Allium Purple Sensation

p13

Romulea bulbocodium

p5

Erythronium revolutum

p27

Sanguinaria canadensis p43

Mail Order Catalogue

Crocus speciosus p3 Autumn 2021

Tulipa Negrita AND TO THIS AUTUMN AND NEXT SPRING

Telephone 01460 242177

p52 www.avonbulbs.co.uk of P&P only) (UK mainland Orders over £100 are sent free WINNERS OF… 30 Gold Medals at Chelsea in 31 years (1987 – 2017) Avon bulbs contacts Email: Welcome [email protected] Web: Horticultural mail order businesses have been very busy because of lockdown and we www.avonbulbs.co.uk have benefitted in that regard. However the pattern of life has changed quite a bit, as Tel: it has for everyone, in particular with our lack of attendance at the flower shows. We 01460 242177 thought that they were an integral part of who we were as a business, but not having 01460 249060 participated in one for 18 months we find that we have been busy enough ‘at home’ and that the work that we are able to do in the times when we should have been away Burnt House Farm has resulted in more (and more timely) propagation of plants and a tidier nursery. We Mid Lambrook South Petherton, also find that as a consequence we are much ‘greener’ - our electricity costs (running Somerset cold stores) are 41% lower. Our small solar array now generates 35% of the electricity TA13 5HE that we use. Our use of diesel (transport to shows) is now under 10% of what we were spending pre Covid.

On the other hand we have never shied away from the fact that a proportion of what we sell is bought in, very mainly from Holland. It is now (post Brexit) much more costly in effort, time and cash to obtain bulbs from . Until recently I could order bulbs More on a Monday knowing that they would be with us the same week at very little additional Information cost. I now anticipate at least a month to get all the permissions, licences and documents in order. At the same time a greater number of growers in England (and The website allows much more Europe) are retiring from horticulture and it is becoming more difficult to source the detail about individual plants sort of interesting material that we are happy to list. Were we all 30 years younger and we are gradually building there are probably new opportunities in UK horticulture for enterprising young growers, up that information source, but I am afraid that it is ‘different’ now with the costs of starting up much higher with so do have a look online if increasing pressure to reach an efficient (large) size more quickly. That makes ‘niche’ you are left wanting to know horticulture and plant specialisation more difficult. Customers in Europe (and Northern more about a particular plant Ireland) will be disappointed to know that the costs of getting orders inspected to or family and their suggested provide Phytosanitary Certificates far exceeds what might have been expected and planting instructions. Individual what is reasonable and we cannot, as a result, send orders outside of GB. planting suggestions are provided again when you get Last year I experimented with a catalogue arranged in a flowering order rather than sent your order. alphabetically. I only received a few emails to say that it was unhelpful (and rather fewer from folk who indeed liked it) but on balance we found that we too needed to use the The website also indicates Index rather too much! Something that we normally do not need. The order has now availability and if an item is returned to an alphabetic one within the ‘seasons’ that the catalogue covers and as a Sold Out it will be indicated result there is no Index. there. This is particularly useful for later orders. I would encourage our customers to order early. With news of shortages likely I had to order from Holland in March what I thought that I might sell this autumn (something If an item is marked Out of I am usually reluctant to do till the end of May) and it may be the case of ‘when it Season you can “Register has gone, it has gone’. It was also a ‘weird’ spring as you gardeners will remember, an Interest” and with no too wet in February, too dry in April and it only warmed up in mid May. All that may commitment receive an email affect harvests and sizes so putting an order in early should ensure that you get back when it is next in stock whatever we have available that you need. It will cost you nothing more as we only and can be ordered. charge your card accounts as we despatch the order. There are occasionally varieties Successful Gardening! that missed the catalogue and Chris Ireland-Jones get listed online. ii Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 LATE SUMMER 2021 Bulbs that mostly flower in the autumn, shortly after planting or else ones that much prefer early autumn planting despite being spring flowering. We aim to deliver orders made from this section ahead of orders for the Autumn section in mid August to early September. Please use the form at the end of this section. GAP Images GAP Images autumnalis Acis nicaeensis Amaryllis purpurea major Colchicum autumnale ACIS AMARYLLIS autumnalis The Amaryllis and their hybrids Slender wiry green or russety are winter growing and flower coloured stems, carrying delicate before they come into in the looking white papery bells. They autumn. South African in origin were thought to be autumn they consequently require more flowering forms of the snowflake sheltered positions, we have some (Leucojum) family but are now in a that do well every year at the base of a south facing wall which is (in distinct group of their own. Ideal for Somerset) good enough. In cold a trough or container that stays that areas one might need to grow them much drier. Naturally small bulbs, in pots that one can protect them only the size of large peas which further. They enjoy a hot summer get planted close together. baking when they are without their 1” (3cm) and planting them too deep Aug / Sept 9” (22cm) means that the soil might not get 106-10 £8.00 for 5 warm enough to suit them. These are the ‘simple’ types, nicaeensis not Hippeastrum which are easily A spring flowering French confused and are of hybrid origin Snowflake – they were in the and generally ‘treated’ to flower in Amaryllis x Parkeri alba Colchicum autumnale album Leucojum family but have now the winter. been split off to become Acis. They hail from a small area in southwest purpurea major COLCHICUM autumnale where they live in limestone Tall stemmed with a slightly lop- Softly, satin-sheened in mauve. Easy to grow in reasonably deep crevices. Here they are an alpine sided flower arrangement of They naturalise most effectively moisture-retentive soil, these appear needing some winter protection and magnificent pale pink fragrant either in sun or partial shade where from their summer dormancy without a drier summer rest. In flower they trumpets. The earliest to flower of they often produce several have a flattened bell-shaped white all the Amaryllis. We will try and lift their leaves to flower in the autumn – hence their common name of from each corm. An easy British flower over rather lax leaves. them early (to dissuade them from ‘naked ladies’. A pointer to the end native known as Meadow Saffron, 3” (8cm) flowering for a bit longer) but for late of summer, their bright flowers last Wychwood Forest has thousands Spring 8” (20cm) orders they may well have flowered. flowering each autumn. 106-11 £9.50 for 3 incredibly well considering their 9-12” (20-30cm) apparent fragility. The leaves appear 4” (10cm) August 24” (60cm) in the early spring. They need Sept 6” (15cm) 56-15 £7.50 planting 3” (8cm) deep - perhaps a 73-05 £13.00 for 3 little more for ones with bigger bulbs x parkeri alba – and 6” (15cm) apart. They will autumnale A hybrid form (Amaryllis x Brunsvigia) naturalise effectively, but the mower album which forms big, rounded bulbs will have to be restrained until the The white-flowered form of the and flowers with apple-white hugely leaves wither away in June. species above, although some scented trumpets. **Please order early – after the are pinkish-white. They tolerate 9-12” (20-30cm) end of September they seem full sun but are especially useful Aug/Sept 12” (30cm) to flower regardless of the 56-10 £8.50 conditions** in some shade in damp, but not waterlogged conditions. = suggested plant spacing in garden situations 3” (8cm) Flowering time Flowering height Sept 6” (15cm) Item Code Price 73-06 £10.00 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 1 GAP Images Colchicum speciosum Colchicum Waterlily

Colchicum byzantinum Innocence Colchicum x agrippinum Colchicum speciosum album byzantinum speciosum WaterLily x agrippinum Innocence album A multi-petalled variety which A smaller plant that the others we Thickly textured goblet shaped The very best Colchicum which has opens out widely in the sun with list and one to treasure in a raised flowers in white with purple tips been lost to commerce for many multiple flower stems, flowering bed or in a trough. The flowers to the very ends of the petals and years and sorely missed except somewhat later than the others. open nearly flat with pointed tips, styles. Big bulbs which provide an that I had a call from Scotland Surprisingly resilient to the weather covered in wonderful darker pinkish eye-catching combination when where some grow ‘nearly wild’ – despite its appearance. purple tessellations (chequering). they come to flower. would I like some? Of course! The 6” (15cm) An unusual and special plant of 4” (10cm) assurance is that there will be quite Oct 6” (15cm) which we only have a small number, 73-23 £13.00 for 3 Sept 6” (15cm) a few but I have yet to see them, so but none too difficult if you have the 73-25 £18.50 for 3 these are sold on a ‘promise’ and I right place. may yet have egg on my face. Big 3” (8cm) speciosum bold goblet shaped flowers in pure Sept 4” (10cm) 73-19 £5.50 The best of the larger forms for white, ideal for part shade. most gardens, these spread and 4” (10cm) naturalise effectively. Stronger Sept/Oct 8” (20cm) stemmed and later flowering than C. 73-16 £20.00 for 3 autumnale with longer flower stems and more richly coloured thick, We believe the plants where you rounded, rosy pink-lilac petals. see this symbol to be particularly 4” (10cm) = suggested plant spacing Insect friendly in garden situations beneficial to pollinating insects Sept / Oct 8” (20cm) Flowering time Flowering height Plants such as bees, butterflies, moths 73-15 £11.50 for 3 Item Code Price and hover flies.

2 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 AUTUMN FLOWERING FORMS Flowering in the late autumn (except for one that flowers in the very early spring) These Autumn flowering bloom as a reaction to the lowering of the soil temperatures (and the dampening of the soil) at the end of the summer. The spring flowering forms (listed in the Autumn section of our catalogue) flower as the soil temperatures rise. Some of these are more difficult to grow than others, but C. speciosus should be a feature of any garden providing a dreamy violet splash of colour in late September and October (and is probably the easiest). We may be able to add some more varieties to this list Online later in the summer. GAP Images

Crocus goulimyi Mani White

goulimyi sativus The source of Saffron: gathered Mani White Susan Bland by collecting the tiny bright red We inadvertently and very carelessly Crocus nudiflorus Crocus speciosus muddled up the ‘ordinary’ C. stigmata from each flower (it takes goulimyi and the Mani white some half a million per kilo! thereby years ago and have finally sorted justifying the huge cost of Saffron). them out. They are too Grecian They need deep planting in rich soil, in origin for ‘ordinary’ outdoor in a sunny position and probably conditions in the UK, but in well need lifting and dividing with drained compost in a pot to which regularity to encourage flowering. you can provide some protection Their flower production is triggered (with a dry summer rest) these are by suddenly colder nights, our beautiful creamy white flowers. maritime climate sometimes does Stock limited. not provide that, which makes 2” (5cm) guaranteeing one’s own Saffron Nov 5” (12cm) production a bit uncertain. 77-33 £9.00 for 3 3” (8cm) Oct 4” (10cm) 77-20 £16.50 for 30 nudiflorus Easy to grow in the garden and even individual flowers popping speciosus up are a joy, but difficult to The best autumn crocus. commercialise as they dislike Dramatically effective, deep lilac cultivation. Hence rarely offered and to purple hues, with bright yellow likely to be small bulbed. But a fairly anthers. Good in light shade or tall, dark flowered crocus well able under deciduous shrubs, or in to grow in short grass, they form light grass, planted deeply. They stolons and so tend to move in the will flower later than suggested soil and set seed so one hopes will in their first year, consequent to increase one way or another. them having been out of the soil 2” (5cm) but probably and dried off in this summer. Do much more get enough of them! Suggested Oct 5” (12cm) planting density 15 per sq. ft. 77-42 £9.00 for 3 3” (8cm) GAP Images Sept / Oct 5” (12cm) Crocus sativus 77-26 £5.00 for 15 or £15.00 for 50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 3 Gladiolus tristis Crocus tournefortii Nerine flexuosa alba speciosus albus HIPPEASTRUM All white flowered, great for a contrast amongst the others or a x acramannii bright creamy white splash all on I have in the past alluded to doubts their own. over the spelling of this name, but I 3” (8cm) have been pointed to EB Anderson’s Sept/Oct 5” (12cm) “Seven Gardens” and am more 77-27 £6.50 for 15 than content to follow his lead and stick with this one. He grew this tournefortii plant out of doors at Porlock in the Large flowered in pale lavender, 1960s. Having been shown a private sometimes white. Strangely the greenhouse full of these bulbs in flowers do not close in dull light or flower many years ago near Taunton at night. Cretan in origin so they and admired them hugely (only later require some shelter. to find that the owner passed away 3” (8cm) soon after and his greenhouse had Sept / Oct 5” (12cm) been demolished) it was much later 77-38 £9.00 for 3 that I was offered a stock from the Isle of Man and jumped at the second GLADIOLUS opportunity. These multiply well under unheated glass for us, however tristis reading about them I find that others Native to South Africa, but not quite suggest that they are hardier than hardy enough to trust outdoors full one anticipates, confirmed by letters time, even here. A very special winter from much more northern customers. growing Gladiolus with a wonderful They are early autumn flowering in red scent in the evenings – believe me, it and green and are in leaf all winter, does not scent by day but come the more dormant in summer, although evening….! Presumably moths are the maybe come into flower earlier than pollinator. It really needs a sheltered they would out of doors. Very limited Hippeastrum x acramannii site, providing protection from numbers available this year. temperatures lower than about -5°C 9-12” (20-30cm) as they are in leaf through January Aug / Sept 18” (45cm) and February. The apple white flowers 56-14 £13.00 open progressively up the long rush- like stems and produce a generous NERINE seed set. 3” (8cm) flexuosa alba April / May 3’ (90cm) A winter growing species (all 88-15 £15.00 for 3 the others we grow are summer growing) so these require a bit more shelter. The frilly white petals however last ages in flower and in sheltered gardens are a treat in the autumn. 6” (15cm) Sept / Oct 14” (35cm) 33-23 £9.50 for 3

Insect friendly Plants Crocus speciosus albus

4 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 bulbocodium Tecophilaea cyanocrocus leichtlinii Tropaeolum tricolor GAP Images autumnalis Tecophilaea cyanocrocus violacea Veltheimia bracteata ROMULEA TECOPHILAEA TROPAEOLUM VELTHEIMIA bulbocodium Chilean bulbs from a high altitude, A winter-growing form of these Originating in South Africa on the A small crocus-like bulbs from the so one would expect them to climbing plants, they start to grow edge of the Karoo desert these are be cold tolerant, but where they in late September and flower in late bulbous house plants here. Winter Mediterranean where it grows in come from is relatively dry, and our spring. Their hardiness is probably growing with flowers late autumn sandy or rocky places. A sun lover winters are really too wet for them. limited if temperatures fall below and winter they like to receive fairly which we would suggest is pot If possible, grow them under some about -5°C for any extended period good light levels but are generally grown and brought in for winter just protection (particularly from rain) but they are actually happier grown very easy to look after with a long to keep them drier, some suggest and you’ll be amazed by the depth somewhere cool rather than too flowering period and in the summer that they don’t even need this of colour in the flowers. Their blue is warm. Grow in pots with something a drier resting period. attention. Velvety open flowers in like the dazzling displays produced to climb up and then protect them shades of lilac and purple. by some exotic butterflies. during only the very coldest weather. bracteata 1” or less (2cm) Glossy leaved beauties with broad, Spring 3” (8cm) 199-01 £7.00 for 3 cyanocrocus tricolor rather succulent-like foliage and leichtlinii Exhibiting shoals of stunning red, upright spikes of flowers that just White centred with gentian blue black and yellow flowers that last call out for a hummingbird to SCILLA petals. ages in flower. A climber that starts pollenate them! 3” (9cm) into growth very early in the autumn 6” (15cm) autumnalis March 5” (12cm) so early ordering is a must. One of Winter 18” (45cm) Hardy, but uncommon small bulbed 128-04 £11.00 for 3 the most spectacular plants that we 170-01 £8.50 natives of the south-west of the UK, sell, and a favourite of mine. these are incredibly long-lasting in cyanocrocus 6” (15cm) flower. Bright blue flowers up a fine Spring climbing up to 4’ (120cm) wiry stem. They need a sunny, well- violacea 47-06 £4.50 or £12.00 for 3 drained soil. Amazingly brilliant dark blue petals. 3” (9cm) = suggested plant spacing 3” (9cm) in garden situations March 5” (12cm) Aug/Oct 5” (12cm) 128-06 £11.00 for 3 Flowering time Flowering height 125-18 £7.00 for 3 Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 5 The following bulbs can be included on either a Late Summer or an Autumn order form as stocks allow. If you order them alone they will be sent as soon as we can, but order them with anything else and their ‘delivery season’ will be determined by what else you order. They would all benefit from earlier planting if possible.

CYCLAMEN These are all hardy, tough and perennial and once established will seed about. If you order and plant them early these Cyclamen will arrive dormant and ready to pop in and awake in their new circumstances. Ordering them from the Autumn section, means that there will probably be some growth visible on them. These are all from seed, UK grown - mostly our own. GAP Images

Cyclamen coum Cyclamen coum album Cyclamen coum Dark Pink Cyclamen coum Roseum

SPRING coum album coum dark pink coum roseum White flowered, but even the white Tubers that have been selected for Graded for flower colour in the spring FLOWERING FORMS ones have a dark pink ‘nose’. their dark pink flowers. so these are larger tubered and all 5” (13cm) 5” (13cm) will show pale pink flowers with the coum Feb / March Feb / March characteristically darker ‘nose’. In their first or second flowering 51-118 £15.00 for 3 51-131 £15.00 for 3 5” (13cm) season these were not graded Feb / March for colour in the spring so may be 51-117 £15.00 for 3 white or pink flowered but will be generally smaller in size than the colour selected forms of C. coum below which are all a year older. 5” (13cm) Feb / March 51-116 £15.00 for 5

6 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Cyclamen coum Maurice Dryden Cyclamen pseudibericum

Cyclamen coum Silver Leaf Cyclamen libanoticum Cyclamen repandum coum Silver Leaf coum Maurice pseudibericum repandum The rounded leaves are largely Dryden Possibly slightly more tender than Better in more sheltered conditions silvery patterned, so a few tubers These are silver leaved and white the bone hardy C. coum and and certainly needing more planted amongst others with more flowered, sometimes with a pink flowering a little later than coum shade and leaf mould in the soil green leaves increases the variety blush. The form honouring the does. The leaves are marbled in where they need to be planted of the green tapestry, their flowers husband of the great Kath Dryden - white and the flowers are mainly more deeply. Only properly hardy are mostly pink. Alpinist of note, kindness personified, pink with darker blotches and a in the south, though special 5” (13cm) although her bark was effective! white throat. Hardy enough to grow circumstances may affect that Feb / March 5” (13cm) outside in the south, but a lovely generalisation, small bulbs which 51-119 £6.00 Feb / March plant for the alpine house anywhere. need careful handling - I feel that 51-06 £6.50 5” (13cm) I am using too many caveats! The March / April positives are many - they provide 51-35 £6.50 libanoticum spicily fragrant, deep carmine- Less hardy than C. coum and really coloured flowers in late spring and requiring winter protection against like the others they do set seed and the wet in particular. Strongly spicily spread where happy. scented – with long lasting pale 5” (13cm) April / May pink flowers. = suggested plant spacing in garden situations 51-129 £6.50 5” (13cm) Flowering time Flowering height March / April Item Code Price 51-34 £6.50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 7 GAP Images Cyclamen africanum unguicularis Iris unguicularis Mary Barnard

Cyclamen hederifolium Iris unguicularis Marondera Iris unguicularis Walter Butt

AUTUMN IRIS unguicularis u. Mary The species plant with pale mauve FLOWERING FORMS UNGUICULARIS (STYLOSA) Barnard flowers, the standards slightly paler The darkest of them all and a glossy and more silvery. A tough survivor africanum A firm favourite for the winter marvel in the winter. Tissue-like even in poor soil conditions. Leathery leaved and in leaf through garden. They need a sunny site and velvety purple blue flowers with are often found growing in rubble 12” (30cm) the winter and spring after which they white and golden markings on the right up against the house wall Feb / March 15” (38cm) falls, the foliage shorter and darker need a perfectly dry summer rest. 102-04 £7.50 or in very poor soils, but they will than the other forms. Discovered by Large, more rounded, pink flowers perform even better if the growing in the late autumn. Best in fairly E.B. Anderson near Algiers in 1962. conditions are not too harsh. u. Marondera light conditions and because they 12” (30cm) Avoid the inclination to shear off Bigger flowered than the ‘ordinary’ are tender, they are limited in most Feb / March 15” (38cm) the untidy foliage in the summer, unguicularis and slightly darker, 102-05 £9.00 circumstances to protected cultivation. instead rake out some of the dead this is a strain that goes back to a 6-8” (15-20cm) leaves in the early autumn and give garden in the town of that name in Oct / Nov the plant some water and a liquid u. Walter Butt 51-36 £4.00 feed at the same time. It is then Zimbabwe (where Chris was raised). Palest of pale ice blues with some that they make their new roots and It is as good and tough as all the fine purple veining, drawing one’s others, and now like him goes back hederifolium are initiating their flower buds so attention to the fact that they are not a long way. These tubers may not have flowered that should result in more flowers in white. Longer leaved and with more 12” (30cm) last autumn so may be pink or white the following winter. New divisions upright, paler, foliage. The first form Feb / March 15” (38cm) (though pink will dominate). The need careful planting and firming to flower with the largest flowers in, regular watering till established 102-13 £9.00 petals sweep up and away from and the most scented too. and possibly some protection in the flower and in the spring (and for 12” (30cm) their first winter. much of the year after) the ground Nov / Feb 18” (45cm) 102-06 £9.00 will be carpeted in their ivy-leaf shaped leaves. = suggested plant spacing 6-8” (15-20cm) in garden situations Aug / Oct Flowering time Flowering height 51-107 £9.00 for 3 Item Code Price

8 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Order for Late Summer Despatch 2021 Bulbs that need Early Planting this Autumn You may include any plants or bulbs from the preceding pages as well as any ‘non seasonal items’ such as Gloves, Books, Cards, Pots etc. Please specify plants and costs here, and complete the other side of the form

Stock Price & No of £ item code Plant name Pack Sz Packs

106-10 Acis autumnale (EXAMPLE ONLY) 8.00/5 2 16.00

Lilium candidum

Narcissus Paperwhite Ziva LILIUM candidum A lily that is better started off early, even in October some are beginning to show their leaves. Inevitably the first orders get the pick of the crop, so ordering from this section has its benefits. 6” (15cm) June 36” (90cm) 107-114 £7.00 or £20.00 for 3 NARCISSUS Also see the main Autumn Catalogue pages 38 for the main Narcissus listing. From an early subtotal planting these can help overcome the mid-winter blues in the house, but planted relatively late (late The normal postage and packing costs on any Late carriage December) they are actually easier to care for Summer Order is £5.95 (UK Mainland only) Orders over and to reuse because the foliage does not get so £100 are sent free of P&P leggy and they can go outside after flowering in total March, by when most of the cold has gone. They will still need a hot dry resting phase in August. The example at the top shows the information we need – in particular, the item code given at the bottom left of the plant’s entry.

