Wisley Plant Centre

Exclusive Christmas launch at Wisley Plant Centre

2009-11-20T14:18:00Z

Last night we hosted our ‘Make Christmas Special’ Christmas launch evening, where we greeted more than 350 invited guests with glasses of wine and mince pies.

The place looked stunning, with many seasonal plants, decorations and novel gifts for sale. Our team created an inspirational display of Christmas front doors and gardens to demonstrate traditional, modern and cottage styles. They wouldn’t have looked out of place at Chelsea!

Our sought after prize draw for the evening went to Mary Humphreys who wins £100 to spend with us at a time of her choosing.

If you’re interested in coming to this event next year please email Tina at wisleyplantcentre@rhs.org.uk and she’ll put your name on the list.

More about Wisley Plant Centre

Sloe, sloe, quick quick sloe………

2009-11-13T10:48:00Z

. . . . it’s the time of year to plant your hedging. We have bundles of hedging plants which must be planted now, while they are dormant. They are field grown, lifted and bundled for your convenience, and they must be planted out immediately before they spring into life. Autumn is the best time as the soil is moist and it promotes root growth so your hedge gets off to a flying start.

This year we are proud to have in our range a mixed native bundle, ideal for making a natural looking hedge that is great for attracting wildlife.

We also have bundles of Prunus spinosa – the plant that gives you those juicy black sloes for making sloe gin with. [Fill a bottle with pricked sloes, add some sugar and fill up with gin. Allow to permeate for a few months, turning daily.]

Here’s what we have available:

Description		Retail Price
CARPINUS BETULUS (HORNBEAM, 10 PLANTS)		£25.00
CORNUS SANGUINEA (DOGWOOD, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
CORYLUS AVELLANA (HAZEL, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA (HAWTHORN, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
EUONYMUS EUROPAEUS (SPINDLE, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
FAGUS SYLVATICA (GREEN BEECH, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
FAGUS SYLVATICA PURPUREA (COPPER BEECH, 5 PLANTS) +		£25.00
HEDGING MIXED (NATIVE BUNDLE, 10 PLANTS) *		£19.99
LIGUSTRUM OVALIFOLIUM (PRIVET, 10 PLANTS)		£25.00
LIGUSTRUM VULGARE (PRIVET, 10 PLANTS)		£25.00
LONICERA NITIDA (SHRUB HONEYSUCKLE, 5 PLANTS) +		£12.99
PRUNUS SPINOSA (BLACKTHORN, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
ROSA RUGOSA (RAMANAS ROSE, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
ROSA RUGOSA ALBA (WHITE RAMANAS ROSE, 10 PLANTS)		£19.99
VIBURNUM OPULUS (GUELDER ROSE, 10 PLANTS)		£25.00

+ Note, bundle contains five plants
* The mixed hedging bundle includes Acer campestre (Field Maple) x 2, Cornus sanguinea (Common Dogwood) x 1, Corylus avellana (Hazel) x 2, Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) x 3, Euonymus europaeus (Spindle) x 1, Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn / Sloe).

When planting your hedge try adding a packet of mycorrhizal fungi to the roots to improve establishment. For more information on rootgrow http://www.plantworksuk.co.uk/rootgrow_information.php

For more information about Wisley Plant Centre please click here.

Creative, colourful and convenient

2009-09-30T11:27:00Z

Are these the first words to spring to mind when you think of conifers? Yes! Because conifers are a wonderful way of adding colour, shape and style to your garden.

They’re easy to grow and visually stunning. Many change colour during the year so you can have fabulous splashes of orange, blue or purple in autumn or winter just when it's needed.

Come and see our large selection of conifers. Small, slow-growing, medium sized or giant, they are incredibly versatile – some are perfect for growing on patios and balconies, others are great for giving height to borders. The Cryptomeria japonica ‘Rasen-sugi’ rising out of my small fern bed gives an almost prehistoric look with its braided curls of twisted green foliage lit up against the strong, red bark of its narrow trunk. Or you can try a pair of formal Cupressus sempervirens either side of a door for an arresting, stately look.

If you’d like to see conifers in situ, visit the Pinetum, Rock Garden and Conifer Lawn at the RHS Garden, Wisley and then come in to us (through the gate in the Mixed Borders) and see what we can offer you. Alternatively, come through our main entrance, there’s no charge. And as National Conifer Week runs from 3-11 October, we’ll have lots of special stock to inspire you to garden with conifers.

Please click Wisley Plant Centre for more information about us.

Latest news, planting ideas & offers

2009-08-14T11:15:00Z

First, our congratulations go to Mr Musk, the winner of the raffle held on 29^th July at our Scents of Summer open evening. Mr Musk wins £100 of RHS vouchers and we hope very much he will enjoy spending them with us!

