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Vallonchêne is a nursery committed to the preservation of species and the promotion of gardening in general. To this end, we regularly publish articles on interesting or unusual plants and any other subject that may be useful for passionate and motivated gardeners.

Below are our most recent articles in reverse chronological order. For older articles, we invite you to consult the dedicated page on the website of Vallonchêne Garden here.

If you are looking for planting advice, take a look at our sheets specially designed for this purpose here.

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Our latest posts about interesting plants and gardening

Yellow foliage and young growth of CARPINUS x betulus 'Williamson's Gold'

CARPINUS x betulus ‘Williamson’s Gold’

24 April 2024

CARPINUS x betulus ‘Williamson’s Gold’ surprises with its distinctly yellow foliage (see photos). This exceptional European hornbeam really stands out from other hornbeams. It truly shines among…
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Close-up of the flowers of PRUNUS serrulata 'Royal Burgundy'

PRUNUS serrulata ‘Royal Burgundy’

17 April 2024

PRUNUS serrulata ‘Royal Burgundy’ is a real marvel in spring, summer and fall. Indeed, in spring, it produces a veritable tidal wave of large double pink flowers in bouquets (see photos). Each flower…
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Impressive open cones of PINUS schwerinii 'Wiethorst'

PINUS schwerinii ‘Wiethorst’

10 April 2024

PINUS schwerinii ‘Wiethorst’ is a conifer that is as hardy as it is unusual. Indeed, its green-blue needles are very fine and long. Like its branches, they are also…
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Close-up of the open flower of a MAGNOLIA 'Black Tulip' fully open

MAGNOLIA ‘Tulip’

03 April 2024

MAGNOLIA ‘Black Tulip’ develops an abundance of large, double, deep pink flowers. However, this deciduous magnolia is classified among the magnolias with reduced development. It is almost shrubby. The one…
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Specimen of about fifteen years of ACER platanoides 'Princeton Gold' with its bright yellow foliage

ACER platanoides ‘Princeton Gold’

20 March 2024

ACER platanoides ‘Princeton Gold’ (R) is one of the exceptional Norway maples. Its yellow flowers appear on bare wood. Then the leaves of a bright yellow color develop. Thus…
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Close-up of the white shoots and green foliage of TSUGA canadensis 'Gentsch White'

TSUGA canadensis ‘Gentsch White’

13 March 2024

TSUGA canadensis ‘Gentsch White’ is an eastern hemlock. It has many qualities: In spring, the shoots are white. This is very surprising and rare in the plant world. They then…
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Close-up of the white flowers of VIBURNUM furcatum

VIBURNUM furcatum

07 March 2024

VIBURNUM furcatum also bears the name of Forked Viburnum. This rare shrub, much appreciated by collectors, is a true marvel: In spring, it is one of the first viburnum to…
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A specimen of CEDRUS libanii ssp. brevifolia 'Kenwith' with a height of 40 cm

CEDRUS libanii ssp. brevifolia ‘Kenwith’

29 February 2024

CEDRUS libanii ssp. brevifolia ‘Kenwith’ is one of the preferred plants for Bonsai. Indeed, this extremely rare Cyprus cedar is classified among the miniature plants. Botanists…
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Close-up of the yellow flowers of CORNUS officinalis in midwinter

CORNUS officinalis

22 February 2024

CORNUS officinalis also has the vernacular names of Japanese cornel and Japanese cornelian cherry. Indeed, this type species is a fabulous plant in more than one way…
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Close-up of the green foliage and the copper-colored buds of NOTHOFAGUS betuloides

NOTHOFAGUS betuloides

15 February 2024

NOTHOFAGUS betuloides is also called Magellan’s beech or guindo (in its region of origin). It is a small tree highly sought after by collectors for…
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Gros plan du feuillage bleu du CHAMAECYPARIS lawsoniana 'Pembury Blue'

CHAMAECYPARIS lawsoniana ‘Pembury Blue’

07 February 2024

CHAMAECYPARIS lawsoniana ‘Pembury Blue’, commonly known as Blue Lawson Cypress or Blue Port Orford cedar, is renowned for its exceptionally colored foliage (see photos). It is one of the …
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Close-up of the cockscomb-shaped foliage of CRYPTOMERIA japonica 'Tomahawk'

