Review of Garden Beauty web shop – and prize draw for Aeonium Schwarzkopf

/ karen

Who could resist the charms of Aeonium Swarzkopf. Not me! I spotted this beautiful plant on a stand at the Garden Press Event in February. It’s a glowing dark chocolate colour. I always think it looks as if it’s been polished.

These plants were showcased by Garden Beauty web shop, part of Lowaters Nursery in Hampshire. The mail-order shop was launched in 2015 and specialises in hebes, Southern Hemisphere plants and new and unusual varieties.

Plants arrive well-packaged in recyclable cardboard. There was no damage to the box, or the delicate plant inside.

Plants seem to fit snugly and there was no loose compost.

It is simple to get the plant out of the box without damaging it. The sides of the box “peel” away along perforated guidelines.

There’s a recyclable plastic frame support around the plant. I’ve taken it off and re-used it on another plant in the greenhouse.

The plant pot was contained in a plastic- type bag which is made from a material that’s fully compostable and biodegradable.

Garden Beauty sent this plant for review. As always, I’m giving my honest opinion of the plant and delivery service. Rather wonderfully, and to my complete surprise, after working quietly away in the gardening industry for 20 years, I find I’m being asked for my opinion on new plants and products. With this delivery from Garden Beauty, I couldn’t fault anything. The plant arrived in perfect condition and looks stunning on a table in my black painted greenhouse.

The company is offering one Aeonium in a 3L pot, for a prize draw for readers of this blog. No purchase is necessary to take part. Please leave a comment below to be included in the draw. Sorry, UK entries only as plants can’t be sent abroad. Garden Beauty will pull a name out of a hat to randomly select a winner. There’s no cash alternative and our decision is final. Also let me know if you don’t want to be included in the draw, but just wish to comment, as that is also fine. A winner will be chosen on Sunday 6pm.

Here’s some snapshots from the Garden Beauty website. Lowaters was established in 1963 by Peter Lowater with initially 7.5 acres growing strawberries. In 1969 another 5 acres were acquired and they started growing tomatoes. In 1970 they added rhubarb. In 1983 they started growing ornamental plants and carved out a niche growing and selling hebes and rare and unusual plants.

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I am on twitter @kgimson

On instagram at karengimson1

On Facebook at Karen Gimson Landscape Design https://m.facebook.com/bramblegarden/.Links:

I wrote about visiting the Garden Press Event here :https://bramblegarden.com/2019/02/27/garden-press-event-trip-to-london-for-me/

Garden Beauty website : https://www.gardenbeauty.co.uk/

Garden Press Event https://www.gardenpressevent.co.uk/

All about aeoniums : https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/26342/i-Aeonium-i-Zwartkop/Details

23 thoughts on “Review of Garden Beauty web shop – and prize draw for Aeonium Schwarzkopf”

  1. Pingback: Six on Saturday – a walk around my garden- 3rd August 2019 | Bramble Garden

  2. That is quite a plant! I mean, with roots and everything! When I got mine, I just took pieces of stem. I sort of plucked the larger leaves off, and packaged it up to bring back with me. They were about a foot tall, and rooted straightaway into the garden. Such a nicely rooted specimen seems like overkill.

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  6. I had ever heard of this company before, they look to be very professional and well worth investigating. I would love to be entered in the prizedraw, what a fantastic plant for a prize!

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  8. Looks like a good specimen. Mines got a bit leggy. First year I left it out for the beast from the East. It survived but was much reduced. Then this year brought it in and it’s taken a while finding it the right light position.
    I think I’m going to take cuttings and start again. Try for a healthier plant.

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  12. Thanks for showing us this, Karen. Garden Beauty is a new nursery for me so added to my list. Some of the perennials look a bit pricey but I guess if they’re in a 2.5 litre pot they’re well established. The Aeonium looks well packed and safely shipped, which is not always the case with some other nurseries where the plants often need a bit of tlc on arrival. Will you overwinter the Aeonium in the greenhouse?

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    • Thank you Geoff. Yes, it’s not hardy. I keep my greenhouse at 6C as I use it as a spare office/ sanctuary/ work space over winter. Thanks for reading and getting in touch.

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