Dianthus ruprechtii

Seen flowering on the Rock Bank, with dainty heads on extended Verbena bonariensis type stems.

Cardiocrinum giganteum

Flowering now in the Lower Stream Garden. This really is the cat's pyjamas, with spectacular lily-like flowers and huge glossy leaves erupting from below! I’ve seen these displayed quite brilliantly at Dunham Massey in Cheshire, visitors there frequently pinch the seed heads, but little do they know this beauty takes seven years to flower! Here we propagate them each year to keep the succession going; like Foxgolves, only painfully longer.

The Glasshouse

Two ghastly parallel structures of glass host much of the ‘behind the scenes’ activity at Hidcote and power a significant portion of the plant displays. Although it certainly does not look pretty, this building is quite an integral element of the garden, with many plants either propagated here from seed or cuttings, or brought inside to see out the winter months. All plants are nudged along with daily attention until ready to go out into the garden. A large misting bench with heated mat is used for cuttings, and outside we have cold frames and standing out areas for hardening off. There is no denying that during the winter this place is a magnet for gardeners!

The Glasshouse

Salvia splendens ‘Van Houttei’, propagated from cuttings last year

Stylomecon heterophylla, grown from seed this spring

Meadow Brown butterfly dropping in for a drink of Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

A mixed rose hedge beside the cold frames

Leucanthemum x superbum

 The Shasta daisy, flowering now in the Old Garden.

Clematis at Wollerton

Wollerton contains over 150 Clematis species, a new wall is being erected this winter which will host even more!

Clematis ‘Arabella’

Clematis viticella 'Betty Corning'



Clematis tubulosa 'Cassandra' - this is a shrub Clematis, fascinating!



Clematis tangutica ‘Bill Mackenzie’

Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'