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February plants
In the first of a new ser ies. Hans Kra mer. owner of De Hessenhof nursery
in the Netherlands, chooses his favourite plants for February
W0RDS HANS KRAMER 'HOTOGRAPHS MAAYKE DE RIDDER
Hans Kramer owns

KwektflOe Hessenhof
n the Netherlands.
hessenhofn

Cyclamen coum subsp. coum

f. pallidum 'Album
\i\rhen lhert is a laytr of sno w on lhe ground>
lhe Sile of the n1ort usuaJ t"armine pink
cyt.ian1en can lift the spiril~ but \Vilhout
snO"' perhaps this white fonn is a betler
t"hoice. The dainly \\ hite Oo,ven ah,'a)'S ha\e
1

a pin k tip at their base and lhe le-aves can

sornelin1es be beautifulJy patterned too. In
ourrontinental \\1 int~ \\ e use 1n ulch that
1

ronlains leaf 1nould and a la)'er ol grit. The

grit helps to gen ninate the seeds so in a few
)~ rs you can have h undreds n1ore of these
charming lillle \\ in ter-flo,vering plants.
1

Height l Ocm.
Growing conditions Semishade. in soil
that is shghtty alkaline. but not too wet.
Hard ine-ss RHS HS.
Orig in Bulgaria and Turkey.
Season of interest Wintef - early spring.

Galanthus n1vaf1s

Cornus off1cmal1s

Scharlock11 Group

Cor,,us ""'s, the CorneJian cherry tree

This old variet)' o(Gr1/n111h11s ,,;v11/is is

nati\'e to n1an y parts of northern Europe,

instantly recognisable for iLs spathe (a green

narrow> teal-like Structure behind the
Oower "'hich is Split rig.ht along the centre.
Although ~ou can't quite see it in this image>
the spathe stands upright, like a ro1n ical pair
ol elongated ears that are responsible for its
ron11non name of donke)st-ars- in the
Netherlands \ve also call then1 rabbit's ears..
There's sorne debate on it's true origin but it
was firsl d iSCO\'ertd in 1868 on a tribul:U)' ol
the River Rhine. Gi"en son1e extra con1post,
it does 'vell on our sandy soiJ.

is a justifiably pOpular choice of small tree

for many gardens, but this dose Japane-se
relative is possibly lovelier. It Oo"ers even
earlier and frui ts rnuch later providing
a far longer season o f in terest. T he
fruits are rather insipid. but if you're
lucky enough to see an o lder tree, which
has a rnore open habit>you can adrnire
the beautifu l bark in shades o f orange,
b rown and grey. You 1nay also find )'Ourself
\vOndering "'hy you don't see this superb
little tree rnort oflen.

Height lScm.

Height 57m.

Growing conditions Semi shade. feflile soil.

Growing conditions Sun Of semishade.

Hardiness RHS H7. USDA 3a9b.

Hardiness RHS H6.

Orig in Germany.

Origin Ja~n . Korea.

Season of interest Almost the whole yeaf.

Season of interest W1ntef - eafly spring.

'Hardiness rat.-.gs given where available.

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