Paperwhite Ziva If possible, specify acceptable alternatives in case some of your choices are not available. Early to flower from being forced; we reckon on about eight to ten weeks to bloom from potting, so work your potting date out from If you want your order to be sent as a gift to someone else (invoice to you), tick the box and put the when you want them in flower. White flowered recipient’s name and address and postcode in the space provided in Other Delivery Instructions. and multi-headed, with a huge room-filling Is this an order for collection? perfume. Grow them in good light and at cool Is it a gift? temperatures without freezing so that they don’t get too tall, only bringing them in to admire at room temperatures for their final flourish. Not reliably hardy. 1-2” (2-4cm) (potted) Please record personal and payment details overleaf Dec / Jan 15” (38cm) 113-152 £9.00 for 5 or £11.50 for 7

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 9 Order for Late Summer Despatch 2021 GDPR Bulbs that need Early Planting this Autumn The new rules on Data Protection that came into force in May 2018 apply to everyone storing and using your personal data. Office use only: We collect information about you Date received: Order No: when you register with us or place an order for products or services. We also collect information when you Avon Bulbs Ltd • Burnt House Farm • Mid Lambrook voluntarily complete customer surveys, South Petherton • Somerset • TA13 5HE provide feedback and participate in competitions. Website usage information is collected using cookies.

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whenever you contact us regarding past orders. Once you are a customer or have Please complete these questions (We now need your permission to stay in touch, requested an Avon Bulbs catalogue, except with regard to this order) we will send you further catalogues (We will not sell or pass on any contact details except to manage your order in the post from time to time, which is allowed under the GDPR regulations - see GDPR information across) as a ‘legitimate interest’. You can, of course, contact us and request that we stop sending you direct mail. If Payment: you are a new customer and give your Orders are not accepted without payment except by prior agreement. permission or if you subscribe to (and Please include payment or please charge my Visa/Mastercard account. thereby give your consent to receive) our newsletter via the Avon Bulbs Cheque enclosed Yes, value £ ______, or website, we may occasionally email you about our products and services Card No. . . . that we think may be of interest to you. You can unsubscribe to these Card expiry date / marketing emails by following the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of Security code (last three digits on reverse of card) each email. If you have consented to receive marketing information, you may opt out at any time by contacting Signature us. You have the right at any time to stop us from contacting you for marketing purposes. You can now update your mailing preferences through your website account.

10 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 AUTUMN 2021 Plants and Bulbs to plant in the Autumn, mostly to flower 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. You may include plants and bulbs from the preceding section Cyclamen to Narcissus to be sent with those that follow as Autumn items.

ALLIUM 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. Everyone seems to love Alliums and, knowing that the beneficial insects and bees are struggling nowadays, it is worth a reminder that Alliums provide a fantastic food supply for those insects, 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 of different forms to see which do best in your circumstances. The results of a trial over the past years at Wisley have been published in a useful booklet called the RHS Grower Guide on Ornamental . GAP Images GAP Images Allium Ambassador Allium angulosum Allium Cameleon Ambassador angulosum cæruleum Cameleon Beginning to flower in late May (pyrenaicum) Unusual blue flowered drumstick Naturally small bulbed with early these flowers should see one Wonderfully easy to grow plants. flowers originating from the steppes summer flowering heads that start through all of June and into July Bright glossy green leaved with lots of and China. They will do out quite pink and fade to pearl with very tall stems topped by their of pale lilac flowers in the height best in a well-drained sunny spot or white by when only the ribs retain mid purple heads about 6” (15cm) of summer when butterflies and rockery where the small bulbs can the pink colouring. across. Very big bulbed plants hoverflies jostle to feed on them. We be planted quite closely, only 1-2” One for the rockery or for the front benefitting from deep planting to supply small clumps to be planted (2.5-5cm) apart. of the border in fairly free draining ensure that the stems remain firmly 9” (22cm) apart, in the sun where 1-2” (3-5cm) soil and good light. upright. Good seed heads follow it is not too dry. Divide them again June 18” (45cm) 1-4” (2-10cm) 53-14 £5.30 for 15 the main flower show. when they are thick. June 18” (45cm) 8-12” (20-30cm) or more 9” (22cm) per clump 53-73 £5.50 for 10 or £10.00 for 20 June/ July up to 50” (130 cm) July/Aug 12” (30cm) = suggested plant spacing 53-60 £6.00 or £15.00 for 3 53-28 £8.00 for 3 in garden situations (divisions, not true bulbs) Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 11 Allium cristophii Allium giganteum

Allium cernuum White Master Allium Early Emperor Allium Globemaster

cernuum cristophii Early Emperor Globemaster Dainty chandeliers formed of If you only ever buy two or three The parentage of this hybrid Probably the best of the large dozens of small claret pink Alliums, this must be one of them. means that while it is still a big headed Allium hybrids with flowers hanging off the nodding Sculptural flower heads, initially flower at about 6” (15cm) across exceptionally long lasting flowers. stems so the bees have to hang greenish purple, are gradually it flowers considerably earlier The first array is replaced by upside down to get at the flowers, transformed as they are pollenated than the other large headed another second flush of their deep sometimes several heads form in into metallic silvery-violet coloured Alliums and it is not quite so tall. violet-purple flowers. The insects a succession. Easy to grow and spheres about 8” (20cm) across, all The flowers are rosy lilac with still love to feed on them, although seeding themselves in lighter soils borne on quite stocky stems. The contrasting silvery white despite their attentions you’ll not be in the sun. Delivered as fresh dug round melon sized heads naturally providing a halo like sheen. left with a remnant seed head as flowering size plants rather than complement the purples of rampant 8” (20cm) they are sterile. Tidier leaved than dry bulbs. geraniums or the spikier silvery May 30” (75cm) most, even at flowering time. Plant 3-4” (8-10cm) blues of Lavender. Buff coloured 53-68 £11.00 for 3 them about 12” (45cm) apart in well Summer 18” (45cm) seed heads follow. Plant them drained soils in good light. Great 53-04 £8.30 for 5 8+” (20cm) apart in sunny well giganteum planted with Astrantia ‘Roma’. drained soils in borders or even Densely filled heads in pale purple 18” (45cm) or more cernuum White rough grass, they will also grow in the size of a grapefruit top each May/June 40” (100cm) Master a degree of shade, but will be taller tall bare stem. A central Asian 53-46 £16.00 for 3 The white flowered form of the plant when grown in more shade. species requiring well-drained above, just as easy but I suspect 8” (20cm) or more soils and a sunny site, by the time June 10-24” (25-60cm) that its seed may result in both pink that they flower the leaves have 53-11 £3.00 for 3, £9.00 for 10 mostly withered away. Its name is and white flowered plants. or £16.00 for 20 3-4” (8-10cm) a reference to its impressive height Summer 18” (45cm) rather than to an enormous flower. 53-72 £7.50 for 3 A seedhead looking like a grass thatched hut remains at the end. We believe the plants where you 8-12” (20-30cm) Insect friendly see this symbol to be particularly Late June/July 48” (120cm) beneficial to pollinating insects 53-20 £15.00 for 3 Plants such as bees, butterflies, moths and hover flies.

12 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Allium karataviense GAP Images Allium Mount Everest Allium Purple Sensation Allium hollandicum Allium lenkoranicum hollandicum hyalinum lenkoranicum nigrum Best for bigger gardens, or A species from where it A quirky, wispy plant native to (multibulbosum) wherever you might want a more grows on shady canyon slopes in Azerbaijan and reportedly only Greeny-black ovaries in the centre subtle and textured display. These the around 1200m. discovered in 1987, it increases of each floret provide the reason for provide that irregularity in colour, Star shaped flowers in pale pink to small clumps fairly readily and the name, though the suggestion height, size and maturity which with needle like grey leaves, but increases from seed in a sunny of blackness in the name somehow adds subtlety and charm to any very floriferous. They need good bed in well drained soils. It lasts does not sit so well on what is planting, especially one on a bigger drainage and drier summer rest. ages in flower, and for the second otherwise a creamy white flower! The scale. Deep lilac to pale purple Naturally very small bulbed (about half of the year seems never to be flower head shape is less rounded flowers about the size of an orange. pea sized) setting lots of seed. without flowers. From division and and more flattened and they are Easy in any free draining soil in the 1-3” (3-9cm) as growing plants. easily grown in sunny well-drained sun, planted about 6” (15cm) apart. May 12” (30cm) 1” (3cm) soils with a dry summer rest. 53-70 £4.00 for 5 6” (15cm) Summer 12” (30cm) 4-6” (10-15cm) 53-21 £4.50 for 3 May/ June 24-36” (60-90cm). June 24” (60cm) 53-08 £4.20 for 5, £7.50 for 10 karataviense 53-24 £5.00 for 5 or £9.00 for 10 or £14.00 for 20 These are very broad leaved and Mount Everest grow close to the ground with a Probably the best tall white flowered hollandicum ruby red margin around the leaf Allium. Grapefruit sized heads Purple Sensation and a white flower tinged pink. Their top a tall glossy green stem. The An intensely deep purple coloured best use is in full sun on a raised leaves persist, so are not too strain, with heads the size of small bed or rockery where the foliage obtrusive at flowering time. Lovely oranges. Another of that select provides a very metallic looking when combined with other strong group of those ‘must have’ Alliums. and modern effect long before (and coloured flowers such as Gladiolus They provide purple polka dots after) the flowers. byzantinus, and ideally planted to your planting scheme, adding 4” (10cm) against a dark backdrop, though colour, texture and geometric May/June 10” (25cm) some planted in the dappled silhouettes to your borders. Derived 53-22 £5.00 for 3 or £13.50 for 9 shade of a Laburnum are great. We from a clone these should all be the suggest that they are planted about same hue. The RHS trial report said 12” (30cm) apart. of them: “an excellent performance 12” (30cm) or more and is reliably perennial”. May/June 36” (90cm) 6” (15cm) 53-43 £11.40 for 3 or £17.30 for 5 Add height with the May/ June 35” (90cm) = suggested plant spacing Allium Collection 53-09 £4.60 for 5, £8.60 for 10 in garden situations or £16.00 for 20 Flowering time Flowering height on page 62 Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 13 Allium senescens glaucum Allium schubertii Allium obliquum Allium Purple Rain

Allium Powder Puff Allium nigrum Pink Jewel Allium Pinball Wizard

nigrum Pinball Wizard Purple Rain schubertii Pink Jewel Fully 6” (15 cm) across, these A product of the cross between Spectacular and eccentric. A pale pink form of the plant above, heads are not as densely packed A. Purple Sensation (from which Emerging early in the late winter one which was much admired in the with flowers as those of A. it gains its height and deeper these are at some risk in extreme earlier Allium trials at RHS Wisley Globemaster, so the effect is rather colouration) and A. cristophii (which winters but when planted in a warm in 2014. Large domed pale pink more ‘fluffy’ but they are slightly gives it the open structure) with sunny garden and given a dry heads with dark centres. taller with thick, weather resisting heads about 6” (15cm) across. warm summer rest after flowering 4-6” (10-15cm) stems. The flowers are a mid purple With such popular and eminent they can be fabulous. Like a May/June 36” (90cm) and a bit earlier flowering than parentage these should be superior tumbleweed, the long spokes are 53-65 £4.50 each most, at their best in mid May. and indeed they performed what they might roll away on when 12” (30cm) or more superbly well in the Allium trials at dry, the seeds held on the shorter obliquum May 40” (100 cm) Wisley and were judged “the best in extensions. A vegetable explosion 53-61 £14.00 for 3 the trial”. or firework caught mid burst! These are Siberian in origin so are 15” (38cm) or more incredibly tough despite being in 6” (15cm) Powder Puff June 34” (85cm) June 18” (45cm) leaf all winter. They never really (later than Purple Sensation) 53-31 £10.00 for 3 seem to be fully dormant. Their A broad leaved allium with violet purple flowers about the size 53-67 £4.20 for 5, £7.50 for 10 flowers are the size of large hens’ or £14.00 for 20 senescens ssp. eggs in June when they eventually of a tennis ball, held on much straighten from their crook like shorter stems than would normally glaucum stature to stand erect, greenish- be expected for an Allium with Low growing, quite tussocky plants yellow in colour and increasingly this size of head. It is a hybrid with narrow twisted blue-green ‘fluffy’. They set lots of seed as well between A. nevskianum and A. foliage. The lilac pompoms which as forming clumps. sarawschanicum, both from Central are carried in profusion are adored 5” (12cm) Asia. Great for windy sites. The by the insects. They need open June 24” (60cm) RHS trial reported on them that they sunny conditions. These are lifted 53-26 £10.50 for 3 “bulked up well, one of the best in as fresh dug divisions. the trial, great for patios or the front 4” (10cm) of the border”. Please the pollinators Summer 12” (30cm) Insect friendly 4-6” (10-15cm) 53-30 £6.50 for 3 May/June 15” (35cm) with the Allium Plants 53-66 £5.70 for 5 Collection on page 62

14 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Allium Violet Beauty

Allium uniflorum Eros siculum sphærocephalon stipitatum tuberosum (Nectaroscordum) Butterflies love their egg shaped Violet Beauty Treated as much a herb as a (Now officially in the Allium family) heads (and at their peak they A dusty violet colour with flowers bulb (as are ) but with a Tall stemmed (with a pronounced are about the same size). They 4” (10cm) in diameter, spherical long flowering period through the keel – think of the seam in a pair of emerge as tight, deep green buds except that the base is flattened. summer, the white flowers displayed tights) leading upwards to dozens in June, turning purple from their This one also did exceptionally well over lush foliage on very wiry stems of hanging green and burgundy tips through July and swaying in in the RHS Allium trial where its which persist as dry straw-like marked bells pendulously arranged the summer breezes on long wiry usefulness as a cut flower (it has markers through the winter. They in a loose head. They enjoy more stems. Woven through a summer a light fragrance) and its increase are multifaceted plants, and brilliant shade than most true Alliums and border, often as rivers of colour, they over the three years of the trial insect feeding stations too. seed about enthusiastically in visually ‘tie things together’. Easy impressed the judges. 4” (10cm) conditions that they like and have and inexpensive for the effect that 12” (30cm) Aug/Oct 24” (60cm) 53-38 £7.50 for 3 (small clumps) strongly scented foliage when they provide, just do plant enough May/June 27” (70cm) crushed. The bees love them. The of them for a generous display. We 53-71 £4.50 for 5 or £8.00 for 10 dry seed heads look like models of always supply bigger bulbs than unifolium Eros multi-turreted fairy castles. are generally available, ensuring tripedale Shell pink heads of quite papery 3-4” (8-10cm) that the flowering will be better as a (Nectaroscordum) and long lasting flowers, about 15 Early summer 30” (75cm) result. Plant them 3” (7cm) apart or contained within each head. Easy to Like A. siculum above, but with 53-32 £4.50 for 5 or £8.00 for 10 10-15 per square foot. grow in any sunny and well drained more numerous flowers in a 3-4” (8-10cm) spot, especially the rockery. The gorgeous soft pink, which emerge Summer 24” (60cm) small bulbs should be planted quite like hatchlings from their translucent 53-33 £6.80 for 15, £13.00 for 30 close together where their massed or £19.50 for 50 sheath. Happy in sun or part shade effect is very attractive. and not as difficult to grow as the 2” (5cm) price may suggest, but uncommon May 10” (25cm) and very select. Persistent and 53-40 £4.00 for 15 Need bigger quantities of our bulbs? increasing in our heavy loam in some summer shade. How should There are occasions when our pack sizes are unsuitable for one say the name? I am not sure, bigger projects or large gardens. If this is the case do email but hope that it should be ‘tripi-dali‘ us for a specific quotation for your requirements. We do not rather than ‘tripe-dale’. = suggested plant spacing in garden situations do a ‘trade’ list. You’ll get the same quality of bulbs as all our 3-4” (8-10cm) Flowering time Flowering height June 36” (100cm) retail customers. Item Code Price 53-25 £6.50 or £18.00 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 15 ANEMONE The Anemones mark that moment when the weather is on the turn for the better and the stronger light of spring is accentuated by the shiny wet foliage resulting from scudding showers (though these were seemingly absent in Somerset in 2021) and windy conditions. This is just what they love. They open wide in the sunshine though if the light is only dappled by dint of still bare branches on the trees they won’t mind. However they are not all alike even when ‘resting’: the bulbous (A. blanda) forms form hard, wizened corms, which need an overnight soak before planting and will take a long hot summer in their stride. The rhizomatous forms of wood anemone (A. apennina and A. nemorosa) need a cooler, shady (but also dry) rest after they have flowered, so they prefer more shaded, woodland- like conditions and, due to hating exposure to air, the will be damp packed in coir when despatched by us.

