On 10/4/07 12:34, in article lid, "Stewart Robert
Hinsley" wrote:

In message , Sacha
writes
Has this recently figured on a tv programme or something? We've had a few
requests for it in the last couple of days and wonder why. It's not your
average garden shrub!

It's one of the glories of Bodnant, and I suspect that it's common among
the acidic gardens of the west coast. I was over in Galloway yesterday,
and it was present at both Logan Botanic and Logan House Gardens; IIRC,
Glenwhan also has it, and a couple of gardens local to me also.

Logan Botanic had it down, perhaps prematurely, as a seasonal highlight,
but I don't expect it to be in flower until next month. So, it's
unlikely to be a case of people seeing it in flower, unless it's much
earlier in Cornwall of the Scillies.

Ours isn't doing much yet but we're off to Scilly tomorrow, so I'll keep my
eyes open.

I tried growing it in a pot back in the '90s (my garden is heavy clay,
which is perhaps unsuitable soil), but was unsuccessful.

I've only seen it in fairly well-drained loamy stuff, though that said, our
soil here is a bit of a mix.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)