the them protected and the same poise and character. Gravelly soils applies here. They should be garden, or to use as cut flower? Just or planted into a well-drained planted quite close together. The the thing to plant in a sunny border rockery would be perfect. quantity in the first pack size for ahead of a summer wedding, given Late April/early May • 10” (25cm) each item would be suitable for a £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25 a bit of advance warning? 5-6” (12cm) pot or an equivalent or £30.00 for 50 June • 18” (45cm) area of garden. £4.50 for 5 or £12.50 for 15

46 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: Linda de Goede p batalinii Salmon Gem Tulipa humilis Persian Pearl Tulipa clusiana cynthia

Tulipa batalinii Honky Tonk Tulipa clusiana Peppermintstick Tulipa linifolia

batalinii Salmon clusiana Cynthia clusiana humilis Persian Gem 131-146 131-167 Peppermintstick Pearl 131-12 Pinkish red within the flower with a These are growing and flourishing 131-02 The species T. humilis of which contrasting paler, dusty pink reverse in some rough grass here The furled petals look like a little this is a selected form comes from to the petal. Grey- green leaved. A somewhat to my surprise, but given stick of edible rock which, when Turkey and eastwards, all the family relatively new hybrid for well drained good light and a drier summer rest open, are ivory white inside with a has low leaves nearly flat to the conditions in good light. they have performed well. This form violet eye, the backs of the petals ground and colourful flowers. They Late April/early May • 10” (25cm) is yellow behind the pink flush. are blushed cerise pink. The whole need full sunlight to stay compact. £4.40 for 5 or £12.50 for 15 April • 10” (25cm) effect is lovely but remember that all Deep magenta rose coloured £3.00 for 5 or £8.50 for 15 the clusiana forms have reasonably flowers with silvery backed petals batalinii large flowers on quite slender stems April • 4” (10cm) Honky Tonk 131-03 so plant them in sunny conditions £6.00 for 10 or £14.00 for 25 where it is not too windy. Pale yellow flowered above grey- linifolia 131-26 green foliage. The Tulipa batalinii April • 10” (25cm) £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 A crimson- red flowered, low group are closely related to the red or £28.50 for 50 growing small tulip with red flowered T. linifolia types, and may margins to the wavy edged leaves be botanically indistinguishable. suitable for any sunny well drained Late April/early May • 10” (25cm) £3.00 for 5 or £8.50 for 15 garden site. May • 6” (15cm) £3.50 for 10 or £7.75 for 25,

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 47 Tulipa Little Beauty Tulipa whittallii Tulipa sylvestris

Tulipa Little Princess Tulipa tarda Tulipa turkestanica

Little Beauty 131-27 sylvestris 131-37 tarda 131-38 whittallii Growing wild in much the same Easy to grow, and possibly the only A perennial performer with larger, 131-42 area as T humilis these have one that will persist in some shade, very rounded bulbs which produce Named after Edward Whittall, a shockingly bright crimson-pink but naturally a bit shy to flower. We multiple flowers from each bulb, all plant collector extraordinaire who flowers which open wide in the sun have some that have increased crammed together, honey scented collected many such treasures of to reveal white and blue centres happily under an Amelanchier for 10 in a deep golden yellow, edged around Izmir in Turkey where there which is slightly startling . For a years or so, flowering intermittently in white. Pretty bulbs to plant in a is still a famous garden named after sunny well drained site again. as seems to be their nature, I am sunny site. Easy and persisting. him. These are a gorgeous bronzy April • 5” (12cm) not sure why they do not flower April • 5” (12cm) orange with a dark centre and £3.50 for 10 or £7.75 for 25 £3.00 for 10, £6.75 for 25, more profusely. The flowers are would love sunny conditions in a sulphur yellow and fragrant. raised bed or rockery. Little April • 12” (30cm) turkestanica April • 12” (30 cm) £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 £3.80 for 5 or £10.50 for 15 Princess 131-05 or £28.50 for 50 131-134 Of complex parentage but similar Ivory and cream coloured within to the humilis forms above these the flower with dark anthers exhibit fiery coppery-orange contrasting with the petals, coloured flowers, goblet shaped greenish tinged on their backs. It before opening fully in the sun, the is widespread in its natural range flowers are on short stems so are from SE Europe through to Iran pretty resilient, a really cracking and Russia. Growing away early good dwarf tulip for a sunny spot. and quite tall they need bright April • 5” (12cm) conditions out of too much wind. £3.00 for 5 or £8.50 for 15 April • 9” (20cm) £3.50 for 10, £7.75 for 25

48 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: GAP Images p Tulipa Red Riding Hood TULIPA Corona

