Hillingdon: Seeds, Eucomis and Pineapple Lillies

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q – What plant have you killed the most? (01’34”)

James Wong –

Nelumbo nucifera, sacred lotus

Anne Swithinbank –

Clematis

Matthew Biggs –

Selaginella lepidophylla, resurrection clubmoss

Q – What can I do to encourage my pineapple lily to flower? (04’52”)

Q – I have a magnolia tree in my front garden which is too large - Can I prune it now? if so, how much? (07’18”)

Q – The leaves of my smoke bush plant appear yellow and dry during the summer – why is this? (09’07”)

Feature - Botany Basics: Seeds with Dr Chris Thorogood (12’12”)

James Wong –

Ravenala madagascariensis, traveller's palm

Anne Swithinbank –

Coriandrum sativum, coriander

Matthew Biggs –

Sequoiadendron giganteum, giant redwood

Audience members –

Impatiens walleriana, busy lizzie

Lens culinaris, lentil

Q – How and when should I prepare my herbaceous border and vegetable plot so that what I grow next year will thrive and win all the prizes in all the shows? (23’25”)

Q – What would the panel suggest I use in my driveway instead of concrete to support a more diverse environment for my fauna and flora? (26’06”)

Matthew Biggs –

Thymus vulgaris, thyme

Origanum vulgare, oregano

Q – I'm redesigning my suburban front garden, and the only remaining plants will be two 25-foot-tall palm trees, either side of the central path. What would the panel suggest I should plant around them for all year interest? (30’30”)

James Wong –

Trachycarpus fortune, chusan palm

Phormium tenax, new zealand flax

Anne Swithinbank –

Callistemon’s

Albizia julibrissin, silk tree

Agapanthus, african lily

Clerodendrum bungei, glory flower

Matthew Biggs –

Cistus 'Silver Pink', rock rose 'Silver Pink'

Cistus ladanifer L., common gum cistus

Salvia rosmarinus (Ro), rosemary

Salvia, sage

Convolvulus cneorum, silverbush

Yucca gloriosa, spanish dagger

Q – What plant would you take with you to your island paradise? (36’05”)

James Wong –

Nymphaea 'Green Smoke' (T/D)

Anne Swithinbank –

Stapelia, leopard cactus

Iris germanica, bearded iris

Matthew Biggs –

Hibiscus syriacus, rose of sharon