Blue flowering shrubs

The Deutzia 'Pink Pom-Pom' is a deciduous shrub highly regarded for its striking floral display and robust nature. This cultivar, belonging to the Hydrangeaceae family, is a hybrid developed to enhance garden aesthetics with its profuse and showy blooms. Reaching a height and spread of approximately 1.5 to 2 metres, it forms a rounded, bushy shape, making it an excellent choice for borders, mixed shrub plantings, or as a standalone specimen.

From late spring to early summer, 'Pink Pom-Pom' dazzles with its abundant clusters of double, pink flowers. Each blossom is composed of multiple layers of delicate petals, creating a full and fluffy appearance reminiscent of pompoms, hence the name. These flowers not only add a splash of colour but also attract pollinators, making the shrub a lively addition to any garden setting.

The foliage of Deutzia 'Pink Pom-Pom' is equally appealing. Its lance-shaped, serrated leaves emerge in a fresh green shade, providing a lush backdrop to the vibrant blooms. As the seasons progress, the leaves may take on subtle tints of purple and red, adding further seasonal interest.

This shrub thrives best in well-drained soils, although it is quite adaptable to a range of soil types, including clay and loam. It prefers a position in full sun to partial shade, where it can receive at least four to six hours of direct sunlight daily. Deutzia 'Pink Pom-Pom' is also noted for its hardiness, withstanding temperatures as low as -20°C, making it suitable for various UK climates.

Pruning should be undertaken immediately after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage healthy growth. This involves cutting back the flowering shoots to a strong pair of buds, which promotes vigorous new growth and ensures an impressive display the following year.

Deutzia scabra 'Plena' is an upright, airy, deciduous shrub with simple, lanceolate, rough, serrated, dark green leaves and long, slightly arching branches with clusters of double flowers, pink outside and pure white inside, yellow tipped anthers, blooming in summer. Deutzia scabra 'Plena' is adaptable to any type of soil, acid, alkaline and neutral, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils. It likes full sun, but grows well in partial shade as well. Once established, it is tolerant of drought. Very resistant to frost, it can withstand very low temperatures and exposed conditions. Tolerant of urban pollution. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Very easy to grow. Deutzia 'Plena' is an adaptable and resilient plant, perfect for beginner gardeners. It is a nice addition to any informal, cottage, and urban garden. Great for flower beds, mixed and shrub borders, banks and slopes. Suitable for growing in containers.

Doodia media, commonly known as the rasp fern, is a small to medium-sized terrestrial fern native to eastern Australia and parts of New Zealand. It belongs to the Blechnaceae family and is well regarded for its striking appearance and ease of cultivation in temperate gardens.

This evergreen fern typically grows to a height of 30 to 60 cm, forming neat clumps of erect or arching fronds. The young fronds emerge a vivid pink or red, creating a vibrant contrast against the mature, dark green foliage. Each frond is pinnate, with leathery leaflets that have a slightly toothed or rasped texture—hence the common name.

Doodia media prefers shaded or semi-shaded environments with consistently moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. It thrives in sheltered woodland settings, rock gardens, or as part of an understory planting beneath larger shrubs or trees. Though relatively hardy, it does best in frost-free areas or where winter temperatures remain mild.

This fern is valued for both its ornamental qualities and its low maintenance requirements. It can be grown in the ground or in containers, making it suitable for patios and shaded courtyards. The colourful young growth adds seasonal interest, particularly in spring and early summer.

Propagation is typically by division of clumps in early spring. While generally pest-free, Doodia media may suffer in prolonged dry conditions or if exposed to direct, harsh sunlight.

In summary, Doodia media is a decorative and adaptable fern ideal for adding texture and colour to shaded areas of the garden. Its reddish new growth and tidy habit make it a desirable choice for gardeners seeking year-round foliage interest with minimal care.

The Dryopteris filix‑mas ‘Crispa Cristata’, often called the crested male fern, is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking structure and texture in shaded or partially shaded areas. This hardy, semi‑evergreen fern thrives in moist, humus‑rich soils and is well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, or as an underplanting beneath trees and shrubs. Its strikingly frilled, crested fronds create an intricate, sculptural effect that brings a sense of movement and detail to any planting scheme.

Unlike many delicate ferns, ‘Crispa Cristata’ is robust and low maintenance, tolerating cold winters and recovering well each spring. Its dense growth habit forms attractive clumps that help suppress weeds, making it practical as well as ornamental. The plant’s refined, curled fronds look beautiful alongside hostas, heucheras, and other foliage plants, while its deep green color provides a calming backdrop to brighter flowers.

In smaller gardens, it works perfectly in pots or shaded corners where it can be appreciated up close. With minimal care,simply remove old fronds in late winter, it will reward you with year‑round elegance and a unique, timeless appeal.

Dryopteris affinis 'The King', is a handsome and distinctive evergreen fern valued for its strong structure and attractively crested fronds. It belongs to the golden male fern group and is particularly appreciated for the decorative tips that give the plant an elegant yet slightly unusual appearance.

This fern forms a substantial clump of arching fronds that emerge from a central crown. Each frond is a rich, glossy green and can reach around 60–120 cm in length, creating a bold, architectural presence in shaded areas of the garden. The defining feature of this cultivar lies in the crested ends of the fronds and pinnae, where the leaflets divide into small tufted or tasselled tips. These crests give the plant a softly ruffled outline and add a layer of visual interest compared with standard forms of the species.

