In This Issue
How to get your garden centre in the papers
Destination retailer Arboretum wins Ireland's Company of the Year award
Will it be a storming Christmas?
Notcutts saddened by John Woods Nurseries administration
40 new Homebase staff take up Garden Academy training
Santa parachutes in...and makes little Lucy's dream come true
Hibiscus topples poinsettia in T&M's Christmas mail order Top 10
Are you The Greatest at selling Pet Christmas products?
Centres urged to back Needlefresh charity initiative via Christmas tree sales
Vote for your Greatest Christmas Supplier of the Year
Book your tickets for GTN’s Greatest Christmas Party
Christmas dinner in the garden is catching on says survey
Re-development plans for Whitehall Lacock
Field Sales Support (Vivid Arts Ltd) - ideal location East / South Manchester with access to M60
Key Accounts Manager – Outdoor Living
Plantarea Horticultural Manager - Berkshire
Contracts Manager – Leeds Area
Garden Centre Sundries Shop Manager - Northamptonshire
Mixed fortunes for sales of garden products
Shoppers get into the Christmas spirit
Decorative bark is a bestseller this week for Westland
£2,500 travel bursary awaits Young Horticulturist of the Year
Deadline nears for Lawn Academy training places
Book Training Roadshow places now to get Earlybird discount
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
New guidelines on labelling 'free from...' foods
Situations Vacant
Field Sales Support (Vivid Arts Ltd) - ideal location East / South Manchester with access to M60
OTE £24k
Read more»
Key Accounts Manager – Outdoor Living
Substantial basic salary, bonus scheme & company car
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Plantarea Horticultural Manager - Berkshire
Salary: £18,000 - £24,000
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Contracts Manager – Leeds Area
Salary: £28,000 - £35,000
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Garden Centre Sundries Shop Manager - Northamptonshire
Salary: £20,000 - £24,000
Read more»
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Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700


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Hibiscus topples poinsettia in T&M's Christmas mail order Top 10

Hibiscus is likely push pointsettia out of Thompson & Morgan's Top 10 mail order gift plants this Christmas...

T&M announced its predictions following early sales analysis of its seasonal mail order gift catalogue. While old favourites like amaryllis and Christmas cactus are on the list, the resurgent popularity of house plants with the British buying public has seen some exotic additions make it into the company’s Christmas Top 10 Sellers for 2015.

Poinsettia, a time-honoured Christmas favourite and last year’s no.2, has fallen out of the Top 10 for the first time. Taking its place is the exotic-looking Hibiscus ‘Festive Flair’, which brings a tropical touch to festivities without the fussiness of poinsettia. The large festive blooms stand up to the ravages of central heating and cold draughts much better than the coloured foliage of poinsettia, and will keep on going through January and beyond.

T&M gifts manager Alice Speedie says poinsettia is a great option for Christmas display but can be tricky to keep in perfect condition. Set close to heat sources or a draughty window, the foliage can quickly crisp or wilt. “They also need a bit of specialist care and exact daylight hours to get them to flower again,” she adds. “Hibiscus however are much easier to care for and will bloom through the year in most households.”

The hibiscus still has some work to do to reach no.1. The top slot has been held by scented hyacinth ‘Pink Pearl’ (pictured) ever since the mail order specialist, best known for its offering of vibrant garden plants, started its Christmas gift lines back in 1999. Alice adds: “While we’re seeing increased interest in new exotics like hibiscus and Dendrobium orchids for Christmas display, it seems you can’t beat a bit of yuletide tradition. We supply our hyacinths in timeless bespoke containers, and give them the VIP treatment in order to guarantee quick colour and scent soon after delivery.”

While the traditional pink-flowered Christmas cactus remains a strong contender in 2015, it has a new multicoloured rival snapping close at its heels. Christmas Cactus ‘Tricolour’ (below) offers red, pink and white blooms in one pot, seemingly from the same plant. To create the effect, Thompson & Morgan sets three plants into one large pot to create a striking display.

Thompson & Morgan Christmas Top 10

  • Hyacinth ‘Scented Pearl’ Basket
  • Hibiscus ‘Festive Flair’ in decorative pot
  • Christmas Cactus ‘Pink’
  • Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’ in holly basket
  • Deluxe Hyacinth basket
  • Scented Amaryllis ‘Double Delicious’
  • Christmas Cactus ‘Tricolour’
  • Christmas Azalea Tree
  • Christmas Crocus in festive pot
  • Dendrobium orchid ‘Anna Green’ 
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