At Blue Mountain Nurseries in Tapanui, Denis Hughes has turned his hand to improving the frost hardiness and flower power of perennial francoas. A couple of years ago, when Denis Hughes first told me he was determined to breed better francoas, I couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”. But as an inveterate nurseryman who has been playing around with plants for 70 years, Hughes didn’t need a reason. Love would be laying it on a little thick, but I’ve certainly come to admire francoas. Depending on which botanist you believe, there’s either one “highly variable” form or three recognised species: Francoa appendiculata (upright with pale pink flowers), F. ramosa (dainty with white flowers) and F. sonchifolia (two-toned pink flowers).

Source: Stuff August 29, 2021 17:03 UTC