Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Sambucus nigra ‘Madonna’
Much like the singer with whom it shares its name, Sambucus nigra ‘Madonna’ is a superstar. This hardy shrub boasts incredible variegated, deciduous leaves, the yellow hue of which fades to a subtle white colour as the season progresses. As if this wasn’t enough, this foliage bears starry blooms in the early summer and dark
Ribes gordonianum
For cottage style gardens, Ribes gordonianum is a gorgeous spring flowering shrub with peach melba, two toned flowers. Deep pink-red buds open to reveal creamy yellow centres in April. It is a hybrid of two other Flowering Currants and was created in 1837. This hardy deciduous shrub is very easy to care for once planted
Ribes sanguineum ‘King Edward Vii’
With cascading racemes of lush pink flowers, Ribes sanguineum King Edward Vii’ is a gorgeous spring flowering shrub that is a good choice for borders in medium and large gardens. This Flowering Currant has sweet scented foliage and later in the season black berries replace the flowers. It is best located in a full sun
Thuja orientalis ‘Fleck’
Thuja orientalis ‘Fleck’ is an ideal focal point for the centre of a bed or border, where you can really appreciate its shape and delicately variegated foliage. Its rich green, almost scale-like leaves sit upright, each one lightly flecked with creamy-white splashes, in a pleasingly rounded oval shape. Hardy evergreen shrubs that are very easy
Thuja orientalis ‘Franky Boy’
Thuja orientalis ‘Franky Boy’ is an interesting specimen plant for a garden, with unusual foliage that looks like upward-growing, coarse yellow-green strands. This hardy, evergreen conifer forms a rounded pear shape, and can turn bronze/ orange during the winter before returning to green in the spring. Low maintenance plants, Oriental Thuja only need pruning if
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Etna’ is a dense, evergreen shrub which will make it a classic plant choice for creating a hedge in any part of the garden. This includes shaded areas, north-facing borders and coastal gardens. The Cherry Laurel will form a dense hedge of large glossy leaves with the added feature of white flower spikes
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Low’ does exactly that. It is a low growing groundcover plant, that is good for filling empty space with greenery, and is particularly useful for areas that are hard to reach and maintain. For example; behind greenhouses, below house windows, or steep banks instead of grass turf. It does well in poor dry
Picea glauca ‘Zuckerhut’
Picea glauca ‘Zuckerhut’ is a true miniature even amongst dwarf spruce trees, maintaining its tiny size for many years. Its minimal growth rate means it takes ten years or more to reach just a foot (30cm) tall! Its small size makes this delightful plant extremely useful for container planting and miniature gardens. You can even
Picea omorika ‘Karel’
Picea omorika ‘Karel’ is a slow-growing and compact Siberian spruce, with rich green colouring. Growing at just 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8cm) each year, ‘Karel’ takes many years to reach full size, and forms a dense, rounded clump of evergreen needles. Good for providing permanent greenery and structure in the flower borders, it
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’
Hardy and tolerant of a wide range of soils, Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Summer Wine’ is a reliable deciduous shrub bearing attractive burgundy leaves from spring through to autumn. From early summer, clusters of pink buds open to reveal pretty white flowers which contrast superbly with the foliage. As the leaves fall in autumn they reveal wonderful
Picea abies ‘Little Gem’
Picea ‘Little Gem’ is a dense and compact slow growing conifer, growing to just 50cm (20) in height over many years. This dwarf Spruce can be planted into patio containers, borders or the centre of rockeries, giving interest all year round. These evergreen, miniature trees are a superb choice for small gardens and demand very
Picea glauca ‘Conica’
Planted in a group, Picea glauca ‘Conica’ can transform a border into a micro conifer forest, or as a stand alone specimen, amongst other conifers and alpine plants in a rockery garden. It has a dense and neat conical shape, making it a perfect Christmas tree in the garden, to decorate in the festive season
Philadelphus ‘Starbright’
Philadelphus ‘Starbright’ produces fragrant single white blooms with yellow stamens in early summer; these flowers are larger than those of other Mock Orange varieties. New growth in spring is flushed purple, rapidly maturing into vivid green foliage which contrasts spectacularly with the snowy blooms. Philadelphus ‘Starbright is a hardy, medium sized deciduous shrub which fits
Philadelphus ‘Dame Blanche’
The foliage of Philadelphus ‘Dame Blanche’ is dark green and unobtrusive and you might not even notice this hardy, deciduous shrub for most of the year. However, you won’t be able to ignore the scent that comes from its pure white blooms in early summer. Often described as ‘orange blossom’, the smell is intoxicating and
Philadelphus ‘Albatre’
Nothing beats the rich, sweet scent of a Mock Orange in full bloom! These hardy shrubs fill the air with a heady scent which wafts from pure white, semi double blooms which appear with a flourish in early summer. The leaves of Philadelphus ‘Albatre’ provide a dark green backdrop for the scented flowers. This good-natured
Philadelphus coronarius
Mock Orange is aptly named for its wonderful scent. This is a hardy deciduous shrub which is easy to grow and simple to maintain. Philadelphus coronarius is the common variety of Mock Orange, with lush green foliage and creamy white blooms which appear in summer. The scent is intoxicating and it’s easy to understand why
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’
Mock Orange is best known for its delightful scent, and this particular variety of Philadelphus: coronarius ‘Aureus’, is loved particularly for its foliage. Philadelphus coronarius ‘Aureus’ brings a splash of light to the garden as the leaves are golden yellow blended with green. It is a hardy, deciduous shrub which produces wonderfully scented white flowers
Philadelphus coronarius ‘Variegatus’
The Mock Orange can never be ignored. For in early summer it produces a most wonderful scent. Often described as ‘orange blossom’, the fragrance wafts in the warm air and attracts bees and other beneficial garden insects in addition to humans! Even more amazing, Philadelphus coronarius ‘Variegatus’ is a variegated form and the leaves have
