This One's Not In Plant Finder

11 comments

A few weeks ago, spritzhenry wrote on the frustrations of buying the wrong plant. This blog records an example of not getting what the label said but finishing up with a great surprise.

Most of my plants come from Garden Centres or nurseries but there are one or two exceptions. Several years ago, I decided to buy a couple of hibiscus shrubs from my local Woolworth’s store – they had a special offer at the time, The two I chose were ‘Red Heart’ and ‘Bluebird’.

‘Red Heart’ duly flowered as per the picture on the label

but ‘Bluebird’ was definitely not right

After failing to find my plant in my reference books, I took a sample to the RHS Wisley for identification. After a few weeks I received their report; they were unable to name it and suggested I contact the firm of Notcutt’s as they were breeders of hibiscus. Another letter and another baffled reply – would I send some cutting material in January and they would graft and grow my plant to assess it. I duly followed their instructions and sent off six pieces.

Summer came and went and my mystery hibiscus flowered again. In November, Notcutt’s wrote to me. “We are unable to identify your plant”, they said. “However, it is too similar to an existing variety to be worthwhile our selling it.” So I had a new, unnamed, and unsellable, variety of hibiscus. I asked for the young plants to be returned (which they did) and distributed them to some keen fellow gardeners in Bracknell so now there are several of this shrub around the town. I thought it ought to have a proper name (instead of ‘Not Bluebird!’) so unofficially, it is:

HIBISCUS SYRIACUS ‘LADY BRACKNELL’

(named after a character in ‘The Importance Of Being Ernest’ by Oscar Wilde)

• 7 Aug, 2010
• 13 likes

More blog posts by AndrewR