All shrubs

Red Escallonia is a robust, evergreen shrub known for its vibrant appearance and versatility in landscaping. It features glossy, dark green, lance-shaped leaves that provide year-round interest. During the summer, this shrub produces abundant clusters of tubular, deep red to pink flowers, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. It typically grows to a height of 2.5 to 3 meters with a similar spread, forming a dense, bushy habit ideal for hedging and screening. Escallonia rubra 'Macrantha' thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is particularly suited for coastal gardens due to its tolerance to salt and wind. Regular pruning maintains its shape and encourages fresh, vigorous growth, enhancing its ornamental appeal.

Sarcococca, commonly known as Sweet Box, is a genus of evergreen shrubs prized for their resilience and delightful fragrance. Among these, Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis ‘Winter Gem’ stands out as a compact and versatile cultivar, perfect for brightening up gardens during the colder months.

‘Winter Gem’ is a low-growing, mound-forming shrub, typically reaching heights of 50-60 cm with a similar spread. Its glossy, dark green leaves create a lush, dense canopy that provides year-round interest. In winter, this unassuming shrub becomes a true gem, producing clusters of small, creamy-white flowers. Though modest in appearance, these blooms are intensely fragrant, releasing a sweet, honeyed scent that permeates the garden, making it a favourite for winter sensory appeal.

Thriving in partial to full shade, ‘Winter Gem’ is well-suited to a variety of garden settings, including borders, underplanting of trees, or even as a ground cover in darker corners where other plants might struggle. It is tolerant of a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained, and requires minimal maintenance once established.

This hardy plant is not only easy to grow but also resistant to pests and diseases, adding to its appeal. For the best results, prune lightly after flowering to maintain its shape and promote healthy growth.

Whether used in a mixed planting scheme or as a standalone feature, Sarcococca ‘Winter Gem’ brings elegance and an uplifting fragrance to the winter garden, making it a cherished choice for UK gardeners looking to add year-round charm to their outdoor spaces. Its understated beauty and ease of care ensure it remains a popular addition to gardens, large and small.

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea', commonly known as yellow-twig dogwood, is a deciduous shrub prized for its vibrant yellow stems, which create stunning visual interest, particularly during the dormant winter months. This cultivar is a variety of the red-twig dogwood (Cornus sericea), known for its adaptability and year-round appeal.

The shrub typically grows to a height and spread of 1.5–2.5 metres, forming a rounded, multi-stemmed habit. Its bright green leaves emerge in spring, turning a soft golden-yellow in autumn before dropping to reveal its signature yellow stems. In late spring to early summer, small, flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers appear, followed by white or bluish berries in late summer. These fruits are highly attractive to birds, enhancing the shrub's value for wildlife gardens.

Thriving in full sun to partial shade, Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' is highly versatile and tolerant of various soil types, provided they are consistently moist. It is particularly suited to wet or poorly drained areas, making it an excellent choice for planting near ponds, streams, or in rain gardens. This hardy shrub also withstands cold temperatures and resists deer browsing.

Regular pruning is essential to maintain the vibrancy of the stems, as younger growth exhibits the brightest colour. Removing older stems in early spring encourages fresh shoots for the following winter display.

Ideal for borders, hedges, or as a specimen plant, Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' provides striking winter interest and contributes to biodiversity. Its combination of attractive foliage, flowers, fruit, and vivid winter stems makes it a popular choice for both naturalistic and formal gardens, as well as a reliable, low-maintenance option for challenging sites.

Phormium 'Rainbow Queen' is a vibrant, evergreen perennial that brings bold color and architectural elegance to gardens year-round. Its long, arching, sword-like leaves feature striking bands of bronze, pink, green, and red, making it a standout focal point in borders, gravel gardens, or containers. Reaching around 1.5 to 2 meters in height, it works well as a statement plant or as part of a mixed planting scheme.

This variety thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant once established and handles coastal conditions well, including wind and salt spray. ‘Rainbow Queen’ adds a tropical flair to both contemporary and traditional garden designs, offering low-maintenance beauty with minimal pruning required.

In colder regions, some winter protection may be necessary. Overall, it’s an ideal choice for gardeners seeking color, texture, and year-round impact with little effort.

Phormium tenax ‘Purpureum’ is a robust, clump-forming, evergreen perennial with leathery, slightly arching, strap-shaped, coppery-purple and green leaves forming thick, spiky clumps. Dark red, tubular flowers appear sparsely on upright stems blooming in summer. New Zealand flax ‘Purpureum’ grows best in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, in full sun to partial shade.

