TRIALS REPORT

2006

DAHLIA

Trials Office The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Dahlia Trial 2006

AGM AGM

The following entries were given the Award of Garden Merit (H3):

'Charlie Dimmock' AGM (H3) 2006 (Waterlily) Raised, introduced and sent by Mr K Stock [Trial no. 101]. Plant height up to 185cm. Inflorescence 15cm in diameter, outer florets long and incurved apricot orange, inner florets more yellow in colour. Flowering from 18 July 2006. Available from Halls of Heddon.

'Collerette Princess' AGM (H3) 2006 (Collerette)

Geerling, sent to trial by Mr Carey Raised by Jan[Trial no. 72]. Plant height 154cm. Inflorescence 7.5cm in diameter, outer florets short, broad, bright pink with a central band of dark red, white tips. Inner florets white, central yellow disc. Flowering from 15 July 2006.

vailable from Geerlings Dahlias. A

loriferous, distinct, flowers stand free of leaves F

'Gallery Art Fair' AGM (H3) 2006 (Dwarf bedder)

Sent to trial by Delamore Young plants [Trial no. 20].Plant height 50cm. Compact inflorescence 9.5cm in

t, narrow and incurved. diameter, florets white, shorFlowering from 3 July 2006. Available from Delamore Young plants. Good for pot culture and borders. Lovely bright white against dark green foliage.

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'Gallery Singer' AGM (H3) 2006 (Dwarf bedder) Raised by Cees Verwer, introduced by Proculture plants and sent to trial by Delamore Young plants [Trial no. 19]. Plant height 42cm. Compact inflorescence 6.5cm in

hort, narrow and incurved. diameter, florets bright red, sFlowering from 3 July 2006.

vailable from Delamore Young plants. A Good for pot culture, vibrant colour, good growth, m

ultiple blooms.

'Le Castel' AGM (H3) 2006 (Miscellaneous) Sent to trial by Winchester Growers Ltd [Trial no. 108]. Plant height 160 cm. Loose inflorescence 18cm in diameter, outer florets white with greenish yellow tinge, long and broad, overlapping and reflexed. Flowering from the end of July. Available from Winchester Growers and widely available in garden centres. Vigorous, erect on slender stems.

'Pink Giraffe' AGM (H3) 2006 (Double orchid) Sent to trial by Winchester Growers Ltd [Trial no. 125]. Plant height 135cm. Inflorescence 11cm in diameter, outer florets have pale pink upperside which is hardly seen as the shocking pink underside curls inwards to cover it. Inner florets are shorter and darker pink. Flowering from 25 July 2006. Available from Winchester Growers. Prolific, unique orchid-flowering dahlia.

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loom.

'Ryecroft Jan' AGM (H3) 2006 (Miniature ball) Raised and sent to trial by Mr P Godsmark [Trial no. 34]. Plant height 165cm. Very compact inflorescence 9cm in diameter, outer florets broad, incurved and white. Good strong stem 22cm average length. Flowering from 18 July 2006. Widely available (Ryecroft Dahlias, Halls of Heddon, Geerlings Dahlias) Hard petals, good cut flower, clean foliage, good basic form, good stems, blooms well above foliage, good angle of b

'Ryecroft Marge' AGM (H3) 2006 (Anemone) Raised, introduced and sent by Mr P Godsmark [Trial no. 25]. Plant height 151cm. Inflorescence 11cm in diameter, outer florets long and narrow, pale pink suffused with white, being more white towards the centre. Bright yellow, incurved inner florets in a compact cluster. Flowering from 18 July 2006. Available from Ryecroft Dahlias.

'Shep's Memory' AGM (H3) 2006 (Waterlily) Sent to trial by Mr P Godsmark, raised by Alan Bunting [Trial no. 100]. Plant height 185cm. Inflorescence 15cm in diameter, outer florets strong orange, long and broad, overlapping and pointed. Flowering from end of July/early August. Available from Ryecroft Dahlias. Distinctive large glowing orange flowers on relatively slender strong stems, lots of flower, provides impact.

