Three new clematis and handful of house plant seeds

I recently attended the Garden Press Event, always a favourite day, where many elements of the gardening industry display what is going to be new for 2026.  It is always an exciting day and for me this year it was a day I was particularly keen to attend as I had not attended last year.  This year was, of course, about the new products but equally for me it was about reconnecting with my gardening network I have barely seen in the last twelve months.

Regular readers will know that whilst I love a good piece of garden machinery/tool; I get most excited by plants.  Ich bin gardener as the saying goes.  I also love a good clematis, I have a few in the garden already, but there is always room for more so when I was given these three younglings from the Guernsey Clematis Nurseries I was very happy.  

These are three new varieties: Queen's Nurse - which is named for a charity set up from a grant by Queen Victoria in 1887.  From this acorn grew the National Garden Scheme movement, which was prompted by the 1927 initiative to open private gardens to raise funds for the Queen Victoria's Jubilee Institute for Nurses, the renamed Queen's Nurse.    

photo c/o Guernsey Clematis Nurseries

She is a wonderful pink and I am looking forward to her flowering.

The second clematis is Eliza, named in reference to The Book of Ebenezer le Page by Gerald Basil Edwards which is set in the parish where the Guernsey Clematis Nurseries are located.  It is a combination of the main character Ebenezer and his love interest Liza.  I am going to admit this is a little convoluted but I imagine they thought a clematis called Ebenezer might make people think of Scrooge (or is that just me?).

Photo c/o Guernsey Clematis Nursery

She is a described as being pale violet/blue - but I am thinking mauve. I like mauve.

Number three is Ithemba.  This clematis was named by the Children's Hospital Trust in South Africa.  The Trust funds training and supporting child public health projects across the Western Cape and the continent.  

Photo c/o Guernsey Clematis Nurseries

She is very pretty and will make a great addition to my garden.  These three clematis are going to be formally launched at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.

I got very excited when being shown around the Westlands stand by the new range of Unwins House Plant Seeds.  So I was delighted to find that some were included in the product bag they gave me.  

This combines my love of growing things from seed and growing house plants.  Its a win-win!  I am very much looking to sowing these.  They do require a propagator but do not look complicated to get growing.  I will report back.

I will write more on this day another time.

Take care and be kind.

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