Mail Order Catalogue 2008

Ranunculus ficaria
Former National Collection, Awarded Scientific Status 1999.

The Lesser Celandine is an invaluable plant because it gives pleasure and delight at the very beginning of the gardening season, and then it quickly disappears so that by the end of April you wouldn't know it had been there.  Yes, it is regarded as a weed and can spread rapidly,  but it's ephemeral nature makes this far less important than might be otherwise.  The variations which it exhibits are a fascination in their own right. The flowers themselves vary from dark orange through several shades of yellow to green, cream and white. They can be single or double too.  The leaves can be green, silver, bronze or combinations of these shades, and there are variegated ones as well.  The National Collection contains over 150 variations and only the best are listed here. A full illustrated
account of all of them, indeed everything that is known about the plant, is however available from the Nursery for £15 post free.

Ranunculus ficaria. (Lesser Celandine)  All varieties form a mound of foliage about 3 ins tall, whilst the flower stalks go up to 6 or 8 ins. They grow best in a quite rich soil and enjoy being rather damp when in growth. Tolerant of both sun and shade, the only thing that inhibits them is an excess of chalk.

For an image click on the name shaded in blue.

Single Flowered Forms with Plain Green Foliage

White Flowers
'Albus'.  Pale green petal reverses.  B                       
'Randall's White'.  Slate petal reverses.  B
'Salmon's White'.  Petal reverses age indigo.   B       
'Bregover White'.  Very narrow white petals.    B   

Primrose/Cream Flowers
'Primrose'.  Pale yellow with green reverse.  B                                                                                                                                     
'Coffee Cream'.  Pale cream petal backed brown.  B
'Primrose Flame'. Pale yellow backed red.   F
'Primrose Ashen'.  Pale yellow backed grey.   E     
'Primrose Brassy'.  Pale yellow backed bronze.   E

Orange Flowers and Other Colours
'Coppernob'. Orange flower, bronze leaf.  C
'Aurantiacus'.  Orange petals backed chestnut.  B         
'Deborah Jope'. White flower,bronze leaf.  E                               
'Fried Egg'.  White petals with dark yellow centre.  E   
'Orange Sorbet'.  Pale pastel orange petals.  E             
'Limelight'.  Acid lime yellow petals.  E

Green, Green Splashed Single and Double Flowers.                       
'Green Petal'.  Flowers a little doubled green mop.  B   
'Hullavington'.Single yellow petals splashed green.  E
'Yaffle'.  Reflexed yellow/green petals. Single.  D         
'Ragamuffin'. Large green/yellow mop.  E                   
'Salad Bowl'.  Symetrical, green petals.  G     

Double Flowers
'Flore-Pleno'. Double Pom pom. Several clones.  B
'Double Bronze'. "Daisy" type yellow double.  B           
'Collarette'. Central dark yellow button.  E                     
'Double White'.  Open "daisy" double white.  C         
'Ken Aslet'. Very neat starry double white.  F

Foliage Variants

Foliage Variants with Plain Yellow Flowers                 
'Brazen Hussy'. Darkest shiny bronze leaves.  B
'Brambling'. Bronze deeply speckled lichen green.  E                 
'Brazen Child'. Bronze marbled magenta.  D                                 
'Red Cuckoo'. Reddish Bronze leaf.  C
'Tortoiseshell'. Red and green mottling on bronze.  D
'Mobled Jade'. Central purple bronze edged spotted green.  D     
'Aglow in the Dark' Almost black with green spots.  D                 
'Jane's Dress'. Purple flecked silver.  D                                         
'Sheldon Silver'. Almost pure silver.  D                                         
'Newton Abbot'. Khaki leaves.  D
                                                 
Foliage Varients with Orange or Cream Flowers
'Coker Cream'. Cream grey reverse flower, bronze leaf.  E         
'Oakenden Cream' . Cream brown  flower, bronze leaf.  E           
'Crawshay Cream'. Cream green flower, bronze leaf.  E

Variegated Forms
'Clouded Yellow'. Leaf boldly splashed butter yellow.  F
'Hoskin's Variegated'. Golden leaves.  F                                     
'Roz's Variegated'. Occasional white splashes.  E
                       
Leaf Shape Varients
'Holly Green'. Reminiscent of a holly leaf in shape.  D
'Holly Bronze'. As above with bronze leaf colour.   D   

Miniature Forms (3 ins high)             
'Primrose Elf'. Pale yellow single flower.  C
'Torquay Elf'. Mid yellow single flower.  C                                 
'Bantam Egg'. White petals with dark yellow centre.  C             
'Damerham', Yellow with big green central 'nose'.  D

DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES PLEASE
PHONE (01822 810275) OR E-MAIL FOR AVAILABILITY OF THE ABOVE PLANTS