'Staleen Condesa' AGM (H3) 2006 (Medium Semi-cactus) Sent to trial by Mr G Carey, raised by Hoey [Trial no. 53]. Plant height 164cm. Inflorescence 17cm diameter, outer florets pink, very long and narrow, overlapping and reflexed. Flowering from 20 July 2006. Widely available (P & L Dahlias, www.eurodahlia.com) Lots of flower, clarity of colour, flowers well above foliage, lovely form.

'Trelyn Kiwi' AGM (H3) 2006 (Small semi-cactus) Sent to trial by Winchester Growers Ltd, raised by R Tudor [Trial no. 64]. Plant height 164cm. Inflorescence 14cm in diameter, outer florets very long and narrow, pale lilac. Inner florets suffused with a darker purple/pink. Flowering from 27 July 2006. Widely available. Floriferous, high quality, good cut flower, strong stem.

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The AGMs recommended to the following entries cannot be published until queries on their availability/name/registration have been resolved: ‘Cascade Ken’ (Collerette) Sent to trial by Mr DJ Jones, raised by J Thompson [Trial no. 80]. Plant height 170cm. Inflorescence 12cm in diameter, outer florets long, broad and blunt, velvety dark red. Flowering from end of July 206. Vigorous and spreading, good cut flower with long slender stem.

‘Northwest Cosmos’ (Single flowered) Sent to trial by Mr G Carey [Trial no. 117]. Plant height 180cm. Inflorescence 14cm in diameter, outer florets long, broad, separated and blunt, purple/pink. Flowering from end of July 2006. Excellent tall and airy plant, prolific flowering over long period.

‘Proche Ami’ (Dwarf bedder, collerette) Sent to trial by Mr E H Collins, raised by Mr K Larkin [Trial no. 1]. Plant height 70cm. Inflorescence 5cm in diameter, outer florets short, broad and blunt and reflexed, orange red. Flowering from end of July 2006. Vigorous, compact and erect plant.

‘Red Stargazer’ (Single orchid) Sent to trial by RHS Garden, Wisley [Trial no. 122]. Plant height 75cm. Inflorescence 11cm in diameter, outer florets long, narrow, pointed and incurved, red. Flowering from end of July 2006. Vigorous and compact dense plants with lots of flowers giving windmill effect.

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'Will's Ringwood Rosie' (Pompon) Raised and sent to trial by Mr D G Williams [Trial no. 26]. Plant height 160cm. Inflorescence 4.5cm in diameter, outer florets yellow tipped with red, short and narrow, overlapping and blunt. Flowering from early August. Vigorous, spreading and quite tall with lots of ping-pongball-sized blooms.

H3 = plants hardy outside in some regions or in particular situations or which, whilst usually grown outside

in summer, need frost-free protection in winter. Trial Notes Objective: To assess, compare and demonstrate a range of cultivars, in the open ground, submitted by

professional and amateur growers. Cultivation: Propagation is either by cuttings taken in March from pot tubers over-wintered in a frost-free

place or by cuttings taken in September from plants on the trials field. Cuttings were rooted in propagation modules containing a small amount of peat and vermiculite, but most proprietary potting composts are equally suitable. Young plants could also be raised by placing several cuttings in a 15cm pot and when rooted, usually in 14 to 21 days, potting them up individually in 12.5cm pots ready for planting out in early June. This year the trial was planted out on June

Dahlias need regular watering to obtain the best results. Trial plants received the benefit of a

trickle irrigation system. At the end of June, the plants were "stopped" by removing the main growing tip, which

encouraged the plants to bush out and hastened the development of the side branches that bear the flowers. The plants grown at Wisley are cultivated for garden display and most entries in the trial, depending on their classification, were lightly disbudded to give numerous flowers and an adequate length of stem.

Dahlias are mainly healthy plants, but they are susceptible to virus. Infected plants in the trial

were removed and destroyed. Dahlias are liable to attack by a variety of pests – red spider mite, aphids, caterpillars and earwigs - which can be troublesome from July onwards. In the trial biological controls are used against pests. Dahlias are also susceptible to mildew and precautionary spraying of the trial was undertaken regularly.

