16th March

FJ Williams Profile Picture
FJW 1955-2007
CH Williams Profile Picture
CHW 2015-
JC Williams Profile Picture
JCW 1897-1939
C Williams Profile Picture
CW 1940-1955


2024 – CHW

A list of new things for the garden have arrived from Burncoose. Mainly from Mark Bulk and plenty of very rare new things. All need growing on before being large enough to plant out.

– Campylotropis macrocarpa x 3
– Citronella gongonha
– Clematoclethra scandens subsp. actinidioides x 6
– Corynocarpus laevigatus
– Debregeasia edulis Elite
– Hoheria glabrata x 3
– Malus fusca
– Morella pensylvanica
– Myrceugenia leptospermoides
– Myricaria germanica
– Olearia lacunose
– Olearia odorata
– Populus koreana

I am particularly pleased to have some Clematoclethra which got a good write up in the Plantsman (when it was still allowed to be called this) which is a quarterly RHS magazine. These are twining climbers related to Actinidia. Two species were discovered by Ernest Wilson in 1908.

Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ looking very good on Rookery path. The nursery has good plants of this for sale.

Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’
The view from below M. ‘Lanarth Surprise’ across and over the Aucklandii Garden.
The view from below M. ‘Lanarth Surprise’
The view from below M. ‘Lanarth Surprise’
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons from 2 nursery beds into the large area cleared of camellia foliage plants last summer. The largest rhododendron planting undertaken at Caerhays for some decades. Some root balls too heavy for one person to lift so old sheets were used to avoid damaging the huge root balls during the move.
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Finally dry enough to place out the large rhododendrons
Magnolia (Michelia) doltsopa ‘White Phantom’ was named and registered last year.
Magnolia (Michelia) doltsopa ‘White Phantom’
Magnolia (Michelia) doltsopa ‘White Phantom’
Another Magnolia mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’ in the Rockery.
Magnolia mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Magnolia mollicomata ‘Burncoose Tennis Court’
Rhaphithamnus spinosus just coming out. The flowers will get much larger and a deeper blue.
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
Rhaphithamnus spinosus
The original Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’ in the Rookery is a very good colour this year.
Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’
Another view from the Rookery – magnolias in the mist!
Another view from the Rookery
Another view from the Rookery
This Laureliopsis philippiana came as a seedling from under the huge three at Kilmacurragh. It was planted in the wrong place and moved to the new rhododendron area last autumn.
Laureliopsis philippiana
Laureliopsis philippiana
Lindera umbellata already in full leaf. If it did flower I didn’t catch it.
Lindera umbellata
Lindera umbellata
Lindera sericea in full flower and absolutely covered. Quite a spectacle today.
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
Lindera sericea
A group of 2013 planted Rhododendron sutchuenense. Amazing colour changes as the buds open fully.
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Rhododendron sutchuenense
Quercus chapensis has severe die back after only a mild winter. This was a seedling from a 2015 IDS conference in Korea. I doubt this species is viable here even in extreme shelter as here. I have cut away all last year’s new growth.
Quercus chapensis
Quercus chapensis
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ in Area 26 is improving with age.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’ just opening.
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’ with its first flower – 2023 planted and yet another new name to us.
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’
Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ is excellent.
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. campbellii ‘Darjeeling’
Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group is the first of the scented ones to show. Far too early!
Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group
Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’ sporting pink flowers at Donkey Shoe.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’

2023 – CHW
Mahonia leschenaultii flowering here for the first time.
Mahonia leschenaultii
Mahonia leschenaultii
Mahonia leschenaultii
Mahonia leschenaultii
Acer negundo ‘Violaceum’ with its remarkable flower tassels.
Acer negundo ‘Violaceum’
Acer negundo ‘Violaceum’
Acer negundo ‘Violaceum’
Acer negundo ‘Violaceum’
Magnolia campbellii still looking good despite the overnight wind.
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and a young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and a young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ and a young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
The view through the arch with Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ nearly at its absolute best.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum.
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum
Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum
Camellia cuspidata now full out.
Camellia cuspidata
Camellia cuspidata
Camellia cuspidata
Camellia cuspidata
Another young Polyspora suddenly in flower at the top of the bush.
young Polyspora
young Polyspora
young Polyspora
young Polyspora
Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’ (just out) from above on Rookery Path.
Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’
Magnolia campbellii and Magnolia ‘Mr. Julian’
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ and Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid.
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ and Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ and Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid
The Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling in the Aucklandii Garden suddenly full out on a drab day.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’

