Crûg Farm Plants,
Griffith's Crossing,
Caernarfon,
Gwynedd,
LL55 1TU.
Tel: (44+) 01248 670232
info@crug-farm.co.uk

Web site design,
development and hosting
WiSS, 2007

The Database is arranged as a catalogue with the descriptions listed alphabetically. Just click onto the first letter of any plant you are interested in to lead you forward to a list of plants under that letter. From there click onto the genus (first name) of the plant which again will offer you a final list of species or cultivars (second name) within that genus. On clicking these will open up a description and in the majority of cases a photograph as well. These descriptions are used on our plant labels, hence many may seem to be repetitive when read collectively.

Collectors References

These combination of initials and numbers are accession numbers that are assigned to collections we and others gather from wild populations from all over the world. These are assigned to each collection as they are made to enable interested parties to track their origins. The list of initials below are those assigned to our own collections as well as a few other collectors we introduce plants from.

SOME NOTES ON THIS YEAR’S INTRODUCTIONS MAINLY FROM OUR OWN WILD SEED COLLECTIONS

Woodies including climbers

Due to our expansion into mail-order we are able to offer many more species of open-ground grown hardy woodies while dormant in the winter months. This will enable us to greatly expand our range, without the need of expensive maintenance of large containerised plants.

In line with the last few years our inventory of Acer species has been expanded, this year even more so due to our open-ground policy. With so many differing opinions regarding the nomenclature of maples we are feeling somewhat squeezed like the proverbial ‘Piggy in the Middle’, but I am making an effort to match the correct names to the best of my ability. Inevitably some names will be changed in the future. It is so inconsiderate of plants not to have name plaques on them in the wild.

Closely related to A. palmatum, A. amoenum and its variety matsumurae with their deeply lobed leaves, are collections we gathered on Honshu in 2005, when they were conspicuous in their autumnal hues. A. rufinerve was also colourful, but collected from the island of Shikoku, while A. truncatum was an earlier collection from Korea. But for one of the most outstanding shows of colour we have seen in the wild A. shirasawanum v. tenuifolium would certainly qualify for a prize. For the more protected areas of the country we have some outstanding collections from our stomping grounds in the north of Vietnam. Having searched the areas over five different seasons we qualify to appreciate the scarcity of some of these species that we have found, finding some of them only the one time in seed. Such plants are A. erythranthum, A. heptaphlebium and A. reticulatum grab them while you can. We only have A. tonkinense thanks to Dan Hinkley’s generosity in sharing his collections with us, guaranteed to sell on sight, not only is this plant comparable to fairy’s teeth but stunning too. Altingia poilanei will be new to cultivation from one of our collections gathered in northern Vietnam. Where this Hamamelis relative forms bushy shrubs clothed in broad evergreen parchment-textured leaves, retaining the large globose pitted seed capsules when we were there. Betula dahurica was a conspicuous species where we collected the seed back in 2001 in Korea, meanwhile B. alnoides will be a new introduction from the north of Vietnam. Buddleja asiatica BSWJ11278 despite originating from our collection in equatorial Java, perversely stands out from our previous collections of this winter flowering tender species, in so far as it is more robust and cold tolerant. It may be a bit premature to change all of the names of the Daphniphyllumspecies that we cultivate, but I feel comfortable that the majority of changes are for the better.