Entries: There were 125 entries in this Long Term trial of Dahlias, which were assessed by the Joint

Dahlia Committee in 2006. Records: A record was made of first flowering dates, incidence of pest or disease damage.

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Findings: 2006 was a particularly good year for dahlias, the long warm autumn weather suited them and the trial looked good. Over 1,000 visitors to Wisley Garden voted for their favourite dahlia – the top three were: ‘Fascination’; ‘Stevie D’ and ‘Magenta Star’. Interest by the media, both in the press and television, made it one of the fashion flowers for 2006. A demonstration of species dahlias was also grown alongside the trial with plants obtained from the University of Copenhagen Botanic Garden, where wild dahlias are a long-term research interest. The RHS are extremely grateful for their support in providing plants for this demonstration. It was in 1804 that hybrid dahlias were first grown at Holland House in Kensington so 2004 was the 200th anniversary of the introduction of the garden dahlia to cultivation in Britain (coinciding with the year the Royal Horticultural Society was founded). The genus Dahlia contains around 30 species found in mountainous places from Mexico to Colombia. Few of these are seen in gardens, though the imposing tree dahlias, such as D. imperialis, are sometimes seen in subtropical bedding.

Judging: Members of the Joint Dahlia Committee inspected the trial at Wisley on the

8, 15 and 29 August, 5, 19, 27 September 2006 and recommended the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) to 10 entries. Some cultivars have received the Award previously and are marked accordingly.

The Committee considered the plants using the following criteria:

quality of bloom : flowering period : floriferousness : vigour

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Name AWARD Sender in 2006 Dwarf Bedders 1 'Proche Ami' AGM 2006 STA Collins 2 'Fascination' AGM 1994 Aylett 3 'Moonfire' AGM 1998 R.H.S 4 'Simon Cozens' Carter 5 'Harriet Carter' Carter 6 'Omo' AGM 1996 Butterfield 7 'Honey' Carey 8 'My-nute Saffron' D Walker 9 'My-nute Blend' D Walker 10 'Brookfield Delight' AGM 1999 Rowlands 11 'Dahlietta Surprise Louise' Ball Colegrave 12 'Dahlietta Lizzy' Ball Colegrave 13 'Dalina Tahiti' Delamore 14 'Dalina Sumatra' Delamore 15 'Dalina Barbados' Delamore 16 'Dalina Malaysia' Delamore 17 'Dalina Bali' Delamore 18 'Gallery Art Nouveau' AGM 1999 Delamore 19 'Gallery Singer' AGM 2006 Delamore 20 'Gallery Art Fair' AGM 2006 Delamore 21 'Gallery Renoir' AGM 2001 Delamore

Anemone-flowered 22 'Freya's Paso Doble' AGM 2000 Winchester Growers 23 'Asahi Chohje' AGM 2000 Hewlett 24 ‘Ryecroft Jim’ P Godsmark 25 ‘Ryecroft Marge’ AGM 2006 P Godsmark Pompon 26 'Will's Ringwood Rosie' AGM 2006 STA Williams