Anemone apennina Anemone blanda blue Anemone blanda Pink Star Anemone blanda White Splendour apennina blanda blue blanda Pink Star Gardening Which? An excellent and very pretty Low growing in shades of blue, Pale pink flowered plants of the reported on a survey of plant - I just wish it were more that unconformity adding to their same stature. Plant and Bulb suppliers easily produced as I think it more attractiveness, with flowers which 4” (10cm) in April 2021. attractive than A. blanda in British shimmer close to the ground, March 4” (10cm) 57-08 £3.80 for 5 They surveyed just over 5000 conditions, but it is not a similarly unaffected by the March winds and of their members and needed a commercialised plant. In white or shaking off the rain. Easy in any response rate of 30 to include a shades of blue with many deeply summer shaded spot where the blanda White business in their ratings. cut petals on flowers held well more angled light (and moisture) of Splendour “Although this small, family-run above soft mounds of leaves. spring penetrate the canopy. Gleaming white petals surround a bulb supplier didn’t receive Ideal under big deciduous trees 4” (10cm) hub of golden stamens, which when enough responses for star ratings March 4” (10cm) following snowdrops and flowering ruffled by the wind, show off their pink- in some of our survey categories, with the early daffodils with which 57-07 £2.60 for 10, £6.00 for 25 it makes it into the top bracket or £10.50 for 50 tinged backs. Opening widely in direct the colours combine very naturally. sunshine, their flowering is a sure sign due to its customer satisfaction and recommendation score. Nine Plant the small stick-like rhizomes in that spring has arrived. Compared to in 10 members who bought from small groups 6” (15cm) apart where the blue forms slightly warmer soils they will thereafter seed about. I Avon Bulbs would recommend it Plants we list which and more direct light suit them better, to others. Packaging, plant quality think our strimming - once a year in have received the RHS in too much shade they get rather and value for money scored five, the summer has greatly increased Commendation ‘Award leggy. They grow from larger hard, four and four stars respectively their spread. Home grown and dug- of Garden Merit’ are now tagged with the trophy irregular corms, which you will receive (out of five). The website is to-order from under the trees here, symbol. Space does whole - many providers sell these cut arranged by planting season with the damp packed rhizomes are not allow us to add the hardiness into smaller pieces. plants listed alphabetically and inevitably rather variable in size. rating – please be aware the award accompanied by large pictures. applies to the ease of cultivation, 4” (10cm) clumps 6” (15cm) excellence and constitution, but not March 5” (12cm) Avon Bulbs has also won 30 March/April 8” (20cm) necessarily hardiness. 57-12 £5.50 for 10, £12.50 for 25 Chelsea Gold Medals.” 57-11 £7.50 for 3 or £23.00 for 50

16 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Anemone nemorosa Anemone bracteata

Anemone Lychette Anemone virescens Anemone ranunculoides nemorosa nemorosa Lychette nemorosa ranunculoides The wild wood anemone. The Much larger flowered than the Wyatt’s Pink A European native with bright simplest looking low, white flowers normal wood anemone but still Opening pale pink these have yellow petalled flowers, the tubers which derive from stick-like in white with pronounced yellow smaller more cupped flowers with underground are thicker and less rhizomes. For woodland situations, stamens. Slightly later flowering. A darker pink backings. stick-like than those of Anemone in shade with leafmold-rich soils. As lovely form. 3” (8cm) nemorosa. Easy in light spring shade with many ‘wild’ plants they often 3” (8cm) April 4” (10cm) conditions amongst the other March take a while to settle in and take off. April 4” (10cm) 57-39 £5.50 for 3 and April flowering woodlanders. 3” (8cm) 57-23 £5.50 for 3 3” (8cm) April 4” (10cm) April 4” (10cm) 57-20 £4.40 for 5 nemorosa 57-31 £5.50 for 5 nemorosa virescens For us the most productive of all ranunculoides bracteata the Anemone nemorosa forms. Fuchsis Traum Double petalled in white with green These do not have flowers in the With longer internodes this form tinges to the outermost ones. Like conventional sense, but frothy is taller and less compact than A. them all quite slow to get going but green heads full of that last ranunculoides with small pretty for a brief time in April a joy. much longer than flowers might. double yellow flowers. 3” (8cm) 3” (8cm) 3” (8cm) April 4” (10cm) April 4” (10cm) April 4” (10cm) 57-37 £5.50 for 5 57-17 £5.50 for 5 57-40 £5.50 for 3

= suggested plant spacing in garden situations Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 17 x major Asphodelus albus Anthericum x ANTHERICUM Paradisea liliago major We have grown both Anthericum Pretty white flowered perennials liliago major and Paradisea from southern Europe. They grow lusitanica for a long while and from an agapanthus-like crown of they do not really overlap in thick fleshy roots when dormant in their flowering but have some the autumn, providing for splendid, similarities. We believe them to informal looking plants that thrive have spontaneously spawned an in moisture retentive soil in good inter-generic hybrid as these flower light. When settled, each plant after one and before the other, are will carry ten or sometimes twenty much bigger and later than the flower stems piercing upward each Anthericum but earlier and smaller carrying a dozen or more flowers than the Paradisea. If you like the looking like little flared trumpets group - and who wouldn’t, they with yellow stamens, opening are easy, attractive and increasing sequentially up the stems. Border - maybe you would like to give a plants for good fertile soils in the division of this (presumed) hybrid a sun. Plant the crowns 4” deep and go, and if you are an expert let us 24”(60cm) apart. have your views? 24” (60cm)  24” (60cm) May 24” (60cm) May/June 24-36” (60-90cm) 58-05 £8.00 each 58-06 £8.00 each Aristolochia rotunda Bomaria salsilla Anthericum ARISTOLOCHIA ASPHODELUS BOMAREA ramosum The ‘Branched St Bernard’s Lily’, rotunda albus salsilla  produces many wiry stems with Originally found in southern Europe Quite remarkable plants that provide Mexican and South American spangled starry white flowers, never and parts of the plant were used to structure and an architectural climbers that one might imagine many open at once but always with induce childbirth evidently and the framework surprisingly quickly from require protection from severe cold, a few open over several months. An very rare and beautiful Southern autumn planted ‘roots’. The strong but recent winters here have left easy to grow perennial for a sunny Festoon butterfly (again from stems carry white starry flowers in a them untouched, buried as they are spot. Pot grown plants. southern Europe) lays its larvae on spire, each looking as though they deep in the ground. Long lasting 14” (35cm) the plant making the adult butterfly have been henna lined. Best in open pink flowers crowd on the ends May/June 24” (60cm) poisonous to birds. Unlikely to satisfy conditions and more gravelly well of thick, tangled stems with quite 158-07 £7.50 or £20.00 for 3 either of those needs in Britain, this drained soils. These will be big roots succulent foliage, sometimes the is a bit of a trial as we are unsure as and are priced as such on account heads look down, or up, but never to how many tubers we shall harvest of the likely difficulty in digging and the same way! They seem happy after years of trying ! Rather few packing them. with either full sun or part shade but possibly! A slightly odd little curiosity  12” (30cm) you will need to provide support for which seems perfectly hardy, Spring/Summer 3-5’ (90-150cm) them to climb through. creeping with rounded, clasping 34-05 £15.00 Summer flowering 30” (70cm) leaves and small aroid-like flowers. 10-04 £6.00 June 9” (20cm) 196-01 £7.50

18 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 CAMASSIA Very hardy bulbs of North American origin that love that heavy, often rather poorly drained soil that many other bulbs find too tough to cope with. If your soil is too heavy and the Bongardia chrysogonum summers too wet to get repeat flowering from your Tulips some of these might be a suitable (and more sustainable) alternative, albeit with a narrower colour palette? Suitable for borders or in grassland where one could achieve a full six weeks of interest using a few different varieties. GAP Images

Brodiaea Babylon BONGARDIA chrysogonum A rare bulb with coppery yellow flowers and attractive grey-green leaves marked with red, best suited Camassia leichtlinii alba Camassia leichtlinii caerulea Camassia Maybelle to somewhere sun-baked and dry Bomaria salsilla in the summer. As well as being leichtlinii alba leichtlinii caerulea leichtlinii caerulea fully hardy they are also hugely Ivory-cream in flower, standing out Especially valuable for being happy Maybelle drought resistant and love a hot dry brilliantly against any dark backdrop in heavier soils and a feature plant soil. Very special members of the These flower two or three weeks and a good contrast plant for the for the border in late spring where later than the C. l. caerulea Berberis family with pretty, textured, last of the Alliums in May. They they make magnificent shows with nut-like tubers. (above), are much shorter and spread their seed around freely, and many erect stems of deep lavender more compact and the flower  6” (15cm) in time sow themselves through the blue flowers, curving skyward from April/May 9” (22cm) colour more blue, less purple. 67-04 £5.50 each herbaceous border in good cottage thick clumps when established. Mid-late May can be a time when garden style. They do not naturally They set no seed, increasing as one is noticeably short of colour in form as big a bulb as the blue C. the bulbs split up. Longer lasting the garden so these really fill a gap BRODIAEA caerulea and often flower from flowers result from planting them and extend the Camassia display. Babylon small juvenile bulbs, ideally planted in some shade and they love clay Being shorter they will also suit Western American in origin, related about 6” (15 cm) apart. These soils that hold the moisture. Ideal more exposed sites? to Triteleia and Dichelostemma. generally flower about 10-14 days partners might be Polygonatum 9” (23cm) These are wiry stemmed with what later than the ‘standard’ blue form x hybridum, Maianthemum May 24” (60cm) are initially upward facing purple of C. ‘caerulea’. racemosum or Tellima grandiflora. 70-16 £10.00 for 5 or £18.00 for 10 trumpet shaped flowers with white 5-6” (12-15cm) We supply big bulbs that should be May/June 36” (90cm) planted with 5” of soil over them, 9” stamens, as they are they open to a 70-07 £5.50 for 3 or £15.00 for 9 Plants we list which more starry shape. Very pretty and (22cm) apart. have received the RHS good cut flower. They will need soils 9” (23cm) Commendation ‘Award April/May 32” (80cm) of Garden Merit’ are now that do not waterlog and better in 70-06 £10.00 for 5 or £18.00 for 10 tagged with the trophy well drained and sunny conditions. symbol. Space does  2-3” (5-8cm) not allow us to add the hardiness rating – please be aware the award April/May 24” (60cm) = suggested plant spacing 61-01 £4.00 for 3 in garden situations applies to the ease of cultivation, Flowering time Flowering height excellence and constitution, but not Item Code Price necessarily hardiness.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 19 Camassia quamash (esculenta) Camassia leichtlinii semi plena

Camassia Avon’s Stellar hybrids

Camassia Electra Camassia leichtlinii Sacajawea leichtlinii Avon’s leichtlinii Stellar hybrids Sacajawea A seed raised form, these are the Carrying cream coloured flowers result of hybridisation and selection these are a variegated form with work done here. The plants a bold cream coloured edge to exhibit widely varying colours, the leaf in the spring before they combinations of purple blue, flower, this nicely accentuates mauve, greyish, purplish, green and what is (in Camassia generally) not Cardamine heptaphyllum Chaerophyllum hirsutum roseum pale pink. We cannot guarantee very interesting foliage. The name what you might receive, it is ‘pot honours a native American Indian luck’ but many are individually woman who saved the starving quamash CARDAMINE eye-catching and from the seed explorers on the Lewis and Clark (esculenta) heptaphyllum that they in turn freely produce, expedition of 1805 as they crossed The shortest of all the Camassia, A large white flowered form of who knows what you might raise America east to west (and back suitable for naturalizing in rough, the Lady’s smock, or Milkweed yourself! The bulbs also vary again) for the first time, feeding very late mown grass, or to dot in which prefers to grow in shaded somewhat in size. them the native ‘quamash’ bulbs. groups informally in the borders. conditions. A perennial supplied 9” (23cm) Again 10-14 days later into flower Much smaller bulbed than all the as divisions. May 36” (90cm) - colours will vary than C. caerulea. forms above, these give rise to 9” (20cm) 70-11 £9.00 for 3 9” (23cm) rich, dark purple-blue flowers with April/May 24” (60cm) May/June 36” (90cm) startling yellow stamens. A true 89-04 £6.50 each 70-15 £10.00 for 5 leichtlinii Electra meadow plant. The bulbs are often Large headed with the green bracts pitted and marked when dormant, giving way to powder blue - lilac leichtlinii semi- though this seems to make no CHAEROPHYLLUM flowers. The individual flowers are plena difference to their growth, plant huge and they form magnificent hirsutum roseum A tall tower of full petalled, almost them 3-4” (10cm) apart. clumps by gradual division of The Hairy Chervil. A relative of the fluffy looking, cream coloured 3-4” (8-10cm) the big bulbs. They set no seed. cow parsley with deep roots and a flowers. A sterile form of the cream May/June 12” (30cm) Originally, many years ago, the branching habit supporting deeply flowered plant that is the species: 70-05 £3.50 for 10, stock came from Beth Chatto’s £8.00 for 25 or £15.00 for 50 divided leaves and in the late spring C. leichtlinii alba. But the benefit of garden. None sold last year to and early summer masses of stems sterility for gardeners is a longer rest the stock, still only available in with flattened heads of lilac-pink flowering season. They grow better limited numbers. flowers. For sun or part shade in where they receive more sun than 9-12” (23-30cm) heavier soils and totally hardy. Field shade and are better still where the April/May 30” (75cm) dug plants which will probably have soils are damp all through spring 70-10 £8.00 untidy and large roots. and early summer. = suggested plant spacing in garden situations 20” (50cm) 6-9” (12-23cm) Flowering time Flowering height May/June 24” (60cm) June 36” (90cm) Item Code Price 197-01 £8.50 each 70-08 £8.50 for 3

20 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Convallaria Fernwood’s Golden Slippers Convallaria. Hofheim Convallaria Hardwick Hall

Convallaria rosea Convallaria Fortin’s Giant Convallaria Bordeaux CONVALLARIA majalis Fortins majalis Hofheim majalis rosea A creamy yellow edge to the Like small and very exclusive pink Lilies of the Valley. Spring flowering Giant plants of woodland origins with Larger flowered and taller than the otherwise plain green leaf pearls, a vigorous form which we stringy rhizomes under the soil. ‘common’ white Lily of the Valley marks these out, these marginal know to be tough and productive They like humus rich soil and part but equally scented. For sun or highlights are considered rather with lovely pale pink fragrant shade but everyone’s experience of shade but in the former they need a stronger in this form than it is in C. flowers. Best in dappled light or growing these is different and (as is more moisture retentive soil. Good, Hardwick Hall, the flower is creamy part shade as direct bright sunshine reported to us) they will grow in the strong, fresh-dug rhizomes (stringy white and scented. tends to burn out the pink. As most unlikely places. But the critical roots) to plant horizontally about 2” 4” (10cm) with any Convallaria you’ll need 75-12 £9.50 for 3 commonality is that they do need deep (5 cm) and twice that apart. a degree of patience before they patience to begin with and tales of 4” (10cm) thicken up. them taking 2 or 3 years to settle 75-05 £4.80 for 5 majalis Fernwood’s 4” (10cm) in abound. They are all about 6” 75-07 £9.50 for 5 (15cm) tall when in flower in May. Golden Slippers majalis Hardwick A startlingly golden leaved form, Hall particularly in the early spring majalis Bordeaux before the flowers appear. They Bigger flowered than the ordinary Wide leaved with an irregular creamy coloured margin to the leaf, appear perfectly stable as there has forms with what are supposed to been no reversion to green. There Plants we list which be darker leaves - but grown here providing an aspect of interest even when not in flower. The flowers are is an ongoing argument regarding have received the RHS in different conditions that is hard to the name, should it be Verwood, Commendation ‘Award verify. It has bulked up well from the large, white and scented. of Garden Merit’ are now 4” (10cm) Fernwood or what? We obtained the tagged with the trophy small patch we started with. 75-09 £9.50 for 3 initial stock from the late Stephen symbol. Space does 4” (10cm) Taffler (inveterate variegated plant not allow us to add the hardiness 75-13 £9.50 for 3 rating – please be aware the award addict) who lived nearby. applies to the ease of cultivation, 4” (10cm) Flowering time Flowering height excellence and constitution, but not 75-11 £9.50 for 3 Item Code Price necessarily hardiness.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 21 Corydalis Blue Panda Corydalis China Blue Corydalis Blue Dragon

Crocus Blue Pearl Crocus Ard Shenk Crocus Cream Beauty CORYDALIS flexuosa Blue CROCUS chrysanthus A family with snapdragon like flowers Panda SPRING FLOWERING Ard Schenk of which we sell pot grown several The foliage shows red markings on Very early flowering with pure of the ‘flexuosa’ forms. These do the mainly deep green leaves with The C. tommasinianus forms are white petals marked by a yellow perfect for planting in light grass or not derive from a true bulb so are reddish stems and deep purple- throat inside. Glistening in the borders, self-sowing and increasing supplied as growing plants in small blue flowers. Sold by the potful. early sunlight. where happy and potentially pots ready to plant out. These need 8” (20cm) spreading everywhere. The bees 1.5” (3cm) ‘encouragement’ to grow away from Spring/Summer 6” (15cm) 78-72 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 love them and their opening is the compost in which they will be 76-24 £3.50 always a certain sign of spring established, tease out the roots a Chrysanthus bit, break up the pot shaped root arriving. The hybrid forms of the flexuosa China Blue species C. chrysanthus have been Blue Pearl ball and firm them in to your soil so Exhibiting beautiful pink-fringed that they root across that boundary. raised for garden use but need A lovely goblet shaped flower with juvenile foliage when planted in more particular situations than do a soft lavender-blue exterior, pale some sunshine and startling pale the ‘tommies’. They are palatable silvery blue inside, and bronzing at flexuosa Blue blue flowers, this still remains a ‘buy to mice and squirrels as are some the base. Dragon on sight’ plant. Sold by the potful. other small carbohydrate rich bulbs. Mesh baskets (as offered on page 1.5cm (3cm) Bronze purple foliage, its colour 8” (20cm) 78-12 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 58 of this catalogue) are a great help heightened when planted in some Spring/Summer 6” (15cm) 76-22 £3.50 (with the addition of a home-made direct sunshine, particularly in the wire lid). These buried containers chrysanthus early spring, with deep purple-blue mostly thwart those opportunistic flowers. Sold by the potful. Insect friendly Cream Beauty raiders. The bigger and later Elegant, with pale-cream petals 8” (20cm) Plants flowering C. vernus or ’Dutch’ forms brushed with charcoal on the Spring/Summer 6” (15cm) of Crocus are much bigger bulbed 76-12 £3.50 (so can be planted more deeply) reverse and bright orange stigmas when open wide in the sun. = suggested plant spacing and seem to both persist better and in garden situations are less affected by rodents. 1.5cm (3cm) Flowering time Flowering height 78-14 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 Item Code Price

22 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 GAP Images Crocus Dorothy Crocus Harry Hay Crocus Prins Claus

Crocus Yalta Crocus minimus Spring Beauty Crocus t. Ruby Giant Crocus t. Whitewell Purple

chrysanthus tommasinianus tommasinianus tommasinianus Dorothy Ruby Giant Whitewell Purple Yalta Bronzy yellow throughout, the open Deep pinkish-silvery purple flowered Free-flowering with silvery mauve- A hybrid between a ‘tommy’ and flowers mirroring the sun with a with contrasting yellow anthers. pink flowers and bright yellow a large hybrid, perhaps C. vernus shiny sheen. Bright and cheery. Excellent for naturalising and an anthers, this form is a little finer and Vanguard so a bit larger and slightly 1.5” (3cm) ideal accompaniment to the early paler in hue. They are ideal to plant later flowering. Some left over bulbs 78-69 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 dwarf daffodils and to follow the with the intention of allowing them have survived in some rough grass Cyclamen coum. Don’t be deceived to seed about and naturalise. They under a birch and done quite well chrysanthus by the deceptive naming, they are don’t last long in blazing March here so come recommended. Our Prins Claus neither Ruby coloured nor Giant, sunshine so try them in dappled heavier soil generally does not suit A slightly bigger two-tone flower just ‘chubbier’ and a bit darker than shade. If they are planted in grass the smaller crocus, though the with ivory white within and a smoky Whitewell Purple below. don’t mow till the leaves have gone ‘tommies’ do brilliantly. Alternating purple blue reverse to the petal. 2” (5cm) and, if you remember, look out for deep purple and silvery backed 78-44 £4.40 for 20, £10.00 for 50 the seed-heads at soil level in June. petals contrast nicely. Grouped together each petal seems or £18.00 for 100 to frame their neighbour and so 2” (5cm) 2” (5cm) 78-45 £4.40 for 20, £10.00 for 50 78-64 £5.50 for 10 or £12.50 for 25 they show themselves off magically. or £18.00 for 100 1.5” (3cm) 78-70 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 (vernus) heuffelianus minimus Harry Hay Spring Beauty A purple tipped selection of a Lovely lilac petals open wide in the species that grows in the mountain sun, but notice their backs, richly chains of eastern Europe, described feathered along their length on a in the March 2020 edition of the RHS much paler background they really Plant Review and named after a enhance that lilac. generous and great plantsman from 1.5” (3cm) near Reigate. It has been found to 78-59 £4.80 for 20 or £10.50 for 50 be robust in cultivation but is only available in very limited numbers. 2” (5cm) See our Crocus vernus Collection on page 62 78-74 £9.00 for 3

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 23 CROCUS VERNUS ‘DUTCH’ HYBRIDS Selected over the centuries, originally from C. vernus (which are wild plants of the mountains of Eastern Europe) these are useful for planting in grassed areas to provide an early spring show (though in February and March the grass will hardly be growing) and being bigger bulbed they can be planted more deeply and would cope with rougher grass cover than lawn grasses imply. Each corm produces multiple flowers. Flowering into the early Daffodil season they can be an effective companion to the sea of yellow in the March garden. Plant them 3” (8cm) apart, or roughly 7-12 per square foot. They do not quite all flower together (which is a benefit) so choose a few varieties to provide a slightly greater spread of flowering. Late February and early March flowering 5” (12cm) tall. This picture is of some now naturalised in the copse.

