I was wandering around my local garden centre, looking for a member of staff to ask a pertinent question, (it has been my local nursery for 29 years so I’m allowed to ask stupid questions). “Do you still do plants?” I normally ask this after becoming entangled in the scented candle area, or the middle class clothing spotty welly area, or the outdoor furniture area which is indoors.
“Yes, we do madam, out those doors”. On walking through the doors I was assaulted by a wall of very expensive Madagascan Bourbon Planifolia Vanilla Pods, thousands of them smashed into my face. To my surprise the aroma was emanating from a stand of plants, Nemesia Wisley Vanilla. A wonderful rich aroma which had to come home with me at any cost…
It was £4.99 for a 2 litre pot. A reasonably sized plant, delicate white petals with a hint of pink on the edge. Height 20cm (8′) Spread 30cm (12′). Nemisia is a genus of annuals and perennials native to South Africa. Wisley Vanilla is a tender annual, and I am hoping to be able to take some soft wood cuttings later in the summer for next year, in an attempt to get my moneys worth.
The Wisley Vanilla cultivar has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, so I am hoping to make lots and lots for next summer as the smell really is exceptional.