EARLY Tulips

Tulipa Cape Cod Tulipa Flaming Purissima kaufmanniana greigii tulips fosteriana tulips (Group 14) Late March and Early (Group 13) Earlier flowering than April flowering with wonderfully the main Tulip display, large Tulipa Johann Strauss (Group 12) Early flowering, marked leaves. These are equally flowered on sturdy stems and typically February or March with great for planters as those above, available in lovely pastel colours. large flowers on reasonably short or could be used in the borders to They need planting about 5” stems. Very suitable planted on give them an early ‘lift’. They need a (12cm) apart and are equally the rockery or in containers by the sunny and well drained site ideally suitable for containers or borders. front door to greet your friends planted about 4-5” (10-12cm) apart. and the warm early sunshine. Plant them about 5” (12cm) apart as the Exotic flowers open widely in the sun. Cape Cod 131-113 Emperor 131-100 Planted with a suitably coloured Bright yellow with broad red Double petalled in white and when Crocus vernus (Dutch crocus) they bands through the petals both about to flower somewhat rose- make a great flowering partnership. without and within. like with the white buds clasped Mar/April • 9” (22cm) by intriguing green bracts. Where Corona 131-141 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 we have seen it in gardens it has Warm yellow over most of the petal or £27.00 for 50 persisted for years on thin stony soil. with a red blotch in the throat, the April • 18” (45cm) stems are short and the flowers Red Riding £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 or £28.50 for 50 open widely in bright sunlight so do Hood 131-18 not plant them too close together. Glossy bright red flowers, the colour Flaming Use them with one of the purple of newly painted pillar boxes, with Dutch crocus? attractively mottled leaves. Very Purissima 131-71 Mar/April • 9” (22cm) suitable for containers. Lovely in Creamy-white when they first open £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 Tulipa Exotic Emperor or £27.00 for 50 April for that spring zing! with just a hint of pink at the petal’s April • 8” (20cm) edge but becoming increasingly £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 pink as the flower ages, feathering Johann Strauss or £27.00 for 50 gracefully from the edges of the 131-111 petals, more strongly red within the With some red stripes in the leaf this flower. Very pretty indeed. provides leaf interest as well as a Mar/April • 14” (35cm) cheerful pale yellow flower with pink £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 on the backs of the outer petals. or £27.00 for 50 Mar/April • 9” (22cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 or £27.00 for 50

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Tulipa Orange Emperor Tulipa barcelona

Mid Season Tulips Photo credit: GAP Images p Tulipa Purissima Tulipa brown sugar Tulipa armani

Orange Mid Season Annie Schilder Barcelona 131-159 Emperor 131-72 131-135 Outstanding at Keukenhof when One of my favourites with quite Tulips Warm rose orange when in bud I visited with strong stems and a long flowers in pale orange with These Triumph (Group 3) and then the flower opens and pales to very vibrant pink flower. It made the pretty green shading at the base. Darwin (Group 4) tulips all have a lighter shade with some yellow shortlist straight away. April • 18” (45cm) Good for bold contrast and a roughly the same flowering at the petal edges. Broadly bowl season - we used to say mid £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, great combination planted with shaped with a lovely perfume that or £27.00 for 50 to late April and early May, Purissima below for an early seems to come with many of the With Hotpants, Merlot or Honeymoon flowering twosome. but in our fickle climate this is orange tulips. Dating back to the Mar/April • 16” (40cm) just a guide, some years they 1920s this is one that has been £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 are early and the frequency around a while. Brown Sugar 131-142 or £27.00 for 50 of that happening seems to April • 18” (45cm) Difficult to pin down in colour terms, only increase. These would be £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 bronzed apricot or coppery pink Purissima 131-16 planted about 5” (12cm) apart or £27.00 for 50 perhaps with some purple on the and are very well suited to the reverse, tall and strong stemmed Opening a pale primrose yellow, With Ballerina, Paul Scherer and Havran open garden in borders, or with a beautiful perfume. More red about which we receive a number containers. Some suggested and taller than Cairo below, both are of phone calls wondering whether tulip combinations that look Armani 131-158 a bit more unusual and interesting a packing mistake has occurred, good together for this purpose Brought in last autumn as a in their hues. they turn through creamy shades are offered under each entry. substitute for Abu Hassan (which is April • 18” (45cm) to pure white and then in late still unavailable) we were impressed £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, March sunshine they open wide with them and used them in the or £27.00 for 50 to reveal dramatic mascara black display at Malvern where many With Pieter de Leur, Queen of Night anthers. Strong stemmed over viewers also admired them. Deep or Firework bright green leaves, crimson red with a white edge. Mar/April • 18” (45cm) April • 18” (45cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, or £27.00 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 Suggested planting companions With City of Vancouver, Sunny Prince or Couleur Cardinal

50 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Photo credit: GAP Images p Tulipa Cairo Tulipa Calgary Tulipa Calgary flames Photo credit: GAP Images p Tulipa Couleur Cardinal Tulipa Grand Perfection Tulipa flaming flag

Cairo 131-160 Calgary Flames Couleur Cardinal Grand Nearly brown, which (believe me) is 131-136 131-126 Perfection 131-123 a great colour against the blueish A variant on the Calgary model with Intensely crimson red with darker Exhibiting broad flashes of red over green that is the colour of the a prominent yellow flush to the outer more plum coloured marking on the what is, when they first open, quite foliage on most tulips, but as they petals, we find them invaluable at outer petals, famously scented and a yellow background, but this soon age they become more bronzed flower shows as with such short long lasting, first named in 1845. turns white for a stronger raspberry and slightly orange with petals that stems they do not flop over during April 16” (40cm) and vanilla contrast. Reminiscent of shimmer in the sun. the show, so at the front of borders £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 the tulips illustrated in the paintings April • 20” (50cm) or close to the edge in big pots or £28.50 for 50 by the Dutch Masters at the height £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, With Paul Scherer, Hotpants or these too could lift your display? of the Tulip mania. or £28.50 for 50 Shirley. With Merlot, Brown Sugar or April • 9” (22cm) April 18” (45cm) Firework £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 or £28.50 for 50 flaming flag 131-168 or £27.00 for 50 With Prinses Irene, Orange Princess With Nightclub, Couleur Cardinal or Calgary 131-48 White with broad raspberry flames or Calgary from the base. The white with a Sanne Very short and compact with waxy crimson mix is like an expensive white flowers that are brilliant in ice cream, absolutely perfect in exposed conditions, shrugging off combination with the pink and white any wind and rain, lasting brilliantly. apple blossom that is out at the We use them at the edges of exhibits same time. A few of these tulips go and you could use them in the same a long way. way in the garden or containers. April • 18” (45cm) April • 9” (22cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 or £27.00 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 With Paul Scherer, Shirley, Queen of With Prinses Irene, Orange Princess, Night Flaming Flag or purple hyacinths

