By Feature - Small Garden

Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade' is a vigorous, fast-growing, dense, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial with shiny, ruffled, palmate, lobed, lime to chartreuse green leaves. In early summer, clusters of tiny, bell-shaped, creamy-white flowers bloom on thin, upright stems, rising above the foliage.

Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade' can grow in full sun, partial shade, and full shade, and thrives in rich, medium moist, well-drained soils. The soil needs to be constantly moist, but once established, the plant can withstand dry shade. Easy to grow and low maintenance. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Very resilient, tolerant of heat, humidity, and air pollution.

Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade', with its fresh and luminous green colour all year round and large mounding habit, is an impressive Heuchera variety, especially when planted in masses. Perfect as a groundcover, edger along paths, in shady shrub borders, under the trees and shrubs, or in pots and containers. Suitable for informal, cottage, woodland, and urban gardens.

Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' is a captivating variety of Japanese Maple renowned for its eye-catching colour transitions through the seasons. It typically exhibits vibrant orange-yellow foliage in spring, subtly transforming to a soft, light green as summer approaches. This stunning foliage coloration is accentuated with a contrasting network of delicate, dark red veins running through the leaves, contributing to its ornamental value.

In autumn, ‘Orange Dream’ puts on a spectacular display as the leaves transmute to a brilliant gold, sometimes with shades of red, providing a lasting impression before they fall. It's a compact, bushy, deciduous tree, making it an ideal choice for smaller gardens or for growing in containers. Additionally, it’s relatively slow-growing, reaching a height of approximately 3-4 meters over a 10-year period, ensuring manageability.

This variety prefers a sheltered location, avoiding the harshest midday sun, and appreciates well-draining, acidic to neutral soil. Providing adequate protection from strong winds and extreme temperatures will help in maintaining its vibrant leaf colour and overall health. Regular watering, particularly in drier periods, is crucial, although it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions.

The aesthetic appeal and manageable size of 'Orange Dream' make it a popular choice among gardeners seeking to add a touch of drama and sophistication to their landscapes.

Corylus avellana is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous shrub or small tree with a dense, round crown. Its has ovate, toothed, hairy leaves, bright green in summer, yellow in autumn. Yellow male catkins appear in late winter and hang loosely from the bare branches. Female flowers are tiny, red and inconspicuous and are followed by edible nuts, hazelnuts, in autumn. Hazelnuts are popular and healthy nuts, full of unsaturated fats and proteins.

Corylus avellana can grow in any type of soil, as long as it is moist, airy and well-drained, but prefers moderately fertile, slightly alkaline soils. It likes full sun or partial shade. It is resistant to frost, wind, and air pollution. Flower buds can be damaged by early frost. Generally, pest-free and disease-free.

Corylus avellana is widely grown for commercial nut production. It has many named varieties. It is perfect for informal, cottage, and woodland gardens. Great for hedges and screens. Suitable for urban and roof gardens.

Acer palmatum 'Going Green' is a small, compact, dense, rounded, bushy deciduous Japanese maple tree with strong, upright stems, palmate, deeply-lobed bright green to lime green leaves, golden, orange, and scarlet in autumn. Inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by attractive, red, winged seed pods in summer and autumn. Acer palmatum 'Going Green' can tolerate a wide range of soils as long as they are consistently moist and well-drained, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moisture retentive, soils. It thrives in partial shade and leaf colour is best in partial shade, but can tolerate full sun. Lack of soil moisture and excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from strong winds. Low maintenance plant. Japanese maple ‘Going Green’ with its sculptural stems and striking autumn foliage can add beauty to any informal, cottage, or urban garden. Perfect as a specimen plant. Suitable for growing in containers.

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens,' commonly known as Black Mondo Grass, is an ornamental perennial plant renowned for its striking dark foliage and distinctive appearance. This cultivar belongs to the Asparagaceae family and is native to Japan, where it thrives in woodlands and shaded areas. In the United Kingdom, it has gained popularity as a garden ornamental for its unique aesthetic qualities.

The most notable feature of Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' is its almost-black, strappy leaves that grow in dense clumps. The rich ebony colouration intensifies as the plant matures, creating a captivating contrast with other plants in the garden. During the summer months, it produces small, insignificant bell-shaped, pale pinkish-white flowers on delicate stems. However, it is primarily grown for its striking foliage rather than its flowers.

Black Mondo Grass is a low-maintenance plant, making it an ideal choice for gardeners looking to add drama to their landscapes without excessive effort. It thrives in partial to full shade, making it suitable for shaded borders, rock gardens, or even as ground cover beneath trees. This plant is adaptable to various soil types, provided they are well-drained, and it is relatively drought-tolerant once established.

When it comes to care, Black Mondo Grass requires minimal attention. Pruning is optional but can help maintain its tidy appearance. It is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a hassle-free addition to any garden. In colder regions of the UK, some winter protection, such as a layer of mulch, may be beneficial to ensure its survival.