And now - the autumn bulb planting season is upon us.

Don’t get confused by one particular autumn bulb. Colchicums are surprising and very clever. They come up already in flower, before the leaf shows, looking fantastic as they emerge from the ground. They’re excellent for naturalising in grass. Plant the bulbs now and they’ll flower this autumn.

The more conventional autumn planting bulbs that give a delightful spring show are with us in colossal variety. To get you started how about our Select Collection offer on a range of Crocus and Narcissi, any 4 packs for £10.00.

And, dare I say it, have you thought about pot planting Prepared Hyacinths for a fantastic table display at Christmas? We have them in blue, white or pink at 65p each or 5 for £2.50 and they need to be potted and in the dark in September. Please ask for one of our cultivation leaflets to ensure your chosen variety is flowering on the day!
To find out more about us please click Wisley Plant Centre

Where’s the summer gone?

2009-07-31T12:08:00Z

What we need is busy lizzies to brighten our gardens! If you visit RHS Wisley this summer you can’t help but notice the two fabulous towers of colour on the terrace at the entrance into the gardens.

These plants look like New Guinea busy lizzies but in actual fact they are not! They are a new hybrid of Impatiens called Sunpatiens which are much more suitable for growing in our climate.

SunPatiens® are bedding plants that perform exceptionally well in HEAT, HUMIDITY, RAIN, SUN, SHADE, and both COOL and WARM temperatures unlike New Guinea Impatiens which are much fussier. They are vigorous, compact and slightly spreading and the colour lasts for ages. What more could you want!
We have them available in a pink, white and an orange/red and they are £4.50 each in a 2 litre pot.

Here you can see Brenda proudly presenting one of her top sellers this week!

The towers at the Garden entrance have been produced by growing the plants in a hanging bag type system with irrigation but they are equally as happy in the ground or in containers for summer bedding.
If you wish to overwinter some plants then take cuttings late summer. Flowers will last right up until the first frosts so plant now for a dazzling late summer and early autumn blaze of colour in your garden.

For more information about us please click Wisley Plant Centre

It's berrylicious time at the RHS Wisley Plant Centre

2009-07-13T11:20:00Z

We’re really looking forward to the RHS Berrylicious Weekend. We’ve plenty of delicious strawberry, blueberry and raspberry plants in stock. Some of the strawberries are in hanging baskets so can be hung up immediately. Nibble at those plants with fruit, then tend them for another crop.
My hanging strawberry basket is still prolific – it’s in its third year now – and I still get a buzz from growing my own and seeing them trail down the sides of the basket.
Blueberries are especially good in containers, particularly if you do not have acid soil (ask our staff how to test your soil).
Strawberry plants start at £1.49 with favourites such as ‘Hapil’ & ‘Cambridge Favourite’.
Hanging baskets from £6.99.
We even have alpine strawberries grown in our popular, biodegradable “hairy” pots from £1.69.
Blueberries start at £9.99 (for a 2 litre pot).
We have an early release new variety of Raspberry called ‘Autumn Treasure’ which is thornless. Plant now for fruit next year. £9.99 (for a 2 litre pot).
….and of course there is a daily selection of berries from the Garden on sale, but don’t delay as these always sell out quickly.

Click on Wisley Plant Centre for more information about us.

Wildlife Award for Wisley Plant Centre sales team

2009-07-02T11:26:00Z

Exciting News . . . At the Garden Retail Awards for the best people in the industry, our Wildlife Team have captured the Greatest Wild Bird Care & Wildlife Team Award for 2009. Here they are at the Awards Ceremony and showing off their truly well deserved plaque and certificate. Well done everyone. Next time you’re visiting Wisley Plant Centre, come in and look at our trophy.

Bursting at the seams at Wisley Plant Centre

2009-06-26T13:07:00Z

We are positively bursting with colour at the moment. This fabulous sunny weather is encouraging all the flowers to open. We have a superb selection of flowering roses, especially the gorgeous David Austin types with their large double blooms – just follow your nose, the scent is awesome.

We have a great range of Penstemons just coming into flower. Here are a couple of pictures of Penstemon Pensham Czar (blue) £7.99 in a 2 litre pot and Penstemon Amelia Jayne (red) £6.99 in a 2 litre pot, just to wet your appetite.

If you want bright colours then how about this fantastic Phygelius – it’s called Somerford Funfair Wine and is £7.99 (2 litre pot). There is a range of really hot colours in this series - coral, cream, orange and yellow.
We have so many lovely plants and our displays illustrate those that will grow well together. With the help of our knowledgeable and friendly staff (here’s Freddie) you can re-create what you see here in your own garden.

