Osteospermum ‘Lady Leitrim’

Osteospermum ‘Lady Leitrim’, is an attractive, long-blooming perennial which can flower from late spring all the way through to the autumn. Its daisy-like flowers are blush-white deepening to a lavender-pink as they age while each petal has a blue-mauve back giving a very attractive two-tone effect. The flowers open and close depending on the light. […]

Pittosporum ‘Nutty’s Leprechaun’

The profile of Pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’ in issue 153 mentioned that it occurred as a sport of Pittosporum tenuifolium and could reach more than 30 feet. At the opposite end of the height spectrum is another Irish cultivar of the same parent, Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Nutty’s Leprechaun’ which originated at the nursery of the late Fred […]

Aspidistra ‘Irish Mist’

On Plant Heritage’s 2021 shortlist for Threatened Plant of the Year, was an Irish plant, Aspidistra ‘Irish Mist’. Though not the eventual winner, it was voted People’s Choice. I have in the past cited A. ‘Irish Mist’ as an example of a cultivar which may not have a large fan club because of its yellow […]

Malus ‘Irish Peach’

There are many wonderful Irish apple varieties; an excellent one is Malus ‘Irish Peach’, sometimes known as M. ‘Early Crofton’ as it is thought to have originated in Sligo as part of the Crofton collection. This is a fine dessert apple described as having fruits that are small and round with a smooth pale yellow […]