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Cambridgeshire plant breeder David Kerley is known the world over for his Tumbelina series of double petunias. They're the best; that's all there is to it. He's also introduced many many other fine petunias as well as phygelius, primroses, violas, chrysanthemums and more. I've featured...
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For many years Thompson & Morgan have been offering a reward for new plants discovered by their customers and that the company introduces in their catalogue. Now I know some people have been a little sceptical about this offer but in fact quite a few T&M customers have had their new plants taken...
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Tucked away behind a tall hedge in a village near Cambridge is the nursery that produces the best of all double flowering petunias. And now they’ve produced another. The first of the Tumbelina double petunias, Priscilla, with its purple-veined lavender flowers, set the standard for neat and bushy habit...
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Some creative plant breeding went into the development of the three container plants (above, click to enlarge) chosen as finalists for his year's Chelsea Plant of The Year. Begonia 'Apricot Fragrant Falls' was developed by Charles Valin at Thompson & Morgan, who also produced the third...
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Well, no sooner have I written up Petunia ‘Black Velvet ’, the first ever black petunia, and mentioned that two more black petunias were on the way - than one of them is listed. As you can see, Petunia ‘Phantom’ is black with a yellow star pattern and this colouring might well prove easier than pure...
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Yes, the first ever black petunia. And it’s not just dark purple, it really is black with just a hint of purple in some conditions. Launched with the catch line “Black goes with everything”, this is a breakthrough from one of the world’s leading petunia breeders; they’ve bred many of the varieties we...
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Back in February I mentioned a new petunia from Suttons that was needing a name. Well, I just thought I'd mention that the winning entry in their competition to name the plant was - ‘Moonlight Eclipse'. The blue flowers have a very dark throat and are edged in green - a unique combination. And...
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Bicoloured petunias are amongst the most colourful of all petunias for summer containers but in most varieties the colouring is unstable, ruining the display. The British-bred Corona Series, from Mr Fothergill's , changes all that. (Click the pictures to enlarge them.) So often the picture in the...
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The world is bursting with petunias. Plant breeders all over the world are producing new varieties but an especially charming new series was launched this week at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on an exhibit sponsored by The Sun newspaper. Many breeders just go for larger and larger flowers but...
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This is intriguing. Said to the "the world's first winter hardy petunia", the Wintunia makes a big bushy plant with unexpectedly starry flowers. The colours come in pink, magenta, white, and a pink-and-white striped form plus an especially attractive lavender pink with white-edged leaves...
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I've featured petunias twice over the last month or so, and a couple of people have been in touch about some other new petunias they've seen in catalogues. Both are striking new bicolours - one will be widely available, the other is an exclusive to Suttons . Both are the first of their kind....
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A few days ago I was telling you about the excellent new additions to the British-bred Tumbelina double-flowered petunias. Today, from the same British breeders, David and Priscilla Kerley, the single-flowered Fanfare Series - think of them as British-bred versions of the Japanese Surfinias. They've...
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Last summer I visited David and Priscilla Kerley, who are amongst the world's leading petunia breeders. I didn't have to go far, his greenhouses are tucked away behind a tall hedge "somewhere in eastern England" and for some years now they've been creating superb double flowered...
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