CRYPTOMERIA japonica ‘Tomahawk’

28 November 2023

This extraordinary Japanese cedar develops quite dense shoots similar to cockscombs. This gives CRYTPOMERIA japonica ‘Tomahawk’ a very curious appearance. It looks nothing like…
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Orange branches and foliage at bud break of TILIA cordata 'Winter Orange'

TILIA cordata ‘Winter Orange’

22 November 2023

TILIA cordata ‘Winter Orange’ belongs to plants with plenty of advantages: First, the wood of this small-leaved lime takes on a bright orange tone in winter. Then, its foliage…
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A specimen of PINUS thunbergii 'Thunderhead' around twenty years old in Vallonchêne

PINUS thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’

15 November 2023

PINUS thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’ grows slowly. As a result, this Japanese black pine will not exceed 2 m after around twenty years (see the example in our photo). Eventually, it…
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An ACER rubrum 'Schlesingeri' with its flamboyant red foliage in autumn

ACER rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’

08 November 2023

ACER rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’ is a red maple or swamp maple. Over time, it has crystallized as THE reference among red maples. In fact, its usually…
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Close-up of the white flowers of PYRUS salicifolia 'Pendula' and its gray foliage

SASSAFRAS albidum

01 Novembre 2023

PYRUS salicifolia ‘Pendula’ represents a small weeping tree with decidedly drooping branches. As a result, this rather extraordinary plant…
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Bright red and yellow autumn leaf of SASSAFRAS albidum

SASSAFRAS albidum

25 October 2023

SASSAFRAS albidum, also called white sassafras or silky sassafras, is an unusual plant. Curiously, this deciduous plant produces three forms of…
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Branches and green foliage of GLYPTOSTROBUS pensilis

GLYPTOSTROBUS pensilis

18 October 2023

GLYPTOSTROBUS pensilis is an extremely rare conifer and highly appreciated by collectors. Moreover, it is classified as “critically endangered”. The Chinese swamp cypress has almost…
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Crisp green foliage of ACER palmatum 'Shishigashira'

ACER palmatum ‘Shishigashira’

11 October 2023

ACER palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ is a wonderful little Japanese maple growing very slowly. Moreover, this makes it suited perfectly to small gardens as well. It stands out among…
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Bright yellow and green summer foliage of LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua 'Aurea'

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Aurea’

4 October 2023

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Aurea’ has beautiful starry foliage variegated with yellow and green. The yellow color resists the summer sun perfectly and does not burn. Then…
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Autumn foliage in yellow, orange and green of CERCIDIPHYLLUM japonicum

CERCIDIPHYLLUM japonicum

27 September 2023

CERCIDIPHYLLUM japonicum is a wonderful tree in more than one way. Its green, almost round foliage with its red petioles (see photo) is simply magnificent. In addition…
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Feuillage vert du TAXODIUM distichum 'Nutans'

TAXODIUM distichum ‘Nutans’

13 September 2023

TAXODIUM distichum ‘Nutans’ is a bald cypress with fine, elegant green foliage that is unlike of any other conifer. Its leaves give it a “cloudy” appearance. Then, in the fall, the foliage…
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Macro shot of green foliage of FRANGULA alnus 'Aspleniifolia'

FRANGULA alnus ‘Aspleniifolia’

6 September 2023

TAXODIUM distichum ‘Nutans’ is a bald cypress with fine, elegant green foliage that is unlike of any other conifer. Its leaves give it a “cloudy” appearance. Then, in the fall, the foliage…
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A pink and a white flower of l'HYDRANGEA paniculata 'Hercules' (R)

HYDRANGEA paniculata ‘Hercules’

30 August 2023

HYDRANGEA paniculata ‘Hercules’ (R) is one of the panicle hydrangeas that you truly must have. Indeed, it develops large and numerous flowers. They begin in cream color to become white and finish pink, later…
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Leave of BRASSAIOPSIS mitis

