Hepaticas

Ashwood is one of only a few nurseries in the UK specialising in Hepatica plants. The nursery owner John Massey is widely regarded as being one of the UK’s leading experts on Hepaticas. He has his own private plant collection and has travelled to China, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, North America and Europe to see them in the wild. Our impressive record of RHS Gold medals for hepatica exhibits at RHS London Flower Shows is a testament to the quality of our plants.

One of the highlights of the RHS London Shows came in 2000 when we joined forces with the Niigata Nursery Association from Japan. Our combined exhibit received the Lawrence Medal, awarded to the best exhibit to be shown at any of the RHS Shows during any one year. At RHS Chelsea 2016, our hepatica exhibit scooped a Gold medal and The Diamond Jubilee award for the best exhibit in The Great Pavilion.

Hepaticas are among the most beautiful flowers of early spring. On bright sunny days their flowers open wide to display their simple beauty and unobtrusive charm. The colour range includes mainly blue, pink and white in single, semi-double or double forms. The colour and form of the stamens also vary so that all sorts of delightful combinations are possible. They are small clump-forming, almost evergreen herbaceous perennials with attractive lobed leaves, usually green, but some varieties having beautiful variegations or marbling on the upper surface.

Visiting us for Hepaticas

If you are able to visit our nursery during February, March and April you will find a good selection of hepatica plants for sale in our attractive sales area. All are subject to availability. To avoid disappointment, we advise that you e-mail or telephone before visiting. If you are a collector interested in rare or unusual varieties please be aware that advance ordering is essential and that you may have to be prepared to wait a year or two.

We are sure you will enjoy wandering through our nursery borders where you will see hepaticas growing with spring bulbs, herbaceous plants and early flowering shrubs. If you visit on ‘John’s Garden’ Open Days in Spring you will see how John Massey has used hepaticas in his own private garden to stunning effect.