At long last Daphniphyllum macropodum has been (re)accepted along with its dwarf variety of humile as being the correct naming. While D. glaucescens was misapplied to the Taiwanese species, hence the change toD. pentandrum as well as D. kengii, just to confuse us even more the spelling has been changed/corrected onD. teysmannii. Then for the additional species, we are introducing the exceptionally rare D. paxianum from the upland area of southern Vietnam, where this species was very conspicuous with its bronzy foliage. The second species we are introducing this year is what we grow as D. chartaceu (alas another confused name). A distinct species from the mountains of northern Vietnam, with the undersides of the leaves glaucous even white at certain stages, while the red petioles are held at a distinctive angle. Debregeasia longifolia is a decorative woody member of the nettle family (Urticaceae). The lance-shaped foliage may fool people even though the texture is rough, but the orange mulberry-like fruit held in clusters along the stems will be guaranteed to fox anyone. Holboellia latifolia Multiple is a new concept for these fruiting evergreen climbers. As individual plants are not compatible to bearing fruit we are clumping multiple seedlings from our HWJCM008 collection into each container. Hence with these plants you will not only have the wonderfully scented spring flowers for months, but they will be followed by sausage-shaped edible fruit in the summer. Lindera praecox was a really good acquisition to kick off our 2005 collections in the north of Japan. Where they had formed large shapely shrubs clothed in small yellow leaves bearing marble-sized fruit, to succeed the masses of small yellow flowers on the leafless branches in spring, as with all Lindera. Morinda umbellata is a restrained evergreen climber when we found it in the north of Vietnam twinning its way through shrubs. The small leaves are opposite while the clusters of white flowers are held in the axils, as will be the succeeding peculiar shaped orange fruit. Some Pentapanaxhave a strange habit in the wild, appearing to be aerial-rooting climbers, but start life as epiphytes eventually sending roots all the way down to the ground and eventually growing their own terrestrial roots (a hemi-epiphyte). This was how we found P. longepedunculatus growing from the bough of a large tree at 10m. With 7-foliate pinnate leaves and large terminal umbels of black fruit. From another location but on an even taller precarious tree we collected (or more precisely I sent my young guide up) seed of P. verticillatus with broad tri-foliate leaves and long panicles of small black fruit.

Philadelphus satsumi is one of our introductions from the north of Japan, where the small slender shrubs were well laden with seed capsules indicating the preceding show of creamy white scented flowers. From further south on the west coast of Honshu we encountered a memorable display of black and red cherry-like fruit in broad racemes, on Prunus maximowiczii a sizeable deciduous shrub, which is valued by those who know it.

Schefflera aff. lenticeliatais our only introduction of these wonderful shrubs for this year, as well as the only collection we made of this genera in the south of Vietnam. As its epithet suggests the lenticels are prominent on the green upright stems which bear the umbrellalike divided leaves. Yet another collection from the north of Vietnam, Sorbus brevipetiolata has wonderful glossy young bronzy growth which it retains for quite some time. Meanwhile the autumnal yellow contrasts well with the large marble-sized fruit which turn a russet colour. Stauntonia aff. chinensis was another generous gift from Dan on our arrival in Vietnam in 2006 (its not all in one direction either, you should have seen our gift of even rarer seed in the autumn of 2007). Having only seen the exceptionally long yellow fruit, but not the flowers it is difficult to wax lyrically, although the descriptions I have read give the flower colour as yellow with the female flowers larger, not grown a poor Stauntonia yet.

Those of you who are keen on Viburnum will not be disappointed with this year’s additions, V. opulus v. calvescenswill be a new introduction from our Japanese collections where it formed small trees laden with red fruit. Our second collection of V. awabuki is from Wabuka (trust that is not lost on you)a small coastal town on the east coast of Honshu, apan. Where this distinctive evergreen is commonly seen growing as windbreaks/hedging down to the very seashore in the teeth of their maritime typhoons. If that is not an indication of how to grow this undeserving reputedly tender species then our efforts have been for nothing. We also have (only few) V. aff. odoratissimum which we collected seed of in 1996 from close to the top of Mt. Pulog the highest mountain on Luzon, Philippines. Very distinct from what we know as the species with smaller stiffer leaves which are covered with inflated glands. You either love Zanthoxylum or despise them, for their distinctive aromatic foliage and impressive thorns or maybe it’s the flavour of their culinary tender young leaves or seed/capsules that get to you. I’ll not mention all of our new introduction, save one Z.ailanthoides f. inermis from Taiwan, a most peculiar form with barely a prickle to be seen, yet it will be as drought tolerant as any of them. Drought tolerance does anyone care after last summer? But keepnote their time will come again as there is little to compare in grace or utility in such an arid grower.

