Prime Perennials is a mail order nursery overlooking Cardigan Bay in west Wales and like so many plantaholics Liz Powney, who runs Prime Perennials, has developed some special enthusiasms. "Arums, Corydalis, Disporum, Polygonatum, Tricyrtis, and South African bulbs with an emphasis on Tulbaghias", she says on the Prime Perennials website. "We could go on, and new ones are constantly being added. We adhere to the principle that a little of what you fancy does you good."
One thing she especially fancies are tulbaghias. From South Africa, these lovely relations of the ornamental alliums can keep you with flowers from March to December. What's more, although some have foliage which smells little garlicky if bruised - who cares, really? - some have flowers with a powerful sweet or incense-like fragrance.
Liz now holds a NCCPG National Collection® of Tulbaghia - and this autumn has also introduced three new varieties raised on the nursery. "These are perfect for the patio or a sunny spot in the garden." Liz told me." All look good, one in particular looks superb.
My favourite (pictured above) is ‘Seren' (Welsh for star). Flowering from May to November the flowers are dark pinkish violet but alternate petals are edged with white - the result is delightful. With twelve to fifteen flowers on 60cm/2ft stems it's a real sparkler. "It's good for flower arranging," says Liz, "wonderful on the patio, and we have even tried it against the house wall which only gets full sun until early afternoon. It thrived."
Coming down in size ‘Lilian' blooms from May to July. The flowers are palest purple-pink and held on 30-37cm/12-15in stems in clusters of eight to ten; they have a strong clove fragrance.
‘Cariad' (Welsh for sweetheart) is the daintiest of the three. Its pale pink, sweetly scented flowers are held in sixes on 8in/20cm stems from late April through the summer.
These three newcomers are accompanied by other recent introductions. The dark purplish pink ‘Bob Brown' originated with the man himself at Cotswold Garden Flowers and Liz's two earlier introductions are ‘Cosmic', lilac with a golden stripe through each petal, and ‘Hazel', pale brownish pink.
Prime Perennials currently lists thirty different tulbaghias, including some unusual species. Find out more on the Prime Perennials website.