Crocus Pickwick Crocus Jeanne D’Arc Crocus vernus Flower Record GAP Images Crocus vernus Golden yellow Crocus vernus Remebrance Crocus Queen of the Blues

Flower Record Jeanne D’Arc Pickwick Remembrance The deepest purple form, A superb goblet shaped white crocus Strongly striped and feathered in The deep purple blue, and again providing that darker contrast in a (occasionally with purple flecking) violet over a white background. slightly shorter stemmed. Brought mixed planting. with strong stems. Great planted A larger flowered and vigorous back into our list by popular 3” (8cm) alone or else supporting a mix of crocus, generally with several demand with memorials in mind. 78-71 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 other colours. But also nice with late flowers per corm. 3” (8cm) or £20.50 for 50 snowdrops or as a foil to any of the 3” (8cm) 78-63 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 Greigii tulips which flower at the same 78-53 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 or £20.50 for 50 Golden Yellow time. You could try combining some or £20.50 for 50 Bright golden yellow. Either use them of the ‘Dutch’ crocus with any Greigii alone or in combination with the tulip in your own pots? Queen of the Blues purple forms (it flowers fractionally 3” (8cm) Lavender blue, with a whiff of purple earlier). It has been found not to 78-51 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 in some lights but with an incredible be a true C. vernus form at all but or £20.50 for 50 depth of colour and slightly shorter a triploid hybrid between C. vernus stemmed. and C. angustifolius. 3” (8cm) Insect friendly 3” (8cm) 78-68 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 Plants 78-52 £7.40 for 15, £13.50 for 30 or £20.50 for 50 or £20.50 for 50

24 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 GAP Images Cypripedium Gisela Dichelostemma Pink Diamond Disporopsis pernyi

Dichelostemma ida maia Dichelostemma congestum Disporum flavum

CYPRIPEDIUM DICHELOSTEMMA ida-maia pernyi Spectacular red, yellow and green These carry waxy perfumed white Hardy orchids that are perfect for Allium-like bulbs of North West shade in summer but reasonably America with some nice stories to coloured flowers, shaped like bells, often in pairs up the speckled good light in the spring. They do not go with them. They are obviously cigars, opening at the tip of a wiry stems. The foliage is nearly need cossetting, in fact unless they very unusual plants to be found in stem. Named after the daughter evergreen and we cut out all the experience a cold spell they do not UK gardens but they are hardy and of a Californian stage coach-driver stems from the past year in the form as many flower spikes. If yours tough enough to grow in lighter and and pollinated (in the wild) by late spring in order to tidy up the is a very slug affected garden then more free draining soils. They grow humming-birds! Grown much as growing clumps. they can spoil these, but they are much as any Allium but flower later. any Allium. 12” (30cm) well worth the effort! The sap from cut stems can be 2-3” (5-8cm) May/June 18” (45cm) caustic to the skin. June 18” (45cm) 36-04 £6.50 for 3 Gisela 82-05 £4.00 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 With Slipper Orchid-like flowers these congestum DISPORUM seem a bit exotic but they, and now From the far west of America, Pink Diamond many hybrids like them are welcomed producing a compact, hen’s egg A naturally occurring sport of D. ida- uniflorum (flavens) for their late spring flourish. sized flowerhead much like an maia with bright pink flowers with Soloman’s Seal-like plants (again!) 18” (45cm) Allium, formed of very long-lasting white tips. with soft yellow tubular flowers at May/June 18” (45cm) lilac-purple flowers, on a slender but 2-3” (5-8cm) the ends of their tall, erect stems in 64-07 £18.00 very wiry stem. They will grow where June 18” (45cm) 82-06 £4.00 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 the spring. Korean in origin they are one would expect Alliums to thrive. Plants we list which not very well known but understated have received the RHS 2-3” (5-8cm) plants for shade. Commendation ‘Award June 24” (60cm) 12” (30cm) 82-04 £4.00 for 5 or £7.00 for 10 DISPOROPSIS of Garden Merit’ are now June 18-24” (45-60cm) tagged with the trophy Similar to the Solomon’s Seal in that 30-06 £7.50 symbol. Space does not allow us to add the hardiness the flowers emerge at the leaf axils rating – please be aware the award along the stem, and are also shade = suggested plant spacing applies to the ease of cultivation, lovers, however these are scented, in garden situations excellence and constitution, but not the Solomon Seals are not. They are Flowering time Flowering height necessarily hardiness. very hardy plants of the Far East. Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 25 ERYTHRONIUM There is only one European form of ’s Tooth Violet (that common name referring to the shape of the bulb); the others are all American species or hybrids where the common name for them is the Trout Lily (due to the beautifully mottled markings on the leaves). They grow best where they have cool humus rich soil conditions in the spring, usually in dappled shade, with a drier resting phase in what will by then be deeper shade in the summer. They all have interesting leaves and look great with Dicentra, Trilliums, Epimedium and the wood Anemones. Knightshayes Court, or The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum, both have good displays.

Erythronium dens canis Erythronium dens canis Old Aberdeen Erythronium Snowflake Erythronium Pagoda dens canis dens canis Old dens canis Pagoda The European Tooth Violet Aberdeen Snowflake A more vigorous hybrid first with magically mottled leaves, often Noted for their exceptionally dark A white flowered selection, worth a discovered in the late 19th Century, with brown and purple markings. leaf markings the flowers are also closer look when in flower (though it is a bigger plant altogether, with The flowers are pale pink through more deeply coloured than the this can be awkward as they are creamy yellow flowers. They are to lilac or purple. They benefit from standard E. dens canis. First named very close to the ground) in order easier to grow than any of the good spring light but ideally with (I believe) by Carol Scott whom I to admire the extraordinary mauve- others and one starts with a big shade from about April. Plant them met and stayed with 30 plus years purple stamens. finger sized tuber. Ideally planted in 3-4” (7-10cm) apart. ago near Glasgow. They should 3-4” (8-10cm) some shelter from spring gales (the 3-4” (8-10cm) increase quite rapidly but none of March 4” (10cm) large leaves tend to crack in strong March 4” (10cm) the E. dens canis is ever in flower 84-11 £4.50 winds) and ideally in humus rich 84-08 £6.00 for 3 for long, especially if it is warm, so soils where they will clump up. great foliage is a strong reason to 5-7” (12-18cm) grow these. April 12” (30cm) 84-17 £5.00 for 3 or £10.50 for 7 3-4” (8-10cm) March 4” (10cm) 84-09 £4.20 or £11.50 for 3

26 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 GAP Images Erythronium revolutum Erythronium revolutum Knightshayes Pink

Erythonium tuolumnense Erythronium White Beauty revolutum revolutum tuolumnense White Beauty A reddish-pink flowered Knightshayes Pink Tall, early flowering plants with Probably the best Erythronium Erythronium, originally from the Named after the garden in which larger bright plain green leaves and in Britain for more formal small western seaboard of North America, these abound in Devon, this strain bright yellow flowers. A native of the gardens and an undoubted right through from California to has even more heavily marked Sierra Nevada in California they are favourite - if you have visited Vancouver. Now they are a welcome leaves with pale pink flowers, but do perfectly hardy in the UK. Pagoda is Knightshayes in Devon in early highlight in woodland gardens here handle the tubers carefully, they are a hybrid deriving from this species, April you’ll know why. A very neat too. More subtle and refined than long and brittle. it is later and paler flowered, has and compact hybrid with mottled E. Pagoda, but if you can grow that 5-7” (12-18cm) more marked leaves, and is quicker leaves and creamy white flowers, one (and most can) then these are April 10” (25cm) to increase. often multi-stemmed on established a definite possibility. They seed 84-13 £17.50 for 3 5-7” (12-18cm) plants. The whole plant is nicely around quite vigorously and mix in April 8” (20cm) proportioned. Pamper them with very naturally with wood anemones, 84-24 £4.50 deep leaf mould rich soils in the Anemone apennina, and all those summer shade of trees or shrubs. low growing gems of April. A cool Plant 5” (12cm) apart. damp April is a blessing, otherwise 5” (12cm) they are too quickly over. Some will April 10” (25cm) be marked with lovely brown flecks 84-15 £6.50 or £17.00 for 3 on the leaves. = suggested plant spacing 5-7” (12-18cm) in garden situations April 10” (25cm) Flowering time Flowering height 84-21 £12.50 for 3 Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 27 FRITILLARIA The plants listed below are illustrative of the amazing diversity of the family, from small bulbs of moist riverine meadows to giants of near desert like locations. Sadly rather few of the many species of Fritillaria are well suited to ‘ordinary’ garden conditions in Britain but, if you can invest some effort into their planting and exercise judgment in where to plant them, the following are to be particularly recommended. Our website does provide more detail on all of them. GAP Images GAP Images Fritillaria elwesii Fritillaria acmopetala Fritillaria imperialis lutea Fritillaria meleagris acmopetala imperialis meleagris A native of the Eastern William Rex The ever popular Snakeshead Mediterranean with one or more Deeply coloured orange-red Fritillary. Serpent like with darkly hanging jade green bell-shaped flowers which surround a strong chequered nodding bells, a flowers characteristically turned dark stem. A selected form of the smattering of which may be paler or back (reflexed) at the tip, with Crown Imperial Lily. A top knot even white. In Elizabethan times it chocolate brown markings. Grow of green leaves above the flower was widespread – typically in damp, them in a little shade in fairly well- makes them look quite exotic. For grassy, late-cut meadows and in drained conditions, out of the rich sunny soils, ideally damp in the moist alluvial soils. So, with that strongest wind. spring but dry in summer, sheltered in mind, aim for these conditions 4” (10cm) from too much wind and planted to have them increasing and self- April/May 12” (30cm) 6-8” (15-20cm) deep. seeding yourself. They are best 85-04 £6.50 for 3 or £10.00 for 5 12” (30cm) or more ordered early to allow for timely April 30” (75cm) planting. Plant 4” (10cm) deep in elwesii 85-20 £9.00 or £25.00 for 3 drifts, 4” (10cm) apart (10-15 per Dark stemmed with narrow, more sq ft.) tubular, slate and green flowers imperialis lutea 4” (10cm) covered in a fine bloom held atop a Bright yellow flowered on a pale March/April 12” (30cm) fine stem. They hail from southern 85-27 £6.50 for 15 green stem, no more difficult to or £18.50 for 50 and will happily survive our grow than the red flowered form. cold winters, but would do better for Both grow very rapidly in the early a dry summer rest, so that calls for spring and needing to quickly better drained soils. replenish that effort, we suggest 4” (10cm) that they benefit from liquid feeding April 15” (35cm) whilst in growth to encourage 85-07 £8.50 for 3 flowering in subsequent years. 12” (30cm) or more April 36” (90cm) 85-21 £9.00 or £25.00 for 3 Fritillaria William Rex

28 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Fritillaria pallidiflora Fritillaria pontica Fritillaria raddeana

Fritillaria michailovskyi Fritillaria persica alba Fritillaria persica michailovskyi pallidiflora persica pontica A striking small plant with a yellow Pale straw green bells, speckled We grew these with ease and to Bell shaped flowers (showing none band around the rim of the chunky, with darker flecking within the great proportions 30 years ago on of the flared lip that you see in F. reddish brown, bell shaped flower. bell. Usually the broad leaves and the limestone brash at Bradford on acmopetala) with green and brown These need a well drained soil to relatively large flowers act as a sail Avon. That indicated their surprising markings. Shorter too, suited to persist in the ground, otherwise and the stems become more S preference for good light, and good a bit more shade, seeding freely growing them in a pot in the shaped. This actually helps to see drainage. Our heavier soils here where happy. protection of something such as inside the flower! None too difficult seem to suit them less well, but they 4” (10cm) a bulb frame to keep them drier, and charming in a raised bed or in are impressive all the same with April/May 9” (25cm) particularly in summer, is advisable. well drained soils. towers of black grape like flowers 85-39 £6.50 for 3 4” (10cm) 5-6” (12-15cm) with a similar bloom. March/April 8” (20cm) April 12” (30cm) 12” (30cm) raddeana 85-31 £3.50 for 3 85-36 £5.50 April/May 24-30” (60-75cm) Closely related to the Crown 85-37 £9.00 or £25.00 for 3 Imperials but rather shorter in Plants we list which have received the RHS yellowish green. They tend to Commendation ‘Award persica alba root early in the autumn and then of Garden Merit’ are now A form in which the dusky black emerge equally early and race up to tagged with the trophy symbol. Space does flowers have lost their pigmentation flower quickly. They too prefer a bit not allow us to add the hardiness and instead are a fresh matt green. of shelter from the wind and good rating – please be aware the award = suggested plant spacing Huge bulbs. light, though are very cold tolerant. in garden situations applies to the ease of cultivation, 12” (30cm) 8-10” (20-25cm) Flowering time Flowering height excellence and constitution, but not necessarily hardiness. April/May 24-30” (60-75cm) Mar/April 18” (45cm) Item Code Price 85-43 £15.00 each 85-41 £12.00

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 29 Gladiolus Atom Gladiolus Nathalie Gladiolus Nymph Gladiolus The Bride

GLADIOLUS Atom Dusty orange-red flowers, each byzantinus petal margin enriched by white Rich magenta coloured flowers piping, which highlights their with white flashes. These are free individual shape. This is particularly flowering plants with large strongly effective where the petals overlap coloured flowers, and generally one another. Best in well drained infertile as the plant is tetraploid. soils and in the sun. They are lovely, persisting colourful 4” (10cm) cottage garden plants for the early July 30” (75cm) summer, but the leaves do emerge 88-18 £7.00 for 10 or £13.00 for 20 early in the year and in very cold gardens (or in the north) they may Nathalie need a mulch over winter. There is Predominantly pink flowered with skulduggery about regarding what is the bottom petals on each marked sold under this name. A poor relation with a darker rose and cream to what we sell is G. byzantinus ssp. coloured flash, pretty and easy to fit communis which is often passed into the summer colour theme. off as the same plant and is a good 4” (10cm) deal cheaper. The two are like chalk July 30” (75cm) and cheese. For sun or slight shade. 88-19 £7.00 for 10 or £13.00 for 20 Plant 4” (10cm) apart. 4” (10cm) Nymph June 24” (60cm)

White flowered, but clearly marked GAP Images 88-04 Unavailable presently, with luscious pink and purple lipstick but maybe check on our Hacquetia epipactis Hyacinthoides non scripta website in the autumn kisses on the lower petals. Much less formally upright, the bigger flowers The ‘named’ dwarf gladioli flower in bending the stems this way and that, HACQUETIA HYACINTHOIDES the early summer. Short enough not so they weave through surrounding to need staking, they do not tower plants with an appealing informality. An unusual European native of The family name that covers all the over the garden as do the larger 4” (10cm) woodland conditions in the Carrot varied ‘Bluebells’ – they are or have forms (those preferred by Dame May/June 24” (60cm) family. The Plantfinder has them been known as Scilla and Endymion. Edna). These make particularly 88-11 £7.00 for 10 or £13.00 for 20 under Sanicula, we are yet to get good cut flowers too. They grow that embedded so they stay here for away early, and this may result in the The Bride the moment! non scripta foliage being susceptible to severe The English Bluebell. Violet-blue Starry, tapered, gleaming white late frost, so mulching is a possible epipactis nodding bells which glisten in damp requirement in very cold gardens. flowers tinged with green at the Flowering fairly early in the year shady glades. Always in demand Plant them in a sheltered site in throat, a strong-growing favourite and providing that perfect moment well-drained soil, 6” (15cm) deep, of ours and our customers. Do with many yellow starry florets in April when the woods turn violet. 4” (10cm) apart on a bed of sharp ensure that the soil is well drained surrounded by all-green bracts that Self-seeding, so increasing steadily sand. The winter dormant hybrid and if you have failed before, try last longer still. The leaves only once established. Plant 4” (10cm) forms are also sold in the spring, them again planted in deep pots properly emerge later in the spring. deep and 4” (10cm) apart, working if yours is a cold garden buy them protected from the worst of the cold Always low to the ground they are on up to 15 per sq. ft. then instead. till spring and then plant these out a deciduous but perfectly hardy 4” (10cm) into your sunny border. interesting perennial, a shade lover increasing slowly. From division. April/May 12” (30cm) 4” (10cm) 125-10 £5.50 for 10 or £12.20 for 25 June 18” (45cm) 12” (30cm) 88-06 £7.00 for 10 or £13.00 for 20 Feb-March 4” (10cm) 20-01 £5.50 = suggested plant spacing in garden situations Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

30 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 GAP Images GAP Images Hyacinth Blue Jacket Hyacinth White Pearl Hyacinthoides non scripta alba GAP Images Hyacinthus non scripta alba bracteata Hyacinthoides non scripta rosea Hyacinth Pink Pearl Hyacinthus Gloria Mundi non scripta alba non scripta rosea HYACINTHUS Blue Jacket Wild populations of English A pale pink clone that is distinctly Compact spikes of deep blue The Hyacinths below can be potted Bluebells are nearly all violet-blue, pink on first opening but fades to for use in the house, where they with a slight silvering to the edge but rarely white flowered plants near white, we have built these up will flower in March and should of the petal. occur and it is from those that from a few bulbs over the years. look magnificent in pots or be 4” (10cm) these derive. They do stand out 4” (10cm) planted directly into the garden 86-39 £4.40 for 3 or £9.50 for 7 in a sea of blue. These bulbs will April/May 12” (30cm) to flower in March and April. All always stay white and will split and 125-34 £7.00 for 3 are tremendously fragrant. They Pink Pearl increase below ground, though their prefer very well drained and sunny A soft rose-pink coloured variety. seedlings may be blue. situations, reaching a height of 12” 4” (10cm) 4” (10cm) (30cm). The skins of Hyacinths 86-40 £4.40 for 3 or £9.50 for 7 April/May 12” (30cm) can cause an allergic reaction and 125-12 £10.00 for 3 even if your hands are not itchy Gloria Mundi after handling them, anywhere non scripta alba more sensitive touched by your You’ll need to read the full story Plants we list which fingers can begin to do so. Do take online on the website as this was a bracteata have received the RHS precautions. remarkable find and there follows White flowered with a pair of long Commendation ‘Award an amazing story. An antique whiskery bracts alongside each of Garden Merit’ are now double petalled variety, pale pink tagged with the trophy White Pearl flower node. A quirky oddity. with a rosy eye. Still very few bulbs symbol. Space does Dense glossy white flowered spikes. 4” (10cm) not allow us to add the hardiness and not yet super-sized. 4” (10cm) April/May 12” (30cm) rating – please be aware the award 4” (10cm) 86-38 £4.40 for 3 or £9.50 for 7 125-26 £8.50 for 3 applies to the ease of cultivation, 86-37 £8.50 each excellence and constitution, but not necessarily hardiness.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 31 Hyacinthus Anastasia Hyacinthus Woodstock Hyacinthus multiflora white

Ipheion sellowianum Ipheion Charlotte Bishop Ipheion Alberto Castillio Ipheion Froyle Mill

