On 20/9/05 11:34, in article , "Janet
Baraclough" wrote:

The message k
from Sacha contains these words:

On 19/9/05 23:07, in article ,
"Dave Poole" wrote:

Sacha wrote:

I think you mean the Eupatorium Atropurureum that was in one of the
week end
supplements? I think Beth Chatto's nursery in Essex has it but so
do quite
a few others.

It has a somewhat paler flowered relative native to the UK and Europe
- Eupatorium cannabinum. Often seen in lightly shaded hedgerows and
at the edge of woodland clearings it grows between 1.5 and 2m. high.
It is commonly known as 'Hemp Agrimony' in this country.

It's a lovely plant and we grow it here, where it attracts masses of
butterflies, bees, hoverflies etc. But the one that was written about in
the Times supplement is we *think* the E. Atropurpureum. We were all
looking it up and I found some pics on Googles images. The writer said
he'd seen it in her garden, along with something called (IIRC) Datisca
cannabina and other very tall plants. The article was about using tall and
striking plants.

I recently acquired datisca cannabina (from Larch Cottage Nurseries),
never seen it before, haven't planted it out yet ..any tips gratefully
received :-)

It's one I want to get because it sounds wonderful for the back of big
borders.

The eupatoriium atropurpureum I have, is "Chocolate", very dark
puprle leaves but hasn't flowered yet. (At least it's still alive..the
first attempt died)

We have that and it's in bud so I hope it survives! The leaves are a
fantastic colour. BTW, Janet, did you happen to see the programme on
Augustus Smith 'father' of Tresco? There was a bit where two of the
long-ago islanders tried to bump him off and one of them was played by Mike
Nelhams - with far too much relish, IMO! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)