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Winterbourne House and Garden: Tomatoes, Topiary and Japanese Gardens

Kathy Clugston and the panel are in Edgbaston at the University of Birmingham’s Winterbourne House and Garden, an Arts and Crafts-era gem packed with horticultural interest.

Kathy Clugston and the panel are in Edgbaston at the University of Birmingham’s beautiful Winterbourne House and Garden, an Arts and Crafts era gem packed with horticultural interest.

Joining Kathy to answer questions from a keen audience of local gardeners are Bethan Collerton, Marcus Chilton‑Jones and Dr Chris Thorogood. The team tackle everything from leggy tomatoes, to the challenge of designing a cohesive border that spans both sun and shade.

There’s practical advice for dealing with the devastation caused by box tree moth, creative planting ideas for Japanese‑inspired gardens using unusual and architectural plants.

Also, Bethan takes a walk around the Winterbourne grounds with head gardener Paul Cooke to discover how Gertrude Jekyll’s influence continues to shape the garden today.

Producers: Alison Vernon-Smith
Assistant Producer: William Norton

A Somethin' Else production for ĢƵ Radio 4

* If listening on ĢƵ Sounds and you wish to view the plant list, please go to the Gardeners' Question Time website and open this week's episode page.

Available now

42 minutes

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Plant List

GQT Plant List Winterbourne House & Garden, Edgbaston


2 minutes, 0 seconds

Despite my best efforts, my tomato plants always grow too leggy. What can I do?

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Tomato — Solanum lycopersicum

Tomato ‘Crimson Crush’ — Solanum lycopersicum ‘Crimson Crush’

5 minutes, 52 seconds

I have an Lshaped border (sun and shade, clay soil). What plants will work cohesively?

Dr Chris Thorogood

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ — Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’

Bethan Collerton

Oak‑leaved hydrangea — Hydrangea quercifolia

Barrenwort — Epimedium spp.

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Flowering dogwood — Cornus kousa

Flowering dogwood ‘Norman Hadden’ — Cornus kousa ‘Norman Hadden’

Flowering dogwood ‘Miss Satomi’ — Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’

Flowering dogwood ‘China Girl’ — Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’

Chinese redbud — Cercis chinensis

Siberian bugloss — Brunnera macrophylla

Columbine — Aquilegia spp.

Foamflower — Tiarella spp.

Comfrey — Symphytum spp.

Ferns — (various genera; RHS horticultural grouping)



11 minutes, 2 seconds

My topiarised box has been destroyed by box tree moth. Can it recover?

Bethan Collerton

Box — Buxus sempervirens

Yew — Taxus baccata

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Box — Buxus sempervirens

Dr Chris Thorogood

Japanese holly — Ilex crenata

17 minutes, 0 seconds

How can I improve the health of two potted olive trees?

Dr Chris Thorogood

Olive — Olea europaea

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Olive — Olea europaea


What unusual plants could I use in a Japanesestyle garden?

26 minutes, 44 seconds

Dr Chris Thorogood

Yellow wax bells — Kirengeshoma palmata

Toad lily — Tricyrtis spp.

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Redvein enkianthus — Enkianthus campanulatus

Flowering dogwood — Cornus kousa

Japanese pagoda tree — Styphnolobium japonicum

Maidenhair tree — Ginkgo biloba

Maidenhair tree ‘Golden Globe’ — Ginkgo biloba ‘Golden Globe’ ⚠️

Maidenhair tree ‘Tit’ — Ginkgo biloba ‘Tit’ ⚠️

Bethan Collerton

Mondo grass — Ophiopogon spp.

Lilyturf — Liriope spp.

Podocarpus — Podocarpus spp.


What can I grow against a fence in deep shade with poor soil?

31 minutes, 45 seconds

Dr Chris Thorogood

Kiwi vine — Actinidia spp.

Sinofranchetia — Sinofranchetia chinensis ⚠️

Marcus Chilton‑Jones

Climbing hydrangea — Hydrangea petiolaris

Japanese hydrangea vine — Schizophragma hydrangeoides

Virginia creeper — Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Boston ivy — Parthenocissus tricuspidata

Chinese Virginia creeper — Parthenocissus henryana

Bethan Collerton

Ivy — Hedera helix


Are there plants that would be extinct without cultivation?

35 minutes, 50 seconds

Dr Chris Thorogood

Wollemi pine — Wollemia nobilis

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