Top Designers' Plant Sources Unveiled: Explore the Showcase Garden and Nursery Favored by Leading UK Urban Planners
Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Wiltshire, Arvensis Perennials is a unique nursery that specialises in perennial plants. This nursery, which operates on a model similar to Orchard Dene Nurseries, bridges the gap between wholesale and specialist nurseries, working closely with designers to provide a diverse assortment of quality perennials with efficient service.
Located on an 11-acre site, Arvensis Perennials benefits from its elevated position, which allows the worst of the frost to flow down the slope. The nursery's display beds provide a stunning backdrop, showcasing the diversity of their offerings.
The nursery keeps pots fastidiously neat and prioritises good plant health and hygiene over chemical sprays. Arvensis Perennials ensures a peat-free potting mix and uses exclusively recyclable, taupe pots for their plants.
Gussy and Rob Macdougall, the masterminds behind Arvensis Perennials, purchased Evolution Plants from plant explorer Tom Mitchell in October 2015. Tom Mitchell had invested substantially in the site, creating terraces, stock beds, potting sheds, polytunnels, and a Hartley Botanic glasshouse.
The garden, maintained by Duncan Armstrong, primarily embraces sun lovers and features a "Med bed" with various species and cultivars of Stipa, Asphodeline, Catananche, Oenothera stricta 'Sulphurea', and other drought-tolerant perennials. Gussy and Rob prefer a range of "good-doers" and are always on the lookout for innovative cultivars.
Arvensis Perennials rarely buys plants for direct sale, preferring their own propagation, buying in bare-root plants or rooted cuttings. The groundcover fabric is cleaned and sterilized every time plants are moved in the tunnels at Arvensis Perennials.
To keep up with the demand, every year they are increasing the amount they propagate themselves. Rob Macdougall even manufactures decorative bowls to be sold as ready-made planters.
Follow Arvensis on Instagram @arvensisperennials to stay updated on their latest offerings. As the nursery gears up for its tenth anniversary next year, it's an exciting time to be part of the Arvensis Perennials community. The nursery's garden is thriving, offering a palette of naturalistic plants, with plenty of grasses, that lends itself to the "meadowy aesthetic" of contemporary designers.
Designers will find a diverse assortment of quality perennials at Arvensis Perennials, a unique nursery in Wiltshire's countryside. The nursery, collaborating closely with these designers, offers an extensive selection of plants suited for contemporary lifestyles.
Arvensis Perennials garden, maintained by Duncan Armstrong, features primarily sun-loving plants, including various species and cultivars of Stipa, Asphodeline, Catananche, and Oenothera stricta 'Sulphurea'. These plants, favored by the nursery for their drought-tolerant properties, are a perfect addition to any garden, enhancing the "meadowy aesthetic" trend.
In addition to selling plants, Gussy and Rob Macdougall, the owners of Arvensis Perennials, have developed a passion for creating decorative bowls for ready-made planters, further expanding the nursery's offerings in the fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden sectors.
To ensure a sustainable environment, Arvensis Perennials utilizes peat-free potting mix, recyclable taupe pots, and prioritizes good plant health and hygiene over chemical sprays. By doing so, they contribute positively to the greener home-and-garden and gardening industry.