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 51 Tulipa Havran Tulipa mistress Tulipa negrita

tulipa Hotpants tulipa Hemisphere Tulipa Jan Reus

Havran 131-57 Hemisphere 131-137 Hotpants 131-161 Mistress 131-162 Darker than plum in some lights, There are few tulips that do this, These are a little bit similar to A clear strong pink with simple with a grape like bloom dusting the although Shirley and Hotpants are Hemisphere and Shirley too, yellowy flowers , they remind me of an old petals, these are not quite as dark others. These change colour as white to begin with the rim darkens favourite now unobtainable called as Queen of Night but are a slightly the flowers mature so the effect with red and crimson edges which Douglas Bader which also showed more pointed shape and would is one of gradual evolution, each broaden into the petals. Multi- very well. Less leafy and more open earlier, so these could start flower developing its freckling and stemmed and multi headed. showy than China Pink and they off your dark theme. Quite often faint stripes at a slightly different April • 20” (50cm) should be earlier flowering too. they have more than one flower to rate. The whole result is a range of £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 April • 20” (50cm) a stem. warm colours from white through or £27.00 for 50 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 With Barcelona, Shirley or Tres Chic April • 18” (45cm) to raspberry. Most tulips are pretty or £27.00 for 50 With Honeymoon, Foxtrot or £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 uniform, these are less so, which I Angelique or £27.00 for 50 like. They do look better en masse. Jan Reus 131-62 With Flaming Flag, City of Vancouver April • 18” (45cm) Deep purple-red when first open they or China Pink £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 fade to a ruby red with petals that Negrita 131-149 or £28.50 for 50 shimmer in the sun atop a dark strong One might imagine Negrita to be With Flaming Flag, Flyaway or China stem that adds to the impact. They darker than the name suggests? Pink combine with just about everything, This is a lovely purple tulip with especially the acid green foliage of beetroot veining running through emerging Euphorbia. the petals, strong stemmed too. April • 18” (45cm) April • 18” (45cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 or £27.00 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 With China Pink, Havran, Negrita or With Paul Scherer, Honeymoon or La nearly everything else Belle Epoque Suggested planting companions

52 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Tulipa sanne Tulipa shirley tulipa sunny prince

Tulipa prinses irene Tulipa Paul Scherer Tulipa Unique de France

Paul Scherer prinses irene Sanne 131-122 Sunny Prince 131-143 131-107 131-10 Pale apricot when they first open with Bright butter yellow within the flower, Strong stemmed, with slightly grey- An earthy mix of oranges, a pinkish tinge added to the mix as slightly paler on the backs of the green foliage contrasting with the marmalade and purple, but unlikely they mature, the tips of the petals petals, this is a relatively short, exceptionally dark cup shaped as it seems they work brilliantly always slightly paler. Soft, feminine sturdy form seemingly filled with flowers. I love the possibilities that together. This is a great favourite, and subtle with a great shape. happiness. tulips provide to play with colours April/May • 18” (45cm) April • 14” (34cm) with low reddish marked leaves and £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, in a way that no other plants allow. £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 on short stem it is less affected by or £28.50 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 As dark as Queen of Night and poor weather and adding in a huge With Pacific Pearl, Jan Reus or Paul With Lambada, Armani or Prinses probably with a stronger stem these scent , one can see why it is so Scherer Irene are better than dark chocolate. popular. See also ‘Orange Princess’ April • 18” (45cm) which is a double form of the same Shirley 131-56 Unique de £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 tulip, page 58. or £27.00 for 50 Great fun and ever-changing, and France 131-121 With Honeymoon, Shirley, Couleur April • 15” (38cm) in that regard like T. Hemisphere or £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 Amazing petals - shiny and Cardinal or Sanne or £27.00 for 50 Hotpants. Pale cream throughout gleaming like a newly painted pillar Try it with Calgary or Calgary Flame when first they open, then they box, certainly one of the most vibrant for a low duo, or maybe with its gain a purple margin to each petal coloured tulips but most unique for double flowered cousin Orange with some additional freckling and its foliage, the leaves are deep green Princess gradually this spreads and darkens till and very waxy, quite different from the petals are suffused purple all over any other tulip’s foliage. Good for the what is now a white background. garden or containers where they will April/May • 24” (60cm) £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, be noticed!. or £28.50 for 50 April • 16” (40cm) £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, With Antoinette, Pacific Pearl or or £28.50 for 50 Havran. Outstanding on its own.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 53 parrot Tulips Photo credit: GAP Images  Tulipa Rococo Tulipa White Parrot Tulipa Black Parrot