Please click on Wisley Plant Centre for more about us and let us know if you would like to join us for this Wednesday evening’s event, ‘The Scents of Summer’, at 7pm. We’ll greet you with a glass of wine.

Enjoy a glass of wine and smell the scents of summer

2009-06-16T10:28:00Z

Wisley Plant Centre is hosting The Scents of Summer on Wednesday 1 July from 7pm to 9pm.
Join us for an evening dedicated to scented summer plants that will be at their fragrant best in the evening air. Demonstrations on what to grow together to create a mesmerising mix of scents, talks on growing scented climbers in borders and pots and guided walks of the world famous RHS Wisley herbaceous borders next to the Plant Centre, showing the uses of the climbers, annuals and the natural supports used to show the plants off at their best.
A complimentary glass of wine and canapés will be served and a free raffle for £100 of RHS vouchers will be held, and of course you will get the chance to shop out of hours on a summer’s evening at the Plant Centre.
For your personal invitation to this exclusive evening please call 01483 211113.

For more information about us please visit Wisley Plant Centre

Special Offer on garden tools

2009-06-04T10:22:00Z

Save £15. Buy a Joseph Bentley fork and spade twin pack for £34.99.
Traditional handle and quality, hard wearing stainless steel (so the mud doesn't stick. Nice to touch and a pleasure to use.
A size for everyone - Digging, Border & Graduate (Ladies).
Other Joseph Bentley tools also on offer. Come in and see the range.
Please note this offer is only available by visiting Wisley Plant Centre.
For more about us, please click here

Butterflies feast on our Scabious flowers

2009-05-28T12:03:00Z

News flash…..”Millions of painted lady butterflies have arrived in the UK after an epic migration from north Africa”.
Wisley Plant Centre is proving to be a popular pit stop for the butterflies where they can be seen having a quick feed on the Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue' flowers that we have for sale. Plants are £7.50 each but we cannot guarantee you’ll get a free butterfly to take with you!

Black is back in the Wisley Plant Centre

2009-05-08T13:37:00Z

You can't afford to miss the fabulous array of Irises we currently have in stock…. There are over 66 different ones to choose from including the gorgeous almost black cultivar ‘Superstition’ which Laurel and Michaela have their eyes on in the photo. This has to be one of my favourites, but I do tend to favour unusual coloured ones. We have many tall bearded Iris such as 'Baby Blue' and 'Rocket' plus intermediate ones and a few of the almost black Iris chrysographes types. Come in and buy them now before the Chelsea Flower Show starts, as these fabulous plants always feature highly in both the marquee and throughout the show gardens so we can sell out very quickly. Prices start from £5.99 for a 2 litre pot.

Michaela & Laurel with Iris 'Superstition' Iris 'Rocket'

Wisley Plant Centre gets new Apprentice

2009-05-01T09:53:00Z

Guess who’s just been in The Wisley Plant Centre ……No other than Howard Ebison – one of the stars of the current popular BBC programme The Apprentice (http://www.bbc.co.uk/apprentice/).
Howard said hello to many of the staff including Nige Eaton – Head of Wisley Plant Centre.
Howard said “I cannot believe how big this place is and how many fantastic plants you’ve got!”
We wish Howard luck with the rest of the competition and hope to see him at Wisley again soon.

Wisley Plant Centre

Amazing Acers

2009-05-01T08:35:00Z

Wow, we currently have 81 different varieties of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) in stock.
This is truly the best time to buy if you want the widest selection to choose from.We have a huge range of sizes too - from the 3 litre pot size up to a whopping 160 litre. Prices start at £25. Varieties come in all shapes, colours and sizes from the finely dissected foliage types to those with large bold leaves.
They can be grown as small bushes, weeping standards and large trees depending which one you choose.One of my favourites is called ‘Villa Taranto’ – with its deeply divided green and red foliage, but I think everyone has their favourite when it comes to Japanese maples.
These beauties always feature highly at the Chelsea Flower Show so be quick to buy before everyone else wants one. Here’s Clare cuddling up to her choice ‘Viridis‘.

Wisley Plant Centre

Last few signed Alan Titchmarsh books available

2009-04-22T09:23:00Z

We had such an uplifting evening in the plant centre last week. Alan Titchmarsh came to give a Q & A session and to sign books for enthusiastic customers.

We had the sound system in place in our pavilion so everyone could hear the Qs and As. Alan dealt with every question in a witty and gentle way, generously sharing his knowledge about gardening and with such humour that he had his audience of 250 in stitches.