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A rarely cultivated deciduous fern which spreads via long rhizomes. The bright green fronds are softly hairy and up to one foot in length. These long-lanceolate fronds have entire (not dissected or “fern-like”) margins that are strongly undulate, very attractive. A stunning groundcover for mild regions. Grow it in a hanging moss-lined basket so that the rhizomes pop out through the entire basket. Native from the eastern Himalaya into China and south into Thailand. In the wild this species grows on damp rock faces and cliffs or as an epiphyte. A collection from SE Asia.

A member of the Gesneriaceae (a relative of the African Violet). This is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a basal rosette of deeply rugose, toothed and felted leaves from which arises a very short stem with one or two very large, inflated “snapdragon-like” flowers of cream flushed pink with masses of darker spots within. A striking plant for a container, terrarium or shaded rockery (in a mild climate). I am pretty sure this is the first introduction of this species into cultivation. It was found growing with beech, rhododendrons, magnolias, etc. so should have some hardiness.

A member of the Gesneriaceae (African Violet family) native to south-central China where it grows on mossy cliffs and rock faces. This is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with a basal rosette of deeply rugose, toothed and felted leaves from which arises a very short stem with several very large, inflated “snapdragon-like” flowers of deep blue-purple. The flowers are quite large for the size of the plant, a real stunner! A striking plant for a container, terrarium or shaded rockery. Should be quite hardy, as it has been in the garden here at the RSBG (unprotected) for many years now.

One of the best hardy gesneriads, this species has a basal rosette of evergreen leaves like most of the other genera in this family. This species features leaves that are quite fleshy and glossy and extremely rugose in texture – a stunning foliage plant. The flowers (late summer) are in upright, open clusters and are bright yellow with a narrow mouth. Seems pretty hardy so far at the RSBG.

Large deciduous shrubs with deeply cut dark green pinnatifid leaves. The stunning flowers are white to pale pink with dark maroon blotches at the bases of the petals and can be up to six inches across. These flowers appear in mid-spring and the specimens in the RSBG are easily the most photographed plants in the garden while in bloom. This “tree peony” is easy in a well-drained sunny position. Native to northern China so tolerant of both heat and cold. These are grown from seed which was collected from our plants which originated from seed collected in the wild. Rarely offered choice species. Large plants this year.