single late tulips

Tulipa Angel’s Wish Tulipa Antoinette Tulipa city of vancouver

Parrot Tulips Rococo 131-127 Single Late Antoinette 131-153 Earlier than most other Parrot tulips A chameleon tulip which starts (Group 10) Exuberance is the (Group 5) These have simple, greenish-yellow then fades to greatest asset of this group, with short stems, these are deep elegant cup or goblet shaped with flowers that seem to be velvety red with the reverse of the flowers and longer stems, creamy-yellow with a hint of pink overflowing with frilled or fluted petal marked with green, the petals flowering after the mid season and finally turns salmon pink with petals. Dramatic is the best tightly crimped as though they had tulips (but overlapping with them). a touch of orange. With a multi way to describe them I feel. been gripped too tight in the bud, headed nature this provides lots of Wonderful to use as part of a very suitable for pots. Angel’s Wish 131-32 flower and continual development fantastical flower arrangement. April • 12” (30cm) and interest. Big and heavy headed, best in £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 White with a dash of cream, simple April/May • 18” (45cm) good light and in some breeze or £27.00 for 50 looking and broad petalled, with £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, which will shake the rain from the With Jan Reus, Paul Scherer or a strong stem. You have to have or £28.50 for 50 multitudinous petals. White Parrot for vivid contrast some whites as a foil for the other With Firework, Nightclub or stronger colours. These are one of Angelique White Parrot 131-64 the best. Black Parrot 131-17 Large flowered, the whole head April/May • 20” (50cm) City of Vancouver The unopen flower buds seem to £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 bursting full of crimped petals, or £28.50 for 50 131-156 be clutched in a green fingered grip like clouds of egg white about to With Pieter de Leur, Shirley or Sanne Pale creamy yellow and turning paler and when it escapes to flower the become meringue, the outermost as they age, smaller headed than dark chocolate purple petals seem ones with a tinge of creamy green. Angel’s Wish. Simply gorgeous. to erupt in a cockscomb of frilled April/May • 18” (45cm) April/May • 20” (50cm) excess, a dark favourite indeed. £7.75 for 10, £17.50 for 25, £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, April/May • 20” (50cm) or £31.50 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25 With Queen of Night, Violet Bird or With Queen of Night, Pacific Pearl or or £28.50 for 50 Backpacker Mistress With White Triumphator, Groenland Suggested planting or Spring Green companions

54 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Lily Flowered Tulips

Tulipa Black Parrot Tulipa Queen of Night Tulipa Ballerina

Tulipa night club Tulipa China Pink Tulipa firework

Night Club 131-154 Lily Flowered Firework 131-163 A multi headed variety with a strong A bright and zingy combination of plum red colour. With more flowers Tulips strong yellow petals with a bright red ready to emerge as the first reach (Group 6) Characterised by their flare up the centre of each petal, Not their peak they seem to have a longer stems and that refined particularly tall so perhaps a better greater longevity of flowering. Rest ‘hour glass’ shape to the flower, choice for windy sites? assured they neither flash, nor is waisted when in bud and opening April/May • 16” (40cm) there a deep bass rumble. up in the sun with pointed tips. £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25, April/May • 20” (50cm) They are great in flower borders, or £30.00 for 50 £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25, and in tall containers which seem With Foxtrot, Hemisphere or or £30.00 for 50 to exaggerate the stem length. Groenland With Negrita, Couleur Cardinal or Armani Ballerina 131-65 Fly Away 131-164 Soft tangerine coloured flowers, Much more apparently ‘Lily flowered’ Queen of Night 131-58 though different lights and differing with the typically pointed silhouette, One of the darkest delights, and levels of UV light seems to result in the band of yellow is narrower and justifiably one of our best sellers. some variation in the shade from Tulipa flyaway the red rather more pronounced. Though not quite black, only Paul year to year. One of my favourites They make a great twosome. Scherer comes close. The deepest (and in that I am not alone), I April/May • 22” (55cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, hue shows on bulbs in direct particularly love its scent when sunlight, in more shade they are China Pink 131-59 or £27.00 for 50 warmed in the sun. The tangerine With Firework, Unique de France or deep purple and often taller. hue also goes perfectly with all the Pink lily flowered heads with pointed Hemisphere April/May • 24” (60cm) leafy greens, altogether very eye- tips on much shorter stems than £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, most of the group, and generally a or £27.00 for 50 catching with a heady perfume. With City of Vancouver, Honeymoon April/May • 20” (50cm) much leafier plant. £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, April • 14-16” (35-40cm) or Pacific Pearl or £27.00 for 50 £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25, With Queen of Night, Sanne or Firework or £30.00 for 50 With Angelique, Mistress or Merlot

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 55 Tulipa Merlot

Tulipa Pieter de Leur Tulipa Tres Chic

Tulipa greenstar Tulipa madalyn Tulipa White Triumphator

Greenstar 131-165 Madalyn 131-166 Pieter de Leur 131-150 White I saw these at Keukenhof on a Most impressively coloured with Glistening, vibrant, deep vermilion red, Triumphator busy day there, it was heaving with vibrant pink over most of the petal almost opalescent as a ruby tiffany 131-46 people and I had trouble getting and a base of green, the flowers lamp, not a tulip for the faint hearted All white with long clean green close to take a shot of these tulips splay open very dramatically and but then these are showy tulips stems. An iconic and popular tulip, without people in the way because widely. It was also being hugely doing what they do best! My father’s but not so typically lily flowered in everyone else was taking selfies in admired in Holland. New, and I think favourite with his dimming eyes. its shape. They seem always more front of them. They were evidently it will be in heavy demand. April/May • 18” (45cm) dramatic when provided with a the right background for everyone April/May • 20” (50cm) £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, or £27.00 for 50 stronger background against which else. They are extraordinary, very £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25, With Spring Green, Groenland or to view them. angular, vase shaped and strongly or £30.00 for 50 With Barcelona, Pieter de Leur or White Triumphator green marked. April/May • 20” (50cm) Pacific Pearl £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, April/May • 20” (50cm) or £28.50 for 50 £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, Trés Chic 131-66 Safe as houses, goes with or £28.50 for 50 Merlot 131-130 Creamy white when in bud, everything! With Groenland, Flyaway or White Tall and elegantly poised with becoming white with faint green Parrot flowers that mimic a wine glass in tips to the pointed petals as they both shape and content, there is no open properly, sometimes with pink doubt about how the name arose. as well. Much shorter in stature April/May • 28” (65cm) which in exposed gardens or some £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, planters may be an advantage, a or £28.50 for 50 tulip that lives up to its name. With Barcelona, Cairo or Pieter de April/May • 12” (30cm) Leur £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, or £27.00 for 50 With Unique de France, Mistress or Suggested planting Negrita companions

