Father 1570-1638 and son 1608-1662 both worked as gardener to the Royal family and are buried at St Marys Church Lambeth. At the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth there is a garden laid out using plants they introduced to the UK after trips to Russia, Africa and North America in the early 17th century.

As early traveling plant collectors both John Tradescants’ were responsible for many plant introductions and curios collected on their travels. Plants include Michaelmas daisy, Cistus, Acer,  Maple and Tradescantia

‘Musaeum Tradescantianum’ was the first museum catalogue published. Tradescant willed that the collection was to go to his widow on his death, but Elias Ashmole obtained the collection by deed of gift and established the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Some of these original items can still be seen in that museum and Ashmole is also buried at the Museum of Garden History. The tomb of the Tradescants stands beside the knot garden near that of Captain Bligh of the Bounty, and is covered in carvings representing their interests in life which showed them both to be ‘curious men’.

Cape primrose known as Streptocarpus now come in a wide range of colours and bi-colours. I like ‘Roulette Cherry’ a maroon with white center. Still my favourite is the pure white ‘Albatross’ AGM with just a hint of yellow in the center. regular readers will know I tip a lot of AGM plants, the RHS award of garden merit, because if it is good enough for the RHS I have to make a real botch of it not to get a decent plant.

A comparatively new range of seven ‘all year around’ flowering Streptocarpus are sold by Dibleys nursery under the banner ‘Crystal Series’. The flowers are smaller but initially more numerous. I have been a bit frustrated by the sparse flowers from Autumn onward and don’t think they are worth growing in preference the main cultivars. Crystal Ice has an AGM and is white with a purple throat.

• For more information or read the Streptocarpus book.
• Shallow pots are recommended but I find the roots quickly matt up and become hard to water.
• I have taken to only using clay pots (Wide Toms)
• Start with AGM varieties.
• Dibleys attend a large number of plant & flower shows

The low growing ivy leaved cyclamen has marbled foliage and Spring or Autumn flowering. It grows from corms that are planted in  shade under trees or in rockeries with some cover.

The Autumn flowering C.Neapolitan (Hederifolium) varieties come in shades of pink to the album white

The pictured C.Coum variety is more hardy and flowers in spring.

In hard weather areas it may be necessary to grow in pots and lift them in severe conditions but if conditions suit they will form ground covering clumps.

The indoor varieties

• Florist varieties are not hardy but it is important to keep it cool and provide some air movement. If it is too warm the leaves will yellow.
• Don’t over or under wateror the leaves will go yellow wait until the soil feels dry
• Do not let the plant remain wilted
• Water with a good soaking from the bottom to stop the corm rotting
• Give the plant good light in winter
  
• A monthly feed in the growing season will help
• Dead flowers should be tugged free
• Leave for a rest period in summer and they will flower again the following Autumn
  

Red, White and Blue the patriotic colours of the Hydrangea are augmented by pinks and purples like H. Ayeshia above as a variation on those themes. Flowering from mid-summer these shrubs give a magnificent display with very little effort. Did you see Hydrangea maritima on seaside holidays in large displays of sugary pink and sometimes blue.

Hydrangea macrophylla is the mop head type that can change flower colour from pink too blue depending on the soil. If the soil is acid then you will get a blue flower. The pink is produced on alkaline and more neutral soils. To change to blue add Aluminium sulphate or special colouring chemicals from garden centres to get a pink add lime. Some old methods include burrying a bag of nails or putting rusting iron near the plant. For best results when the soil id wrong for your desired colour plant it in a large pot with the right type of soil and keep it well wartered.

Hint and comments on Hydrangeas

• Named after the Greek for water keep your Hydrangeas moist
• Hydrangea quercifolia has oak shaped leaves and flowers white in the shade.
• Lacecap varieties have a looser form to the flowers with flat open flower heads where the florets don’t all open at once. Try variety maresii
• Buy plants in bloom so you know what you are getting in colour and form or plant in Autumn
• Hydrageas like rich moist soil and a bit of shade in the early morning to avoid frost damage to young shoots
• Prune out old flower heads, dead stems and old wood from overgrown bushes in the spring
• Hydrangeas can be used as cut flowers or dried for a papery addition to a winter arrangement
• A dwarf species H. thunbergii grows to about 2 foot.

Some old varieties to look out for

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Alstroemeria is a beautiful flower also known as Peruvian Lily or Parrot Lily. Alstromerias are tuberous perennial plants for the border and grow deeply in light soil. If the conditions are dry when in flower give them a good watering to boost flower production. Plant roots in the dormant season after November. They don’t like to be moved as the roots break easily, if you do transplant dig deeply as the roots are drawn down. Propagate from finger length roots or with some skill grow from seed. Pull up old stalks to encourage growth from the roots

Floristry

These stunning plants add an exotic touch to any flower arrangement with their elaborate blend of vividly coloured and intricately marked flowers. I like the red yellow and white varieties which are easy to grow once they get started forming a good clump in the border.

• When picking for the vase pull the stalk up then cut to length as needed and they will last up to three weeks.
• Remove all leaves as they yellow before the flowers die
• Many of the shop bought flowers are from Kenya and Chile but they are east to grow yourself

Varieties to consider

· A. pulchella the parrot lily and A. aurantiaca strong orange shades

· A. Ligtu hybrids are shorter and may be used in containers. Also called the lily of the Nile

· Inca Hybrids are also on offer in some areas

· A. psittacina ‘Casablanca’ claims to being white, but the markings create a special effect.

If you have tried Cape Primroses, also called Streptocarpus, then you may also want to try the cousin Chirita. They have hairy leaves similar to African violets and flowers that are similar Streptocarpus. In fact they all belong to the little know Gesneriad family

• Chiritas can be acquired from the specialist www.dibleys.com They also produce an excellent compact A5 plant catalogue
• Propagation is easy from leaf cuttings in an equal mixture of compost and vermiculite, pearlite or sharp sand.
• Keep plants out of direct sunlight, a north facing windowsill or porch is ideal
• Plants can stay in the same pot for several years if they are give a regular week feed.
• Keep plants a bit on the dry side and treat like African violets
• Chirita Akiro as shown above has marbled leaves
• For small neat pure white Chirita taminiana is recommended by Anne Swithenbank
• For larger flowers try C. Keiko shown below with upto 25 two inch flowers from

http://www.gesneriads.ca/default.htm

Zonal geraniums are more accurately called ‘Pelargoniums’. In the North of England there can be frosts late in May. In Scotland and on high ground keep your thermometer handy whenever frost is threatened.

After a few good years I got over keen this weekend and lost some good growth and suffered several set backs after an air frost last night.

The zonal is named for the distict ands of colour around the leaf. On this example 3 distinct shades are obvious even though it is a black and white image. These distinctive colours and patterns are quite sought after and some varieties are grown for the leaf shade alone.