Back to the fair

"Back to the fair"

I revisit the Collectors Plant Fair at Clarendon.

Sunday, 16 April 2023

Orchids for sale at the Nickys Slippers stall at the 2023 Collectors Plant Fair

It has been seven long years since I last attended the Collectors Plant Fair at Clarendon. Competing commitments prevented me from going for a couple of years, and then COVID intervened. However, this year, I took the opportunity to pay a visit on Saturday. Under glorious blue skies, I joined the long, snaking queue at the entrance gates as we shuffled along to get in. Once I had entered the gates, many memories of past plant fairs came flooding back and I was carried along on a wave of plant-induced euphoria, as it seemed, was everyone else!

Perhaps due to the good weather, the place was packed. There was an unalloyed sense of happiness and goodwill, which has always permeated the fair since the very first one was held, 18 or so years ago, at Bilpin. It is uplifting to see that so many people love plants and gardening - reassuring for a garden writer like me! Sometimes I fear that amidst the busyness of modern life, gardening is a dying hobby but the crowds at the fair gave me hope that this isn't so.

Since my last visit, the mix of stalls has changed, but there are still some of the growers that have been coming for years, which were wonderful to see once again. Alongside, there were quite a few newcomers, giving a fresh vibe to the scene. Thinking back to earlier fairs, it seemed that there was now a greater diversity of plant types on offer. Certainly, there were a lot of dramatic indoor plants, corresponding to a rise in interest in these, especially among younger people. Orchids also seemed to be in abundance, attracting great interest with their exquisite, sculptural blooms.

Succulents were also there in profusion, with their huge range of colours and textures. I noticed a number of Rhipsalis plants for sale; these epiphytic or rock-dwelling perennial cacti seem to be having their moment now, offering fabulous, pendent foliage for hanging baskets. Also Epiphyllum were on display, available to be bought as pieces - who knew there were so many different types and colours? They were being eagerly snapped up.

Native plants were for sale at quite a few stalls and pulling in the crowds. Native bush tucker plants such as finger limes were on sale and attracting interest. I noticed maybe fewer stalls selling cool-climate perennials - perhaps reflecting a trend towards plants that can cope with Sydney's unique climate of mild winters and humid summers. Salvia plants, which do so well here, were still featured on many stalls and I was to pick up a few of my old favourites to replace overly woody specimens in my garden, from the Seekers Nursery stall. At the Green Gallery stall I also purchased two new Plectranthus similar to the Cape Angels varieties, but with bigger flowers and more succulent leaves. Plectranthus are perfect plants for Sydney, giving wonderful colour through autumn.

There was still a focus on bulbs, as in previous years, and some gorgeous flowering specimens were on display. I succumbed to some packets of ranunculi and anemone to grow through winter to provide a bit of cheer in early spring when my garden is notoriously bare, plus some lovely white daffodils, bought in a 'What the heck if they never rebloom?' moment. At the Woodside Plants stall, I found a pot of Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo', which I had long sought, since seeing its amazing pink inflorescences at the wonderful Hillandale garden several years ago. At the Mother Earth stall, I found an unusual version of Saxifraga stolonifera with white-variegated foliage with a hint of red (the cultivar 'Tricolor'), which has been on my wish list for years. Maybe it won't thrive in Sydney, but I will give it a go!

Dahlia plants were prominent at a number of stalls, underlining their increasing popularity in recent years. I don't remember so many for sale in the earlier years of the fair. It's interesting to track plant fashions over the past two decades by reflecting on what I used to buy compared to what takes my fancy now. The fair provides an unequalled opportunity to satisfy one's plant lust, whatever form that takes - I hope it continues on for many years.

Reader Comments

1/9 Kerrie - 2104 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

This is a fabulous event but I stopped going because it just gets way too crowded to be enjoyable. I can avoid that by getting up at 4am to get there at 6am to be at the front of the line but it's just so exhausting I almost fell asleep driving home. I do wish they'd make it 3 days or have Sunday morning exclusively for over 65s & the disabled. Yes it was certainly crowded when I went on Saturday. It would be good to have an extra day. Deirdre

2/9 Margaret - 2122 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

Thank you for your comments on the plant fair. I did not attend this year, but have enjoyed previous visits. Usually a tempting variety of plants from which to make a selection. Last time I visited, it was very crowded, with people pushing trollies and allowing their dogs on leashes, to often stray, making it a little difficult to walk around safely. It was the same this year - a bit hard to get around. I don't think it was as spread out as much as in previous years or perhaps there were more stalls. Deirdre

3/9 Kerrie - 2104 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

A tip for your readers who find the crowds bone-crushingly unpleasant.Contact the fair & ask for an extra day or Sunday morning for over 65s & disabled. Also you can get the merchant list from Collectors Plant Fair website,visit the merchants websites a few weeks before & buy their plants Mail order or online. Sad to resort to that & the Fair misses out on ticket revenue but they do have options to make it a more pleasant experience.

4/9 Lois - 2088 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

Like you, Deirdre, I thoroughly enjoyed the fair and the beautiful autumn day. Yes, it was crowded but people were good natured and the queues did move along. I was amazed at the prices the indoor plants were getting, thanks no doubt to their popularity with the millennials who seemed to be the main people milling around and buying. Also agree it was fantastic to see such interest in gardening and to hear to many knowledgeable comments. Yes there were so fabulous prices for the indoor plants. It was good to see young people getting into gardening. Deirdre

5/9 Sue - 2074 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

It was perfect weather for the fair, glad you had a nice day. Unfortunately did not go this year but I do find it inspiring with such an array of plants and often being able to talk to the growers. The saxifraga sounds interesting. Yes it is really nice being able to talk to the growers. I will report back on the saxifraga! Deirdre

6/9 Anne - 2518 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Monday, 17 April 2023

I was there on Saturday too. Have been most years including Bilpin! it is interesting watching changes. Covid caused a renewed interesting in gardening. Indoor plants & the range amazing. They were popular in 70's but prices for rare plants amazing. I found a couple of perennials at Di's Plants. Long drive to & from Illawarra. Great Day for me. Glad you had a good day at the fair. Yes, it is interesting to reflect on the changes over time re the fair. Deirdre

7/9 Rachelle - 2130 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Tuesday, 18 April 2023

The weather was great on Saturday. In the past, I really felt for those stall holders being blow torched in the open areas. With a train journey home in mind I bought only small plants, and after reading your blog today, I planted out my new hellebore. I only took two bags to fill with plants, to limit myself! I have been able to get some of them in already, due to the suitable weather. Deirdre

8/9 Leveena - 2099 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Wednesday, 19 April 2023

I have been wanting to go for some years-and finally did! We got there around 12 on Sunday-not too crowded. I managed to find a worsleya procera (blue amarylis) which I have covetted for years, having seen the row of them in bloom at Sydney Botanic Gardens. Well worth the trip! How wonderful to get a longed-for plant. Deirdre

9/9 Pamela - 2158 (Zone:10 - Warm Temperate) Friday, 21 April 2023

I too have been going to this fair since Peta started them at Bilpin.In past years Ive made dozens of trips to the plant crche & returned home with a car jammed full of plants but I must be getting old as the crowds overwhelmed me on Sat and I bought very little (no patience to stand in cues) Parking is well organised now & the shuttle bus wonderful.Lots of stall owners from my area & with online suppliers I dont feel I missed out.$345 for a variegated Monsterea - outrageous, trendy tragics! Can understand how you felt; it was certainly much more crowded than than last time I went but it was less spread out than that time and I think there were more stalls. Certainly some of those prices were eye-watering! Deirdre

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