Pinus parviflora 'Negishi' is a dwarf, compact, slow-growing, coniferous, evergreen shrub of upright, spreading habit, with short stems, stiff, slightly twisted, silvery-blue, needle-like leaves, clustered in groups of five. It produces attractive, small, ovoid, brown cones in autumn.

Pinus parviflora 'Negishi' will tolerate almost all soil types, chalky, clay, sandy, loamy, as long as they are well-drained. It thrives in neutral to acidic soil in full sun. It doesn’t cope well with humidity and heat, but can adapt to coastal conditions. It prefers cool summer climates. Very resistant to frost and low temperatures, as well as wind and exposed positions. Tolerant of urban pollution. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning.

Japanese white pine 'Negishi' is an attractive pine with interesting, architectural, irregular habit. It looks great in rock and gravel gardens, but is also suitable for cottage and urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant, for beds and borders, and low hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers.

Pinus mugo 'Klostergrun', commonly known as Dwarf Mountain Pine, is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with a compact and rounded form. It is a cultivar of the species Pinus mugo, which is native to the mountainous regions of central and southern Europe. 'Klostergrun' is a popular cultivar due to its attractive bluish-green needles and low-maintenance requirements. The needles are short, stiff, and grow in pairs, giving the plant a dense and bushy appearance. The plant typically reaches a height and width of 2-3 feet, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, slopes, and small landscapes.

In the spring, Dwarf Mountain Pine produces small, cylindrical cones that mature to a dark brown color by autumn. The cones persist on the plant for several years, adding an interesting textural element to the plant's appearance.

Pinus parviflora 'Ara Kawa' is a distinctive cultivar of the Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora), a species native to Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Valued for its ornamental features, 'Ara Kawa' is popular among gardeners, landscapers, and bonsai enthusiasts.

This cultivar is a slow-growing, compact tree or shrub that typically reaches a height of 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) and a spread of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) after about 10 years. The growth rate of 'Ara Kawa' can be further controlled through pruning, making it suitable for various landscape designs and bonsai artistry.

'Ara Kawa' is easily recognized by its dense, irregular branching pattern and striking, contorted trunk. The bark is rough and dark brown with patches of light gray, creating a visually appealing contrast. The tree's overall form is sculptural and reminiscent of driftwood, which adds to its aesthetic value.

The needles of 'Ara Kawa' are arranged in bundles of five, a characteristic shared with other Pinus parviflora species. The needles are soft, slightly twisted, and measure between 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 centimeters) in length. They are bluish-green, providing a pleasant color contrast against the darker trunk.

The tree produces small, attractive cones that are 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) long. They are initially green, maturing to a light brown color over time. The cones add to the visual interest of the tree, particularly during the winter months.

It prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil and should be planted in full sun for optimal growth. Once established, the tree is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only minimal pruning to maintain its shape.

Due to its unique features and adaptability, Pinus parviflora 'Ara Kawa' is an excellent choice for gardens, rockeries, and specimen planting. Its slow growth rate, compact size, and intriguing form also make it a popular choice for bonsai art, where it can be trained and shaped to accentuate its natural beauty.

Pinus leucodermis 'Malinki' is a cultivar of the whitebark pine species, native to the mountains of the western United States and Canada. This slow-growing evergreen tree is prized for its attractive appearance and hardiness, making it an excellent choice for landscaping and ornamental purposes.

The 'Malinki' cultivar is particularly desirable for its unique blue-green needles and compact growth habit, making it ideal for smaller gardens or as a feature in a mixed border. The needles are twisted and grow in clusters of five, adding texture and interest to the tree's appearance. It typically reaches a mature height of around 15 to 20 feet, with a spread of 10 to 15 feet.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal,Pinus leucodermis 'Malinki' is also known for its resilience and ability to withstand harsh growing conditions. It is drought-tolerant and able to grow in a wide range of soil types, from sandy to heavy clay. It is also relatively disease-resistant, making it a low-maintenance option for gardeners.

Betula nana 'Golden Treasure' is a compact, slow-growing deciduous shrub, ideal for small gardens, rockeries, and borders. Its naturally dwarf habit, typically reaching around 60–80 cm in height, makes it perfect for limited spaces or as part of a mixed planting scheme.

Golden Treasure thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soils. This variety is particularly valued for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage in spring and summer, turning warm orange hues in autumn, adding long-lasting seasonal interest.

Hardy and low-maintenance, 'Golden Treasure' is well-suited to cooler climates and exposed locations, making it a great choice for northern or upland gardens. It also tolerates poor soils and is suitable for wildlife-friendly gardens, attracting insects and providing ground cover. For best results, plant it in an open, sunny spot where its colorful foliage can shine, and avoid overly dry or chalky soil conditions. Minimal pruning is required.