2022 – CHW

This is one of only two flower of Jaimie’s cross in Old Park which is (the huge flowered) Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Lanarth’. The flowers last year were frosted so this is the second attempt at its first flowering. Clearly a huge ‘Atlas’ type and shaped flower with the ‘Lanarth’ colour and more than a hint of white on the inside of the tepals as you would expect from ‘Atlas’. Very good indeed and exactly what Jaimie would have hoped for and expected from such a hand pollenated cross.

MAGNOLIA atlas x magnolia_lanarth
MAGNOLIA atlas x magnolia_lanarth
MAGNOLIA atlas x magnolia_lanarth
MAGNOLIA atlas x magnolia_lanarth

So now four new magnolia crosses flowering for the first time this year. What a year! All too early to decide if they merit registration and naming but much to look forward to with more flowers to assess next spring. At this stage of assessment (mine!) three are definitely good enough and the fourth, so far, borderline.

I cannot believe that others have not crossed ‘Atlas’ and ‘Lanarth’ already but will need to research this. I see nothing in the Eisenhut book but now need to check Magnoliastore listings of Philippe de Spoelberch’s crosses. [These suggest that this cross is not yet on the market.]

Flowers aplenty in the nursery on Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’.
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Satisfaction’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ at three stages as the colour fades.
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’
Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ growing side by side.
Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’
Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’
The last two flowers on Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn high up in front of a yew tree.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’
An early flowering form of Rhododendron serpyllifolium in the Rookery. Our other plants have even smaller flowers and flower a month later so this may be a hybrid?
Rhododendron serpyllifolium
Rhododendron serpyllifolium
Rhododendron serpyllifolium
Rhododendron serpyllifolium
First flowers out on a Magnolia dawsoniana seedling outside the arch.
Magnolia dawsoniana seedling
Magnolia dawsoniana seedling
Rhododendron sulfureum full out.
Rhododendron sulfureum
Rhododendron sulfureum
Rhododendron sulfureum
Rhododendron sulfureum

2021 – CHW
Still fine and sunny as we enter the best week of the year for Caerhays magnolias. In lockdown there is time to appreciate them rather more than usual.

Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ in the Rookery from another angle.

Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’
Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’
Rhododendron platypodon in the nursery bed and shortly to be planted out. Two flower buds on the three plants.
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron platypodon
Rhododendron strigillosum in a similar condition. Amazing bristles or hairs on the stems.
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Rhododendron strigillosum
Camellia x williamsii ‘Burncoose Apple Blossom’ has a very compact habit. Bred at Burncoose by Arnold Dance about 40 years ago.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Burncoose Apple Blossom’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Burncoose Apple Blossom’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Burncoose Apple Blossom’
Camellia x williamsii ‘Burncoose Apple Blossom’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ is suddenly out.
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’
First colour on the Magnolia x veitchii in the sun high up.
Magnolia x veitchii
Magnolia x veitchii
Just a very few flowers this year (unlike last) on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’ is as near black as you can get as it first comes out.
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
Camellia ‘Midnight Magic’
A dwarf rhododendron species in the Auklandii Garden just coming out. Rhododendron calostrotum?
Rhododendron calostrotum?
Rhododendron calostrotum?
Low down flowers out now on Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ all of a sudden.
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with the belltower above the clock in the back yard and some other unfrosted lower branches. It was actually named after Belle Blandford who lived in the Stable Flat opposite the tree.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’
The first Spanish bluebell seen in flower this year.
Spanish bluebell
Spanish bluebell
Magnolia dawsoniana now just showing colour outside the front gates. A bit earlier than expected.
Magnolia dawsoniana
Magnolia dawsoniana
Karol did a couple of drone overflies today which are attached to the diary here. One shows Jaimie, Michael and I plotting out the next and final phase of this spring’s planting out which is the 100 or so large open ground grown rhododendrons from the Rookery Nursery beds.
drone overflies
drone overflies
drone overflies
drone overflies

