Picture gallery

Magnolia x loebneri, a hybrid between M.kobus and M.stellata, (photographed April 12, 2000). The initial work of hybridising was carried out by Max Loebner, garden inspector at the Bonn Botanic Garden

Greenovia aurea, photographed March 19, 2000 is coming into flower for the first time. This rare succulent originally comes from the Canary Islands.

Pseudopanax ferox (toothed lancewood) with remarkable stiff sword-like juvenile leaves (photographed April 7, 2000). It is native to New Zealand. Once the slow growing tree reaches maturity at 10-15 years, the leaf form becomes shorter, wider and dark green in colour. It is only in adulthood that the tree's shape changes from one central stem and downward growing leaves to a more typical tree shape with branches spreading to build a round head.

Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea' from New Zealand is about 5 metres tall, (photographed April 7, 2000) and has never suffered winter injury

Of many palms planted at Earlscliffe between 1990 and 1999, the most successful has been Juania australis. This plant has now become very rare due to forest clearance on Juan Fernandez island.   Plant donated by RHS Rosemoor in September 1995 (photographed June 14, 2015 at 8 metres tall)

Of 20 species of South African Erica tested, E. canaliculata is the most successful. (Photographed March 19, 2000)

Brugmansia sanguinea, or “Scarlet Angel’s Trumpet” can grow to 5 metres high and can be in flower any month of the year depending on the temperature. It doesn't like the cold and will die back in low temperatures. However, so far it has always sprouted again the following spring.

Echium wildpretii (red flowers) with Echium wildpretii x pininiana (magenta flowers). Seed of both was saved from same parent plant in August 1998 and sown in March 1999

Left hand side from top - Erica canaliculata, Beschorneria yuccoides, Banksis spindulosa 'Collina' (Hairpin Banksia) and Rhododendron 'Phalarope' (R. davidsonianum x R. pemakoense). Centre of picture - R.'Elizabeth' (R.forrestii x R.griersonianum). Right hand side, top - Cornus controversa 'Variegata'.     

Rhododendron macabeanum flowered well in 2000 despite the low rainfall of 660 mm/year. Magnolia loebneri is at top right of photograph and white Camellia at bottom left

Aeonium tabuliforme is a rare and unusual looking, ground hugging succulent from Tenerife. Young children imagine that it is a green tortoise. It is also known as the "Dinner Plate Aeonium".

Echium candicans (syn Echium fastuosum) Pride of Madeira. This evergreen perennial has pikes of tiny purple-blue flowers that appear in spring. At Earlscliffe, this plant has so far survived undamaged by - 4 degrees C during the 1999/2000 winter

Strobilanthes penstemonoides var. dalhousieanais a very rare long-lived evergreen from mountain forests in the himalayas.

Rhododendron 'Phalarope' (R. davidsonianum x R. pemakoense) gives plenty of bloom during the early spring