Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Pyracantha ‘Orange Glow’
Firethorn ‘Orange Glow’ is a tough but easy to grow shrub that has the reputation of being a good security feature for the home as the plant has an abundance of sharp thorns that would deter anyone from trying to climb over or push through it. Pyracantha can be trained against a wall or grown
Laurus nobilis
The Bay Laurel holds an RHS Award for Garden Merit. This handsome, upright, evergreen tree or shrub has aromatic, leathery leaves which are useful in cooking. Laurus nobilis is easy to grow and maintain. Although it can eventually grow quite large, it can be clipped into various forms of topiary or hedging. Its glossy, evergreen
Sambucus nigra f. porphyrophylla ‘Black Tower’
Sambucus nigra porphyrophylla ‘Black Tower’ has the most wonderfully deep, dark, dense and compact foliage and with its upright habit makes it a great Elder for small gardens. Sambucus is a great specimen plant too as it has the most unusual, flattened heads of fragrant pink flowers, which are replaced with shiny black elderberries in
Mahonia aquifolium
The Mahonia aquifolium is great for year round interest in the garden, providing a variety of colours through the seasons. This wonderful shrub has shiny weatherproof foliage, which contrasts with the bright acid-yellow tones of the spring blossom. With blue-black berries adding more vibrance and leaves flushing autumn purple this prickly evergreen is ideally suited
Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’
Whether you are a first time gardener hoping to create a perfect cottage garden or an old hand struggling to enhance tricky costal areas, it is worth considering Perovskia ‘Blue Spire’. This Russian Sage is easy to maintain, even in dry and windy areas. The hardy shrub is quick to establish its silvery-green foliage, which
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’
For an easy to grow hardy shrub Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ is a perfect choice, with its splendid feathered foliage which has lovely bright, golden colouring this delightful Elder is set to liven up any garden space. Easy to care for, shape and prune this fabulous shrub can resist sun scorching really well too. Late
Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’
Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ produces a dazzling display of young scarlet foliage in spring which, along with the crimson stems, contrasts fabulously with the mature green foliage further down the plant. Rich white spring flowers further complement this stunning variety, which is the proud holder of an RHS AGM. Photinia ‘Red Robin’ tolerates a
Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’
Japanese Rose, or Kerria are very easy to grow deciduous shrubs that are a superb choice for small gardens and traditional cottage garden borders. They fill empty space quickly and once they flower the arching branches become full of golden-yellow blooms. Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’ flowers in spring and likes a full sun or partial
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’
One of the longest flowering periods of any shrub, Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’ is in bloom from autumn right through to spring! This winter-flowering shrub produces clusters of sweet pink, highly fragrant blooms on bare stems – a cheerful sight on dull days. The new spring foliage emerges bronze before becoming green by summer.
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’
When grown as a hedge, this Cherry Laurel looks smart, glossy and dense. The shiny leaves form a lovely backdrop for the creamy white flower spikes in spring which are a magnet for pollinating insects. As the flowers fade, glossy berries take their place, providing food for hungry birds in the autumn. Height: 2.5m (6.5′).
Cornus canadensis
Cornus canadensis creates a weed-beating blanket, an ideal ground cover plant for problem areas, such as beneath trees and shrubs. It bears eye-catching white flowers from late spring, followed by colourful, bright red berries. These herbaceous plants form a dense mat of oval leaves, produced in whorls. Height: 15cm (6). Spread: up to 1m (39).
Hydrangea petiolaris
An elegant climbing Hydrangea that’s perfect for those cold, north facing walls that rarely see the sun. Shade loving Hydrangea petiolaris bears lacy white blooms in summer that contrast beautifully with its cloak of dark green foliage.
Cercis siliquastrum
Commonly called ‘The Judas Tree’, Cercis siliquastrum is a superb tree for small gardens. Myth has it that Judas Escariot hanged himself on this type of tree during biblical times. Even if not true, the tree does orginate from that part of the world. In spring the tree is covered in cerise pink flowers, followed
Ceanothus x delileanus ‘Gloire de Versailles’
Ceanothus Delilianus Gloire De Versailles (Californian Lilac) is a lovely bushy shrub that is covered in powder-blue flowers from July to September. This tough plant with a prestigious RHS AGM, is very low maintenance and fast growing only requiring a hard prune in spring to help encourage even more flowers. It prefers a position in
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
Deeply fragrant pale pink blooms open around Christmas time, and fragrance the air in the depths of winter. Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ is a hardy evergreen shrub with a rounded compact habit and attractive glossy, yellow edged leaves. This highly sought after shrub makes a stylish addition to sunny or semi-shaded borders. Daphne’s slow growth habit
Heptacodium miconioides
Heptacodium is an exotic-looking shrub for the garden; but plants are fully hardy and there are numerous reasons to grow it in your garden. With late summer flowers that are creamy-white and deeply fragrant; even when the petals fall, they leave behind colourful pink calyxes. The attractive foliage hang in elegant pairs of glossy green
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’
Cornus alba ‘Elegantissima’ really brightens up the winter garden, with vivid red bare stems that shimmer and glow during the coldest months of the year. The perfect shrub to provide winter colour, ‘Elegantissima’ is easy to maintain, with cream summer flowers and large green leaves that turn an attractive shade in autumn. Dogwood is a
