Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Here’s a selection of gardening gifts we know the gardener in your life will love.
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Romantic plants
Cherry Tree
The cherry tree is one of the most romantic trees around and is bound to be a cherished gardening gift, loved by any gardener. Prunus ‘Shosar’, above, is a strong fastigiate cherry blossom tree – a cross between a Prunus incisa x Prunus campanulata hybrid and Prunus sargentii – and was bred by Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram. It bears beautiful pink blossom in early March. 12m. AGM. RHS H6.
Lamprocapnos spectabilis ‘Valentine’
A beautiful, brick-red bleeding heart which is a quiet addition to any spring garden. This is a perfect gardening gift for Valentine’s Day and prefers a slightly damp spot in part shade, otherwise the leaf can dry out in summer making the interesting leaf colour disappear. Its flowers are hermaphrodite, meaning they have both male and female organs. In warm areas the plant goes into summer dormancy. Moist but well-drained soil; part shade. Season: Spring – early summer. 60cm. AGM.
Salvia Love and Wishes (= ‘Serendip6’)
This deep, sensual purple salvia also has the right sort of name for a Valentine’s gardening gift. It was bred in Australia by John Fisher and is the third colour in his Wishes series following on from ‘Wendy’s Wish’ and ‘Ember’s Wish’. A bushy salvia, it flowers for months producing deep-purple and red flowers with matte-purple calyces on long, burgundy-red stems. Works equally well as part of a perennial border or grown in a pot. Moist but well-drained soil; full sun. Season: Summer to autumn.
Rosa Open Arms (= ‘Chewpixcel’)
How to choose one rose? The quintessential romantic gesture (and perfect gardening gift) is of course the deep red rose. But how about this soft and gentle climber? The miniature climbing rose should offer you continuous show from early summer well into autumn. The soft pink, semi-double flowers, which are scented, shatter after they have finished blooming so they do not sully the show, nor will they need deadheading. AGM. Height 2m. Origin Garden origin. Conditions Any soil that is not saturated; full sun. Hardiness RHS H6, USDA 6a-10b. Season Summer to autumn. Head to our piece on Sissinghurst’s famous roses for more.
Bouquets
One of the most inspiring contemporary florists around, Electric Daisy Flower Farm Shop sells fresh, seasonal flowers grown by floral designer Fiona Haser Bizony on her farm in Somerset. Having just opened in Highgate, London, EDFF offers sustainable alternatives to flower like roses, such as snowdrops. The shop features a host of flower-related products as well as plants grown on the farm.
Nothing says ‘I love you’ like a bouquet of gorgeous flowers. Bloom and Wild are a company specialising in reliable flower transportation (or ‘letterbox bouquets’) and their nifty bouquets arrive flat packed, with exactly the information on how to arrange them yourself. There’s also the option for hand-tied, pre-arranged too… From £28
Garden visits
There are a host of romantic gardens out there, all waiting for you to wander with your loved one over paths and past borders. Check out our list of the top ten most romantic gardens, but definitely don’t miss Plas Brondanw in Wales, which has architectural topiary, allées of box and yew, curling flights of steps, fountains, and the best vista in Britain, ending in the peaks of Snowdonia.
Accessories
Botanical beauty accessories
Heathcote and Ivory‘s new series of gardening gift accessories are botanically-enriched, which is something we know most gardeners will love. As well as a nifty cosmetic bag, featuring the Morris and Co. Wilhelmina design, essential oils are used within the hand creams too. Expect lemon, sweet orange and lime notes along with a subtle base of cedarwood.
Handmade jewellery
Alex Monroe jewellery follows themes of the natural world. From honey bee cufflinks to willow twig rings and a fritillary flower necklace (above), the jewellery takes its inspiration from gardens and everything within them. The perfect gardening gifts for the gardener in your life.
Perfume
Ravenscourt Apothecary specialises in fragrances, soaps and skincare that’s vegan and natural. The smells are inspired by Victorian literary figures such as Mr Darcy and Jane Eyre, as well as unusual teas and include the likes of jasmine, mandarin, neroli and more. We love their Victorian designs too. Guaranteed to please a gardener.
