Hi
I am trying to locate a standard Hamamelis preferably a red/orange form with good autumn colour and a large cercis "forest pansy". I wanted to spend anything up to around £130 each plant. I have seen a hamamelis standard "ruby glow" from Gardening Express but their feedback is so bad I was frightened to order it. Does anyone know where I could get these please?
Standard Hamamelis/ Specimen Cercis "Forest Pansy"
I've had a hamamelis Jelena which is a lovely orangey red and seems to glow when the winter light catches it, but it wasn't a standard. I don't think I've ever seen a standard witch hazel. I also bought a Forest pansy last year but it was only about 3 ft high and cost about £30. I'll look up the nursery tomorrow if it still has the label on. I got it from a specialist plant fair at the botanical gardens and he had some unusual trees and shrubs, so might be able to supply you.
Is there a special reason why you want more mature plants? I find the younger ones establish better and if they are happy they grow quite fast, and you don't lose as much money if they don't.
Hi Patbarr
Thanks for the reply. I have already got a hamamelis Diane and at the moment the leaf colour is a real showstopper. But the nature of the plant means it is quite low to the ground and hidden in my border. I thought if I had a standard one I could see the leaves much better. I wouldn't mind younger plants but I am not sure what the growth rate is like. I must look that up! Again I would prefer a standard cercis (I confess I love trees lol). I am still salivating at the thought of the standard hamamelis 'ruby glow' on the garden express website.
I have just looked up the nursery I got my Cercis from and it is Bluebell Nursery and Arboretum. They have a lovely selection of plants but I can't see any standard ones.
The Palm Farm had Forest Pansy, they have a good range of unusual tress etc, it's a few years since I got their catalogue and I didn't buy from them but I know they have many mature trees as well as intermediate and smaller sizes.
http://www.thepalmfarm.co.uk/
My Forest Pansy I got locally and it' still in a pot (was potted on but needed a larger one), it needed to go in the ground but I wan't ready for it. I must have had it at least 3 or 4 years, it's fairly slow growing, but this year it lost it's leaves early, I'm hoping it's just because of the cold summer!
The palm farm buys in items from Italy and trades them out. Not sure much is grown in the grounds. The pictures on the site that i can see properly show plants grown in pistoia region of italy.
Some of the better garden centres near you will trade with the same people, like vanuci and tessi etc.
Hi everyone. I have looked at the Bluebell Nursery in the past nice selection of cultivars of different species. They have got cercis and the hamamelis but I still would prefer a slightly bigger cercis and a standard witch hazel. I have a feeling it may be a fruitless search. They have a nice big cercis on www.wykehammatureplants.co.uk but they are out of stock! Darn!!
Try Barchams... they also deal in big trees. Not sure they deal with the public though.
Mike
Formidable.................... Gardening Express is ok. I know Chris the owner, have done quite a while. If you speak to him direct he will make sure you get a decent plant.
I love the palm farm............... lovely place to visit, but as Mike says, nothing much is actually planted in the ground.
Mark
I don't know gardening express... where are they based?
They are in Chelmsford.............. I first came by them on ebay. But has stopped selling on there now.
Hey good old essex boys... good at trading in that county.. There are a few rogues that way on but not heard of these guys.
He is ok, have known him quite a while and I use him myself...........
Hi Mark and Mike
Sorry not been on for a while with halloween and all that. I was looking up feedback on Gardening Express as I always do prior to ordering online. I went on www.blagger.com and found them under garden centres. Wow what a slating enough to put anyone off. Having said that Mark, if you know him maybe its just that I have been reading what a few disgruntled maybe ?malicous (have I spelt that right?) customers have to say.Maybe Chris has many thousands of happy customers.
Mandy
By the way just noticed my stinking iris is blooming today (supposed to bloonm in June which it didn't) . Barmy isn,t it!