Show us your gardening purchases 2025

I did peruse the reduced table, but, honestly, I draw the line at “dead”. Even the 50p price tags couldn’t tempt me to have a go at reviving something.

 

I agree, though I did pick up an ajuga from a shelf with FREE plants in a garden centre a few months ago (!) I just put it in a spot that is a bit hidden so that it doesn't bother me, and if it comes back it will be a nice Spring surprise.

In other news, I may have just ordered 2 mahonias soft caress to go on either side of that cotoneaster ...

 

You are on a roll, @CostasK!

 

@ViewAhead you showed great self control! I however, bought zaluzinskaya at 25p, purple sysirinchium £2 (a lot bigger) and Lewisia at 50p! Oh and cymbidium £5, odontoglossum £2 because they'd finished flowering.
Nothing to see here...

 

Crikey, @CarolineL, I've never even heard of any of those. I am very unadventurous in my choices compared to other posters here.

Still ... photographic evidence as promised. Now, isn't it just oozing health?

 

That looks beautiful!

 

You can see why I would have had difficulty walking away without it. I hoped it would assuage my regular January craving for new plants, but it may have had the opposite effect. I feel my willpower levels slipping ...

 

That looks very open leafed for Berried Treasure @CostasK. I planted the one below in my previous garden and the berries are more like those of a Hawthorn. I moved house towards the end of last summer and brought a few cuttings of it with me. Only one has survived but is doing well.

 

Thanks for sharing @Sheal The photos are beautiful.

The label of my plant says Cotoneaster Berried Treasure - I picked it out of several similar ones, all labeled the same, so it's probably not very likely that it's a case a mislabeling. It is however a very young plant, I think that's why there are differences - when I look at closeups of my plant, some leaves are like yours whereas others a a bit slimmer, presumably because they haven't matured yet. And I am sure over time the shrub will become more full.


I love the colour of the berries in your photos!

 

You're welcome @CostasK. When the berries appear on your plant it will confirm what it is as most Cotoneasters have round berries. The flowers are small, white and insignificant but the berries certainly make up for those. The images were taken in late September and the berries weren't fully ripe. I live a lot further north than most members here so the berries are likely to appear earlier further south. Oh, the birds will love them too.

An update later in the year of your plant's progress would be lovely please.

 

The green of the leaves against the slate background is a fab colour combo, @CostasK. You will find bees absolutely adore the flowers. The whole thing will be alive with buzzing.

 

Thank you very much @ViewAhead! I certainly hope so!

I received the 2 soft caress mahonias today. That was fast. I am very pleased with them and the vendor ("Norfolk Quality Plants").



I planted them quickly during my lunch break, but I still need to tidy up the area.

 

Very nice mahonia , were they expensive ? they normally are mahonia soft cress and the others in the group .

 

They were £15 each and they came in 3L containers. I think delivery was £6, so in total it cost £18 per plant. They are in very good condition.

 

They look substantial and healthy! Good choice!