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Name AWARD Sender in 2006 27 'Gurtla Twilight' Pearce 28 'Rhonda Suzanne' AGM 2005 Kent 29 'Pacific Revival' Wheatley 30 'Lakeland Polly' Elliot Small Ball 31 'Blyton Softer Gleam' Stothard Miniature Ball 32 'Ken's Choice' Reid 33 'Cornel' Station House 34 'Ryecroft Jan' AGM 2006 Godsmark 35 'Rossendale Natasha' Kershaw 36 'Ryecroft Delight' Godsmark 37 'Jayne Stonestreet' Walker 38 'Andrea Lawson' Godsmark 39 'Ryecroft Gem' Godsmark Giant Cactus 40 'Jeanne D'Arc' Wheatley Medium Cactus 41 'Hillcrest Royal' AGM 1993 Halls 42 'Hillcrest Jessica J' Jackson Small Cactus 43 'Devon Temptation' Carey/Newbury 44 'Wooton Carnival' Jones 45 'Lakeland Sunset' AGM 2005 Warriner 46 'Ryecroft Rainbow' Godsmark Miniature Cactus 47 'Aitara Cloud' Godsmark 48 'Weston Torerro' McLelland 49 'Weston Tea Time' Ainslie 50 'Weston Pirate' AGM 1999 McLelland 51 'Gracie S' Roberts Medium Semi Cactus 52 'Clearview Irene' Carey 53 'Staleen Condesa' AGM 2006 Kent 54 'Kenora Majestic' Carey Small Semi-Cactus 55 'Ryecroft Dream' Godsmark 56 'Avoca Comanche' Porter 57 'Avoca Cree' Turrell 58 'Avoca Yuma' Turrell 59 'Pearson's Benn' Carey 60 'Trelyn Sunset' Carey 61 'Avoca Kiowa' Turrell 62 'Trelyn Rhiannon' AGM 2005 Tudor 63 'Kiwi Gloria' Winchester Growers 64 'Trelyn Kiwi' AGM 2006 Winchester Growers 65 'Deborah's Kiwi' Winchester Growers Miniature Semi-Cactus 66 'Badger Twinkle' Stock 67 'Weston Miss' McLelland Fimbriated 68 'Oreti Stacey' Hatfield 69 'Hatfield's Memory' Hatfield 70 'Mum's Lipstick' Hatfield 71 'Mish-mash' Walker

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Name AWARD Sender in 2006 Collerette 72 ‘Collerette Princess’ AGM 2006 Carey 73 'Ann Breckenfelder' AGM 2004 Carey 74 'Sarah Thomas' Kitchener 75 'Don Hill' AGM 2005 Reid 76 'Demi Schneider' Kitchener 77 'Teesbrook Red Eye' AGM 2005 Carey 78 'Night Butterfly' Carey 79 'Twyning's Pink Fish' AGM 2005 Winchester Growers 80 'Cascade Ken' AGM 2006 STA Jones Giant Decorative 81 'Sir Alf Ramsey' Wright 82 'Bryn Terfel' Taylor Medium Decorative 83 'Ryecroft Magnum' Godsmark 84 'Trengrove Millenium' Winchester Growers 85 'Bicentenary' Reid Small Decorative 86 'Fusion' AGM 2004 Winchester Growers 87 'Primrose Diane' Walker 88 'Stevie D' AGM 2003 Hewlett 89 'Bonesta' Winchester Growers 90 'Texas Moon' Stock 91 'Irene Ellen' Carey 92 'Hillcrest Hannah' Jackson 93 'Woodside Finale' Flint 94 'Heather Jones' Reid Miniature Decorative 95 'Toy Boy' Hayes 96 'Brian's Dream' King 97 'Rossendale Joshua' Kershaw 98 'Marston Lilac' AGM 2005 Taylor 99 'Mr Buttercup' Stock Waterlily 100 'Shep's Memory' AGM 2006 Godsmark 101 'Charlie Dimmock' AGM 2006 Stock 102 'Gwyneth' Station House 103 'Marissa' Reid 104 'Taratahi Ruby' AGM 2000 Wheatley 105 'Sascha' AGM 2005 Reid 106 'Grenadier' AGM 2004 Great Dixter 107 'Jean Fairs' AGM 2004 Winchester Growers Miscellaneous 108 'Le Castel' AGM 2006 Winchester Growers 109 'Tally Ho' AGM 1998 Bridgemere 110 'Bishop of Llandaff' AGM 1995 Wheatley Single flowered 111 'Twyning's After Eight' AGM 2004 Winchester Growers 112 'Bishop's Children Selection' RHS Wisley – from BBC

