Long-flowering, no-fuss species/varieties are ever so handy to have in our gardens, especially roses and climbers, which I’ve not watered at all this summer – a big bonus! One of these, Solanum ‘Crèche du Pape’, probably purchased 16-17 years ago, is such a plant – no trouble at all and flowering for months at a time. I wouldn’t be without it.
It is known that this lovely vine originated in a stunning, private, Brittany garden (Crech ar Pape – ‘The Pope’s Crib’) and since the 1990s has been grown and promoted by both Great Dixter Gardens and Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens.
What do I love about this variety? The answer is everything, really. I love the dainty, star-shaped, hanging clusters of white-blush-blue-mauve flowers on strong, vigorous stems and attractive semi-evergreen foliage; and I love the fact that it looks after itself, without any help from me. From my kitchen, I can see the lax flower clusters atop the pergola, with some cascading down to eye level, in amongst the Clematis ‘Kaiu’, the foliage of Rosa ‘Bobby James’ and variegated Trachelospermum. And, close by, the gorgeous soft-orange rose-hips of Rosa glauca assist in enhancing this delightful variety.
From its original planting site against the south-facing fence, in full sun, it has travelled a distance (4-6 metres) to the pergola, where it is very contented and protected amongst all the foliage. It does run, however, but I can put up with that inconvenience!
Anna L
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