A Royal Horticultural Society team from RHS Garden Wisley has this month picked-up a new collection of Mangave succulents from Wyevale Nurseries in Herefordshire donated in partnership with Plantipp B.V.

Wyevale Nurseries’ Production Manager Kyle Ross recently welcomed Mark Tuson and Toni Brown from RHS Garden Wisley to the company’s Container Division to collect more of the massive Mangaves.

Kyle explains: “After a brief, Covid-safe, socially-distanced, tour of our propagation and glasshouses, these impressive, monstrous Mangaves in 10 litre pots were loaded into the Wisley van and on their way down to Woking, where they will be potted up, planted and assessed.”

The aim of the donation is to help extend plant research.

Wyevale Nurseries has already been evaluating the ‘Mad About Mangave’ collection, managed by Plantipp B.V, for the past four years.

 Above left, Whale Tale; above right, Bad Hair Day.

“In cooperation with Plantipp, we agreed to donate a selection of these new succulents to RHS Garden Wisley at the end of last year and it’s wonderful to now see them off to their new home. The plants will be displayed for the public to see and will undergo further hardiness evaluation.

“I’m delighted we have been able to find an excellent home for these beauties. I’ve had them on trial for four years and can’t think of a better place for their final destination. I will keep in touch with Mark and Toni to follow the progress and evaluation of the collection. In the summer, I hope to visit them in person.”

Mark Tuson, Team Leader Welcome & Riverside at RHS Garden Wisley, is thrilled with the Mangaves he collected.

 Above left, Lavender Lady; above right, Inkblot.

He says: “We’ll be checking on their hardiness, using winter protection, in the sandy, free draining soil around the sun trap of the Stone Pine Café at RHS Garden Wisley. We’d like lots of people to come along and see these wonderful Mangave in person this and next year!”

Peter van Rijssen from Plantipp B.V. hopes that by having the succulents on show in the garden the visiting general public will also have a chance to learn about them and the trial.

He says: “I’m delighted our revolutionary collection of Mad about Mangaves is now on show at RHS Garden Wisley. It’s been a wonderful collective effort with Wyevale Nurseries, RHS Garden Wisley and us. These are truly amazing plants and I’m sure they will get lots of attention from staff and visitors alike.”