Gardeners' World Trial 2005 113 'Brighteyes Pathfinder' Gott 114 'Twyning’s Chocolate' AGM 2005 Winchester Growers 115 'Twyning's Candy' AGM 2004 Winchester Growers 116 'Twyning's Smartie' AGM 2005 Winchester Growers 117 'Northwest Cosmos' AGM 2006 STA Carey

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Name AWARD Sender in 2006 118 'Tahoma Hope' Carey Single Orchid 119 'Honka' AGM 2000 McLelland 120 'Juul's Allstar' AGM 2005 Mills 121 'Marie Schnugg' AGM 2000 McLelland 122 'Red Stargazer' RHS Wisley - from BBC

Gardeners' World Trial 2005 123 'Pink Stargazer' RHS Wisley – from BBC

Gardeners' World Trial 2005 Double Orchid 124 'Giraffe' Winchester Growers 125 'Pink Giraffe' AGM 2006 Wheatley FOR INTEREST ONLY 126 'Tangerine Pathfinder' Gott 127 'Orange Pathfinder' Gott 128 'Dovegrove' Wheatley 129 'Magenta Star' Wheatley 130 'S6763M' Kitchener 131 'S56771' Kitchener 132 'S3434' Kitchener 133 'Scarlet Clare' Wheatley 134 'P Rave' Wheatley 135 'Brantwood' Wheatley 136 'Keith's Pet' Wheatley 137 'Woodbridge' Wheatley

STA = subject to availability/registration Name and Address of Senders to the Trial

Abacus Nurseries, Drummau Road, Skewen, Neath SA10 6NW Mr R Ainslie, Garo Burnside, Pitlessie by Cupar, Fife KY15 7SZ. Aylett Nurseries Ltd., North Orbital Road, London Colney, St Albans AL2 1DJ Ball Colegrave Ltd., West Adderbury, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX17 3EY Bridgemere Nurseries, Bridgemere, Near Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7QB Butterfields Nursery, Harvest Hill, Upper Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5JJ Mr G Carey, 30 Dylan Avenue, Cefn Fforest, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 3NQ Mr E A Carter, 23 Norfolk Road, Feltham, TW13 5BX Mr E H Collins, 19 Sunnybank, Marlow, Bucks SL7 3BL Delamore Young Plants, Station Road, Wisbech St Mary, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4RY Mr J G Elliot, 4 Togston Crescent, North Broomhill, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 9TP Mr N Flint, Noreen, 24 Boxgrave Gardens, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 4BB Geerlings Dahlias, Kadijk 38, 2104 Aa Heemstede, Netherlands Mr P Godsmark, Ryecroft Dahlias, 21 Spierbridge Road, Storrington, Sussex RH20 4PG Mr J R Gott, 22 Summerville Road, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, LA7 7DF Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6PH Halls of Heddon, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE15 0JS Mr A T Hayes, 49 Mortimer Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 1FR Mr D Houghton, 16 Ireleth Court Road, Ireleth, Askam in Furness, Cumbria LA16 7EN Mr L Jackson, 79 Cant Crescent, Upperby, Carlisle, Cumbria CA2 4JJ Mr R L Jones, 67 Farm Ward Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire Mr D Kent, Surrey Dahlias, 48 Vickers Road, Ashvale, Surrey GU12 5SE Mr D Kershaw, 15 Hamer Avenue, Loveclough, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 8QH Mr B King, 62 Winchester Road, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4HJ Mr I Kitchener, 10 Higher Loughborough, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5AE Mr T E McLelland, 32 Long Street, Bulkington, Bedworth, Warwickshire CV12 9JZ Mr J Mills, 8 Truslove Road, W. Norwood, London SE27 0QQ Mr P G Orley, 82 Spalding Road, Hartlepool TS25 2JP Mr R Pearce, Worlds End Nurseries, Moseley Road, Hallow, Worcestershire WR2 6NJ Mr R Porter, Porter's Dahlias, 58 Stanley Road, Halstead, Essex CO9 1LA Mr G A Powley, Willowfield, Finborough Road, Onehouse, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BU Proculture Plants Ltd., Knowle Hill, Badsley, Evesham, Worcs WR11 5EN Mr D A Reid, 28 Manor Road, Barlestone, Nuneaton, Warwicks CV13 0HY RHS Garden (Curator), Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Mrs M J Roberts, 22 Wellesbourne Road, Barford, Warwickshire, CV35 8EL