2020 – CHW
Vaughan Gallavan from Sherwood Gardens sent us a picture of his new magnolia cross flowering properly for the first time. It is Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ x Magnolia ‘Darjeeling’ and, as yet, unnamed. A really good purplish-red as you can see here.
Magnolia 'Betty Jessel' x Magnolia 'Darjeeling'
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ x Magnolia ‘Darjeeling’

A fine day and plenty of people over the age of 70 enjoying (we hope) a coronavirus free garden tour. Most other garden tour groups in buses are cancelling and we will all be home working soon as the country shuts down completely. Plenty of time for writing and thinking amid the gloom. The Cornwall Garden Society show at Wadebridge is the first flower show casualty but we expect to hear, any moment, that Chelsea is off too.

So time to look at a few of the secondary flush of younger flowering magnolias and try to concentrate on the ‘white’ ones.

Magnolia ‘Atlas’ has been battered in the hailstorms which is a pity. Normally it escapes as a later flowerer.

Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’
Camellia campetre ‘Alpen Glow’ is delicate and well named.
Camellia campetre ‘Alpen Glow’
Camellia campetre ‘Alpen Glow’
Magnolia ‘Angelica’ is delicate and has improved with age (Magnolia cylindrica ‘Pegasus’ x Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Sawada’s Pink’).
Magnolia ‘Angelica’
Magnolia ‘Angelica’
Magnolia ‘Angelica’
Magnolia ‘Angelica’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’ is one of Mike Robinson’s crosses named in 1999. Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ x Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’. I did not care for its first flowerings but this is better. The flowers would open flat if the wind had let them.
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’ is nice enough but just a near white with a hint of pink really (Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’ x Magnolia x veitchii).
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’ is however exceptional as we saw last year. Even better here as a red. Look at the colour of the bud! Another New Zealand bred winner which will go on to be very popular as a later flowerer.
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
This is Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ which continues to impress (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’). Sister seedling to ‘Antje Zandee’ presumably and not much different.
Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’
Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ remains a small and rather odd flower on a young plant. I am not sure that it yet reflects its parentage.
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ is not as dark as one might have expected but still a huge flower.
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x Magnolia ‘Vulcan’
Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’ is showing promise but not old enough to stand out – perhaps? This has now been named ‘Olav Kalleberg’ as I discover in the new Eisenhut book.
‘Olav Kalleberg’
‘Olav Kalleberg’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’ is nice but not exactly ‘different’. Cannot find the parentage.
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Judy Carlson’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ – the same applies. This is Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’.
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ is by far the best ‘white’ we have seen today (Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’ x Magnolia x veitchii). Far better than ‘Spring Rite’ or any of the others in terms of flower size, growth habit and just one pure colour.
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’

2019 – CHW
Another Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’ which I missed the other day on the stellata hunt.
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’
I thought the wind had blown the leaf open on this Fagus asplenifolia (as it had on an adjacent Aesculus hippocastanum) but when I look closely it is actually a massive inflorescence which I have not noticed before. Hope the tree is not about to die on us 40 or so years from planting. It was in fact a purchase from South Down Nurseries which I visited with Philip Tregunna for the first time in about 1980 well before the nursery moved to Burncoose a few years later.
Fagus asplenifolia
Fagus asplenifolia
Fagus asplenifolia
Fagus asplenifolia
Rather battered but a good show from Magnolia x proctoriana (Magnolia salicifolia x Magnolia stellata). The tree is 35-40ft tall although only 30 years old. Impossible to photograph the tree properly in poor light and rain. The magnolias on the drive are a week or 10 days behind the main garden as usual and very good despite all the strong winds.
Magnolia x proctoriana
Magnolia x proctoriana
Magnolia x proctoriana
Magnolia x proctoriana
I was rude about this Magnolia stellata ‘Jane Platt’ a few days ago. All is forgiven as the majority of the buds are now a good pink as they should be. It is indeed correctly named.
Magnolia stellata ‘Jane Platt’
Magnolia stellata ‘Jane Platt’
Carpinus japonica with a good show of catkins which I had not seen before.
Carpinus japonica
Carpinus japonica
Carpinus japonica
Carpinus japonica

Three new camellias to admire (and then propagate):-Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice”

Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice”
Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice”
Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice”
Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice”
Camellia ‘Free Spirit’
Camellia ‘Free Spirit’
Camellia ‘Free Spirit’
Camellia ‘Free Spirit’
Camellia ‘Free Spirit’
Camelia ‘Silver Ruffles’
Camelia ‘Silver Ruffles’
Camelia ‘Silver Ruffles’
Camelia ‘Silver Ruffles’
Camelia ‘Silver Ruffles’

And some newer magnolias:Magnolia ‘Sentinel’ – quite dull!

Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Sentinel’
Magnolia ‘Millie Gaylon’ – the tree wants to bend and fall over
Magnolia ‘Millie Gaylon’
Magnolia ‘Millie Gaylon’
Magnolia ‘Millie Gaylon’
Magnolia ‘Millie Gaylon’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’ – this really is good and one for the future as I thought last year
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’ – first flower on this Gresham hybrid (Magnolia soulangeana ‘Lennei Alba’ x veitchii) which is another for the Gresham collection
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’
Magnolia ‘Cup Cake’
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’ – plant above greenhouse.
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’ – plant above steps down to the greenhouse.
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’
Staphylea holocarpa 'Rosea'
Staphylea holocarpa ‘Rosea’

2018 – CHW
An RHS Lecture on camellias which was videoed live to Facebook and social media. The lecture should have been about magnolias but there we are! One attendee had a dog which farted loudly in what I don’t think was an appreciative fashion! It might have livened up a dull video?Rhododendron siderophyllum was well out by Slip Rail. Then to Tregrehan with our early gardening weekend guests. The usual new wonders to enjoy.

Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
Rhododendron siderophyllum
A frog sunning itself under a Lomatia bush.
frog
frog
Podocarpus totara is a 200 year old tree with an enormous trunk.
Podocarpus totara
Podocarpus totara
Podocarpus totara
Podocarpus totara
Litsea japonica with much larger leaves than ours.
Litsea japonica
Litsea japonica
Litsea japonica
Litsea japonica
Sarcococca wallichii with black fruits still.
Sarcococca wallichii
Sarcococca wallichii
Sarcococca wallichii
Sarcococca wallichii
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’ was delicate and pretty.
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’
Camellia ‘Spring Mist’
Sinopanax formosanus with peculiar leaves. A genus of one species.
Sinopanax formosanus
Sinopanax formosanus
Sinopanax formosanus
Sinopanax formosanus
A very early flowering Rhododendron sinogrande seedling with good yellow buds.
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Rhododendron sinogrande
Camellia trichocarpa was scented and simply wonderful. We must get this.
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Camellia trichocarpa
Melliodendron xylocarpum was just out. No pink in the flowers yet. The best new plan introduction in the last 30 years I think and said so to Roy Lancaster.
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Melliodendron xylocarpum
Betula utilis with fine peeling black bark rather than the white on other forms.
Betula utilis
Betula utilis
Betula utilis
Betula utilis
Mangliatia decidua with no sign of flower buds.
Mangliatia decidua
Mangliatia decidua
Mangliatia decidua
Mangliatia decidua
Lonicera setifera was nearly over. A 10 foot tall shrub with a similar spread. Not what I imagined in maturity when we added this to our catalogue last year.
Lonicera setifera
Lonicera setifera
Lonicera setifera
Lonicera setifera
Camellia transnokoensis in the greenhouse. We lost ours outside in 2012.
Camellia transnokoensis
Camellia transnokoensis
Camellia transnokoensis
Camellia transnokoensis
Jasminum duclouxii just coming out. A vigorous evergreen greenhouse climber.
Jasminum duclouxii
Jasminum duclouxii
Jasminum duclouxii
Jasminum duclouxii
Camellia yunsiense with split petals. Unusual! Tom thinks hardy enough for outside rather than in the greenhouse as here.
Camellia yunsiense
Camellia yunsiense
Camellia yunsiense
Camellia yunsiense
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ was excellent and just coming out. One we should propagate.
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Grevillea ‘Fireworks’
Bomarea cassaldii (perhaps) was full out which was strange. The Burncoose one flowers in early Autumn and then dies down to ground level for the winter. This one clearly hadn’t.
Bomarea cassaldii
Bomarea cassaldii
Clianthus maximus (much rarer than C. punicus) was a striking red. Tom said all the native plants in one valley in New Zealand were destroyed in a cyclone.
Clianthus maximus
Clianthus maximus
Clianthus maximus
Clianthus maximus
A vireya Rhododendron – but it gets no additional heat in the winter!
vireya Rhododendron
vireya Rhododendron
Prunus persica (Peach) with loads of flower in the greenhouse.
Prunus persica
Prunus persica
Prunus persica
Prunus persica
Prunus persica
Prunus persica
Lithocarpus kawakamii by the car park had large leaves and typical lithocarpus trunk markings. I am not sure if we have this as a small plant here.
Lithocarpus kawakamii
Lithocarpus kawakamii
Lithocarpus kawakamii
Lithocarpus kawakamii