Herbaceous or tuberous including climbers … with new cultivars at the end

Aconitum japonicum ssp. montanum is our collection from the mountains of the Kii Peninsular in Japan. A valuable addition with its sky-blue helmets on arching stems, of deeply divided leaves, to only 80cm long. A. vilmorinianumwill join our legion of valuable climbing species, which I collected from the slopes of E'meishan Sichuan in 2000. Again this robust species bears mid-pale blue helmets. For darker blue tinged with purple flowers we have A. fischeri a short species with finely divided leaves on short upright stems that we collected in Korea. All are mid-summer to early autumn flowering for us as are most of our Asiatic collections.

Ainsliaea elegans is just one of several species we are adding from our collections from Vietnam and Japan. All are happy in shade, retaining their semi-evergreen decorative foliage if sheltered from extremes. From a contrasting environment on the seashore of Yakushima we have a replacement stock of Angelica japonica. Assuming we had missed this wonderful stately perennial species when we arrived it was only when we searched the undergrowth behind the beach that we finally found the remnant seed heads. Aspidistra suthepensis has been a long time bulking up to a size when we can offer some of this unusual species with relatively short distinctive mottled leaves on short petioles. A collection gathered in 1997 from the mountain that it is named for in northern Thailand. Cacalia(before you get too used to this name afraid it will soon to be re-named Parasenecio) are proving to be very popular woodland perennials for their diverse ornamental foliage, despite their uninspiring flowers. C. aff. yatabei is the only one we dare add to our list this year as so many of our new collections were not able to withstand the summer’s deluge while still small. All the same keep an eye on our web site just in case we are able to offer more.Centropogon is another genera that has surprised us with its popularity, C. hirsutus and C. willdenowianus should keep the momentum of these brightly coloured Lobelia relatives going. While on the subject of brightly flowered perennials originating from the Americas, Crusea coccinea will be immensely popular. A low growing creeping woodlander with bright red trumpet-flowers for month during the summer, its just what you need to lift the woodland tone. Normally classified as shrubs Ceratostigma asperum is mentioned here along with other subshrubs. It was a small species where I collected it on hot limestone in northern Thailand in 1999, creeping out from deep cracks with rounded foliage and the palest of blue flowers some even white. The identity of our collections of Dahlia excelsa are confirmed, as originally we thought they were D. imperialis possessing such a similar habit of gigantic growth. We have two collections which we grow in a field to bulk up, as they are hardy enough to grow to 3m tall and start flowering by July. Disporum bodinieri has inexplicably taken us a long time to bulk up. In our garden it is semi-evergreen only loosing its leaves when the weather is frosty for some time. We also are fortunate that the flowers are borne in succession over a considerable time now the plants have clumped up. D. cantoniense v. multiflorum may require a bit more shelter as they were one of our target plants from the highlands of Indonesia and Malaysia. While the Sumatran collections appeared to have reddened flowers the Malay collections appeared more evergreen. D. cantoniense v. sikkimense has taken us since 1994 to propagate enough material to offer, as we anticipate a strong demand. The variety is distinct from all other Disporum in bearing the largest flowers all be it on a smaller plant. Espeletia aff. summapacis will be a challenge to grow, it is almost guaranteed to be admired by all. Best described as a yellow flowering Celmisia on a trunk, as so many of these high altitude plants evolve. We should have a few plants of Lilium majoenseto offer, for those who are not familiar with it, the best description is that it is like L. nepalense, but originating from China and not stoloniferous. L. poilanei is similar, but with a more robust habit. It has to be originating from sheer shady cliffs in the north of Vietnam where the few remaining plants can be seen precariously perched and squeezing out of cracks high on the cliffs. Amenable to cultivation though they reach a lofty 2m tall in containers for us. Luzuriaga