Category Archives: Plants & Seeds
Chaenomeles japonica ‘Sargentii’
Chaenomeles japonica ‘Sargentii’ is a good ground cover shrub that has unusual waxy orange flowers in spring. Later in the summer the shrub produces aromatic golden fruits. The Japanese Dwarf Quince likes a sunny position and can be trained against walls and fences. It looks great planted alongside spring flowering bulbs, such as tulips. Height:
Weigela ‘Nana Variegata’
Undemanding and easy to grow, Weigela ‘Nana Variegata’ gives long-lasting displays of rosy-pink flowers from early summer, set against cream and green mixed foliage. A short and compact variety, this neat little Weigela is excellent for patio pots and the front of borders, and its nicely rounded habit is well suited to smaller gardens. Pairs
Chimonanthus praecox
Perhaps the sweetest-scented of all winter flowering shrubs, the honey fragrance of Chimonanthus praecox brings a waft of pleasure on a cold winter’s day. It is a real beauty too; its pale yellow flowers with ‘petticoats’ tinged with dark red veins hang from bare branches throughout the months from December to February. Wintersweet often takes
Arbutus unedo
A glorious Mediterranean evergreen shrub, eventually forming a small tree, with dark green leathery leaves and clusters of small creamy-white flowers in autumn. The waxy flowers are replaced with small lychee-like fruits which ripen and turn red the following autumn, giving rise to the common name Strawberry Tree. Arbutus unedo also has attractive peeling, cinnamon-coloured
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’ has a neat and compact habit that makes it perfect the public parks and gardens that it often features in. The striking blue flowers will attract admiration and pollinating insects alike during later summer and prior to the flowers appearing the aromatic foliage will provide interest. Bluebeard is an all-round
Abelia x grandiflora
The shrub, Abelia, can be quite under-used in the garden, yet it is one that can give endless interest, colour and scent. A semi-evergreen plant with strong, arching branches that gives valuable autumn interest thanks to its clusters of fragrant flowers. Performing well in dry, sunny conditions, Abelia is perfect for a warm, sunny border in your
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Orange Rocket’
Berberis ‘Orange Rocket’ produces yellow spring flowers which emit a soft honey fragrance, whilst the foliage turns from orange through to plum and purple, providing brilliant summer and autumn colours. This handy ornamental shrub makes a great hedge thanks to its upright, columnar habit and prickly nature, as well as being easy to trim and
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ plants are dense and ground covering, and their ferny foliage is topped by hundreds of lemony flowers all summer. Loved by butterflies, Coreopsis can be planted into a wildlife garden, but is an excellent, dual-purpose hardy perennial that is also at home in cottage garden borders or mixed into bedding schemes. ‘Moonbeam’
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ is an award-winning, hardy perennial. Its coveted RHS AGM means it is reliable, and suitable for growing in many areas of the UK. Coreopsis is an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, much-loved by bees and butterflies. ‘Zagreb’ bears masses of 2.5cm (1) yellow daisy flowers throughout the summer. This compact variety makes
Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’
Festuca glauca Elijah Blue is an easy-to-grow evergreen plant, perfect for patio pots, borders and rockeries. Its grassy leaves are an unusual shade of cobalt blue, and an architectural appearance makes this variety a good choice when designing a garden. Its tufted clumps stay compact, just 30cm (12) tall, and can be mixed with bedding
Rose ‘Sea Foam’ (Shrub Rose)
Rose ‘Sea Foam’ is a vigorous, cascading-style rose suitable for use as a fragrant ground cover or flowering hedge, or for training against a wall. This robust, border-filling variety is sweetly fragrant, with double blooms covering the mounds of growth throughout the summer, even during warm and dry periods. ‘Sea Foam’ is an excellent landscaping
Tsuga canadensis
The Eastern Hemlock is an easy to grow and maintain conifer that can be used as a stand-alone tree or trained as a hedge. If left to grow freely and mature to it’s full potential it forms a large pyramid shape and can last a lifetime. Tsuga Canadensis is evergreen with filigree foliage that is similar
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ is arguably the most distinctive variety of Old Man’s Beard. Its delicate, pale pink flowers with their distinctive darker stripe are sure to turn heads in spring, then again in September. What’s more, there’s more drama when the flowers are over, thanks to their distinguished seed heads. This hardy climber is particularly
Clematis ‘Princess Diana’
Like its namesake, Clematis ‘Princess Diana’ or ‘The Princess of Wales’ is strong, dignified and beautiful. The hardy climber is easy to maintain as it is pruned back almost to ground level annually. However, this variety of Old Man’s Beard is best known for its tulip shaped flowers which appear throughout the summer. Their bright
Jasminum nudiflorum
Originating in Northern China, Jasmine nudiflorum, is an evergreen, winter flowering, scented Jasmine. From February onwards the plant becomes full of small, canary yellow flowers, that line the many sprawling, woody, green stems. These can be trained up walls or can cascade over walls. It is a lovely plant for spring colour, as a backdrop
Astilbe japonica ‘Elisabeth van Veen’
Astilbe japonica ‘Elisabeth van Veen’ produces stunning, bright pink spikes of fluffy flowers on upright stems in June and July. These popular herbaceous perennials, also known as False Goatsbeard, are also valued for their clumps of attractive, divided leaves. Perfect for cottage garden borders, patio containers or woodland areas, Astilbes are great for adding colour
Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’
Evergreen Carex ‘Variegata’ is suited to sunny borders as well as shady corners, in either position it will catch the eye with the creamy edged variegated leaves and graceful movement. The contrasting green and cream colours will highlight pansies and violas and will set them off perfectly. Height: 30cm (12). Spread: 35cm (14).
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’
Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ is planted for its visually appealing foliage, which is variegated and silvery-yellow. It is very low maintenance and is suitable for city gardens, courtyards, and rooftop gardens, and will add texture and colour. It is robust and will thrive in most growing conditions and can be planted in borders, raised beds
Euonymus fortunei ‘Harlequin’
A dwarf evergreen Spindle bush, Euonymus fortunei ‘Harlequin’, produces young white shoots that turn to variegated silver and green leaves. In the winter the foliage turns to shades of reddish pink. This plant has a vigourous spreading habit, ideal for groundcover underneath trees or down the sides of driveways. Another alternative is to plant in
Hedera helix ‘Goldheart’
Hedera Helix or ‘Goldheart’ is a fast-growing climbing ivy ? great for covering walls and fences or even for growing up and around substantial trees. With its green and yellow-gold foliage, this versatile plant will happily ramble across all kinds of shady and sunny positions, giving a perfect thick covering. The rich colouring of Hedera