56 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Fringed Tulips

Tulipa honeymoon Tulipa lambada Tulipa pacific pearl Photo credit: GAP Images  Tulipa artist

Groenland 131-44 A subtle combination with pink and green coloured flowers shot viridiflora Tulips with cream, the effect is calming and unfussy and the colours are easy to mix with any pink or green combinations. April/May • 18” (45cm) Tulipa Spring Green tulipa violet bird Tulipa groenland £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, or £27.00 for 50 With Sanne, Madalyn or Greenstar Fringed Tulips Lambada 131-151 Viridiflora Spring Green 131-51 A fringed apricot - rose coloured (Group 7) First popular in the Tulips Pale apple-white petals marked florist shops these are fringed tulip with perhaps a hint of orange with wispy green brush strokes on by frills along the edges of as well. A bit shorter with rather a (Group 8) Multi-coloured tulips the back of each petal. Often less the petals, they are not just smaller head. with vertical colour banding, ‘regular’ in height and flower shape frivolous though, they provide a April/May • 18” (45cm) most often in green. Some of compared to many other tulips but contemporary twist. £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, these exhibit complicated colour ideal for separating strong colours or £28.50 for 50 patterning, like an artist’s mixing in the border or for flower arranging. With Sunny Prince, Artist or Cairo Honeymoon 131-95 palette. In the borders they One of the all-time favourites. Creamy white, sometimes with provide great opportunities to April/May • 18” (45cm) create subtle combinations. a tinge of green and edged in a Pacific Pearl 131-152 £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, or £27.00 for 50 sparkling white frosted fringe. A Gorgeous against the light when With everything, and they all look cracking tulip that looks as though the richness of the colour shows at Artist 131-155 better for it! it has just been drawn from the ice its best, and the frilly edge means Shorter in stature, one of the early bucket. We have been showing that you can mix them with any of forms of viridiflora with salmon and them and selling them as Daytona, the other unfringed ones and find green coloured petals. Violet Bird 131-145 but they seem to also be called that they compliment each other April/May • 12” (30cm) Some tulips have untidy foliage, Honeymoon, I think that they are hugely. £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 this one is unlike them and we like or £27.00 for 50 the same thing and Honeymoon a April/May • 18” (45cm) its habit with an upright, sturdy, tidy £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, demeanour, but calling it violet was better name to my eyes and ears! or £27.00 for 50 With Lambada, Greenstar or Night probably one marketing gimmick April/May • 15” (38cm) With Lambada, Honeymoon or City Club £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, too far. It is closer to a lavender of Vancouver or £28.50 for 50 purple with some green. With Mistress (which might seem a April/May • 18” (45cm) bit unconventional?), or anything £7.75 for 10, £17.50 for 25, else! or £31.50 for 50 With Groenland, Pieter de Leur or White Parrot

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 57 double petalled Tulips

Tulipa Foxtrot Tulipa Orange Princess Tulipa Backpacker

Tulipa La Belle Epoque Tulipa Angelique Uvularia grandiflora

Double Backpacker 131-157 La Belle uvularia I have been looking for a better tulip Epoque 131-104 Bombproof but quite slow Petalled than Blue Diamond, the colour of Another colour that is difficult to growing woodland plants of N. Tulips which is fantastic, but the stem is describe: pinkish or even pale tea- America needing cool leaf-mould too weak and it flops badly. These rose coloured, turning more apricot rich soils in part shade. Quite (Group 11) Also known as the seem to be better and are nearly as the flower develops, a more slow growing but established Paeony flowered forms. These the same hue, a mauve through to subtle colour that goes well with clumps are quietly impressive, tend to be late flowering with violet purple pom pom. the pinks and lilacs that are often but easy to achieve in time in more spherical buds and rounded April/May • 18” (45cm) prevalent in tulips. the right conditions, brilliant flower shapes, filled with deep £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25 April/May • 18” (45cm) with other choice shade plants or £27.00 for 50 layers of petals. £7.75 for 10, £17.50 for 25, like Trilliums, Sanguinaria and With Angelique, La Belle Epoque or or £31.50 for 50 Erythronium. Angelique 131-24 Unique de France With Ballerina, Angel’s Wish or Sanne Often multi-headed, the flowers Foxtrot 131-147 grandiflora filled with ruffled petals in delicate Orange 133-05 shades of pink, genuinely paeony- An early flowering double in old Princess 131-140 Known as the Merrybells in the like from a distance, somewhat rose pink which deepens in colour I was tempted to list this alongside eastern USA. Deep yellow flowers shorter in stature than most. Late as the flowers age. Tidy and neat Prinses Irene, it is after all a double hanging from arching stems. Soft flowering beauties for borders as and much earlier than the similar form of that favourite tulip. But foliage but completely resistant to well as cut flower. Angelique. April • 12” (30cm) being a double this is where it fits our coldest weather. April/May • 16” (40cm) best and if you love the single form £6.75 for 10, £15.50 for 25, £6.25 for 10, £14.50 for 25, April • 12” (30cm) or £28.50 for 50 or £27.00 for 50 you will recognise the similarity and £5.00 With China Pink, Backpacker or With Sunny Prince, Havran or perhaps be tempted to try them? Hemisphere Orange Princess I find the encircling green tipped petals rather appealing. April/May • 16” (40cm) £7.25 for 10, £16.50 for 25, Suggested planting or £30.00 for 50 companions With Firework, Calgary Flames or Annie Schilder

