David West

Urbaflora® Breeder

Beginning as a Hillier Nurseries apprentice 1979 David went on to run the nurseries seed propagation department until he started his own business, Fromefield Nursery. Here he gained international recognition for his expertise in germinating and growing plants from a number of well known plant explorers, such as Roy Lancaster CBE. With experience and knowledge of a huge range of hardy temperate plants David has his specialisms, such as Cotoneaster. We agree with him, often overlooked, this genus has much to offer for the landscape and garden market.

The majority of Cotoneaster species are polyploid and apomictic, producing seeds that are clones of the mother plant without fertilisation, a minority (around 10%) are diploid and reproduce sexually (outcrossing). David has selectively bred to produce fantastic hybrids with low or no seed viability to minimise the risk of self sown seedlings as some species, such as C. horizontalis and C. dammeri are considered invasive.