Macplants, Berrybank Nursery, 5 Boggs Holdings, Pencaitland, EH34 5BA
As autumn gets into its stride, some plants that have been quietly awaiting this moment start to take centre stage. Amongst these is the Autumn gentian, which has probably the most intensely blue flowers of anything in the plant world.
These natives from the Himalayas are amongst the many alpine plants that can be grown very successfully in Scotland and the best place to find Autumn gentians is at one of the country’s most renowned nurseries.
Many of the Autumn gentians that are sold by Macplants at their Berrybank Nursery in East Lothian were actually bred there. They were raised by Dr Ian McNaugton, husband of Beryl McNaugton who established Macplants more than 45 years ago.
Dr McNaugton also bred gentians specifically for containers as a way of allowing them to be grown in areas of limey soil and amongst his hybrids that have stood the test of time are Gentiana ‘Berrybank Dome’, G. ‘The Caley’’ and G. ‘Braemar’, as well as Gentiana ‘Balmoral’, which Ian and Beryl presented to the late Queen at her Highland home.
Scotland has a long history of growing exceptional plants, particularly alpines, which are well-adapted to the Scottish climate and growing conditions, and plant breeders here have acquired a reputation for producing outstanding plants.
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Today, Berrybank is run by the next generation, brother and sister Gavin and Clare McNaugton, but Beryl still works in the nursery four days a week and it continues to sell, not just gentians, but a huge range of other home-grown alpines, along with perennials and grasses that are ideal for planting in autumn.
At this time of year the nursery beds are filled with the bright colours of Rudbeckias and Echinaceas, as well many different varieties of Achillea, which is one of the best plants in the garden for attracting butterflies.
Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’ is one of the many Japanese anemones currently in flower and there is also a large selection of Asters, many of them new cultivars that out-perform traditional varieties with their long-flowering season and resistance to mildew.
The brightest flowers currently available belong to ‘Nerine bowdenii’, which will still be flaunting its shocking pink petals when other flowers have gone over Macplants creates beautiful displays of seasonal plants at the entrance to its shop and the nursery beds provide a masterclass in planting for seasonal effect, helping gardeners to decide how to create maximum impact in their own gardens. Now is the ideal time to get these and other plants into the soil, allowing them time to settle in before winter arrives.
Details:
Macplants is open daily, 10.30am - 5pm Tel: 01875 341179 sales@macplants.co.uk www.macplants.co.uk
Direction:
Take the A1 south of Edinburgh for 10 miles. At the Pencaitland junction follow the B6363 for two and a half miles.
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens www.discoverscottishgardens.org
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