 Chukrasia tabularis ‘Sleeping Beauty’
Some plants have a day/night rhythm and Chukrasia tabularis ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is one of them.
Each evening the small tree folds up its leaves and goes
to sleep, but the next morning it awakens and the leaves are unfurled
once more. It’s a plant that makes an interesting conversation piece.
Another point worth mentioning is Chukrasia’s stamina. The plant uses
its thickened stem to store reserves of water against periods of
drought, which means that forgetting to water it occasionally will not
automatically cause problems.
As a consequence of the plant’s short growing season in its natural
habitat, any cut or broken branches will soon grow back. Not only that,
but ‘Sleeping Beauty’ becomes more attractive the more it is pruned.
The plant needs a well-lit spot avoiding direct sunlight. The soil
should be kept moderately moist but never wet. Once-monthly feeding
will ensure that the plant lasts for years. Chukrasia tabularis
‘Sleeping Beauty’ (vbn code 24978) is available in 15-, 20-, 30- or
40-cm pots and has a height of 15 to 50 cm.
 Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana’
The thin, brightly coloured, intriguingly translucent, papery petals of the poppy are nothing less than breathtaking in their beauty. This is certainly true of Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana,’ which was awarded the title of ‘most promising novelty’ at FloraHolland Flower Auction last year.
In general, it is its fragility that actually adds to the attraction of the poppy, and growers have succeeded in making the poppy a commercially viable and attractive product. So, although careful breeding has produced a much more substantial flower, Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana’ still needs to be handled with care.
Its fuzzy stems, never completely straight, only add to the poppy’s good looks. For example, the flower should never be kept in bunches for any length of time. It is also crucial to keep a sharp eye on water levels throughout each phase of trading. With proper treatment, the flower will have a vase life of one week.
Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana’ is sold when the flower buds are just opening. As soon as the petals unfurl, the green calyx is discarded. This is usually within two to three days. The flower’s many stamens appear as the buds continue to open. The stems are 40 to 50 cm long. The poppies also look wonderful in a mono-bouquet.
Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana’ is currently available in six fresh spring colours: White, Orange (vbn code 26560), Salmon (vbn code 26561), Yellow, Lilac and Light Orange. The major proportion of supply actually comes as Mix (vbn code 25026).
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