Dr D G Rowlands, 97 Brookfield Road, Bedford MK41 9LL Station House Nurseries, Station Road, Burton, South Wirral, Cheshire CH64 5SD Mr K E Stock, 27 Petersfield Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6QG Mr L Stothard, 88A High Street, Blyton, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 3LA Mr F B Taylor, Taylor's Dahlias, 12 Shawbury Grove, Sale, Cheshire M33 4DF Mr R Tudor, 34 Victoria Road, Fleur de lys, Blackwood, Gwent NP12 3UG Mr RW Turrell, Avoca Dahlias, Coast Road, Berrow, TA8 2QU Mr B Warriner, 27 Beckerment Gardens, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 4NF. Mr D Walker, 3 Cleveland Crescent, Borehamwood, Herts WD6 2EW Mr J Wheatley, Stonebarn, Moorledge Farm, Chew Magna, Bristol, Avon BS18 8TL Mr D G Williams, 104a Woolsbridge Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 2LZ Winchester Growers Ltd, Varfell Farm, Long Rock, Penzance, Cornwall TR20 8AQ Mr L R Wright, Dahliadel, 30 Malting Lane, Orsett, Essex RM16 3HJ Yoder Toddington, Toddington Lane, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 7PL The late Mr Hatfield

The late Mr Hewlett

Plants of these entries, or information on how to obtain them may be available from the National Collection holder:- Winchester Growers Ltd., Varfell Farm, Long Rock, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8AQ

Classification: Group 1: Single - flowered

Single outer ring of florets, which may overlap, the centre forming a disc

Group 2: Anemone - flowered One or more outer rings of generally flattened ray florets surrounding a dense group of tubular florets, showing no disc.

Group 3: Collerette

A single outer ring of generally flat ray florets, which may overlap, with a ring of small florets (the collar) the centre forming a disc. One or more outer rings of generally flattened ray florets surrounding a dense group of tubular florets, showing no disc.

Group 4: Waterlily - flowered

Fully double. Broad ray florets are straight of slightly involute or revolute. Blooms from under 102mm (4 in.) up to 220mm (8¾ in.) in diameter.

Group 5: Decorative Fully double showing no disc. The ray florets are generally broad and flat and may be involute for no more than 75% of their length (longitudinal axis) or slightly twisted, and usually bluntly pointed. Bloom size from under 102mm (4in.) to over 254mm (10 in.)

Group 6: Ball Fully double, ball-shaped of slightly flattened. The ray florets blunt or rounded at the tips, with margins spirally arranged and involute for at least 75% of the length of the florets. Blooms usually between 52mm (2 in.) and 152mm (6 in.)

Group 7: Pompon

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Fully double spherical blooms of miniature size, not exceeding 52mm (2 in.) in diameter, with florets involute for the whole of their length (longitudinal axis)

Group 8: Cactus

Fully double. The ray florets are usually pointed, the majority narrow and revolute for 50% or more of their length (longitudinal axis) and either straight or incurving. Blooms from under 102mm (4 in.) in diameter to over 254mm (10 in.)

Group 9: Semi-Cactus

Fully double. The ray florets are usually pointed, and revolute for more than 25% and less than 50% of their length (longitudinal axis), broad at base and either straight or incurving. Blooms from under ;102mm (4 in.) in diameter to over 254mm (10 in.)

Group 10: Miscellaneous

This group contains dahlias which do not fall into any of the previous groups. An example is the orchid-flowered dahlia – flowers as in single dahlias except the rays are involute, their margins meeting or overlapping for at least two-thirds of their length from tip towards base.

An illustrated copy of this report is available on the RHS website - http://www.rhs.org.uk/trials/

Further information on this trial is available from: Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 212440 & Email: trials@rhs.org.uk

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