Annuals and Biennials
Includes biennials. All of these plants will also appear in one of the Camden Park catalogue categories, usually Herbaceous Plants.
Oenothera biennis L. var. grandiflora (L‘Hér.) Lindl.
Fully hardy, erect, hairy annual or biennial with bowl-shaped fragrant flowers opening in the evening, initially pale-yellow and darkening to deep golden-yellow, from summer to autumn. The variety grandiflora has larger flowers than the species. To 1.5m. [RHSE, Hortus].
Oenothera bifrons D.Don
A nearly erect annual or short-lived perennial with purple-tinged stems, alternate, smooth, broadly lance-shaped leaves, and solitary, axillary, bright canary yellow flowers. [BM t.3764/1839].
Oenothera elata Kunth subsp. hookeri (Torr. & A.Gray) W.Dietr. & W.L.Wagner
Fully hardy erect perennial or biennial with lance-shaped leaves and numerous cup-shaped flowers which, opening at dusk, start pale yellow and age to orange-red, in summer. To 90cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Oenothera fruticosa L.
Fully hardy, erect perennial or biennial with branched, red-tinged, hairy stems, ovate to lance-shaped, toothed leaves, to 11cm long, and deep yellow saucer- to cup-shaped flowers opening during the day from late spring to late summer. To 90cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Oenothera fruticosa L. subsp. glauca (Michx.) Standl.
Fully hardy, erect perennial or biennial with light yellow saucer- to cup-shaped flowers opening during the day from late spring to late summer. To 90cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Pericallis x hybrida R.Nordenstram
The wild form of Senecio cruentus is a perennial with purple flowers although it is now usually grown as an annual. Many cultivars are available, and were in Victorian times, in a wide range of shape and form but mainly in shades of blue, purple, white and magenta. It is uncertain if other species were involved in the development of the florist’s cineraria. [RHSE, Hortus].
Petunia x hybrida Hort ex Vilm. var. grandiflora
Probably early Petunia nyctaginiflora x P. violacea hybrids. See Petunia axillaris (Lam.) Britton, Stern & Pogenb. Even the early hybrid garden forms were available in a range of colours from purple through pink and red to pure white. The accompanying figure shows three forms, deep rose pink, pure white and white with a crimson throat. These forms are instantly recognisable to any modern gardener. The varietal name grandiflora refers to the larger flowers of the hybrids and is still in use today.
Phlox drummondii Hook.
Half hardy, erect to spreading annual with purple, pink, red, lavender-blue or white flowers in late spring. The flowers often have a prominent, contrasting eye. To 45cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Phlox x leopoldiana Paxt.
Paxton’s Dictionary describes Phlox Leopoldiana as a rose-coloured hybrid, introduced in 1847. Its general colour is a bright rosy-crimson, the eye a rich deep crimson, and the throat white, making a striking contrast. [FC p.28/1848]. The RHS Dictionary describes the flower as deep rose with a white eye and classifies it as a grandiflora type, growing to about 45cm.
Polygonum persicaria L.
Fully hardy, erect annual with greenish, magenta or pink flowers in dense cylindrical spikes in summer. [Hortus].
Portulaca grandiflora ‘Splendens’
The type Portulaca grandiflora Hook. is a spreading, red-stemmed annual with fleshy leaves and pink, red, yellow or white flowers in summer. The variety ‘Splendens’ has pale red flowers. To 20cm. [RHSE, Hortus].
Portulaca grandiflora unknown variety
A variety of Portulaca grandiflora Hook. See Portulaca grandiflora ‘Splendens’.
Portulaca thellusonii Lindl.
‘These much resemble in appearance an ice-plant, having succulent stems and cylindrical leaves. They are very showy plants, but require greenhouse treatment, although they may occasionally be turned out in the open border in summer. The best [include] Thellusoni, which is the strongest grower – it has large blood-red flowers’ [Gard. Chron. 1855].
Reseda odorata L.
Fully hardy, erect to slightly spreading perennial, usually grown as an annual, with loose, conical, raceme-like heads of tiny star-shaped, highly fragrant, yellowish-green or white to reddish-green flowers from summer to early autumn. To 60cm. The flowers have been prized for centuries for their fragrance, which lasts for months, even when cut and dried. It is still cultivated in France for the essential oils, which are used in perfumery. [RHSE, Hortus].
Reseda odorata L. var. frutescens Ker.
See Reseda odorata L. Frutescens is a shrubby variety growing to 60cm introduced from Egypt also in 1752. [RHSD].