Woodstock IPHEION Alberto Castillo uniflorum Deep beetroot purple stems and Vigorous, with very white starry These little bulbs often start pushing Charlotte Bishop flowers, one of the most dramatic. up one or two stems very early with flowers over grey-green foliage A pretty pink flowered form, dark 4” (10cm) pretty star shaped flowers, but their which smells of onions when pink on opening, fading gracefully 86-17 £4.40 for 3 or £9.50 for 7 main display is reserved for late crushed. Longer stemmed, which in the sun. In well drained soils they March and April. They are easy in raises the flowers well above the are vigorous and will increase. multiflora any reasonably well drained soils foliage and they pick well for small 1-2” (2-5cm) Anastasia and a moderately sunny site and posies but to prevent those longer March/April 6” (15cm) although the leaves can be burnt off stems from flopping you should 97-10 £3.80 for 7 The forms above are looked on as in a heavy frost (with an associated plant them in conditions of fairly being a bit ‘chunky’ and soldierly garlic smell) they seem to recover in good light. by some, the multiflora forms below uniflorum weeks. The named forms are better 1-2” (2-5cm) are more slender, less dense and and more interesting than the widely March/April 9” (22cm) Froyle Mill more informal in appearance and available species forms which tend 97-09 £3.80 for 7 First selected in Hampshire which maybe less dominating of the little to be a bit too invasive (and for explains the name, with starry, flowers with which they bloom so which reason we do not stock). The sellowianum velvety-violet flowers, similarly early, this is the prettiest deep blue biggest bulbs of the first are the size A jaunty yellow flowered species vigorous in sunny conditions. with dark stems. of a small clementine segment, but which flowers so early that I doubt 1-2” (2-5cm) 4” (10cm) the others are much smaller. March/April 6” (15cm) 86-20 £5.50 for 3 or £12.00 for 7 it to be hardy in most of the UK. 97-08 £3.80 for 5 It however grows well under multiflora white protection where one can provide a dry summer rest. Simply white when fully open 1-2” (2-5cm) but quite yellow in bud. Slighter February/March 6” (15cm) and somehow simpler than the 97-11 £5.00 for 3 = suggested plant spacing ‘standard’ orientalis forms. in garden situations 4” (10cm) Flowering time Flowering height 86-09 £4.50 for 3 Item Code Price

32 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Iris Apollo Iris Red Ember Iris Professor Blaauw

Iris Silvery Beauty Iris Blue Magic Iris Lion King

IRIS X HOLLANDICA Blue Magic Professor Blaauw Silvery Beauty A deep violet-blue flower with a The deepest of rich blues with Simply fresh and somehow a bit These are hybrid forms of Iris xiphium that florists use lavishly in yellow signal marking (edged in a yellow flash. You should really ‘lighter’ this is probably my favourite the late spring and summer, but the white) on the lower petals. They expect two flowers per stem and form with white and pale violet bulbs are reasonably inexpensive increased well at the RHS trials and will observe the pregnant swelling flowers above leaves that display and you could easily grow your were awarded an AGM. of the buds within the stems before the silvery sheen implied in the own? In the garden they are likely to 4-6” (10-15cm) they burst open. name. Roundly admired at Wisley. last far longer than cut flowers too! May/June 18-24” (45-60cm) 4-6” (10-15cm) 4-6” (10-15cm) These would be planted 4-6” (10- 99-12 £3.70 for 7 or £7.20 for 15 May/June 18-24” (45-60cm) May/June 18-24” (45-60cm) 15cm) apart in sunny conditions and 99-08 £3.70 for 7 or £7.20 for 15 99-11 £3.50 for 7 or £7.00 for 15 in lighter soils. Lion King Deep reddish violet and greeny- Red Ember Apollo brown petals, a combination that coloured, though in some On sturdy plants the broad yellow should sound pretty enticing? Dark lights they also have a deeper falls (the three lower parts of the leaved as well, providing additional tinge of purple on the standards, contrast, later flowering. altogether an unusual hue. Plants we list which iris flower looking like a tongue) have received the RHS the colour of free range egg yolks 4-6” (10-15cm) Recommended at the trial of these Commendation ‘Award contrast with the creamy white, June 18-24” (45-60cm) bulbs at Wisley. of Garden Merit’ are now even blue tinted, standards (the 99-13 £3.70 for 7 or £7.20 for 15 4-6” (10-15cm) tagged with the trophy symbol. Space does three upright parts). May/June 18-24” (45-60cm) 99-10 £3.30 for 7 or £6.50 for 15 not allow us to add the hardiness 4-6” (10-15cm) rating – please be aware the award May/June 18-24” (45-60cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, 99-04 £3.70 for 7 or £7.20 for 15 excellence and constitution, but not necessarily hardiness.

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 33 IRIS - DWARF (RETICULATA) These are derived from plants native to the Middle East and do best in well drained conditions with a warm dry summer rest. In UK conditions with our usual, but these days more infrequent, summer rain this is not easy to achieve so they sometimes do not do well year on year. It helps to plant them deeply 5” (12cm). The best situation would be a raised bed in the sun with well drained soil conditions. There you’ll be able to admire them up close and smell the scented ones. 15 bulbs will nicely fill a 9” (20cm) planter or pot filled with sharply draining compost for an early spring treat. GAP Images GAP Images Iris Pixie Iris Harmony Iris Pauline Iris Purple Hill

Harmony Pauline Flowering with amazingly intense Narrower petalled with dark gentian blue flowers, only marked velvety purple flowers with bright with a small yellow and white crest white highlights on the falls. Mid- on the falls. Our most popular of all season flowering. the forms. 2-4” (5-10cm) 2-4” (5-10cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) 101-13 £5.50 for 15 or £8.00 for 25 101-11 £4.40 for 15 or £6.75 for 25 Pixie Katharine Wide petalled in the deepest Hodgkin of blue, not quite purple, and An utterly distinct hybrid raised equally scented. 2-4” (5-10cm) by EB Anderson in the 1960s. Feb/March 6” (15cm) Predominantly yellow with blue and 101-23 £4.40 for 15 or £6.75 for 25 Iris Katharine’s Gold sea-green veining and markings over the wide petals. Probably the Purple Hill most persistent and perennial form Purple petalled and now the closest when planted in a rich, gritty soil in form to I. George that one can now a sunny site. obtain, one which was for years the 2-4” (5-10cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) most popular purple form but is 101-07 £3.30 for 5 or £6.00 for 10 now not available. 2-4” (5-10cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) Katharine’s Gold 101-26 £5.50 for 10 or £8.00 for 15 Creamy coloured predominantly with flecks of darker yellow and blue on the falls. Visually quite startling so early in the year. The bulbs are always smaller. 2-4” (5-10cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) Iris Katharine Hodgkin 101-24 £4.00 for 3

34 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 GAP Images Iris Spot On Iris winogradowii Ixiolirion tataricum (ledebourii) GAP Images Iris bucharica Iris graminea Leucojum Gravetye Giant

Spot On IRIS (OTHER TYPES) IXIOLIRION LEUCOJUM Raised by Alan McMurtrie in Canada this hybrid is evidently bucharica tataricum æstivum the result of crossing I. reticulata Easy to grow in any sunny border or (ledebourii) Gravetye Giant Pauline x I. reticulata bakeriana. It in a well drained sunny site where Originally from the steppes of The Loddon Lily, also known as appears and grows much like the little else seems to do well. They Central Asia, the grass-like foliage Summer Snowflakes, with white, others but is slightly smaller, the originate from Central Asia with hides flowers which become more hanging, bell-shaped flowers and white throat markings are distinct bright glossy leaves, creamy white star like as they open more widely. often confused with snowdrops and outstanding, surrounded as and yellow flowers over low, bright, The colour varies slightly from despite them flowering much later they are by the rich purples. shiny foliage. violet-mauve to lilac. Free draining (but not really in summer). Strings 2-4” (5-10cm) 6” (15cm) soil in a sunny situation would suit of emerald-tipped white bells hang Feb/March 6” (15cm) March/April 12” (30cm) them best and they look better with from bare upright stems above 101-25 £4.50 for 5 or £8.00 for 10 103-09 £4.50 for 3 quite close planting. glossy green foliage. Particularly winogradowii 3” (8cm) happy in damp, even winter-flooded graminea May 9” (20cm) situations, but they will do anywhere A pale yellow Caucasian species Grassy leaved perennial with a 104-04 £3.80 for 10 or £8.50 for 25 where the soil is heavier and more with pale freckling on the petals. tidy habit growing in open sunny moisture retentive. Daffodil-like Hardy and beautiful, preferring it conditions. The purple and lilac bulbs, planted 5” (12cm) deep and cool, light and damp in the spring flowers are rather well hidden in 6” (15cm) apart. and drier (without being parched) in the foliage but pick one and sniff, 6” (15cm) the summer. fabulous – ripe to April 18” (45cm) 2-4” (5-10cm) my nose. Fresh dug divisions of 106-07 £3.90 for 3 or £8.30 for 7 Feb/March 6” (15cm) these perennials. = suggested plant spacing in garden situations 101-27 £5.00 5” (12cm) Flowering time Flowering height May 12” (30cm) Item Code Price 103-06 £6.50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 35 Lilium candidum LILIUM Lilies would have to come near the top of any list of most gardeners’ favourite bulbs. For stature, grace and perfume they are unbeatable, but to ensure longevity one needs to get things right. Unless it says Lilium martagon Claude Shride Lilium regale Maianthemum bifolium otherwise (in the text below) do incorporate plenty of organic matter in the area to be planted, having chosen a site that is of good, probably rich soil, not too dry in summer, and possibly shaded – many lily flowers will last longer in cooler shade. Plant at least 5” deep (except L. candidum). If planting in the confinement of a container, try to ensure regular watering. Lily beetle are a problem in warmer parts. Readily seen as red and black beetles they eat any foliage of the (which includes the Fritillaria). These beetles drop off and hide on the ground if you alarm them, but sneakily picking off the adults and cleaning the messy black ‘eggs’ off the foliage is moderately effective (and squashing them satisfies a lust for retribution) although Provado used systematically seems to reduce future generations more effectively. Please Note: The martagon lilies are Lilium martagon Sunny Morning Lilium martagon Snowy Morning Mathiasella bupleuroides Green Dream usually not ready for despatch till mid-October so if you include them on your order that may affect the martagon Snowy MAIANTHEMUM MATHIASELLA delivery time of your whole order (we Morning do try to save costs and have your bifolium A Mexican umbellifer which was Pure white with extended orange first described only in 1954. They order all come at once). An unusual native of northern anthers. are architectural plants and seem 6” (15cm) England. Plants with leaves that to do well in full sun or part shade candidum June/July 36” (90cm) look a bit like small Hostas. These with green foliage in spring, and in The Madonna Lily. These can be 107-47 £7.00 or £19.50 for 3 are plants for shade with ground the summer pink and purple tints. included on orders from either Late covering possibilities in nice, leafy, They are evidently sterile here and Summer of Autumn planting, but they martagon Sunny damp, dappled shade where they consequently last for several months are best planted early in the autumn. Morning can then form a dense mat. The in flower, lime green when they first See page 9 for the full details leaves open in the spring with a open but coloured with purple later Golden orange flowered plants with welcome fresh greenness growing in the year. deeper mahogany speckles. from the small wiry roots. The 6” (15cm) martagon flowers are like small white plumes. June/July 36” (90cm) bupleuroides Green The species plants from which 3” (8cm) 107-45 £6.50 or £18.80 for 3 these derive (and which are more May 4” (10cm) Dream variable in colour and shade) is not 110-04 £5.00 for 5 Unfamiliar plants still, but they grown commercially in Europe any Regale have the look of some other more more. These listed below are grown Familiar and much loved favourites recognisable and favourite garden by micro propagation initially so will with ivory-white trumpets, flushed plants - Hellebores, Angelica and be identical within varieties. with pink on their backs, providing maybe even Euphorbia, so one great wafts of beautiful scent. can see how these have become martagon Accommodating in most gardens, desirable. Gardeners love long Claude Shride either in borders or large deep pots. Plants we list which lasting green flowers! Plants from Autumn planted L. regale bulbs have received the RHS 9cm pots that ought to settle in this A dark mahogany red selection of Commendation ‘Award the martagon lily with yellow flecking always seem to do better than of Garden Merit’ are now winter and flower next year. at the throat. spring planted ones. With longer tagged with the trophy 24” (60cm) symbol. Space does 6” (15cm) to root over the winter before they May 24” (60cm) not allow us to add the hardiness 69-04 £9.00 June/July 36” (90cm) flower that would be logical? rating – please be aware the award 107-41 £6.50 or £18.80 for 3 6” (15cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, July 36” (90cm) excellence and constitution, but not 107-04 £11.00 for 3 necessarily hardiness.

36 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 MUSCARI The ‘Grape Hyacinths’, and as the name implies some are heavily scented. All do well in the drier, sunny conditions provided under deciduous shrubs in the early spring, with summer shade later in the year. Part of the group of ‘Little Blue Jobs’, that create the backdrop and provide the ‘chorus’ to the spring display. The common and weedy ‘ordinary’ Grape Hyacinth (M. armenaicum) is undoubtedly best avoided - it gives the well behaved Muscari a bad name. As a guide plant them 4” (10cm) deep and 2” (5cm) apart. GAP Images GAP Images Muscari azureum Muscari Blue Magic Muscari White Magic Muscari Baby’s Breath azureum aucheri White Probably the easiest to grow and Magic not at all invasive. Tightly packed The aucheri forms are less vigorous, powder-blue flowers, flared open (and by implication not invasive) at their tips, emerging initially as a so suited to smaller gardens. This cone shaped spike but becoming selection has attractive pale green more rounded as more flowers flower buds opening white, initially open. For a well-drained sink or quite pointed but rounded when in rockery or in light soils at the front full flower. of a spring border. 2” (5cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) April 5” (12cm) March 5” (12cm) 111-14 £7.00 for 10 or £16.25 for 25 111-15 £3.80 for 10 or £8.80 for 25 Baby’s Breath aucheri Blue Magic (Jenny Robinson) Bright blue with white rims to the This form of M. neglectum was found mature flowers. These selected by Jenny Robinson, the then holder colour forms are derived from the of the National Collection of Muscari species M. aucheri which is native in Cyprus. Opening from lime green to alpine turf in Turkey, they will not Muscari botyryoides album Muscari Valerie Finnis buds the flowers are in the palest of be invasive here. 2” (5cm) blues with a wonderful scent. 2” (5cm) botryoides Album Valerie Finnis April 5” (12cm) 111-20 £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25 April 6” (15cm) A smaller form with pale leaves, Tightly packed ropes of scented 111-23 £3.80 for 10 or £8.80 for 25 certainly no thug, with neat strings powder blue flowers, best grown of little pearls strung on pale stems. in open sunny conditions. It Scented. arose in Valerie Finnis’ garden in 2-3” (5-8cm) Northamptonshire (by then she was = suggested plant spacing April 6” (15cm) in garden situations Insect friendly Lady Scott). 111-06 £5.00 for 10 or £11.50 for 25 Flowering time Flowering height Plants 3” (8cm) Item Code Price March 7” (18cm) 111-18 £6.00 for 10 or £14.00 for 25

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 37 Carlos van der Veek Narcissus cyclamineus Narcissus Desert Bells Narcissus February Gold 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 (unless told differently for the smaller forms), 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 still green will benefit clumps in poorer soil, but generally feeding is unnecessary. I would suggest that you plant in Narcissus Elka Narcissus Exotic Mystery Narcissus fernandesii var. cordubensis groups (and particularly any that you ‘naturalise’) resulting in swathes of the same variety and not a jumbled cyclamineus (6) Elka (1) February Gold (6) crowd – the effect is generally better. An iconic small species, one that A perfectly proportioned pale Dating back to 1923. Early flowering Most should clump up from being is much loved and sought after bicoloured miniature with a relatively but, despite the name, only opening planted about 4-6” (10-15cm) apart by many, but they rarely do well in long cream coloured trumpet and in late February in very mild winters. unless we say differently, further warm, dry, limey soils. Neutral to milk white petals. It was raised A long lasting, upright, golden apart for more ‘relaxed’ planting. acid soils suit them better, moist by Alec Gray, a Cornish flower yellow garden favourite with slightly Divisions: The number in brackets in spring and more shaded in grower and distinguished daffodil swept back petals and a good after the name represents the type summer. Grow them where they hybridiser of the 1940s and 50s. stature, also good for pots or tubs. of flower expressed by the divisions will be happy and seed about. We 2-3” (5-8cm) 4-6” (10-15cm) within the Narcissus family: 1= always sell out of them early. March/April 6” (15cm) Feb/March 12” (30cm) trumpet, 2= large cupped, 3= small 2-3” (5-8cm) 113-61 £4.40 for 5 113-09 £7.50 for 10 or £17.50 for 25 cupped, 4= double flowered, 5= March 5” (12cm) triandrus forms, 6= cyclamineus 113-179 £4.00 Exotic Mystery (11) fernandesii var. types, 7= jonquilla forms, 8= tazetta forms, 9 = poeticus types, Until now I have not been a great cordubensis (13) 10= bulbocodium types, 11= split Desert Bells (7) fan of the split corona group, A small bright yellow jonquil with corona, 12 = miscellaneous, 13= Multiheaded with pale yellow usually with large flowers, but this what I think of as a jaunty attitude. species and wild variants (more flowers that gradually fade to a crisp is a smaller flowered form with Generally with several small, suitable for naturalising). white, the trumpets fading more slightly downcast heads in the most gleaming, fragrant flowers on slowly so that at any moment one magical soft primrose which looks each stem and narrow grass like The suggested flowering month might have all the stages showing lovely with pale Muscari blue. They foliage. A raised bed in the sun is a should be used as a guide only – together which is nice. seem to last ages in flower. I have likely requirement for it to increase annual variation can be great, as 4-5” (10-12cm) reports of those that have bought happily. Naturally small bulbs. recent springs have shown. April 10” (25cm) it wondering whether they would 2” (5cm) 113-35 £6.20 for 3 come to admire them finding that April 10” (25cm) The flowering height suggested they do. 113-103 £4.40 for 5 or £8.00 for 10 is the height at which the first 4-5” (10-12cm) flowers open, the stems often April 15” (38cm) extend thereafter. 113-20 £8.00 for 5 or £15.00 for 10

38 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Narcissus Gipsy Queen Narcissus Julia Jane Narcissus Minnow Narcissus mochatus

Narcissus Hawera Narcissus Martinette Narcissus More and More Narcissus New Baby

Gipsy Queen (1) Julia Jane (10) Minnow (8) moschatus (13) A small and highly desirable hybrid Soft pale yellow with billowing skirts, Multi-headed, with many small Palest creamy-white with a flower with what are initially pale greenish a named form of N. bulbocodium primrose yellow flowers held flat that always seems downcast in the yellow flowers with darker tips romieuxii, the species which derives only just above the top of the way that it hangs – some describe which fade to white as they age. from high on the Atlas mountains. foliage, the small cup rather darker it as swanlike? They seem to prefer They are lovely but would prefer a Charmingly petite and early when they first open. It also needs damper soil in more shade than cooler spot. flowering they look better and flower more sunny conditions and to be most daffodils, but the pale colours 2-3” (5-8cm) for longer if protected from too grown in better drained soils but is show in shadier conditions perfectly. April 10” (25cm) much wind and rain but are totally one that I wouldn’t be without. 1-2” (3-5cm) 113-107 £6.50 for 3 hardy with regard to the cold. In the 3” (8cm) April 12” (30cm) summer they should stay dry. Small March/April 12” (30cm) 113-94 £6.20 for 3 Hawera (5) bulbs as you would expect. 113-51 £4.70 for 10 or £10.50 for 25 2-3” (5-8cm) New Baby (7) Small clear lemon-yellow flowers Feb 6” (15cm) More and More (7) A newly bred jonquil form with with prominent cups and needle 113-101 £4.90 for 5 like, deep green foliage typify this Although I can’t say that I like the narrow leaves and sharp lemon name very much I can see how flowers with a pale edge. . It is much happier in a drier Martinette (8) and sunnier site than many of its it occurred to someone, these surprisingly late with hugely scented cousins- as is the case for most of Brilliant yellow with several flowers produce many, many flowers! flowers suitable for the rockery or the narrow leaved forms. Shorter on each stem, the centres darker, Each bulb produces 4 or 5 stems sunny well drained bed. 1-2” (3-5cm) and more wind tolerant. Pack with a small, more orange coloured with several flowers each. Low cup with an enormous scent. growing and late flowering, ideal for April / May 6” (15cm) them in quite tightly for a mass of 113-106 £4.00 for 5 or £7.20 for 10 colour on a rockery. First bred in Narrower leaved and taller, not one a rockery or in a planter. Naturally New Zealand. for the shady garden. small bulbs. 4-5” (10-12cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) 3” (8cm) March 14” (35cm) April 9” (25cm) April 10” (25cm) 113-84 £3.80 for 5 or £10.50 for 15 113-104 £3.00 for 5 or £8.00 for 15 = suggested plant spacing 113-38 £6.00 for 10 or £13.50 for 25 in garden situations Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 39 Narcissus Oxford Gold Narcissus Pipit Narcissus Rijnvelds Early Sensation Narcissus Segovia

