Sanguisorba species ex. Japan
20 seeds per packet.
This plant never fails to make us pause to inspect its very chunky, intricate bottlebrush flowers at close range. This was collected in the wild in Japan by the late, great Michael Wickenden as Sanguisorba species ex. Japan. We've tried numerous times over the years to find out its true identity but drawn a blank. Being compact and considerably shorter than most species at 40cm, it's well suited here as we are on an extremely windy site. As for the taller species like Sanguisorba officinalis, they take on an ungainly flop by midsummer. Flowering June to July. Moist, well-drained soil in sun to semi-shade.
GROWING INSTRUCTIONS:
Sow from March to June. Cover seed thinly, press in gently and keep top of compost from drying out. Keep pot warm at 15 to 20°C until germination, then move to somewhere cooler.
Carefully prick out seedlings when they have developed true leaves and are large enough to transplant to individual pots to grow on.