Nurseryman’s favourites: May

Thalictrum ichangense ‘Purple Marble’

My inclination when presented with a new garden plant is to stand back and watch. Eight out of ten fizzle into unavailability within five years. A few get through and either remain in circulation or even become popular and earn a long-term future in the garden. This Thalictrum began to circulate in 2004 and thalictrums in general are becoming fashionable. It has a future. The foliage is amazing. Leaves are ternate – that is, with three leaflets, each of which is large, purple-stained and marbled with grey, mimicking a begonia. The flowers are fluffy and lilac and bloom continuously between April and October. A superb new garden plant.

HEIGHT/SPREAD 25-30cm x 25cm.
ORIGINS China.
CONDITIONS Ordinary shady or semi-shady places in
open soil, not clay. Put it where it can be closely observed.
SEASON Particularly spring, but summer as well.

To see eight more plants looking stunning this month, chosen by Bob Brown, buy the May issue of GARDENS ILLUSTRATED (Issue 161).