58 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Ordering from Avon Bulbs

This catalogue covers the period May 2018 to December 2018. It costs £2. Delivery may be weather affected Prices are given at the end of each plant description; prices are for a single bulb or plant unless stated otherwise. We despatch ‘Autumn’ orders through from mid September to early November dependant on the prevailing conditions, the ‘Late Summer’ orders between late Aug Please list acceptable alternatives and mid September. All plants and bulbs are offered subject to availability. Stocks we anticipate being Delivery can be tailored to your needs saleable as we write the catalogue in April sometimes fail before their due despatch season in Sept - Nov, but that’s gardening. We do not make substitutions, but a list We use the Post Office (Royal Mail) for smaller parcels, DPD Local for larger parcels. of alternative bulbs that might be acceptable helps greatly. Both organisations now allow us to specify Safe Place Leaving Instructions and if these are provided no signature on delivery is required, the delivery will be made Payment following those instructions. If you do not specify a Safe Place you will have to sign for Please order by post and send your payment with your order with cheques made the parcel or arrange a redelivery on receipt of their card. If you might be away during out to Avon Bulbs Ltd. “Not To Exceed” (NTE) cheques are a convenient and safe our delivery season, please tell us – we can fit around most dates. way to allow for slight variations in your order — particularly useful for late orders Providing us with your email address means that you will receive an email from us where availability is less certain, after 1 September. Make the cheque out as usual confirming despatch of your parcel, and a further email from DPD Local (if your and sign it but do not date it or complete the value in words or in figures. At the top parcel is bigger) confirming the expected delivery date and time slot of one hour. of the cheque write “Not to exceed £X”, where X is a round number of pounds that If you wish to collect your order please either advise us of the intended date or allow is likely to be enough. Once your order has been sent, we complete the date and us to suggest one. Around most dates up to the end of October. amounts to match the amount invoiced (and supplied), bank the cheque and your account is settled. Completed cheques (ie not NTE cheques) are banked as orders Please raise problems promptly are accepted. While we try to ensure everything is correctly named and labelled, errors do occur Paying by card: points to note occasionally.­ If we seem to have made a mistake please tell us as soon as possible; late complaints are very difficult to deal with in the same reason if stocks are limited. We normally debit your account when bulbs are despatched, not when your order is Regrettably,­ the bulbs we sell cannot be absolutely­ guaranteed to flower and thrive, received, so do try to ensure that your card does not expire before the date when we nature is fickle sometimes and we cannot be responsible for its vagaries, or even will need to draw from the account. poor gardening. Please allow for p&p We do keep computerised records with your name and address and order history for our own business use and for our carriers to communicate with you regarding a The contribution towards packing and delivery is £4.95 per order (mainland UK). It delivery. We will not sell or pass on your details to any other businesses and all credit is likely that for larger orders this will be exceeded by costs to ourselves. Orders to card details that are stored by us are done so in an encrypted manner that we cannot mainland UK for any season over the value of £100 P&P is waived. You will however ourselves view. Please see Page 8 for the full GDPR Privacy Policy. receive an acknowledgment, individual planting instructions for all items, a strong box and further catalogues from us whilst you continue to order. For customers with By placing an order with us customers are agreeing to these terms. If you do not wish addresses outside the UK mainland (Channel Isles, Northern Ireland, Isles of Wight, to receive any marketing material from us please let us know. Man, Shetlands etc.) we will probably need to add a surcharge dependant on the Overseas customers are requested to check the website for details of the costs weight of the parcel and your location, this sometimes takes the cost of a parcel (or two of shipping to the European Union. The minimum postal cost for non UK orders if we split the delivery) to about £15.00. is £10.00. Please retain our acknowledgement We acknowledge all orders by post or email unless the order is to be despatched immediately. If you need to contact us about your order, please use this invoice reference number.

Five year Diaries! This remarkable diary really is a real memory builder! As you fill one entry you cannot help but look back to what you wrote on the same day in past years. Keeping a record year on year of the weather for the day can really help you understand your garden and its microclimate, as well as remind you of your gardening successes and lessons to learn. But you can also include films you saw, books you read, how much jam you made, who called for a chat or came to dinner, what you ate, what the grandchildren told you, the list is endless! Finished in a wipe clean cover and spiral bound with botanical illustrations by Susan Olgilvy marking the start of each month. 6” wide (15 cm) and just over 9” deep (23.5 cm) and weighing 770g these are provided in a purpose made delivery sleeve and can be posted at any time (they make great Christmas presents) but can be started at any time of year. Unique to ourselves and not available elsewhere. £17.50 including P&P (within UK) Additional EU postage £6.00

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 59 Seeds from Avon Bulbs We have a seed box which travels to the shows and from which customers can pick out seed packets that they might like to purchase. The range is small and generally reflects the plants that we have grown and are showing to associate well with the bulbs on the display (but the annuals flower from seed very much more quickly than bulbs) particularly at the Chelsea Flower Show where so many visitors from abroad want something to take home and try for themselves. But many of our mail order customers do not see us at the shows and may like the chance to buy a packet or two? Availability may be limited depending on the demand at the shows!