It doesn’t like too wet or waterlogged soils. It is tolerant of salt and drought, therefore, perfect for coastal areas. It can withstand some cold, but frost can damage the foliage. It needs to be sheltered from harsh winter winds. Old and discoloured leaves should be removed to keep the plant tidy.

Generally, disease-free. Phormium tenax ‘Purpureum’, with its attractive foliage, is a good-looking ornamental plant, perfect as a specimen or accent plant in coastal, Mediterranean, rock and gravel, and urban gardens. Ideal for mass planting. Great for beds and borders and for growing in containers.

Chimonanthus praecox, commonly known as wintersweet, is a deciduous shrub renowned for its fragrant, pale yellow flowers that bloom in the depths of winter. Native to China, this hardy plant belongs to the Calycanthaceae family and thrives in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. It can reach heights of 2 to 4 metres, forming an open, spreading habit with slender, arching branches.

One of the most striking features of Chimonanthus praecox is its flowers, which appear from December to February, often before the leaves emerge. These small, cup-shaped blooms have a translucent quality, with waxy, pale yellow petals and a deep maroon or purple centre. Their strong, sweet fragrance is highly prized, particularly in winter gardens, where they provide a much-needed burst of scent and colour. The leaves, which appear in spring, are lance-shaped, glossy green, and turn golden yellow in autumn before falling.

Wintersweet is relatively low-maintenance and can tolerate a range of soil conditions, though it prefers fertile, well-drained soil. It is best grown in a sheltered spot, such as against a south-facing wall, to maximise flower production. This shrub is often cultivated for ornamental purposes, and its highly fragrant flowers are sometimes used in perfumery and potpourri.

Propagation is typically achieved through seeds or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer. However, seedlings take several years to mature and produce flowers. Once established, Chimonanthus praecox is drought-tolerant and generally pest-resistant.

This winter-flowering shrub is an excellent choice for adding seasonal interest to gardens, attracting pollinators, and providing cut flowers for indoor arrangements. Its delicate yet resilient nature makes it a cherished addition to temperate landscapes.

Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' is a compact, evergreen tree prized for its stunning, aromatic blue-grey foliage and versatility in garden design. It typically reaches a height of 3 to 5 meters, making it an excellent choice for smaller gardens or container growing. The rounded juvenile leaves transition to elongated, sickle-shaped mature leaves, adding visual interest throughout the seasons. This variety is more cold-hardy than other Eucalyptus species, withstanding temperatures as low as -15°C. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, showcasing resilience to wind and drought once established. 'Azura' responds well to pruning, allowing it to be maintained as a shrub or a small tree, and its foliage is often used in floral arrangements for its unique color and fragrance.

Yucca pallida, commonly known as Pale Yucca, is a perennial, evergreen succulent native to the limestone hills and prairies of north-central Texas. This low-growing plant features distinctive blue-green to pale green, sword-like leaves with smooth or finely serrated edges, often covered with a waxy bloom that enhances its pale appearance. The leaves form a dense rosette, reaching up to 1-2 feet in height. In late spring to early summer, it produces tall, elegant flower spikes adorned with clusters of creamy white, bell-shaped flowers, attracting pollinators such as moths. Yucca pallida is highly drought-tolerant and well-suited to xeriscaping and rock gardens. It thrives in well-drained, rocky or sandy soils and full sun, adding architectural interest to landscapes.

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is a beautiful, deciduous shrub that is known for its fragrant, winter-blooming flowers. It is a hybrid plant that was created by crossing Viburnum farreri and Viburnum grandiflorum, and it has become a popular choice for gardeners who want to add some color and interest to their landscapes during the colder months.

The 'Dawn' variety of Viburnum x bodnantense is particularly beloved for its clusters of pinkish-white, sweetly scented blooms that emerge on bare stems from late autumn through early spring. These flowers are a welcome sight in the garden, as they provide a burst of color and fragrance when many other plants are dormant or have lost their leaves.

The shrub itself is fairly low-maintenance and easy to grow, preferring moist, well-draining soil and partial to full sun. It typically grows to a height and spread of 6 to 10 feet, making it a great choice for mixed borders, foundation plantings, or as a specimen plant. The foliage of Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is also attractive, with ovate leaves that are a glossy dark green in color and turn reddish-purple in the fall.