A NATIONALLY-known nursery near Bradford on Avon has won yet another top award for its bougainvillea plants.

Westdale Nurseries picked up a large gold medal from the Shropshire Horticultural Society at the Shrewsbury Flower Show for its bougainvillae in variety.

The family-run nursery is located opposite the Holt Road Cemetery on the B3107 Holt Road at Bradford on Avon and specialises in the cultivation of bougainvilleas.

Owner Charlie Clarke, who runs the nursery with his wife Patricia, said: “We’ve had a lot of success at flower shows over the past 35 years.

“We have the country’s largest collection of bougainvilleas and display them at up to 30 flower shows a year. This year, we have only been to around 15-20 shows because we’ve been busy doing other things at home.”

The nursery was founded in the 1940s by Charlie’s parents, Charles and Evelyn Clarke, at Jones’s Hill, Bradford-on-Avon.

With the success of the business and the need to expand, in 1954 the nursery was moved to its current two-acre site on the Holt Road.

Charlie and Patricia regularly show their bougainvilleas at the major flower shows, including Chelsea. This year, the picked up two silver gilt medals from Hampton Court and Tatton flower shows.

The bougainvillea plant was discovered during the round-the-world voyage of the French admiral and explorer Louis Antoine, Comte de Bougainville (1729-1811).

The plant was classified by Dr Philibert Commerçon (also sometimes spelled Commerson), the French botanist, who accompanied the admiral during a voyage of circumnavigation.

Cormmerson gathered bougainvillea specimens from Brazil during the voyage and the plant was then named in honour of the French admiral.

Bougainvillea brings a myriad of colours to horticulture with a hint of warmer climates inherent in its leaves and flowers. The plant shows a versatility to climates which allows it to flower continually throughout the year.

Charlie added: “At Westdale Nurseries, we have been steadily collecting varieties of bougainvillea from all over the world for a number of years and we now have over 200 varieties.

“Each year, we increase our stock and variety. We sell year old plants for onward cultivation or more mature plants for the home, greenhouse or conservatory.”

Bougainvilleas can be grown in baskets or they can be grown over conservatory roofs to provide a natural shade and reduce the need for blinds. The versatility of the plant also allows it to be grown as Bonsai or as a pot plant.