Year Round Interest

Acacia pravissima is a completely whacky and remarkable member of the Mimosaceae family.  One can expect a breath-taking abundance of bright yellow flowers in the form of tiny pom-poms.  These flowers usually form during late summer and sit on the ...

A fantastic Aloe closely related to Aloe vera which is proven to be hardy down to at least -10 degrees centigrade. Aloe striatula grows fairly quickly into an architectural multi-stemmed specimen around 1 metre in height and spread. Site in a sunny p...

The Monkey Puzzle Tree is instantly recognisable and a well known feature in many gardens throughout the country.  Botanically known as Araucaria araucana, the Money Puzzle Tree originates from Chile where it grows in impressive forest groups.  Ara...

Aucuba japonica longifolia is a versitile and reliable and hardy evergreen shrub.  As with all Aucubas, it boasts beautiful glossy green leaves and is tolerant of shade making it a useful addition to the back of a border or particularly difficult sh...

Second only to Trachycarpus fortunei, Chamaerops are a spectacular and hugely versatile hardy palm for British Gardens.  Often known as the Mediterranean Fan Palm, we simply call them Chamaerops - less of a mouthful and for most, easier to spell!  ...

This Chamaerops palm is a recent introduction from a spectacular palm grower in Italy.  It is a superb selection of the well known form Chamaerops humilis 'Volcano', differing from 'Volcano' by consistently growing very compact, dense and uniform le...

This super blue Chamaerops, Chamaerops humilis 'Cerifera' is every bit as tough as its cousin but tends to be slightly smaller and slower growing. This palm was fairly recently introduced into the UK originally from the high Atlas mountains in Morocc...

Dasylirion serratifolium is amongst one of the most dramatic and architectural plants. Thin strap-like leaves are covered with tiny spines along both sides, with the mature plant reaching a round 1.5 metres in height and spread. Suitable for a very h...

Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Compacta' is a vigorous shrub with glossy, dark green leaves with a silver sheen and underside. Tiny, very sweetly fragrant creamy white flowers are produced on the stems amongst the leaves in late summer followed by small, oran...

Eriobotrya japonica 'Rose Anne' is a brilliant new variety of the Loquat Tree. I first discovered 'Rose Anne' growing at small family run propagation nursery in Belgium where the grower told me that this Eriobotrya was discovered growing in a garden...

A beautiful hardy medium sized shrub with unusual ‘winged’ corkey stems. Euonymous alatus makes a perfect architectural specimen in the garden with year round interest. During winter the bare branches are a bold feature followed in spring with lu...

Fatsia japonica 'Spider's Web' is a heavily speckled form of this bushy, rounded, suckering, evergreen shrub with leathery, glossy, deeply-lobed, dark green and creamy-white leaves.  Clusters of small white flowers in autumn are followed by black fr...

Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis is a plant that stopped us in our tracks whilst on our travels.  A spectacular liquorice relative with the most extraordinary seed heads which follow lilac flowers.  The flowers sit upon tall, upright stems and turn from lil...

Hydrangea anomala petiolaris is an excellent climbing species with glossy, finely toothed leaves and many attractive lace-cap white flowers in summer. Self clinging, this deciduous climber thrives in sun or shade and is very useful where a flowering ...

Laurus nobilis, The Bay Tree, is a conical evergreen tree or large shrub with glossy, dark green, aromatic leaves. During early summer masses of sulphar tiny flowers are produced much loved by bees and other pollinaters. Will respond very well to pru...

Nandina domestica, Sacred Bamboo, is a much under-rated evergreen shrub from China which isn't actually a bamboo..  It reaches no more than 1.8 metres in height and is covered in masses of tiny leaves.  After a good, hot summer and a couple of fros...

Nandina 'Woods Dwarf' Nandina 'Woods Dwarf' is a beautiful compact form of Nandina domestica, often known as Heavenly Bamboo. 'Woods Dwarf' rarely grows more than 120cm in height and has a dense, leafy habit. Perhaps its strongest feature is that the...

Phormium tenax 'Bronze Baby' is a striking variety of the New Zealand Flax.  It boasts long, beautiful dark bronze coloured architectural foliage. Being 'everbronze' it is a great plant for any garden adding a bold statement within mixed borders or ...

  Phormium 'Cream Delight', Mountain flax is a fantastic architectural plant. The boldly coloured leaves are mostly cream, narrowly edged with green. Reaches around 1 metre in height and spread, this is an excellent addition to an exotic or 'jungly'...

Phormium 'Licorice and Lime' (Dwarf Flax) is an exciting new introduction with beautiful lime green leaves that are centred with dark purple almost black. Reaches around 80cm in height and spread. As with all Phormiums, it is tolerant of coastal co...

An exciting new cultivar with stunning purple, almost black leaves.  This is one of the more compact Phormiums with an elegant weeping habit.  It may be grown in a container or, in a mixed border.  Phormium 'Platt's Black' will provide excellent c...

Photinia Red Robin is an upright, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves which are bright red when young. This variety was first raised in New Zealand. Small white flowers are sometimes followed by bright red fruit. Tolerant of most soils and conditi...

Phyllostachys aurea, the Golden Bamboo or Fishing Pole Bamboo is perhaps the most popular bamboo planted in the U.K and for good reason. It has sturdy upright olive green, maturing to golden yellow canes or culms as we call them reaching between 3.5-...

Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi' is definitely one of my favourite bamboo it really is gorgeous with golden canes streaked alternatively between the nodes in deep green. Each cane holding masses pale green leaves to add to the beauty. It is also a ramrod st...