radicans may technically be a creeping shrub, but we value it for its small scaly evergreen leaves and pendant white flowers. Our additional form of this was collected by Martin Rickard and Dick Hayward on their trip to Chile, where it was acting as a climber on tree trunks. L. polyphylla has a more delicate appearance with narrower grey-green leaves very pale below, still with the starry white flowers and red fruit a collection by Dan Hinkley et al from Chile.With Lysionotus serratus we shall be adding yet another species to cultivation of these charming sub-shrubs from the Saintpaulia family. This is a wonderfully blue-veined flowering species we collected from Nepal in 2002, with robust stems to 60cm tall. We shall be adding two new species of Maianthemum this year M. paniculatum may confuse people initially, as the name has been misapplied to a Chinese species. This I discovered while researching in the Herbarium at Kew, not only was I surprised to learn they originated from Central America, but there were so many other species there as well. For us this is an evergreen with long lasting panicles of white flowers which bear large lilac tinted fruit which only turn red after about a year (yes 12 months). Undoubtedly the most conspicuous species in flower, M. amoenum is an epiphytic species in the wild. Our 2004 trip to Guatemala was timed to coincide with the fruiting of this bright pink flowering species, which bore their black fruit on contrasting red-pink stems while rooting into the mossy branches of low oak trees close to the summit of one of the towering extinct volcanoes. Peliosanthes arisanensis is a small species from Taiwan, where like their close relatives of Aspidistra thrive in shady moist forests, forming neat clumps of broad pleated leaves from the thin rhizomes which also bear the slender upright stems of yellow-pink flowers. Psacalium pinetorum will be the first of several species that we hope to introduce, from Central America, where they inhabit the understorey of pine forests. Superficially imitating the foliage of a large Podophyllum (name no names but I have fooled a few people). The flowers undoubtedly give the game away though more akin to Syneilesis, but more substantial. Salvia koyamae is a pale yellow woodland species we collected in Japan in 2005. Where we generally see it at the edge of forests to only 40cm tall with the pale yellow wide mouths of the flowers contrasting with the purple anthers. S. red species from Guatemala has defied all attempts of identification so far, but it is closely related to S. karwinskii all be it with differing foliage. No such problem of identity with S. vitifolia, with bold Vitis-like soft grey foliage as well as the large bright blue flowers, towering above. Senecio gerberaefolius has finally found its identity, aptly named with large yellow ray flowers and strap-shaped leaves, originating from the Huehuetenango plateau in Guatemala. Stephania are quite an unusual herbaceous twining climber from the moon-seed (Menispermaceae) family, with elegant perfoliate leaves all arising from a tuber. For me the foliage alone is worth it, but they do bear clusters of small flowers followed by conspicuous clusters of flat red fruit (containing the obligatory moon-seed). S. rotunda has a tuber which can get to 20 kg, some species are used in traditional medicine in Asia. S sinica is a yellow flowering species with a smaller tuber, one of my collections from E’meishan Western China in 2000.

Oops! Another name blunder – Tigridia orthantha (syn. Rigidella) grew in the same manner as T. pavonia , hence our mistake. No mistaking it when in flower, everybody wants one, it is bright though, scarlet speckled orange, with recurved flowers held in succession.

New cultivar names we are introducing

Asarum infrapurpureum ‘Taroko Web’
Was our first collection of any Asarum (BSWJ209), used as a display plant ever since. It is a distinct form of the species with cordate (heart shaped) dark matt green leaves which are medium sized for this species, approximately 10 cm long, which are attractively striated silver on most of the larger veins. It is a collection from Taroko in the east of Taiwan, where it was growing perilously close to the road on our first trip to that country in 1992. We returned there in 1993, horrified to see the area had been sprayed with weed-killer, in some sort of economy drive. Our host in Taiwan happened to be the conservation officer at that time, we have never seen them use it again.