Narcissus obvallaris Narcissus poeticus recurvus Narcissus Sailboat Narcissus Silver Chimes

Oxford Gold (10) Pipit (7) Rijnveld’s Early Segovia (3) A selected form of N. bulbocodium A multiheaded form called a Sensation (1) These have a flattened pale lemon (the hoop petticoat forms) with ‘reverse’ bicolor. These flowers Bright yellow throughout with a trumpet that sits squarely against masses of large, butter yellow open with all parts a sharp lemon short, flared trumpet. This variety’s the bright white petals which flare blooms which flower quite early with yellow and then fade outwards outstanding quality is that it really back slightly. The whole effect is a great scent. The foliage is narrow from the centre of the flower to does flower in the garden around fresh and bright with narrow leaves, and needle-like, indicating that they a paler, creamier colour (most New Year, sometimes earlier. It is so it would like a brighter spot in would prefer a sunnier situation. bicolors fade from the tips of the going over when the main daffodil which to grow. 1-2” (3-5cm) petals inwards). Tough enough to season begins. They provide a blast 3-5” (8-12cm) April 6” (15cm) plant in rough grass. of spring in the middle of winter, April 6” (15cm) 113-92 £4.50 for 5 or £8.30 for 10 113-87 £4.50 for 5 or £8.20 for 10 4” (10cm) even before the snowdrops. Plant April 12” (30cm) them where they might be a bit obvallaris (13) 113-32 £3.80 for 5 or £6.80 for 10 protected from wintery gales. Silver Chimes (8) A daffodil suitable for naturalising 4” (10cm) A lovely multi-headed tazetta form that grows wild in South Wales is poeticus recurvus Dec/Feb 12” (30cm) which would best be planted in the Tenby daffodil, this looks just (13) 113-44 £5.90 for 5 or £10.50 for 10 slightly warmer conditions where it like it with a neat and tidy all yellow The Pheasant’s Eye daffodil. Wild is not too wet. The tazetta forms are flower (though some doubt as to in high alpine meadows in Europe Sailboat (7) not so good where it is very cold. whether it is exactly the same plant). and found gracing old gardens and Pale and interesting with a pleasant Broad leaved with pure white petals Perfect for planting into rough grass orchards here. White with slightly perfume, the white petals fly back around a pale primrose cup with a to provide ‘bomb-proof’ simple swept back petals, highlighted by from the slightly flared, pale yellow huge scent. Big bulbs. yellow daffodils. a stubby, burgundy rimmed cup. trumpet on flowers which seem to 4” (10cm) 4” (10cm) One of the last daffodils to flower hold their chins up! Keep calm and April 12” (30cm) March 10” (25cm) 113-41 £6.60 for 5 or £12.00 for 10 113-30 £4.20 for 5, £11.40 for 15, and deliciously fragrant too. Very carry on flowering? or £21.50 for 30 suitable for naturalising but because 4-5” (10-12cm) of its late flowering better planted in March/April 14” (35cm) dappled shade in grass, or in a cool 113-89 £3.30 for 5 or £9.00 for 15 border amongst other plants. 3” (8cm) May 15” (35cm) 113-28 £4.50 for 5, £12.20 for 15, or £21.60 for 30

40 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Narcissus Sir Winston Churchill Narcissus Tete-a-tete Narcissus Topolino Narcissus W.P. Milner

Narcissus Sweetness Narcissus Thalia Narcissus Toto Narcissus Ziva Sir Winston Tete-a-tete (12) Topolino (1) W. P. Milner (1) Churchill (4) Widely grown since it was raised Small, vigorous and as close as Attributed to Henry Backhouse’ Frilly white petals mix with splashes soon after WW2 and many people’s one can now get in commercial breeding in Yorkshire pre 1869 of sulphur yellow to produce a favourite small daffodil. Very short stocks to N. lobularis, the wild N. and evidently named after William frothy and exuberant flower with when first in flower, extending in pseudonarcissus which is sadly Pashley Milner his brother-in-law. a huge scent. They are quite tall stem length as it matures and long unobtainable now. Pale yellow throughout with swept- and late flowering. Reliable, with lasting in cool conditions. Deep 2-3” (5-8cm) forward petals, beyond which several stems per bulb and each golden yellow and multi-headed March/ April 8” (20cm) peeps the shy trumpet. Long lasting 113-54 £3.50 for 5 or £9.60 for 15 of these multiheaded. from the biggest bulbs. and good for naturalising being 4” (10cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) smaller in stature. April 18” (45cm) Feb/March 6” (15cm) Toto (12) 4” (10cm) 113-97 £4.20 for 5 or £11.50 for 15 113-16 £6.60 for 10, £15.00 for 25 March/April 9” (22cm) Gorgeously pale and simple 113-47 £3.00 for 5 or £8.00 for 15 Sweetness (7) Thalia (5) flowered, the trumpet just a shade darker than the petals and (Paperwhite) Ziva Sturdy, simple, bright yellow and Raised in 1916. A national treasure, early enough to overlap with that deliciously scented with narrow refined and elegant and a perfect blue phase in the garden when (8) foliage that does not get in the way, foil for all those March yellows with a the Anemones, Muscari and For indoor or very protected everything a daffodil ought to be! greeny-white, multi-headed, scented Chionodoxa are at their best, the situations, see the main entry on 4” (10cm) flower. A well-known classy favourite. combination is wonderful. Page 9. These are best suited 4” (10cm) March 14” (35cm) 4” (10cm) to indoor display with a huge March/April 14” (35cm) 113-24 £3.80 for 5 or £10.00 for 15 March/ April 8” (20cm) scent. These can be included on 113-42 £3.70 for 5, £10.50 for 15, 113-90 £3.90 for 3 or £19.50 for 30 orders from either Late Summer of Autumn planting. 1-2” (2-4cm) (potted) Dec / Jan 15” (38cm) See our 113-152 £9.00 for 5 or £11.50 for 7 Narcissus Collection on = suggested plant spacing page 65 in garden situations Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 41 GAP Images Ornithogalum magnum Moskou Ornithogalum pyrenaicum Paeonia mlokosewitschii Paeonia obovata alba

Ornithogalum nutans Ornithogalum umbellatum Paradisea lusitanica ORNITHOGALUM pyrenaicum PAEONIA PARADISEA Tall, slim, waving wands tipped The ‘Star of Bethlehem’ family. mlokosewitschii lusitanica Silvery white and green flowered with starry pale green flowers. A and generally tough and naturalised native in the area of The much loved ‘Molly the Witch’ This species comes from Northern accommodating, many are perfect Bath, and hence called the ‘Bath Paeony with tissue-like petals in Portugal and where it for naturalising. Asparagus’. Easy to grow in free pale yellow. Slow growing, tough grows in damp meadows. When draining limey soil, planted 12” as old boots and sadly not long dormant their thickened fleshy (30cm) apart. in flower. But the seed heads look roots look a bit like those of an magnum Moskou 12” (30cm) great too ? These will be field dug Agapanthus crown. In flower they I have these successfully growing June 18” (45cm) plants that will take some effort to provide elegant, clean stemmed 117-11 £12.00 for 3 in some rough (late cut) grass to lift. Prepare for untidy pieces, but spires of bright white flowers follow some Camassias and they save yourselves a ten year wait! providing impressive uprights in are doing well, but they could umbellatum Just a small number to see how the herbaceous border, and a great also enhance a border. Tall, white A sun lover and excellent in thin manageable they are. accompaniment to the Alliums. flowered with dozens of flowers grass from what are unpromising 18” (45cm) Supplied as fresh dug divisions, circling a stiff stem. looking bulbs. Clumps of them in May 24-36” (60-90cm) to be planted 4” (10cm) deep in 4” (10cm) sunny conditions really hug the 38-08 £20.00 moisture retentive soil in sun or June ` 24” (60cm) ground and they are especially part shade. 117-16 £5.70 for 3 useful for carpeting a sunny bank obovata alba 12” (30cm) with white in April with their grey- Grey leaved, often with a darker June 36-48” (90-120cm) 140-04 £17.00 for 3 nutans green leaves and white flowers. purple tint and large bowl shaped Very pretty, soft silvery grey-green Plant about 4” (10cm) apart, 10 per white flowers. A very unusual form flowers, bluebell-like in stature and square foot. from the mountains of China. These long lasting when picked. They 4” (10cm) are still young (unflowered) plants probably should be grown in light April/May 4” (10cm) in 9cm pots – but they need to 117-13 £5.00 for 10 shade. If dry or stressed in May be supplied when young to avoid Plants we list which or £11.00 for 25 disturbance later. Plant them out in have received the RHS the foliage tends to naturally begin Commendation ‘Award to yellow at flowering time. Plant fairly sunny conditions and wait to of Garden Merit’ are now irregularly, about 3” (8 cm) apart, be wowed! tagged with the trophy 10-15 per square foot. 18” (45cm) symbol. Space does not allow us to add the hardiness 2-3” (5-8cm) May/ June 24-36” (60-90cm) 38-13 £8.00 rating – please be aware the award May 9” (22cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, 117-09 £4.00 for 15 or £7.00 for 30 excellence and constitution, but not necessarily hardiness.

42 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Polygonatum Betburg Polygonatum odoratum flore pleno Sanguinaria canadensis GAP Images Polygonatum curvistylum Polygonatum X hybridum Puschlinia libanotica alba Sanguinaria canadensis flore pleno POLYGONATUM curvistylum PUSCHKINIA SANGUINARIA Dark stemmed plants with narrow The Solomon’s Seal family. Hardy libanotica alba canadensis perennials that grow in most purple tinted foliage and mauve situations pretty much without waisted bell shaped flowers in There are lots of ‘Little Blue Bulbs’ The single flowered form of this any attention, preferring moisture- whorls at each leaf axil. Graceful yet to add to the chorus line in the bone hardy plant from North retentive, heavier soils best of all. tough in sun or part shade. spring but fewer good whites. I have America, another of those wonderful They do get quite a bit taller in 5” (12cm) included these for that reason and woodland plants that can form shade. Their only downfall is their June 30” (75cm) because some planted around the an amazing green tapestry in appeal to the Gooseberry Sawfly 37-10 £11.00 for 3 edge of a container of tulips were dampish shade along with Uvularia, caterpillar which strips the leaves so successful this spring. Erythronium, Trilliums and our Wood in June in some gardens. There is odoratum flore 2” (5cm) Anemones. The emerging leaves now an organic spray pleno April 5” (12cm) emerge clasped around the red available against them. 198-01 £2.60 for 10, flower stem and open to release the The rarer double flowered form £6.00 for 25 or £10.50 for 50 which when in flower requires one simplest pure white flowers. Sought Betberg to turn the flowers over to check out after and slow to increase from Named after the German village in the tidy hose in hose arrangement. fresh dug, thick, reddish rhizomes. the Black Forest near Laufen where 5” (12cm) 4” (10cm) it was first found. The stems and May 18” (45cm) April 6” (15cm) 124-04 £7.00 leaves a dark chocolate brown when 37-12 £8.00 for 3 they emerge (as long as they get canadensis direct sunlight), against these the x hybridum white flowers are a marked contrast. A naturally occurring hybrid flore plena As the season progresses the leaves between P. multiflorum and P. The rather rarer double flowered become more olive green. Slow to odoratum with gracefully arching form. A pure white pom-pom which increase for us, we are probably too stems and pendant jade green will briefly provide huge pleasure dry for them. and ivory flowers. Increasing before you have to wait another 4” (10cm) slowly but steadily to form a Insect friendly year to do it again! April/May 24-30” (50-75cm) thicket. A great screen in damp, Plants 4” (12cm) 37-16 £12.00 moist shade. The stems cut well April 6” (15cm) for flower arrangements when you 124-05 £10.00 have plenty. 5” (12cm) = suggested plant spacing in garden situations May/June 24-36” (60-90cm) Flowering time Flowering height 37-04 £6.50 for 3 or £12.00 for 7 Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 43 SCILLA The smaller Scillas, often sold in larger multiples, are not really stand-alone performers, but they are the unmissable and necessary chorus along with the Anemones and Muscari, supporting the prima donnas of the bulb world so you shouldn’t be without them. Their preferred situations do vary widely. We have also now bowed to the Plantfinder and the nomenclature Police and are including the Chionodoxa in this section. The spring bulbs generally exhibit a huge range of bold shapes and strong colours. As a result, if one does not follow a colour theme or stick to a limited palette one can find that the whole effect can look a bit haphazard. A way to help with this is to use a range of the ’little blue bulbs’ to create a more unifying backdrop. This ties the louder colours together and provides a steadying consistency. Any of the Chionodoxa, Scilla, Anemone and Muscari are the bulbs that I have in mind and perform this role, but you could use other non bulbous plants as well such as the later flowering Brunnera or Myosotis (Forget-me-not). GAP Images GAP Images Scilla bifolia Scilla bifolia alba Scilla bifolia rosea Scilla forbesii Blue Giant bifolia bifolia rosea forbesii Pink Giant An easy dwarf species with starry The pale pink flowered form (Chionodoxa) purple-blue flowers and waxy 2-3” (5-8cm) With a spike of very pretty, simple, leaves. Naturalises under shrubs Feb/Mar 6” (15cm) pale pink flowers these need to or in light grass in summer shade 125-06 £4.00 for 10, £9.20 for 25, or £17.50 for 50 receive more light to avoid them where the massed heads really getting too leggy and flopping over. create an early purple haze, forbesii Blue Giant Plant about 2”- 3” (5-8cm) apart, or flowering with the anemones and 15 per square foot. early daffodils. Small bulbs that you (Chionodoxa) <2-3” (5-8cm) need to be generous with, plant Larger flowered than the S. luciliae Feb/March 5” (12cm) them 2-3” (5-8 cm) apart, 15 per with a more noticeable central white 72-10 £3.50 for 10 or £7.70 for 25 square foot. throat. The photo was taken of them 2-3” (5-8cm) in a pot of tulips that were yet to Feb/Mar 6” (15cm) flower and the S. Blue Giant were “The range is 125-05 £3.50 for 10, £7.75 for 25, flowering their socks off, providing a or £14.50 for 50 enormous and very good early show. 2-3” (5-8cm) the quality is bifolia alba March/April 6” (15cm) The white flowered form. 72-11 £5.00 for 10 or £11.50 for 25 consistently 2-3” (5-8cm) very good” Feb/Mar 6” (15cm) 125-04 £4.00 for 10, £9.20 for 25, Gardening Which? or £17.50 for 50 (April 2021) Scilla forbesii Pink Giant

44 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Scilla llilio-hyacinthus Scilla luciliæ Scilla peruviana

Scilla llilio-hyacinthus albus Scilla mischtschenkoana Scilla siberica Spring Beauty lilio-hyacinthus luciliæ mischtschenkoana peruviana A great addition to the early spring (Chionodoxa) (tubergeniana) Low broad, fleshy, near evergreen woodland tapestry. Broad and tidy Multifunctional small bulbs, they The earliest pale-blue gem. They leaved plants produce a leaved, with pretty, delicate can go into your beds of perennials seem to ignore the winter cold and dramatically architectural flower of soft pale blue. Neat looking or be allowed to seed about in emerge especially early to flower head of bright blue flowers, in bud it mounds of foliage and a joy when rock gardens in the sun or part at the same time as the Cyclamen sparks one’s anticipation! Easy in in flower. The bulbs are formed of shade, where they combine well coum and the winter aconites - far good soil but they seem to do better loose lily-like scales which dislike with the daffodils, grape hyacinths, earlier than other similar plants. in full light and planted deeply. They being dried out (hence the name). crocuses and other small spring Very hardy and well suited to the do also flower better in the spring Clump forming and best in some bulbs. They can also be naturalized rockery or a border and under following a warm summer. Suffering shade. Do please order these early, in grass (though mowing too early deciduous shrubs. from an unfortunate confusion when they ‘move’ better in September and too short needs to be avoided). 3-4” (8-10cm) they first arrived in Britain leading to rather than too far into October. Brilliant blue with white centres. Buy Feb 4” (10cm) their inaccurate name (they are of 3” (8cm) lots your planting densities need to 125-17 £3.80 for 5 or £10.50 for 15 Mediterranean origin). Mar/April 8” (20 cm) be generous, though they will seed 10” (25cm) 125-28 £10.50 for 3 about in time. You’ll initially need May /June 10” (25cm) 125-11 £5.20 or £15.00 for 3 about 30-40 per square ft. lilio–hyacinthus 1-2” (3-5cm) alba Feb/March 4” (10cm) siberica Spring This pretty form has all the attributes 72-04 £4.40 for 20 or £10.00 for 50 Beauty of the blue but the flowers are white Plants we list which have received the RHS Bone hardy, these hail from the and the leaves are slightly paler Commendation ‘Award area. The Prussian-blue than those of the blue flowered form of Garden Merit’ are now flowers piercing through the cold above. Again best grown in some tagged with the trophy symbol. Space does ground in advance of their leaves, shade. not allow us to add the hardiness especially happy on sandy soils in 3” (8cm) = suggested plant spacing rating – please be aware the award summer shade. Darkly shiny bulbs. Mar/April 8” (20 cm) in garden situations applies to the ease of cultivation, 3-4” (8-10cm) 125-29 £10.50 for 3 Flowering time Flowering height excellence and constitution, but not necessarily hardiness. Mar/April 6” (15cm) Item Code Price 125-14 £7.00 for 10 or £16.50 for 25

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 45 GAP Images Triteleia Corrina Triteleia Foxy Triteleia Rudy

Triteleia Silver Queen TRITELEIA Rudy The same shape and stance as T. Early summer flowering bulbs, also known in the past as Brodiæa but Corrina but white flowered with a now more accurately Triteleia. They broad violet blue stripe down the come from north-west America. So centre of each petal. Very eye- often we are told that they look like catching and ‘different’ with a long miniature Agapanthus, to which vase life for when you feel that you they are unconnected. Their papery have enough to pick. flowers are a lasting pleasure, with 2-3” (5-8cm) up to 25 flowers per stem. Plant in June 18” (45cm) Tulipa bakeri Lilac Wonder well-drained soil and in good light, 68-07 £4.00 for 5 or £11.50 for 15 4” (10cm) deep and 2” (5cm) apart. Silver Queen SPECIES TULIPS bakeri Lilac Corrina White with a green rib, perfect for the The species types tend to have Wonder Silvery pink with a yellow bull’s A dark flowered form, creating a garden, or to use as cut flower? Just small bulbs, typically about the eye in the centre of each haze of deep blue when viewed the thing to plant in a sunny border size of an almond. They are particularly grown for their bright multiheaded flower, held above from a distance. Wiry stemmed and ahead of a summer wedding, given bold colours in late April and broad, deep green, glossy leaves. a deep blue that anticipates the a bit of advance warning? 2-3” (5-8cm) early May and because they A dependable sun loving plant Agapanthus season to come. persist from year to year (even 2-3” (5-8cm) June 18” (45cm) closely related to T. saxatalis. 68-13 £3.80 for 5 or £10.50 for 15 increasing in the right conditions) 3” (8cm) June 18” (45cm) better than do the bigger hybrid 68-06 £3.30 for 15 or £4.80 for 25 Mid-Late April 6” (15cm) forms. In villages nearby there 131-53 £3.00 for 10, £6.50 for 25 or are examples that I see growing £11.00 for 50 Foxy and spreading. They are sun White flowered with a purple blue lovers and don’t want it too wet, marking up the centre of each petal, particularly in the summer when Plants we list which the bulbs are resting. They are have received the RHS effectively more striped than Rudy Commendation ‘Award which shows more blue. Carol Klein attractive to mice and squirrels of Garden Merit’ are now loved them at the Gardeners’ World looking for the high levels of the tagged with the trophy carbohydrates in the autumn, if symbol. Space does Show in 2017. not allow us to add the hardiness 2-3” (5-8cm) that might be a problem there is mention (under the Crocus rating – please be aware the award June 18” (45cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, 68-15 £5.00 for 5 or £13.50 for 15 heading) of a way of keeping excellence and constitution, but not them protected and the same necessarily hardiness. applies here.