2017 – CHW

A visit to Burncoose to make short topical tips videos for the website with a professional film maker. It was thought we could only do six in a day but Rob and I did 18 in the garden and Gerry did 10 more in the nursery. We have now done nearly 50 in two days of filming. Four more days of videos to go.

You can view them on our website help and advice section or on oour Burncoose youtube channel.

A few more missing pictures captured for the website.

Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’ looking good.

Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Picture’
A fine plant of Magnolia x thompsoniana (Magnolia tripelata x Magnolia virginiana). You can see the virginiana in the stem colour.
Magnolia x thompsoniana
Magnolia x thompsoniana
Magnolia x thompsoniana
Magnolia x thompsoniana
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ will look better when the new growth emerges.
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
Pseudotaxus chienii looks a bit insipid.
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Pseudotaxus chienii
Schefflera rhododendrifolia – too small to sell yet. Seems an odd name really as the leaves look nothing like a rhodo!
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Camellia ‘Valley Knudsen’ was just coming out properly.
Camellia ‘Valley Knudsen’
Camellia ‘Valley Knudsen’
Camellia ‘Valley Knudsen’
Camellia ‘Valley Knudsen’
Viola odorata flowering away nicely with strong scent.
Viola odorata
Viola odorata
Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ just coming into flower. Better than ‘Ascot Rainbow’ I think.
Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’
Vaccinum cylindraceum with a bit of late ‘autumn’ colour? Or the plant is dying!
Vaccinum cylindraceum
Vaccinum cylindraceum

Back to Caerhays and a trip around to look at yet more magnolias. Great to have enough daylight to take photographs at 5.30pm.Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ looks as it should in the reference books. A slow growing and spreading tree. The tepals will open flat eventually.

Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ is not really as large as all that but I think it does just about fit the description in Dorothy Callaway’s magnolia book. The tepals are white inside.
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
Magnolia ‘Big Dude’
A first flowering for the newly planted Camellia ‘Scentsation’. It is a japonica variety and I got no scent at all! Hard to see how it can have a scent as there appear to be no anthers and stamens and it is a formal double. The French label still survives so presumably it is correctly named.
Camellia ‘Scentsation’
Camellia ‘Scentsation’
Camellia japonica ‘Adeyalia’ is a fair single red but nothing tearing.
Camellia japonica ‘Adeyalia’
Camellia japonica ‘Adeyalia’
Magnolia ‘Pristine’ is just out. Nothing special here either.
Magnolia ‘Pristine’
Magnolia ‘Pristine’
Magnolia ‘Pristine’
Magnolia ‘Pristine’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’ is now full out. The best shape and colour of any magnolia out in the garden today.
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’
Magnolia ‘Felix Jury’