Cautleya spicata ‘Arun Flame’
A distinct collection we gathered from Eastern Nepal in 2002 with Dan Hinkley and Jamaica Kincaid (HWJK2127). Which has the darkest red stems with yellow orange flushed flowers in dense terminal spikes, sheathed by dark red bracts, while the backs of the leaves are tinged purple-red. The plants are not quite as tall as our previous collections attaining just under 1m. We have found this collection to be perfectly hardy in an open field even in full sun, all we have done is to apply an 8cm bark mulch every winter.

Paris verticillata ‘Ryokutei’
Is a selected form of this species which we purchased from a nursery in Japan. Which bears a double green flower, as the sepals (the bractlike arrangement behind the narrow petals) have kept on producing additional floral leaves. There is a story behind my initial sighting of this plant. While on a ‘shopping expedition’ in Japan one spring with Dan, we were visiting one of their more reputable nurseries. I found one plant of this Paris tucked away … If you have Heronswood’s 2001 catalogue you can read the rest of the story. p.133.

Reineckea carnea ‘Crûg’s Broadleaf’
An unusual form (if that’s what it is) of this evergreen woodland perennial closely related to lily of the valley. This form is distinct in bearing much broader spatulate leaves distinctly veined and not ribbed, on short upright stems from thick creeping rhizomes that spreads above ground. Bearing pink lily of the valley-like flowers August-October. Easily grown in any type of fertile soil preferably with some moisture retention, in full to part shade. One of my collections from moist woodlands on E’meishan Sichuan China in 2000 (BWJ8096).

Sedum ussuriense ‘Chuwangsan’
A species we have been offering for a number of years which we collected in the unique limestone environment of Chuwangsan, South Korea. Where this unusual variety/form inhabits tiny nooks and crannies on cliffs of a narrow gorge. Hence its almost pendulous habit, forming small clumps of fat fleshy basal buds which burst open in early spring and slowly extend through the summer months to red wiry arching stems, with clasping grey fleshy serrated orbicular leaves spaced along them. Bearing by mid to late summer generous flat topped corymbs of rose-pink flowers. Flowering better in full sunpart shade in a well drained soil. Has been listed incorrectly as Cotyledon in the Plant Finder, hence this re-naming. Previously offered as: S. orbiculatum BSWJ723.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Cheju’s Early’
A distinct early flowering form of this deciduous, woody-stemmed, aerial rooting climber, that we collected from the island of Cheju- Dõ, South Korea. With a pleasing habit of adhering itself close to its host support, bearing deeply toothed-serrated ovate leaves and lacy corymbs of small white fertile flowers fringed by large pure-white showy sepals. Distinctly earlier in this form, April-May at our nursery. Previously sold as: S. hydrangeoides f. quelpartensis BSWJ1160.

Tricyrtis lasiocarpa ‘Royal Toad’
Rescued from the scene of utter devastation in the Central Mountains of Taiwan after the ’99 earthquake. Where this collection was made at 1480m from amongst the rubble of steep cliffs. With adherent clasping rhizomes and strong flexuous leafy stems to 90cm long, bearing good-sized terminal funnel-shaped flowers, distinctly royal-blue at the tips as the nights get cold in autumn, on this selection where we grow it. Easily grown in sun or part-shade in a moisture retentive fertile drained soil, protect roots from frost. Previously offered as: T. lasiocarpa BSWJ7014.

Uvularia sessilifolia ‘Cobblewood Gold’
A selection discovered by plantsman Darrell Probst in 1997 of a North American native in a patch of woods in westernMassachusetts and named for his nursery. Slender shoots emerge in early spring, from narrow underground creeping rhizomes. The wiry stems are draped with small green leaves, which are richly enhanced by golden yellow variegation. The yellow, bell-shaped flower in early spring are of course a bonus.