Monday 16 May 2016

Friends visit to Agrico Wednesday 18th - cancelled

We regret that this visit has had to be cancelled due to the very low number of members interested in going.
Please check the events tab for information on future events.

Monday 2 May 2016

Plant of the month for May
Magnolia stellate (Star magnolia)
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: Japan
Accession: 1971
Location: beside Education Centre


M. stellata is a slow-growing medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree of broadly rounded habit. It blooms at a young age, with slightly fragrant 7-10 cm white flowers covering the bare plant in early spring before the leaves appear. The oblong leaves open bronze-green, turning to deep green as they mature, and yellow before dropping in autumn. It prefers moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds. It is a commonly grown ornamental, and was first introduced to the UK in 1877 or 1878, most likely by Charles Maries, while he was collecting for Veitch Nurseries.