46 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Tulipa batalinii Bronze Charm Tulipa clusiana Cynthia

Tulipa clusiana Peppermintstick GAP Images Tulipa batalinii Salmon Gem Tulipa batalinii Honky Tonk Tulipa humilis Lilliput batalinii Bronze batalinii Honky clusiana humilis Lilliput Charm Tonk Peppermintstick Almost flowering at ground level Apricot yellow with increased Pale yellow flowered above grey- The furled petals look like a little stick and in flower thereafter for ages as bronzing on the petals in sunnier green foliage. The Tulipa batalinii of edible rock which, when open, are the stem length increases slightly. conditions. Grey-green leaved. A group are closely related to the ivory white inside with a violet eye, A glossy, deep crimson red with a really endearing small tulip with red flowered T. linifolia and may be the backs of the petals are blushed dark centre. poise and character. Gravelly soils botanically indistinguishable. cerise pink. The whole effect is 2-3” (5-8cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) March /April 4” (10cm) or planted into a well-drained lovely but do remember that all the 131-15 £3.00 for 5 or £8.20 for 15 rockery would be perfect. Mid-Late April 10” (25cm) clusiana forms have reasonably 2-3” (5-8cm) 131-03 £3.00 for 5 or £8.20 for 15 large flowers on quite slender stems Mid-Late April 10” (25cm) so do plant them in sunny conditions 131-08 £4.20 for 5 or £11.80 for 15 clusiana Cynthia where it is not too windy. We have some of these are growing 2-3” (5-8cm) batalinii Salmon and flourishing in some rough grass April 10” (25cm) Gem here - somewhat to my surprise, 131-02 £3.00 for 5 or £8.20 for 15 Pinkish red within the flower with a but given good light and a drier contrasting paler, dusty pink reverse summer rest they have performed to the petal. Grey- green leaved. well. This form is yellow behind the Again, for well drained conditions in pink flush. good light. 2-3” (5-8cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) April 10” (25cm) 131-167 £3.00 for 5 or £8.20 for 15 = suggested plant spacing Mid-Late April 10” (25cm) in garden situations 131-146 £4.50 for 5 or £12.80 for 15 Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 47 Tulipa humilis Persian Pearl Tulipa Little Beauty Tulipa praestans Shogun

Tulipa linifolia Tulipa Little Princess Tulipa sprengeri humilis Persian Little Beauty praestans Shogun sprengeri Pearl Growing wild in much the same Not as dwarf as most of the other Wonderful in early summer if you This is a selected form which area as T. humilis these have forms in this section but still earlier can get shafts of light to pick out comes from Turkey and eastwards, shockingly bright crimson-pink to flower than any of the larger the rich gold, verdigris and crimson all the family has low leaves nearly flowers which open wide in the sun hybrids. A remarkable colour for a colours. They will naturalise in flat to the ground and colourful to reveal white and blue centres tulip, multiheaded in a clear pale many situations, either in shade flowers. They need full sunlight which is slightly startling. For a Marigold orange. or sun, but resent disturbance to stay compact. Deep magenta sunny well drained site again. 2-3” (5-8cm) as young plants. They are an rose coloured flowers with silvery 3-4” (8-10cm) March/April 14” (35cm) enigmatic and emblematic tulip, 131-07 £3.00 for 10 or £6.50 for 25 backed petals Mid-Late April 5” (12cm) but we always seem to be short of 131-27 £3.50 for 10, £7.80 for 25 or them so do order early. They flower 2-3” (5-8cm) £14.50 for 50 April 4” (10cm) from small bulbs. 131-12 £3.50 for 5 or £9.80 for 15 Little Princess 3” (8cm) Of complex parentage but similar April/May 12” (30cm) linifolia to the T. humilis forms above 131-35 £6.00 each A crimson- red flowered, low these exhibit fiery coppery-orange Gardening Which? reported on a survey of Plant growing small tulip with red coloured flowers, goblet shaped and Bulb suppliers in April 2021. margins to the wavy edged leaves. before opening fully in the sun. The Suitable for any sunny well drained flowers are on short stems so are They surveyed just over 5000 of their members and needed a response rate of 30 to include a business in their ratings. garden site. pretty resilient, a really cracking 2-4” (5-10cm) good dwarf tulip for a sunny spot. “Although this small, family-run bulb supplier didn’t receive enough Mid-Late April 6” (15cm) 3” (8cm) responses for star ratings in some of our survey categories, it makes it into 131-26 £2.50 for 10, £5.50 for 25 or Mid-Late April 5” (12cm) the top bracket due to its customer satisfaction and recommendation score. £10.00 for 50 131-05 £3.00 for 5 or £8.20 for 15 Nine in 10 members who bought from Avon Bulbs would recommend it to others. Packaging, plant quality and value for money scored five, four and four stars respectively (out of five). The website is arranged by planting season with plants listed alphabetically and accompanied by large pictures. Avon Bulbs has also won 30 Chelsea Gold Medals.”

48 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Tulipa sylvestris Tulipa turkestanica Tulipa Exotic Emperor

Tulipa tarda Tulipa whittallii Tulipa Flaming Purissima sylvestris turkestanica FOSTERIANA Flaming Purissima Easy to grow, and possibly the only Ivory and cream coloured within the Creamy white when they first one that will persist in some shade, flower with dark anthers contrasting TULIPS open with just a hint of pink at the but naturally rather shy to flower. with the petals, greenish tinged (Group 13) Earlier flowering than edges of the petals. This becomes We have some that have increased on their backs. It is widespread in the main Tulip display, large increasingly dominant as the flower happily under an Amelanchier its natural range from SE Europe flowered on sturdy stems and matures, feathering gracefully in for 10 years or so, flowering through to and Russia. Growing available in lovely pastel colours. from the edge of the petals which intermittently as seems to be their away early and quite tall they need They need planting about 5” are eventually mostly red when fully nature. The flowers are sulphur bright conditions out of too much (12cm) apart and are equally developed, with dark anthers. yellow and fragrant. wind. Oddly red bulbed. suitable for containers or borders. 5” (12cm) 4” (10cm) 2-3” (5-8cm) Mar/April 14” (35cm) April 12” (30cm) April 9” (20cm) Exotic Emperor 131-71 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, 131-37 £6.80 for 10 or £15.80 for 25 131-134 £3.00 for 10, £6.50 for 25 or or £30.00 for 50 £11.00 for 50 Double petalled in white and when about to flower somewhat tarda rose-like with the white buds Plants we list which A perennial performer with larger, whittallii clasped by intriguing green have received the RHS very rounded fat bulbs which Named after Edward Whittall, a Commendation ‘Award bracts. Where we have seen it in of Garden Merit’ are now produce multiple flowers from each plant collector extraordinaire who gardens it has persisted for years tagged with the trophy bulb, all crammed together. Honey amassed many such treasures of on thin stoney soil. symbol. Space does scented in a deep golden yellow, around Izmir in Turkey where there 5” (12cm) not allow us to add the hardiness rating – please be aware the award edged in white. Pretty bulbs to plant is still a famous garden named after April 18” (45cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, in a sunny site. Easy and persisting. him. These are a gorgeous bronzy 131-100 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 excellence and constitution, but not 3” (8cm) orange with a dark centre and or £32.50 for 50 necessarily hardiness. Mid-Late April 5” (12cm) would love sunny conditions in a 131-38 £2.50 for 10, £5.50 for 25 or raised bed or rockery. £10.00 for 50 = suggested plant spacing 3” (8cm) in garden situations April 12” (30 cm) Flowering time Flowering height 131-42 £4.50 for 5 or £12.50 for 15 Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 49 Tulipa Orange Emperor Tulipa Annie Schilder Tulipa Brown Sugar

Tulipa Purissima Tulipa Barcelona Tulipa Calgary Orange Emperor MID SEASON Annie Schilder Brown Sugar One of my favourites with quite Warm rose-orange when in bud Difficult to pin down in colour long flowers in pale orange with TULIPS then the flower opens and pales to terms, bronzed apricot or coppery pretty green shading at the base. These Triumph (Group 3) and a lighter shade with some yellow pink perhaps, with some purple Good for bold contrast and great in Darwin (Group 4) tulips all have at the petal edges. Broadly bowl on the reverse. Much taller than combination planted with Purissima roughly the same flowering season shaped with a lovely perfume that many but strong stemmed with a for an early flowering twosome. - we used to say mid to late April seems to come with many of the beautiful perfume. Picture taken at Great Dixter. and early May, but in our fickle orange tulips. Dating back to the 5” (12cm) 5” (12cm) climate this is just a guide, they are 1920s this is one that has been April 18” (45cm) Mar/April 16” (40cm) now often earlier flowering and the around a while. 131-142 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 or £32.50 for 50 131-72 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, frequency of that happening seems 5” (12cm) or £30.00 for 50 to only increase. These would be April 18” (45cm) planted about 5” (12cm) apart and 131-135 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, Calgary Purissima are very well suited to the open or £30.00 for 50 garden in borders, or containers. Very short and compact with waxy Opening a pale primrose yellow, white flowers that are brilliant in about which we receive a number Barcelona exposed conditions, shrugging of phone calls each year wondering Outstanding at Keukenhof when I off any wind and rain, lasting whether a packing mistake has visited and took this photograph, brilliantly. We use them at the occurred, they turn through creamy with strong stems and a very vibrant edges of our exhibits and you shades to pure white and then in pink flower. It made the shortlist could use them in the same way in late March sunshine they open wide straight away. the garden or containers. 5” (12cm) to reveal dramatic mascara black 5” (12cm) April 18” (45cm) anthers. Strong stemmed over April 9” (22cm) 131-159 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 bright green leaves. 131-48 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 = suggested plant spacing or £36.50 for 50 5” (12cm) in garden situations or £36.50 for 50 Mar/April 18” (45cm) Flowering time Flowering height 131-16 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, Item Code Price or £30.00 for 50

50 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Tulipa Calgary Flames Tulipa Grand Perfection Tulipa Hemisphere GAP Images Tulipa Flaming Flag Tulipa Havran Tulipa Jan Reus

Calgary Flames Grand Perfection Hemisphere Jan Reus A variant on the Calgary model with Exhibiting broad flashes of red over These change colour as the Deep purple-red when first open, a prominent yellow flush to the outer what is, when they first open, quite flowers mature so the effect is one fading to a ruby red with petals that petals, we find them useful at flower a yellow background. This soon of gradual evolution, each flower shimmer in the sun atop a dark shows as with such short stems turns white for a stronger raspberry developing its freckling and faint strong stem that adds to the impact. they do not flop over during the and vanilla contrast. Reminiscent of stripes at a slightly different rate. They combine with just about show, so at the front of borders or the tulips illustrated in the paintings The whole result is a range of everything, especially the acid green close to the edge in big pots these by the Dutch Masters at the height warm colours from white through foliage of emerging Euphorbia. too could lift your display? of the Tulip mania. to raspberry. Most tulips are pretty 5” (12cm) 5” (12cm) 5” (12cm) uniform, these are less so, which I April 18” (45cm) April 9” (22cm) April 18” (45cm) like, but do plant enough of them to 131-62 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 or £30.00 for 50 131-136 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 131-123 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, get the effect. or £36.50 for 50 or £30.00 for 50 5” (12cm) April 18” (45cm) Flaming Flag Havran 131-137 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 White with broad raspberry flames Darker than plum in some lights, or £36.50 for 50 from the base. The white with with a grape like bloom dusting the crimson mix is like an expensive petals, these are not quite as dark ice cream, absolutely perfect in Plants we list which as Queen of Night but have a more have received the RHS combination with the pink and white pointed shape and would open Commendation ‘Award apple blossom that is out at the earlier, so these could start off your of Garden Merit’ are now same time. A few of these tulips go dark theme. Quite often they have tagged with the trophy symbol. Space does Have a look at our Tulip a long way. more than one flower to a stem. not allow us to add the hardiness 5” (12cm) 5” (12cm) rating – please be aware the award Collections on pages April 18” (45cm) April 18” (45cm) applies to the ease of cultivation, 57 & 65, they offer 131-168 £6.00 for 10, £13.75 for 25, 131-57 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 excellence and constitution, but not or £27.50 for 50 or £32.50 for 50 necessarily hardiness. savings of about 10%

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 51 Tulipa Mistress Tulipa Paul Scherer Tulipa Sanne

Tulipa Negrita Tulipa Prinses Irene Tulipa Sunny Prince

Mistress Paul Scherer Prinses Irene Sanne A clear strong pink with simple Strong stemmed, with slightly grey- An earthy mix of oranges, Pale apricot when they first open flowers they remind me of an old green foliage contrasting with the marmalade and purple, but unlikely with a pinkish tinge added to the mix favourite now unobtainable called exceptionally dark cup-shaped as it seems they work brilliantly as they mature, the tips of the petals Douglas Bader which also showed flowers. I love the possibilities that together. This is a great favourite, always slightly paler. Soft, feminine very well. tulips provide to play with colours with low reddish marked leaves and subtle with a great shape. <5” (12cm) in a way that no other plants allow. and on short stems it is less 5” (12cm) April 20” (50cm) As dark as Queen of Night and affected by poor weather. Add in a April/May 18” (45cm) 131-162 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25, probably with a stronger stem these huge scent and one can see why 131-122 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 or £30.00 for 50 or £36.50 for 50 are better than dark chocolate. it is so popular. See also ‘Orange 5” (12cm) Princess’ which is a double form of Negrita April 18” (45cm) the same tulip. Sunny Prince One might imagine Negrita to be 131-107 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 5” (12cm) Bright butter yellow within the flower, darker than the name suggests? or £32.50 for 50 April 15” (38cm) slightly paler on the backs of the This is a lovely purple tulip with 131-10 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 petals, this is a relatively short, beetroot veining running through or £32.50 for 50 sturdy form seemingly filled with the petals, strong stemmed too. happiness. 5” (12cm) 5” (12cm) April 18” (45cm) April 14” (34cm) 131-149 £6.00 for 10, £13.75 for 25, 131-143 £6.00 for 10, £13.75 for 25 or £27.50 for 50 or £27.50 for 50

52 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Tulipa Unique de France Tulipa Antoinette Tulipa Clearwater

Tulipa Angel’s Wish Tulipa City of Vancouver Tulipa Queen of Night

Unique de France SINGLE LATE Antoinette Clearwater Amazingly vibrant - shiny and A chameleon tulip which starts You can never have enough white gleaming like a newly painted TULIPS greenish-yellow then fades to Tulips. Either on their own or pillar box, certainly one of the (Group 5) These have simple, creamy-yellow with a hint of pink alongside any of the other colours most deeply coloured tulips but elegant cup or goblet shaped and finally turns salmon pink with they are always special. A simple most unique is its foliage - the flowers and longer stems, flowering a touch of orange. With a multi shape and pure white. leaves are deep green and very after the mid season tulips (but headed nature this provides lots of 5” (12cm) waxy, quite different from any overlapping with them). flower and continual development April 16” (40cm) other tulip’s foliage. Good for the and interest. 131-170 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 or £36.50 for 50 garden or containers where they Angel’s Wish 5” (12cm) will be noticed! White with creamy yellow. Simple April/May 20” (50cm) 131-153 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 Queen of Night 5” 12cm) looking with broad petals and a strong April 16” (40cm) or £36.50 for 50 stem. A great white, rather bigger One of the darkest delights, and 131-121 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 justifiably one of our best sellers. or £30.00 for 50 flowered than City of Vancouver. 5” (12cm) City of Vancouver Though not quite black, only Paul April/May 18” (45cm) Pale creamy yellow and turning Scherer comes close. The deepest 131-32 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 paler as they age. Simply gorgeous. hue shows on bulbs in direct or £32.50 for 50 5” (12cm) sunlight, in more shade they are April/May 20” (50cm) deep purple and often taller. 131-156 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 5” (12cm) or £30.00 for 50 April/May 24” (60cm) = suggested plant spacing 131-58 £6.00 for 10, £13.75 for 25 in garden situations or £27.50 for 50 Flowering time Flowering height Item Code Price

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 53 Tulipa Ballerina Tulipa Fly Away Tulipa Madalyn

Tulipa Elegant Lady Tulipa Firework Tulipa Greenstar Tulipa Merlot LILY FLOWERED Elegant Lady Fly Away Madalyn Pale ivory yellow with pale pink Much more apparently ‘Lily flowered’ Most impressively coloured with TULIPS edging, refined and elegant. with the typically pointed silhouette, vibrant pink over most of the petal (Group 6) Characterised by their 5” (12cm) the band of yellow is narrower and and a base of green, the flowers longer stems and that refined ‘hour April/May 24” (60cm) the red rather more pronounced. splay open very dramatically and glass’ shape to the flower, waisted 131-78 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 5” (12cm) widely. It was also being hugely or £30.00 for 50 when in bud and opening up in April/May 22” (55cm) admired in Holland. the sun with pointed tips. They 131-164 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 5” (12cm) are great in flower borders, and Firework or £32.50 for 50 April/May 20” (50cm) in tall containers which seem to A bright and zingy combination of 131-166 £9.00 for 10, £21.25 for 25 exaggerate the stem length. strong yellow petals with a bright Greenstar or £40.00 for 50 red flare up the centre of each petal. I saw these at Keukenhof on a Ballerina Not particularly tall so perhaps a busy day there, it was heaving with Merlot Soft tangerine coloured flowers, better choice for windy sites? people and I had trouble getting Tall and elegantly poised with though different lights and differing 5” (12cm) close to take a shot of these flowers that mimic a large wine levels of UV light seems to result in April/May 16” (40cm) tulips without people in the way glass in both shape and content, 131-163 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 because everyone else was taking there is no doubt about how the some variation in the shade from or £36.50 for 50 year to year. One of my favourites selfies in front of them. They are name arose. (and in that I am not alone), I extraordinary, very angular, vase 5” (12cm) April/May 28” (65cm) particularly love its scent when shaped and strongly green marked. 5” (12cm) 131-130 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 warmed in the sun. The tangerine or £32.50 for 50 hue also goes perfectly with all the April/May 20” (50cm) 131-165 £9.00 for 10, £21.25 for 25 leafy greens, altogether very eye- or £40.00 for 50 catching with a heady perfume. 5” (12cm) April/May 20” (50cm) 131-65 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 or £30.00 for 50

54 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Tulipa Pieter de Leur Tulipa Cummins Tulipa Lambada

Tulipa Trés Chic Tulipa White Triumphator Tulipa Honeymoon Tulipa Pacific Pearl Pieter de Leur White FRINGED Lambada Glistening, vibrant, deep vermilion Triumphator TULIPS A fringed apricot - rose coloured red, almost opalescent as a ruby All white with long clean green tulip with perhaps a hint of tiffany lamp, not a tulip for the stems. An iconic and popular tulip, (Group 7) First popular in the florist orange as well. A bit shorter with faint hearted but then these are but not so typically lily flowered in shops these are fringed by frills a smaller head. showy tulips doing what they do its shape. They seem always more along the edges of the petals, they 6-8” (15-20cm) best! My father’s favourite with dramatic when provided with a are not just frivolous though, they April/May 18” (45cm) his dimming eyes. provide a contemporary twist. 131-151 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 darker background against which to or £30.00 for 50 5” (12cm) view them. April/May 18” (45cm) 5” (12cm) Cummins 131-150 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 April/May 20” (50cm) or £30.00 for 50 Dove grey in some lights, a pale Pacific Pearl 131-46 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 lilac purple in others, with a deep Gorgeous against the light when Trés Chic or £32.50 for 50 white frosting around the edges of the richness of the colour shows Creamy white when in bud, the petals. at its best, and the frilly edge becoming white with faint green 6-8” (15-20cm) means that you can mix them with tips to the pointed petals as they April/May 15” (38cm) any of the other unfringed ones open properly, sometimes with pink 131-88 £9.00 for 10, £21.25 for 25 and find that they complement splashes as well. Much shorter in or £40.00 for 50 each other hugely. stature, which in exposed gardens 6-8” (15-20cm) or in some planters may be an Honeymoon April/May 18” (45cm) advantage. A tulip that lives up to Creamy white, sometimes with a tinge 131-152 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 its name. of green and edged in a sparkling or £30.00 for 50 5” (12cm) white, frosted fringe. A cracking tulip April/May 12” (30cm) Have a look at our Tulip that looks as though it has just been 131-66 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 Collections on pages drawn from the ice bucket. or £32.50 for 50 = suggested plant spacing 57 & 65, they offer 6-8” (15-20cm) in garden situations April/May 15” (38cm) Flowering time Flowering height savings of about 10% 131-95 £8.50 for 10, £19.50 for 25 Item Code Price or £36.50 for 50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 55 Tulipa Black Parrot Tulipa Spring Green Tulipa Foxtrot

Tulipa Rococo PARROT TULIPS (Group 10) Exuberance is the greatest asset of this group, with flowers that seem to be overflowing Tulipa Angelique Tulipa Orange Princess with frilled or fluted petals. Dramatic is the best way to describe them I feel. Wonderful to use as part of VIRIDIFLORA DOUBLE Foxtrot a fantastical flower arrangement. An early flowering double in old Big and heavy headed, best in TULIPS PETALLED TULIPS rose pink which deepens in colour good light and in some breeze as the flowers age. Tidy and neat which will shake the rain from the (Group 8) Multi-coloured tulips with (Group 11) Also known as the multitudinous petals. vertical colour banding, most often Paeony flowered forms. These and much earlier flowering than the in green. Some exhibit complicated tend to be late flowering with similar Angelique. colour patterning, like an artist’s more spherical buds and rounded 5” (12cm) Black Parrot mixing palette. In the borders they flower shapes, filled with deep April 12” (30cm) The unopen flower buds seem to provide great opportunities to create layers of petals. 131-147 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 be clutched in a green fingered grip subtle combinations. or £32.50 for 50 and when it escapes to flower the Angelique dark chocolate purple petals seem Spring Green Often multi-headed, the flowers Orange Princess to erupt in a cockscomb of frilled Pale apple-white petals marked filled with ruffled petals in delicate I was tempted to list this alongside excess, a dark favourite indeed. with wispy green brush strokes on shades of pink, genuinely paeony- Prinses Irene, it is after all a double 5” (12cm) the back of each petal. Often less like from a distance, somewhat form of that favourite tulip. But April/May 20” (50cm) being a double this is where it fits 131-17 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 ‘regular’ in height and flower shape shorter in stature than most. Late or £32.50 for 50 compared to many other tulips but flowering beauties for borders as best and if you love the single form ideal for separating strong colours well as cut flower. you will recognise the similarity and Rococo in the border or for flower arranging. 5” (12cm) perhaps be tempted to try them? One of the all-time favourites. April/May 16” (40cm) I find the encircling green tipped Earlier than most other Parrot tulips 5” (12cm) 131-24 £8.30 for 10, £19.50 for 25 petals rather appealing. with short stems, these are deep April/May 18” (45cm) or £36.50 for 50 5” (12cm) velvety red with the reverse of the 131-51 £7.50 for 10, £17.50 for 25 April/May 16” (40cm) petal marked with green, the petals or £32.50 for 50 131-140 £9.00 for 10, £21.25 for 25 tightly crimped as though they had or £40.00 for 50 been gripped too tight in the bud, very suitable for pots. 5” (12cm) = suggested plant spacing April 12” (30cm) in garden situations 131-127 £7.00 for 10, £16.25 for 25 Flowering time Flowering height or £30.00 for 50 Item Code Price

56 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Ideal as 2021 Collections Gifts Colour Themed or Seasonal Tulip Collections. 10 of each of 4 varieties for planting in pots or the garden.