777-002 777-025 777-003 777-004 777-009

Average seed contents: 15 Average seed contents: 20 Average seed contents: 80 Average seed contents: 15 Average seed contents: 50

Anthriscus sylvestris Allium cernuum Camassia leichtlinii Dahlia coccinea Dianthus barbatus ‘Ravenswing’ ‘Avon’s Stellar hybrids’ var palmeri nigrescens ‘Sooty’ (Black Cow Parsley) Claret pink flowered plants of reasonably well drained locations in Hardy North American plants, Single orange-red flowers in late Sweet William. Hardy biennial Perfect for a wild garden or meadow. full sun. Of North American origin Camassia all like heavy soils in sun summer on a plant which exhibits with scented maroon-chocolate An elegant, clump-forming biennial and hardy in the UK, self sown or part shade. They flower in late April very dissected ‘frothy’ foliage. The flowers on red stems and mid green or short lived perennial with finely seedlings spreading and thickening or early May, (after the blue flowered plant can be large, the seed was foliage. Good as a border plant in divided ferny foliage of darkest one’s clumps. Summer flowering forms which produce little or no seed). collected from an established plant May-June and for cut flower, grown mahogany-bronze and umbels of about 18” (45 cm) tall with leaves The flowering plants are 24-26” tall about 7’ tall. Dahlias like a rich in sunny conditions in well drained white flowers in late spring and early that persist for much of the year. (60-90 cm). Colours will vary - pink, fertile soil and need planting in the soils. Mature plants 12-15” tall summer. Plant in well drained soil, The flowers are good for beneficial lilac, blue, cream and green. sun. They may need a mulch (or to (30-38cm). in sun or partial shade. Height 80cm, insects. They may take 3 years to be lifted) in cold gardens, but the spread 50cm. flower from seed, some will flower in species forms seem hardier than the their 2nd year hybrids. These should flower in their first season.

777-019 777-028 777-008 777-021 777-005

Average seed contents: 10 Average seed contents: 10 Average seed contents: 80 Average seed contents: 80 Average seed contents: 20

Lunaria annua Lunaria Nicotiana mutabilis Nigella damascena Orlaya Grandiflora Chedglow Corfu Blue (Ornamental Tobacco) (Love in the Mist) (White Lace Flower)

Hardy biennial flowering April to early Hardy biennial, flowering in the spring A striking tender plant up to 5’ (1.5m) A hardy annual suitable for any soil A plant of meadows, vineyards and May with wonderful chocolate leaves often earlier than other Lunaria, with with showers of white flowers which but it must be grown in a sunny olive groves in the Mediterranean. and lilac flowers, growing to 3’ (1 m) purple-blue flowers on purple flushed turn through pink to a deep magenta as position. The common name is Fern-like foliage and lace-like or a bit more. Decorative seed heads stems, growing to 3’ (90cm) tall and a they mature. The effect is spectacular suggested by the way the flower is white umbels, with the outer petals persist with translucent discs that can spread of up to 30” (75cm). The seed with both colours present on the plant held in a nest of lacy bracts. This form larger than the inner. 18-24” tall be used in dried arrangements. cases are distinctive as papery silvered together. Flowers in the late summer. is not the normal blue one, but opens (45-60cm). An easy to grow annual seed heads. These may hybridise with If a plant is overwintered (in frost free white and matures to a wonderful setting seed that you can collect other Lunaria close by. The leaves are conditions) flowering is much earlier antique pink, perhaps a form called and grow. browsed by rabbits. and more profuse the second year. Persian Rose. Originally from southern Europe these grow to between 8-20” (20-45cm) tall. Easy to grow RHS Perfect and especially useful for providing for Pollinators. colourful ground cover in poorer soils. ®

P&P for any number of seed packets ordered alone within UK £1.50,or destinations within the EU please add £2.50 P&P

60 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018

777-013 777-014 Any packet More seeds from of seeds Avon Bulbs £2.50

777-006 777-018 777-007

Double Black Double Lilac

Papaver somniferum 777-012 Fully double flower heads of various colours. June flowering about 36” (90cm) tall. May need staking in windy gardens. They are plants of open, sunny situations in well drained soil and are hardy, but annual, so you will be reliant on falling (or collected) seed for future years. Self fertile, Average seed contents: 25 Average seed contents: 80 Average seed contents: 10 but some slight variation in flower Double Shiraz colour may occur.

Gladiolus tristis Iberis umbellatum Lunaria annua 777-011 777-017 (Candytuft) ‘Alba Variegata’ A beautiful South African species that flowers in April/May in Britain with A hardy annual from the Hardy biennial, late spring flowering wonderful pale straw coloured flowers Mediterranean growing to 12-14” with scented white flowers on branching with pretty green highlights and a good (30-45cm) flowering for much of hairy stems bearing leaves with strong perfume in the evenings. 3-4’ (30-40 the summer with domed fragrant white variegation. The seed cases are cm) tall. They will need a sheltered flowers in pink, mauve and white. distinctive as papery transluscent discs. situation in cold gardens or cold Easy to grow and especially useful Early spring sown plants will flower districts, but if they can be grown in a for providing colourful ground cover the following spring and summer but favoured spot they will set seed and in poorer soils. autumn sown seed will not flower till the increase. They are in leaf through much second spring The variegation becomes of the winter when they will cope with more pronounced with age. Grow in Double Pink Blackcurrant Fizz temperatures down to -3ºC. sun or part shade. Self seeding around the garden.

