Show Notes
Our gardens are full of them at this time of year, but the Tulip actually originates in Central Asia. These species Tulips are varied in height, colour, foliage and the ease with which we can grow them at home and so this week on Talking Dirty, Cambridge University Botanic Garden - who hold the National Collection of Species Tulips - are along to share some of their favourites and recommendations for which to grow, and how. Plus stories of their latest adventures in Kyrgyzstan where they've been finding and protecting new varieties. So join Alan Gray, Thordis and Simon Wallis and Kathryn Bray of the Botanics for a tantalising tour of their collection! PLANT LIST Tulipa sprengeri Tulipa tschimghanica Tulipa toktogulica Tulipa greigii Tulipa cretica Tulipa 'Negrita' Tulip bakerii 'Lilac Wonder' Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii Tulipa acuminata syn. Tulipa cornuta Tulipa montana Tulipa heweri Tulipa biflora Tulipa turkestanica Tulipa regelii Tulipa tarda Tulipa saxatilis Tulipa linifolia Tulipa undulatifolia syn Tulipa eichleri Tulipa clusiana Tulipa clusiana 'Peppermint Stick' Tulip clusiana var. chrysantha Tulipa aucheriana Tulipa sylvestris Tulipa orphanidea Tulipa kaufmanniana Tulipa fosteriana Tulipa praestans 'Shogun' Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' Tulipa 'Ballerina' Tulipa 'Heart's Delight' Trollius lilacinus Iris acutiloba Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane'
More from Talking Dirty
Alan Gray and Thordis Fridriksson return with a look at the plants causing a sensation at East Ruston Old Vicarage this September, after a long and droughty summer.
With apologies for long absence, Alan Gray and Thordis return for more planty joy - with some 'Show and Tell' of what's looking great at East Ruston Old Vicarage at the moment!
A new year and plenty to talk about. Join Alan Gray as he takes you and Thordis on a 'wander' through the plants wowing at East Ruston Old Vicarage this month. PLANT LIST Clianthus puniceus ‘Kākā King’ Lachenalia rubida Fuchsia 'Wapenveld's Bloei' Tropaeolum majus 'Hermine Grashoff' Tropaeolum majus 'Margaret Long' Tropaeolum majus 'Darjeeling Gold' syn 'Darjeeling Double' Phlebodium aureum 'Davana' Viola hederacea Carex buchananii Galanthus plicatus 'Wandlebury Ring' Iris unguicularis Iris lazica Narcissus 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' Narcissus 'Pueblo' Prunus mume 'Beni-chidori' Malva arborea 'Variegata' Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' Arum 'Hungarian Rhapsody' Galanthus 'Wasp' Galanthus 'Glimmer of Gold' Galanthus plicatus 'Golden Fleece' Galanthus 'Primrose Warburg'
It's been a little while. Thank you for your patience. Alan and Thordis wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2026. PLANT LIST Anemone pavonina Agave montana Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty‘ Punica granatum var. Nana Cordyline australis 'Charlie Boy' Galanthus plicatus 'Three Ships' Galanthus 'S. Arnott' Arum pictum Arum maculatum Arum italicum subsp. neglectum 'Monksilver' Musa sikkimensis 'Bengal Tiger' Lagerstroemia indica Weigela ‘Wings of Fire' Euphorbia mellifera Iris unguicularis Iris unguicularis 'Peloponnese Snow' Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt' Fascicularia bicolor Dicksonia Antarctica Viola hederacea Begonia luxurians Ilex aquilifolium ‘Nellie R Stevens’ Cyclamen persicum 'Dragon Deep Blue' Plumbago auriculata Bomarea caldasii
September already and East Ruston Old Vicarage is as bursting with colour as you might expect! Alan Gray brings just a few favourites for Show and Tell, while Thordis is FLOMO*ing over a very 'Alan' container she spotted on holiday! *FLOMO = FLoral/plant-based fear Of Missing Out