BRASSAIOPSIS mitis

19 July 2023

The BRASSAIOPSIS mitis is probably THE plant for collectors at the moment. Its towering juvenile leaves with their truly unusual cutout at the end of their long stem give the garden a real exotic vibe. They look like …
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Fleurs blanches avec avec une abeille du LIGUSTRUM japonicum 'Texanum'

LIGUSTRUM japonicum ‘Texanum’

13 July 2023

LIGUSTRUM japonicum ‘Texanum’ develops magnificent shiny and slightly wavy leaves. They are thicker than those of other Japanese privet. Occasionally …
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Green foliage of CRYPTOMERIA japonica 'Little Champion'

CRYPTOMERIA japonica ‘Little Champion’

5 July 2023

CRYPTOMERIA japonica ‘Little Champion’ surprises with its truly unusual foliage and shape. Indeed, this Japanese cedar is a dwarf plant because it grows very slowly and will not exceed 1 m. In addition, …
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Very laciniated yellow foliage of SAMBUCUS racemosa 'Golden Tower'

SAMBUCUS racemosa ‘Golden Tower’

28 June 2023

SAMBUCUS racemosa ‘Golden Tower’ belongs to the plants of the future. This elderberry is perfectly resistant to drought (after about two years of planting). It grows …
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Hose pipe with water jet

How to water a garden and save water

21 June 2023

We will explain to you in this article how to water a garden properly and at the same time save water. Even if it seems contradictory, we promise to show …
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Yellow flower of MUSELLA lasiocarpa which can last several years !

MUSELLA lasiocarpa

14 June 2023

You can plant this Chinese dwarf banana tree in the ground or in a pot. If you plant it in the ground, you must protect it in winter. It will then start from zero each year. While if you keep it in a pot…
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Green and white variegated leaves of l'ARMORACIA rusticana 'Variegata' in spring

ARMORACIA rusticana ‘Variegata’

8 June 2023

ARMORACIA rusticana ‘Variegata’ is a perennial plant better known as variegated horseradish. Although it is usually grown in the vegetable garden, the selection we offer decorates with its …
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A beautiful PICEA pungens 'Maigold' with its yellow shoots in May

PICEA pungens ‘Maigold’

31 May 2023

PICEA pungens ‘Maigold’ is a truly unusual conifer on its own. Indeed, for about two months, the new shoots of this Colorado spruce are first white to turn …
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Macro shot of white flowers of DAVIDIA involucrata vilmoriniana

DAVIDIA involucrata vilmoriniana

24 May 2023

For lovers of extraordinary plants, this small, fairly slow-growing tree provides a fabulous spectacle in May with its flowering. Indeed, the small globular flowers of DAVIDIA involucrata vilmoriniana carry enormous …
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Macro shot of mauve flowers with white edges of SYRINGA vulgaris 'Sensation'

SYRINGA vulgaris ‘Sensation’

17 May 2023

SYRINGA vulgaris ‘Sensation’ is one of the common lilacs, even though it has nothing really common. Indeed, its purple flowers edged with white make it a very original shrub. It will not go unnoticed …
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White flowers of EXOCHORDA x macrantha 'The Bride' in spring

EXOCHORDA x macrantha ‘The Bride’

10 May 2023

For lovers of easy-to-grow plants, EXOCHORDA x macrantha ‘The Bride’ is the perfect choice for you. Its shape will make it a highlight for your garden. With a footprint …
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Fleurs roses du SYRINGA microphylla 'Superba' dans le soleil

SYRINGA microphylla ‘Superba’

3 May 2023

If you had to choose just one lilac for your garden, it would be SYRINGA microphylla ‘Superba’. This selection guarantees a first flowering in April/May and a second in summer. This is quite unusual …
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Spring foliage of ACER palmatum 'Will's Devine'_05

ACER palmatum ‘Will’s Devine’

26 April 2023

The Japanese maple family never ceases to amaze us. For example, ACER palmatum ‘Will’s Devine’. This little maple tree is constantly changing color. In spring …
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Flowers before hatching of TETRADIUM daniellii with green foliage

TETRADIUM daniellii

20 April 2023

TETRADIUM daniellii (formerly EVODIA daniellii) also bears the name of bee-bee tree. Beekeepers appreciate it enormously since it represents an excellent source …
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