777-026 777-010 777-023

Glove sizing: If unsure this is a guide – finger to wrist, or right round the palm, whichever the larger measure – under 8” we think the Small (7) size is likely to fit best, over 8” our Medium (10) may be better. Average seed contents: 50 Average seed contents: 15 Average seed contents: 30 Maxiflex

Pimpinella Tulbaghia cominsii Tulipa sprengeri Gardening Gloves major rosea x violacea More and more people now garden in gloves. May flowering species tulip, now Deep pink umbels of small flowers, Long flowering perennial of South unknown in the wild. Red flowered, These are hard wearing and comfortable they look like a pink flowered cow African origin. Long thin leaved often verdigris marked on the outside gardening gloves that still allow you to feel what parsley. Blooms in May/June, foliage, scented when crushed. with contrasting golden anthers. you are doing but most importantly one’s hands ideally in the sun or light shade, Purple – pink flowers from June to About 18” (40cm) tall. May take 3-4 40” (100cm) tall. Sow the seeds in October, 18-24” (45-60 cm) tall. years to flower, but avoid disturbance do not sweat inside them. Washable (inside the autumn in ordinary garden soil Seedlings may vary, due to the hybrid in the area. Once flowering will self out in a cool wash). The Medium size fits nearly or gritty compost (as they require nature of the plant. Plants flower in seed. Bulbs flower when grape sized everyone here, though a Small size is offered chilling to break the dormancy) and their second year. Very good patio or larger. overwinter the seed tray outside. plants in planters, enjoying warm too. Include these with an order for £5.00 each They may not germinate until the conditions and very drought tolerant. (sent on their own please add £3.00 postage). spring. Prick out into small pots In cold areas mulch plants in the when the seedlings are large enough ground in winter and protect pots from to handle and when these plants are extended freezing temperatures. Hardy 669 - 01 Maxiflex gloves (Medium) £5.00 large enough themselves plant into outside to about -10˚C. 669 - 02 Maxiflex gloves (Small) £5.00 their final position. P&P for any number of seed packets ordered alone within UK £1.50,or destinations within the EU please add £2.50 P&P

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 61 2018 Collections Colour Themed Tulip Collections. Collections of varieties for planting in pots or the garden. Ideal as Gifts.

Early Tulip Bright Tulip Collection £21.00 Collection £22.00 999-333 999-335

Corona x 10 Cape Cod x 10 Couleur Cardinal x 10 Hemisphere x 10

Orange Emperor x 10 Purissima x 10 Paul Scherer x 10 Armani x 10

More Collections available Online

999-336 Bronze Tulip Collection £23.00

La Belle Epoque x 10 Brown Sugar x 10 Havran x 10 Cairo x 10

62 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 Order for Autumn despatch Please specify plants and costs here, and complete the other side of the form.

Stock Price and No. of packs No. x price ref. no. Plant name pack size required £

131-24 Tulipa Angelique (EXAMPLE ONLY) 6.75/10 2 13.50

The example at the top shows the information we need – in particular, the reference number given subtotal beside the plant name in the catalogue. If possible, specify acceptable alternatives in case some of your choices are not available. carriage

The normal postage and packing costs on any Autumn Order is £4.95 (UK Mainland only) Orders over £100 are sent free of P&P total

Please record personal and payment details overleaf

Remember – cards, gloves and diaries can be ordered to accompany your bulbs, saving on postage. Please fold this sheet into a smaller envelope to avoid postal surcharges

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk Avon Bulbs 63 Office use only: Mail Order for Autumn 2018 Date received: Plants and bulbs to flower in the spring Order No:

Avon Bulbs Ltd • Burnt House Farm • Mid Lambrook South Petherton • Somerset • TA13 5HE

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64 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2018 2018 Collections Colour Themed Tulip Collections. Collections of varieties for planting in pots or the garden. Ideal as Gifts.

999-334 Pale Tulip Collection £23.00

Antoinette x 10 Honeymoon x 10 Sanne x 10 Greenstar x 10

999-337 White Tulip Collection £22.00

City of Vancouver x 10 White Triumphator x 10 Angel’s Wish x 10 Calgary x 10

More Collections available Online If undelivered please return to sender: Avon Bulbs Burnt House Farm Mid Lambrook South Petherton Somerset TA13 5HE

Please recycle this item after use either on thewebsite byphoneor even ataflower showthat we attend. equally easily redeem the voucher that will besent to them against a purchase, the You can buy our Gift Tokens through the website: Just click on to Additemsyourbasket andtheywilldojustthat.Easy! which youmightorderandthen Addthem.Onceyouhavecompleted yourlistgo field andthengototheSelectionOption (below that)tobeshownthe packsizes alongside everyiteminthecatalogueieIrisbucharica 103-09)intotheSearch wish toorderinthecatalogueyoujustneedputtheir codenumber(asprinted There isalsoaQuick Order Form function. If youhavefounditemsthat you you canlookagainwithaviewtoorderingthatitem. that plantreadytoorderyou’llgetanemailsay address andthenexttimethatwehave an Interest’byputtinginyouremail it is‘OutofSeason’youcan‘Register it somewhere and want to order it, but If youhaveseenaplant,orreadabout about? not yetknow that youmay of our website Some features © RHS www.neilhepworth.co.uk Photographs byNeilHepworth Gifts andVouchers sectionwhere youcanmakeanorder. Therecipientcan 2018 rhs malvern Shop to access