Garden centre plants without labels

I have a really good cheap garden centre near me, unfortunately I keep buying plants that are the right species but the wrong variety. The chap knows what the plants are but asking yesterday if the berry Skimmia he sold me was asexual or just a female and whether I needed a male he had no idea. I also bought a Euonymus wanting the flowering shrub sort but I've come away with the ground covering sort!!!

What would others do in this situation, stop using the garden centre and go somewhere more expensive were the labels haven't disappeared or take the rough with the smooth? His plants are wonderful, even if I'm not always sure what I've come away with!!

 

I'd stick with him, and accept you won't always know what you've got! :D A good and cheap source of plants isn't to be sneezed at!

After all, you can always post a photo on here, and ask us - someone's bound to know which skimmia, for instance, and whether it needs a male or female to go with it or not.....

 

Thanks Dendro, as soon as said

Anyone ideas whether this needs a partner or not? Have I even got the right plant :D

 

Since even the experts find it hard to tell the difference betwixt the sexes in Skimmia it is not going to be easy to do it from a picture, sorry.
But yes it is a Skimmia!

 

Ah well, at least I got the right plant

 

A close look at the flowers might shed some light when they open.

 

Just my tuppenth - a plant without a label, could be a lovely surprise!

I have bought a few in my time (usually in the sale section - as there is no label), the best of which was my apple tree - which was indeed a gamble - but it produces the biggest,most juicy apples I have ever tasted. The colour permeates the flesh Mmmmm-mm!

I digress! Sorry - I know nothing about skimmias - but a cheap garden centre selling healthy plants cannot be a bad thing 9and who doesn't love a surprise?!)

 

Ive got my Skimmia in front of an Aucuba - I like the colour combo. I also planted some Salvias bu it last year, Queen Victora I think, dark red foliage and red flowers. You can just see the Salvia and Skimmia on the right

 

:D :D :D You are right of course but occasionally I like to try and plan the garden a little bit, but 'the best laid schemes o' mice an' men.......'

 

Beautiful corner of your garden, hopefully I will have such a spot by the end of the summer

 

Thank you Johnny - took me ages to do that last year but am quite pleased with it and if I can do it, anyone can :D

 

Marge, I think that purple foliage plant is Lobelia Queen Victoria. I bought a single one about three years ago, and now have over 40, in addition to what was given away. At the end of the season, I dig them up and each plant can be easily divided into two or three and sometimes more, with an old bread knife. I plant them very close because they tend to grow upwards rather than sideways. A clump of 10 or 20 doesn't take up much space but will look fantastic.

 

I believe this to be S.'japonica' which is the female.
'Rubella' is the male. Regards, Fonzie.

 

Thanks Fonzie, will have to find the Rubella as the plant is so beautiful and I would love to have berries on it.

 

Thanks Peter - I meant Lobelia!! They are lovely arent they and I hope mine spread too