Also known as: Muscari neglectum ‘Jenny Robinson’, Muscari neglectum ‘Baby’s Breath’, Muscari armeniacum ‘Babies Breath’, Muscari ‘Baby’s Breath’.

Muscari ‘Jenny Robinson’ is a compact grape hyacinth prized for its dense clusters of pale, powder-blue flowers shading to white towards the top, that appear in spring. It forms neat clumps of narrow, grass-like leaves and produces flower spikes that are excellent for edging, rock gardens, and naturalising in lawns or under trees.

This variety is ideal for borders, containers, rockeries, and naturalising beneath deciduous trees and shrubs. Its compact habit and striking blue blooms make it a favourite for spring colour and for combining with early bulbs such as crocus and daffodils. It also attracts early pollinators when in flower.

Plant the bulbs in autumn in a sunny or partially shaded spot with well drained soil. Space bulbs about 2–3″ (5–8 cm) apart and plant to a depth roughly 2–3 times the bulb height. Muscari tolerates a range of soils but performs best where drainage prevents bulbs from sitting in water over winter.

Once established, Muscari ‘Jenny Robinson’ is low-maintenance. Water in dry spells during the growing season but reduce watering after flowering as the foliage dies back. Allow the leaves to yellow and wither naturally so the bulb can store energy for the next season; avoid cutting foliage until it has fully died back. Divide congested clumps every few years in late summer or early autumn to maintain vigour.

Jenny Robinson was a founder and past President of the Plant Heritage Suffolk.  For many years, Jenny kept the National Collection of Muscari in her garden and this Muscari, ‘Jenny Robinson’ which she discovered in Cyprus was named after her. Two other plants from her garden were given to us for distributing amongst members, Narcissus ‘Osborne’s Grey’ and Narcissus ‘Jenny’s Little Sister’. Her garden was a triumph and was still being opened to the public right up to the spring before her death in August 2010, four days before her 94th birthday. (Biographical notes from Maggie Thorpe, President of Suffolk Plant Heritage Group.)

We started on the evening of Friday 5th June at the Guildhall  in Bury St Edmunds for an excellent meal followed by a talk by that all-round plantsman, Philip Oostenbrink who gave us food for thought and rounded off the evening.

Saturday 6th June saw us at a rather damp Helmingham Hall with volunteers guiding groups of members around the gardens, which were looking splendid.  More volunteers provided tea, coffee and biscuits before we moved to Framsden Hall Barn.  This venue was generously lent to us by Lord and Lady Tollemache. There we were able to browse the plant stalls set up by local nurseries and to admire this amazing 16th/17th century barn. A buffet lunch was followed by a stroll around the gardens at Framsden Hall and excellent talks from our three speakers: Sir Roderick Newton, Xa, Lady Tollemache and Robert Brett of the RHS.  The day ended with a rather wet distribution of the exchange plants, all prepared by the very busy Plant Exchange team.

Many Suffolk collection holders opened their gardens to visitors on Sunday 7th June, when the weather once more returned, briefly, to summer.

Thanks to Catherine Bacon for the photos and Gill Beardsworth for the account of proceedings.

Suffolk Plant Heritage Plant Fair at  Helmingham Hall

13th September 2026

Full programme in due course.

Aloysia citrodora ‘Spilsbury Mint’ (Lemon Verbena – Spilsbury Mint form) is a deciduous, aromatic shrub with slender stems and narrow, lanceolate leaves.

It has a strong lemon fragrance with a distinctive minty undertone unique to this variety. The leaves are suitable for culinary use (teas, desserts) and for drying. It’s ideal for container growing, patios, and sheltered sunny spots.

Plant in full sun for best vigour and strongest fragrance. Tender; protect from frost. Overwinters best under cover or indoors. Plant in free‑draining compost; avoid waterlogging. Water moderately allowing the surface to dry slightly between watering.

Give a light trim in spring to encourage fresh growth and maintain shape. Naturally drops many leaves in winter; regrowth resumes in spring.

Hullwood Barn, Shelley, IP7 5RE.
01473 822 400
11 am to 6 pm
Donations to Plant Heritage

Also open on the 21st June for Shelley Open Gardens, 11 am to 5 pm,
£7 per person; children free.

Benton Caramel

Saturday, 25 April 2026, 2.00 pm, Wetherden Village Hall Park Road, Wetherden,  IP14 3JS.

Bill Gardiner is Chairman of the Suffolk Orchid Society.  He will talk about orchids and will give advice on members’ own orchids.  In addition we will of course have other plants for sale, produced and maintained by our propagation team.

Note: This is a further change from the originally announced speaker.

Alongside the stalls of the specialist nurseries and artisans, we have an exciting programme of talks and entertainment.

Sunday 24th May

Talks:

11.30am – 12.30pm Garden Speaker – Jim Marshall – The renewal of Benton End Gardens – home of Sir Cedric Morris.
12.30 – 1pm Meet the Experts Q&A:
Jim Marshall – RHS Gold Medal Winner and National Trust Gardens Advisor
Matthew Tanton Brown – Nurseryman (A Place for Plants) and Broadcaster
Anthony Pigott – Scientific Reference National Collection of Dryopteris

1pm – 2pm – Plants of Distinction Collection with Suffolk Plant Heritage Collection Display
2pm – 2.30pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Lucy Skellorn, Foster Irises
2.30pm – 3pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Darren Andrews, Engleheart Narcissus

Entertainment:

10.30am – 4pm Harriet Cree Musician
12 noon – 12.45pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
1.45pm – 2.30pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
Dancers – throughout the day
Sid the Sax – throughout the day in the stable courtyard

Artists in the Garden:

Details will be announced on the day, depending on the weather.

Monday 25th May

Talks:

11.30am – 12.30pm Garden Talk: Jim Marshall – The renewal of Benton End Gardens – home of Sir Cedric Morris.
12.30pm – 1pm Meet the Experts Q&A:
Jim Marshall – RHS Gold Medal Winner and National Trust Gardens Advisor
Matthew Tanton Brown – Nurseryman (A Place for Plants) and Broadcaster
Anthony Pigott – Scientific Reference National Collection of Dryopteris

1pm – 2pm – Plants of Distinction Collection with Suffolk Plant Heritage Collection Display
2pm – 2.30pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Mel Collins of Mickfield Hostas – Hosta Q&A
2.30pm – 3pm – National Plant Collection Holder Talk: Gill Stafford of Woottens of Wenhaston, Pelargoniums (Species and Scented)

Entertainment:

10am – 12 noon – Holly Brice
12 noon – 12.45pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
1.45pm – 2.30pm – Suffolk Phoenix Brass Band
Dancers – throughout the day
Sid the Sax – throughout the day in the stable courtyard
2pm – 4pm – Suffolk One Musicians

Artists in the Garden:

Details will be announced on the day, depending on the weather.

For full details, see the Plant Heritage National web site:

https://www.plantheritage.org.uk/events/national/members-weekend-and-plant-exchange-2026-in-suffolk/

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN.

Please note the Friday dinner/talk is fully booked but there are still spaces for Saturday.