Identify this plant please...

[Paul Narramore]

Yesterday my wife and I were walking in St.James' Park in London between the restaurant and the Park Office, with the lake on our right, when we came across a quite stunning bed. It was filled with tree ferns, Cannas and lots of other Mediterranean plants.There were few flowers but the colurs of the foliage was enough. We got talking to some gardeners planting out thousands of primulas and we were told that the bed is due to be grubbed up next week.

I've emailed the Parks Department to see if these plants are to be sold off, as I discovered on their website that they do have some plant sales in Greenwich Park.

Anyway my question. I'm actually kicking myself as a photo would surely solve this problem, but we noticed one striking plant. It was at the front of the border, only about 12" high, with small leaves like a Salvia, but with quite striking but tiny purple/blue and scarlet flowers.

I've also emailed the Parks Dept to try to identify it. I MUST take my camera next time!:mad:

[Miranda]

Did you get a reply, Paul?

[Paul Narramore]

Errr, nope, and by now the bed will have been grubbed up. It was a very distinctive plant as well with tiny flowers in purple and scarlet almost like a Fuchsia 'Mrs Popple' but very tiny, perhaps one of the many Salvias?

[Miranda]

There are some miniature-flowered Fuchsias, Paul, maybe it's one of those.

I found one called 'Gene P' on this page: http://www.fletefarmfuchsias.co.uk/fuchsias_bush.htm - about a third of the way down.

[Paul Narramore]

Miranda, I know 'Genii' but it had tiny flowers maybe 3/8" across.

No luck with the 15-tine lawn aerator. The firms seems to have gone out of business as my email to them has been returned and the phone number on their website is not right. I have place a post on the Gardener's World forum in the hope someone recognises the tool.

Incidentally I went to a (new-to-me) garden centre today to look at lawn aerators. They had none but we did spend £500 on a new table, six chairs and a parasol!:eek:

[Miranda]

It's puzzling, Paul. I wish you'd taken a photo! Maybe they'll plant some more next year and you can take one then.

Good old impulse buys. My latest was a pair of slippers made from hand-moulded, hand-dyed felt, made by an artist in Devon. I had to wait for them to be made, but they arrived on Thursday and I'm delighted with them :D

[Paul Narramore]

I am delighted that you and your wife enjoyed our 'hot' border planted in St James's Park this year. I regret that I have just been passed your e-mail as we have now removed the plants to make way for our spring bedding.. However, the majority of those which are not annuals would have been returned to the nurseries in Hyde Park for over-wintering, before being re-distributed in the parks next summer.

The plant to which you refer is Cuphea 'Tiny Mice'. This is treated as a summer annual, however it is supplied to us as a young plant and I have been unable to find it as seed form in any of our trade catalogues for 2007. Delamore (www.delamore.co.uk) supply young plants of this variety but I expect that there is a minimum order plus delivery which would make it expensive. I suggest otherwise that you keep a look out at your local garden centre in the early summer or perhaps enquire of Delamore if they supply nurseries in your area?

Yours sincerely

Mark Wasilewski

Park Manager
St James's Park & The Green Park
Tel. 020 7930 1793

[Paul Narramore]

Imagine these blooms are like tiny, tiny fuchsias.

[Miranda]

Success! What an amazing flower, it does look like a small creature of some sort. Are you going to get some, Paul?

Chiltern Seeds do various Cupheas, but not 'Tiny Mice'.

[Paul Narramore]

Miranda
I've only had a quick look this evening but it seems that most suppliers only provide to the trade ie 12 trays or so. When I've more time I'll have another search, preferably for some seeds. But they are stunning plants.:D

[Miranda]

Why would they only supply to the trade? It seems an odd way to go if the plant is in demand. I hope you can find a source, Paul.

[Chris]

D.T.Brown's 2007 Gardeners' Selection Catalogue has Cuphea Tiny Mice. 5 young plants for £5.95. Their web site is www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk

[Paul Narramore]

Thank you Chris. Cuphea is not shown on their website but I have ordered a catalogue. In fact Newmarket is quite a nice ride on the motorbike up from Kent. :-)

[Paul Narramore]

I bought a plug of Cuphea 'Firecracker' today at our local Notcutts - no 'Tiny Mice' however. 'Firecracker' doesn't look quite the same but never mind, we'll have to see how it turns out.

I bought a number of plugs today - I actually went in to buy netting for the pond - and one is a plug of Fuschia 'Blacky', quite a stunner according to the label. Red sepals and black, slightly scented.