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Plant of the Day
Tuesday 14 January 2020
Described as “the loneliest plant in the world” the Encephalartos woodii (Wood's cycad) was found in 1895 by John Medley Wood on the edge of the Ngoye Forest, South Africa. It arrived in 1899, at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London, the only specimen to ever have been found in the wild. It now grows in the Temperate House and this male plant first produced cones in 2004, but unfortunately a female has yet to be discovered.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Sunday 12 January 2020
The stipes (stems) of Cyathea medullaris (black tree-fern, mamaku, sago fern) are a striking black covered with scales and marginal spines. It can be distinguished from related species by the hexagonal scars on the trunk. This iconic New Zealand tree fern has wonderful unfurling croziers that have striking black scales. This specimen was growing in the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London. The croziers reminded me of a wonderful spiral staircase I had seen recently.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Wednesday 15 January 2020
Looking like a cloud tethered to the floor of the Temperate House, Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London, was Erica canaliculata (channelled heath, hairy grey heather). This South African evergreen shrub grows at forest margins or in the thick fynbos-filled valleys of the southern Western and Eastern Cape. It grows in poor, well drained, acidic soils derived from weathered quartzite.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Monday 13 January 2020
The scarlet flowers of Greyia radlkoferi (woolly bottlebrush, Transvaal bottlebrush, wild bottlebrush) were starting to make a show in the Temperate House of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London. This small tree or shrub can be found growing in the mist-belt mountains of South Africa in deep channels along streambanks, and bordering evergreen forest. As the plant ages the smooth yellowish bark, becomes grey and deeply furrowed.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Monday 15 April 2019
The sculptural flowers of Cornus disciflora (dogwood) were growing in the protection of the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London. This slow-growing, vulnerable, cloud forest species comes from northern Mexico through Central America to Panama. This tree species is being felled for timber and the dry bark is used in traditional medicine as a stimulant and an astringent, causing cells to contract and speeding up the healing process. Suspended above these amazing flowers from the roof of the glasshouse was a chandelier by the glass artist Dale Chihuly.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Friday 25 January 2019
The Australian twining or sprawling evergreen shrub Hibbertia scandens (gold guinea plant, snake climber) has stems over 3m long, with glossy leaves and solitary yellow flowers. The plant is tender and only hardy down to 5°C (41°F) so here it is growing in the glasshouse corridor of the Cambridge Botanic Gardens, UK. In warmer climates this plant makes a suitable ground cover plant or a climber for wire fences and trelisses. It will grow in sun or partial shade and will cope with a sandy soil.
Jill Raggett
Plant of the Day
Sunday 16 December 2018
The fragrance of the tubular flowers of the tender shrub of Luculia pinceana was filling this section of the Temperate House at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew, London. This beautiful Himalayan evergreen has long, glossy, foliage ending in a graceful drip tip which allows water to flow quickly off of the leaf surface.
Jill Raggett