Collection 404 - Dreamy Tulip Collection Collection 407 - Fiery Tulip Collection 999-404 £28.50 999-407 £26.00

Tulipa Angelique x 10 Tulipa Hemisphere x 10 Tulipa Annie Schilder x 10 Tulipa Barcelona x 10

Tulipa Sanne x 10 Tulipa Mistress x 10 Tulipa Pieter de Leur x 10 Tulipa Lambada x 10 Saving more than 10% on individually purchased items

Collection 406 – The Wine Box Tulip Collection 999-406 £25.00

Tulipa Angel’s Wish x 10 Tulipa Merlot x 10 Tulipa City of Vancouver x 10 Tulipa Negrita x 10

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 57 Peat Free? There is a lot of discussion in the Press and elsewhere about the use of peat in horticulture. We did use a proportion of peat in our own compost mix until fairly recently but have over the years been reducing that proportion and replacing it by coir in particular as well as bark based materials. This has been reasonably successful and we have now not used peat for a while. A consequent issue is that in horticulture this move has put a great deal of pressure on the supply of alternative materials. Coir and other products made from composted bark are in very short supply even at a time when we are potting very little. What Mesh Baskets will happen when we are potting more in the autumn We have long suggested the use of aquatic in particular I am not sure. We shall order well in baskets to contain special bulbs in the garden. advance and hope to receive what we need. This helps to keep them from ‘wandering’, means that you can move them all at once Mulches without excessive disturbance (and your own In the same vein we are experimenting with soil home-made lid) offer protection from pests. The covering mulches which are used to both supress plants within can root out into the surrounding weed seeds germinating in our nursery beds, to soil but not escape. Good for small bulbs and make the removal of such weeds rather easier and to special snowdrops. These are rugged and long conserve moisture, particularly in the summer when lasting pots from the Finofil range. we notice that the Blackdown Hills to our south-west seem to push the rain north and south of us, creating We can offer 2 sizes, both cylindrical: a mini rain shadow area! 14 cm diameter x 10 cm deep (1 litre) 668-02 3 for £4.00 We are now using a mulch which is one end product 23 cm diameter x 13 cm deep (3.5 litre) of an Anaerobic Digestor nearby. There is a huge 669-03 £2.00 each or 3 for £5.00 industrial unit that ‘digests’ vegetable matter to produce gas to feed into the National Grid and New Unused to power electricity generators. Their raw material includes chicken shed waste, potato waste and Snowdrop Pots huge quantities of maize cut and stored in enormous outdoor clamps to provide material year round. I We recycle and am a critic of the maize production – in particular its reuse the pots scale, the characteristics of maize that make it rather in which the ‘alien’, the reliance on huge machinery required to cut snowdrops have and haul it at a time of year when the soil is readily been grown, but damaged, as well as the fact that the fields are then we do get asked bare for the winter all seem to me to be at odds with for pots by keen good agricultural practice. It is an industry that is Galanthophiles largely supported on subsidies as we work out how to who might be reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, so its economics growing their are skewed. But I am conflicted in that we use a tiny own snowdrops to amount of their waste! 100 tonnes of material go into sell or give away. We try not to encourage the the plant every day, we have used about 20 tonnes of growing of snowdrops in pots long term, but of all biodigestate this year – and for that purpose it seems the pots we have used over the years these seem to work rather well. the most suitable for single snowdrop bulbs. They are 9cm square and 12.5cm deep with good drainage holes and of a robust construction and only available in black! Sent with any order they will not incur additional postage charges, sent alone please allow £3.00

Snowdrop Pots 668-01 £2.80 for 10

58 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 ORDERING FROM AVON BULBS

Generally: This catalogue is valid through the remainder Delivery – When? There may be some delay before we can of 2021 and expires in December. The prices are for single send you your order. Orders are dealt with in receipt order in bulbs unless it says otherwise, and can be found under each their season and when all the items are ready to be sent. description. VAT is included in our prices at the prevailing rate. Please remember that this catalogue was written in June when How much? The basic postage charge is £5.95 for all bulbs we offer are listed in the expectation, not the certainty, that parcels within mainland UK, but there are exceptions. For we can supply them. Nature, the weather, and the perishability addresses in the Scottish Highlands, the Scottish islands and of living bulbs means that we sometimes cannot supply things Island destinations such as the Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, that we list, despite our best intentions. If that happens we make Isle of Man and Scillies we may need at add a surcharge no substitutions for items out of stock without contacting you dependant on parcel weight, these are generally sent sent by for authority unless they are from our Collections, within these Royal Mail or ParcelForce, but these require a trip to the Post we do make suitable substitutions if required. Office 3 miles away. If, when you get your parcel, you are concerned at all by In detail: ‘Mainland’ UK: Parcels under 2 kg are sent by the its contents please contact us as soon as you can. We do Royal Mail. Parcels heavier than 2 Kg will be sent to mainland occasionally make mistakes, but we do make no specific UK addresses with our carriers, DPD, on a next working day guarantees about our bulbs except that we believe them to be service (no deliveries on a Saturday). Providing us with your viable, suitable and correctly named. We cannot guarantee email address will result in a message from us to confirm flowering - though we would expect it in the first season from the despatch of the parcel (whoever the carrier) and will also result vast majority of the bulbs supplied under reasonable growing (for the parcels sent with DPD) a further advisory message to conditions. allow you to track the delivery. From DPD also (if you provide a mobile telephone number) you will be sent a text message Ordering: You can order by post or phone. Alternatively you telling you exactly when your parcel will be delivered (to within can browse this catalogue but place your order online using the an hour) and you can reply to this to change that time slot. Quick Order facility on our website. Whichever way you do it we Whichever service we use we do recommend that you provide will acknowledge your order, ideally by email but if not, by post. us with Safeplace leaving instructions. The delivery will then not Please check that your order has been correctly entered onto require your signature but will be left where you nominate. our system. Other ‘Mainland’ Destinations Paying: Please provide a means of payment with your order. This could be your credit or debit card details (the card For Destinations in the Highlands and Islands and the payment is then taken as the parcel is despatched), similarly remoter parts of Britain: see the paragraph under How Much? a Not to Exceed cheque – made out like a normal cheque Europe & Northern Ireland: Sadly, due to the cost of but undated and with no values. Across the top of the cheque phytosanitry inspections and other issues we are not accepting you instead write “ Not to Exceed £XX” where the value is a orders from Europe or Northern Ireland. slightly greater than the amount you expect to pay. We will then complete it at the time of despatch for the correct total. Or a Collecting your Order: You may like to collect your order normal cheque for what you believe is the right amount (which from the nursery or at a show we are attending (with two we will bank when the order is placed). If the card payment is weeks’ notice preferably) and avoid a delivery charge. This not authorised at the point of despatch your order will be held can be arranged for a mutually convenient moment when the up whist we contact you and obtain your correct card details. bulbs are available. Please arrange such collections before the end of October.

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! We have very few of the original design using Susan Ogilvy’s illustrations left and will have to reprint the diary this year. We have taken the decision after 25 years and two reprints to make a change to the illustrations. The idea is to use them to promote a range of artists and to give them each a page to display their own particular ideas. The remainder of the book works well just as it is, and will remain at 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. These illustrations are of the first design. £20.00 including P&P (within UK)

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 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). 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!

777-025 777-003 777-024 777-004 777-006

Average seed contents: 20 Average seed contents: 80 Average seed contents: 15 Average seed contents: 15 Average seed contents: 25

Allium cernuum Camassia leichtlinii Cerinthe major Dahlia coccinea Gladiolus tristis ‘Avon’s Stellar hybrids’ ‘Purpurascens’ var palmeri Claret pink flowered plants of A beautiful South African species that reasonably well drained locations in Hardy North American plants, A hardy annual from the Single orange-red flowers in late flowers in April/May in Britain with full sun. Of North American origin Camassia all like heavy soils in sun Mediterranean region, known as summer on a plant which exhibits wonderful pale straw coloured flowers and hardy in the UK, self sown or part shade. They flower in late April Honeywort. An aristocratic border very dissected ‘frothy’ foliage. The with pretty green highlights and a good seedlings spreading and thickening or early May, (after the blue flowered plant which is beautiful and versatile. plant can be large, the seed was perfume in the evenings. 3-4’ (30-40 one’s clumps. Summer flowering forms which produce little or no seed). It is adored by bees and is much collected from an established plant cm) tall. They will need a sheltered about 18” (45 cm) tall with leaves The flowering plants are 24-26” tall favoured as a cut flower. It has about 7’ tall. Dahlias like a rich situation in cold gardens or cold that persist for much of the year. (60-90 cm). Colours will vary - pink, glaucous leaves with interesting fertile soil and need planting in the districts, but if they can be grown in a The flowers are good for beneficial lilac, blue, cream and green. purple bracts and bell shaped flowers sun. They may need a mulch (or to favoured spot they will set seed and insects. They may take 3 years to from May to September. be lifted) in cold gardens, but the increase. They are in leaf through much flower from seed, some will flower in species forms seem hardier than the of the winter when they will cope with their 2nd year hybrids. These should flower in their temperatures down to -3ºC. first season.

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

Nicotiana mutabilis Nectaroscordum Orlaya Grandiflora Pimpinella Tulbaghia cominsii (Ornamental Tobacco) siculum (White Lace Flower) major rosea x violacea Closely related to Alliums (the A striking tender plant up to 5’ (1.5m) ornamental ), originally from A plant of meadows, vineyards and Deep pink of small flowers, Long flowering perennial of South with showers of white flowers which Asia minor and Mediterranean these olive groves in the Mediterranean. they look like a pink flowered cow African origin. Long thin leaved turn through pink to a deep magenta as have tall smooth stems on which Fern-like foliage and lace-like parsley. Blooms in May/June, foliage, onion scented when crushed. they mature. The effect is spectacular there open dangling bell shaped white umbels, with the outer petals ideally in the sun or light shade, Purple – pink flowers from June to with both colours present on the plant flowers in pink, purple and green. larger than the inner. 18-24” tall 40” (100cm) tall. Sow the seeds in October, 18-24” (45-60 cm) tall. together. Flowers in the late summer. When dry they stand erect. The (45-60cm). An easy to grow annual the autumn in ordinary garden soil Seedlings may vary, due to the hybrid If a plant is overwintered (in frost free whole plant is very garlic scented setting seed that you can collect or gritty compost (as they require nature of the plant. Plants flower in conditions) flowering is much earlier when handled. They grow best in and grow. chilling to break the dormancy) and their second year. Very good patio and more profuse the second year. lighter soils in sun or part shade and overwinter the seed tray outside. plants in planters, enjoying warm are happy growing in grass. They They may not germinate until the conditions and very drought tolerant. flower in the early summer about 30” spring. Prick out into small pots In cold areas mulch plants in the Insect friendly (75cm) tall. when the seedlings are large enough ground in winter and protect pots from Plants to handle and when these plants are extended freezing temperatures. Hardy large enough themselves plant into outside to about -10˚C. their final position.

P&P for any number of seed packets ordered alone within UK £1.50

60 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Any packet of seeds £2.50

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Double Black Double Lilac Double Pink Average seed contents: 10 Average seed contents: 10 Papaver somniferum 777-012 777-017 Fully double flower heads of Lunaria annua Lunaria annua various colours. June flowering Chedglow Corfu Blue about 36” (90cm) tall. May need staking in windy gardens. Hardy biennial flowering April to early Hardy biennial, flowering in the spring They are plants of open, sunny May with wonderful chocolate leaves often earlier than other Lunaria, with and lilac flowers, growing to 3’ (1 m) purple-blue flowers on purple flushed situations in well drained soil and or a bit more. Decorative seed heads stems, growing to 3’ (90cm) tall and a are hardy, but annual, so you will persist with translucent discs that can spread of up to 30” (75cm). The seed be reliant on falling (or collected) be used in dried arrangements. cases are distinctive as papery silvered seed for future years. Self fertile, seed heads. These may hybridise with but some slight variation in flower other Lunaria close by. The leaves are browsed by rabbits. colour may occur. Double Shiraz Blackcurrant Fizz

777-023 Maxiflex Gardening Gloves

We have now extended the range of gloves that we offer. We previously only offered them in sizes 7 and 10, and whilst they are elasticated that was not good enough! They are now available in the intermediate sizes as well so remeasure your hands (details on the website) and see what now fits better and add Average seed contents: 30 a pair or two to your order? They remain at the exceptional price of £6.50 each or £18.50 for 3. Tulipa sprengeri

May flowering species tulip, now unknown in the wild. Red flowered, often verdigris marked on the outside with contrasting golden anthers. About 18” (40cm) tall. May take 3-4 Measuring the circumference of your hand as years to flower, but avoid disturbance indicated choose the size of glove you need: in the area. Once flowering will self seed. Bulbs flower when grape sized Circumference “ / (mm) Glove Size Item Code Cuff Colour or larger. 7” (178 mm) 7 669-02 Red 8” (203 mm) 8 669-03 Orange 9” (229 mm) 9 669-04 White 10” (254 mm) 10 669-01 Yellow

P&P for any number of seed packets ordered alone within UK £1.50

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 61 Ideal as 2021 Collections Gifts Themed Collections of Bulbs for autumn planting in pots or the garden.

Collection 408 – Allium Collection Collection 410 – Crocus vernus Collection 999-408 £19.00 999-410 £26.50 Crocus vernus Crocus vernus Allium cristophii x 3 Allium Purple Rain x 5 Flower Record x 15 Golden Yellow x 15

Allium hollandicum x 10 Allium sphaerocephalon x 15 Crocus vernus Jeanne D’Arc x 15 Crocus vernus Pickwick x 15 Saving more than 10% on individually purchased items

Collection 412: Compton Clumps Collection 999-412 £100.00

Based on an idea generated by this picture on Instagram by Tania Compton.

I feel that there might be people who are now mowing far less, so here is a planting idea to make an area of formerly mown lawn far more interesting early in the year. The coverage will depend on the spacing of your ‘clumps’ and most of the clumps will contain a different mix. We will provide some suggestions. More than 300 bulbs in 12 varieties. With an average of 10 bulbs in a clump this will create about 30 clumps at £3.30 per clump.

10 Hyacinthus Blue Jacket (a smaller bulb size than those listed in the catalogue providing a smaller flower) 50 Anemone blanda blue 10 Anemone blanda White Splendour 50 Camassia esculenta 15 Crocus Queen of the Blues 15 Crocus Remembrance 15 Fritillaria meleagris 7 Ipheion Alberto Castillo 15 Narcissus Topolino 15 Narcissus Thalia 50 Puschkinia libanotica alba 50 Scilla bifolia

62 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Order for Autumn despatch You can include any Cyclamen and Iris Please specify plants and costs here, unguicularis on pages 6-9 on this order form and complete the other side of the form. for Autumn despatch (whilst stock allow).

Stock Price and No. of packs No. x price Item Code. Plant name pack size required £

131-24 Tulipa Angelique (EXAMPLE ONLY) 8.30/10 2 16.60

The example at the top shows the information we need – in particular, the Item Code given at subtotal the bottom left of the plant entry. 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 £5.95 (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 63 Mail Order for Office use only: Autumn 2021 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

Title: Mr Mrs Miss Other ______

Name: ______

House Name/No: ______

Street: ______

Town: ______

County: ______

Country: ______Postcode ______

Telephone/Mobile No:______

Email address: ______It may be helpful for us or the carrier to contact you if any problems arise. Please complete these questions (We now need your permission to stay in touch, except with regard to this order) By Post: Are you happy to receive our printed catalogues in the future? Yes No By Email: Do you wish to receive occasional emailed Newsletter from us along with any Special Offers? Yes No (We will not sell or pass on any contact details except to manage your order (see more on this on page 10)

Other Delivery Instructions: ______

Is this an order for collection? ______Is it a gift? ______If you are likely to be out during the day, please suggest where the parcel should be left ______or who else might accept delivery. ______If you want your order to be sent as a gift to someone else (invoice to you), tick the box ______and put the recipient’s name and address and postcode in the space provided to the right. ______

Payment Orders are not accepted without payment except by prior agreement. Please include payment or please charge my Visa / Mastercard account. Cheque enclosed Yes, value £ ______, or

Card No. · · · Card expiry date /

Security code (last three digits on reverse of card) Signature ______Please fold this sheet into a smaller envelope to avoid postal surcharges

64 Avon Bulbs Mail Order Catalogue Autumn 2021 Ideal as 2021 Collections Gifts Colour Themed or Seasonal Collections.

Collection 411 – ‘Lasagne’ Collection Collection 405 - White Tulip Collection 999-411 £21.00 999-405 £29.00 Bulbs for a layered planter, instructions included. Muscari Baby’s Breath x 10 Narcissus Minnow x 10 Tulipa Calgary x 10 Tulipa Clearwater x 10

A happy customers’s picture - Angela S. No apologies for repeating what was reported by many as a big success last year.

Narcissus Oxford Gold x 10 Tulipa Purissima x 10 Tulipa Honeymoon x 10 Tulipa Trés Chic x 10 Saving more than 10% on individually purchased items

Colection 409 – Daffodil Collection 999-409 £30.00

Narcissus February Gold x 10 Narcissus Martinette x 5 Narcissus poeticus recurves x 15 Narcissus Sweetness x 15

Tel: 01460 242 177 • Email: [email protected] • Website: www.avonbulbs.co.uk 65 If undelivered please return to sender: Avon Bulbs Burnt House Farm Mid Lambrook South Petherton Somerset TA13 5HE

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