It’s quite normal to see shrubs pushing out a few flowers at this time of year – and I’ve noticed on my travels that two reliable winter flowerers are well into their stride. The ones in question being Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ and Mahonia media ‘Charity’.
Nothing so unusual there, but I was immensely gratified to come across a specimen of Solanum jasminoides ‘Album’ that was still generously covered with its beautiful white potato flowers. Gratified, because I often recommend this as a suitable subject for training – loosely – against a warm wall, one of its chief merits being (apart from its beauty) the length of its flowering season.
The white flowers of Solanum jasminoides 'Album' are produced over a long period
It starts around July – possibly earlier – and then continues without apparently drawing breath until, well, now. And apparently with every intention of continuing.
The plant I saw was actually hanging over a fence, so I suspect it may not be so tender as the books say it is. A hard frost might cut it back, but it would probably recover. A must-have plant.
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