2016 – CHW
A trip to Old Park which has finally dried up on the paths enough to encourage the public to visit. Not that much to see as the magnolias frosted and windblown but more to come. Particularly the original Magnolia campbellii Alba (one of three overall) is enjoying the removal of the tree canopy and has loads of bud.The Gunnera manicata beds are starting to move although there is still a little frost damage to the leaf edges. They will readily grow through this.
Gunnera manicata
Gunnera manicata
This Quercus acuta was stripped by a falling pine tree and turned into a totem pole. However, after two years, it is reshooting vigorously as a bushy trunk. Great resilience for an elderly tree.
Quercus acuta
Quercus acuta
The planting towards the lawn end gate has settled and the spraying of the rushes has been most successful. Very few have survived.
planting towards the lawn end gate
planting towards the lawn end gate
Another Quercus acuta at the edge of the massive new clearing has lost a limb or two but is enjoying more light. It is the same size now as the stripped one was.
Another Quercus acuta at the edge of the massive new clearing (1)
Another Quercus acuta at the edge of the massive new clearing (1)
Another Quercus acuta at the edge of the massive new clearing (2)
Another Quercus acuta at the edge of the massive new clearing (2)
The new Chinese rhododendron collection has settled well and I can (so far) see few casualties from last year’s planting.
Chinese rhododendron collection
Chinese rhododendron collection
This poor michelia has been recently stripped of its leaves in the recent north wind. A few buds remain but has it got enough strength to reshoot? Doubtful.
michelia has been recently stripped of its leaves
michelia has been recently stripped of its leaves
This young Pinus insignis looked fine in January but roe deer have now nibbled it nearly to death and it will never make a tree now. I saw one buck emerge from the bamboos on the top ride with a Labrador in belated pursuit. The buck stopped on the rise and looked back with contempt. Early one morning the pine may be avenged.
Pinus insignis
Pinus insignis
There is still a huge amount of space for more planting but let us get what is there established properly for a year or two first.
2015 – CHW
There are quite a few magnolias to which my father and Philip Tregunna gave names but which have never been formally registered with the RHS or the Magnolia Society international. Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’, Magnolia ‘Burncoose White’ – a form of mollicomata that is almost white growing above the tennis court at Burncoose and now also at Caerhays in Bond Street, Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’, Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’. There is also Magnolia mollicomata ‘Mary Williams’ named by my great uncle, after his wife. All these plants need also to be propagated and included in the Burncoose catalogue.
MAGNOLIA Burncoose White
MAGNOLIA ‘Burncoose White’
MAGNOLIA Mary Williams
MAGNOLIA ‘Mary Williams’
MAGNOLIA Delia Williams
MAGNOLIA ‘Delia Williams’
What a delight it is to see the greenhouse neat and tidy with scores of seeds being started towards germination by Asia. It will be interesting to record the successes and failures later in the year.

1988 – FJW
Gales after 6 dry warm weeks – Magnolias first class but ruined today.


1919 – JCW
Rhodo’s much as in 1917 it may be a bit further on, daffodils well ahead with a good bulge on the bud of our early poets (red and white). Prunus conradinae is over. Subhirtella not yet open.1917 – JCW
Not a yellow bud in the Tin Garden, the first Caerhays opened yesterday. The following Rhodo’n species open or show colour – barbatum, davidii, sutchuenense, moupinense, scabrifolium, lutescens, argeteum, arboreum, irroratum (only just), mucronulatum. Cerasus conradinae just opening.1914 – JCW
One Cam reticulata on wall by Library. R argenteum and most arboreums at their best. Some trumpets but a few incomps open. The best white Arboreum is hardly open. Barbatums well on, a few P Mary.1913 – JCW
A few reticulata, and bad ones, open. We have nearly reached the poets in daffodils. Ciliatums going over, the best white Arboreum is well out, some Barbatums over some partly out – half the Tin Garden P Mary open.1908 – JCW
We are just as in 1902 bar the Reticulata.1906 – JCW
We are distinctly ahead of 1903. R shilsoni on the wane, White Queen fit to force for pollen. Many reticulatas open.1904 – JCW
Rather later, say five days, than in 1903.1903 – JCW
Sir Watkins, Emperor, Horsfieldii, 116, Artemis all out and Princep Mary, Albatross, Seagull, Caerhays, G Spur, H Irving, Maximus and Victoria at their best, King A, Sirius, G Bell and RRB well out. [?] at their best and so are R wilsonii, barbatum and most of the arboreums.1902 – JCW
Sir Watkin open, some Artemis (23), Maximus nearly all, Caerhays nearly all also G Spur, some few Reticulata and Ciliatum. Picked the first Southern Star, many Victoria out.1901 – JCW
An odd Victoria open, 23 nearly open, one Ciliatum early seedling, but hardly any of the above are even near opening.1899 – JCW
Very few Sir Watkins open, a few K Spurrell, Horsfieldii, Emperor, 116, several 23, maximus going over. Caerhays at its best, also G Spur, no ciliatum or reticulata properly open.