As an evergreen fern, it provides year-round structure and foliage in suitable conditions. Fresh new fronds unfurl in spring, often appearing slightly lighter green before deepening in colour as they mature. Older fronds can remain attractive through winter, though some gardeners choose to remove any tired foliage in early spring to allow the new growth to be seen clearly.

Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’ thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It is particularly well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, or naturalistic planting schemes where its bold texture contrasts beautifully with finer foliage plants. It combines well with hostas, hellebores and other shade-loving perennials, helping to create layered planting with varied forms and textures.

This fern is generally hardy and reliable in the UK climate, requiring little maintenance once established. Its robust habit, evergreen character and distinctive crested fronds make it a valuable structural plant for shaded garden spaces.

Overall, Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’ is admired for its durability, ornamental foliage and ability to bring year-round interest and texture to sheltered, shady areas of the garden

Dryopteris affinis 'The King', is a handsome and distinctive evergreen fern valued for its strong structure and attractively crested fronds. It belongs to the golden male fern group and is particularly appreciated for the decorative tips that give the plant an elegant yet slightly unusual appearance.

This fern forms a substantial clump of arching fronds that emerge from a central crown. Each frond is a rich, glossy green and can reach around 60–120 cm in length, creating a bold, architectural presence in shaded areas of the garden. The defining feature of this cultivar lies in the crested ends of the fronds and pinnae, where the leaflets divide into small tufted or tasselled tips. These crests give the plant a softly ruffled outline and add a layer of visual interest compared with standard forms of the species.

As an evergreen fern, it provides year-round structure and foliage in suitable conditions. Fresh new fronds unfurl in spring, often appearing slightly lighter green before deepening in colour as they mature. Older fronds can remain attractive through winter, though some gardeners choose to remove any tired foliage in early spring to allow the new growth to be seen clearly.

Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’ thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. It is particularly well suited to woodland gardens, shaded borders, or naturalistic planting schemes where its bold texture contrasts beautifully with finer foliage plants. It combines well with hostas, hellebores and other shade-loving perennials, helping to create layered planting with varied forms and textures.

This fern is generally hardy and reliable in the UK climate, requiring little maintenance once established. Its robust habit, evergreen character and distinctive crested fronds make it a valuable structural plant for shaded garden spaces.

Overall, Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’ is admired for its durability, ornamental foliage and ability to bring year-round interest and texture to sheltered, shady areas of the garden

Dryopteris atrata is a tall, robust, clump-forming, semi-evergreen terrestrial male fern with black stems and slightly arched, lance-shaped, bright green fronds with long midribs. Mostly found in woodland settings by streams and lakes.

Dryopteris atrata can adapt to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in partial to full shade. It tends to be evergreen in climates with mild winters. In colder areas, it needs protection from harsh, drying winds. Its natural habitat are damp woodlands by streams and lakes. No serious pest or disease problems. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning.

Shaggy Shield Fern is a wonderful, elegant, ornamental, exotic-looking plant, perfect for shady locations in informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Excellent as a ground cover. Great for flower beds, mixed and shrub borders, and under-planting of shrubs and trees. Suitable for growing in containers in shady areas.

Dryopteris atrata is a tall, robust, clump-forming, semi-evergreen terrestrial male fern with black stems and slightly arched, lance-shaped, bright green fronds with long midribs. Mostly found in woodland settings by streams and lakes.

Dryopteris atrata can adapt to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in partial to full shade. It tends to be evergreen in climates with mild winters. In colder areas, it needs protection from harsh, drying winds. Its natural habitat are damp woodlands by streams and lakes. No serious pest or disease problems. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning.

Shaggy Shield Fern is a wonderful, elegant, ornamental, exotic-looking plant, perfect for shady locations in informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Excellent as a ground cover. Great for flower beds, mixed and shrub borders, and under-planting of shrubs and trees. Suitable for growing in containers in shady areas.

Dryopteris erythrosora, also known as the Autumn fern, is a species of deciduous fern native to Japan, Korea, and China. It is a popular ornamental plant that is commonly used in landscaping and gardening.

The fronds of Dryopteris erythrosora are typically 30 to 60 cm long and 15 to 30 cm wide. They are pinnate, which means that they are divided into leaflets that are themselves divided into smaller leaflets. The leaflets are a lustrous paler green colour in the spring and summer, but turn coppery-red or orange in the autumn, giving the fern its common name, the Autumn fern. The fronds are arching and form a rosette, with new growth emerging from the center of the plant.

Dryopteris erythrosora is a relatively easy plant to care for. It prefers partial shade to full shade and moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It can be propagated by division or spores. The plant is generally disease-resistant and has no major pests.

The Autumn fern is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of settings. It is often used in shade gardens or as a ground cover under trees. It can also be planted in containers or used as a border plant. Its fall color adds interest to the garden and makes it a popular choice for landscape designers.

In conclusion, Dryopteris erythrosora is a popular and attractive fern that is easy to care for and versatile in its uses. Its autumn colour and disease resistance make it a great choice for landscaping and gardening projects.