Other Varieties

Loropetalum chinense 'Plum Gorgeous', commonly known as Chinese Fringe Flower, is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its stunning foliage and vibrant blooms. Native to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, this plant adds a touch of exotic elegance to gardens.The 'Plum Gorgeous' variety is notable for its rich, burgundy-purple leaves that provide year-round interest. The foliage maintains its deep hue throughout the seasons, creating a dramatic contrast against the green foliage of other plants. In spring, the shrub produces an abundance of vivid pink, fringe-like flowers. These spidery blooms, reminiscent of witch hazel, cluster along the branches, creating a spectacular display that attracts pollinators.

Its versatile nature makes 'Plum Gorgeous' suitable for various garden settings, including mixed borders, foundation plantings, and containers. Its vibrant colour and unique texture make it a popular choice for adding year-round interest and a touch of exotic flair to garden designs.

'Plum Gorgeous' is relatively compact, typically growing to a height and spread of 1.5 to 2 metres, making it ideal for smaller gardens, borders, or as a striking specimen plant. It has a naturally rounded shape but can be pruned to maintain a desired form and size. This variety prefers well-drained, acidic to neutral soil and thrives in full sun to partial shade. While it is relatively drought-tolerant once established, regular watering during prolonged dry spells will promote healthier growth. Mulching around the base can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Pruning is generally not necessary, but light trimming after flowering can help maintain its shape.

'Plum Gorgeous' is hardy in UK gardens, typically surviving winter temperatures down to -5°C. In colder regions, providing some protection during severe frost is advisable to prevent damage.

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.

Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal', commonly known as switchgrass, is a robust and ornamental perennial grass native to North America. This cultivar is prized for its striking, upright growth and steel-blue foliage that adds texture and colour to garden landscapes. 'Heavy Metal' typically reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.5 metres, forming a dense clump that remains sturdy throughout the growing season.

The foliage of 'Heavy Metal' is a distinctive blue-green, turning to a bright golden-yellow in the autumn, providing seasonal interest. Its leaves are narrow and arching, creating a fine-textured appearance that contrasts well with broader-leaved plants. In late summer, this switchgrass produces airy, pink-tinged flower panicles that rise above the foliage, adding a delicate, wispy quality to its overall form. These flower panicles eventually turn to a silvery hue as they mature, providing additional visual appeal and winter interest.

'Heavy Metal' is not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly resilient. It thrives in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, and can tolerate both dry and moist conditions once established. It is well-suited for full sun exposure, where it achieves the best foliage colour and growth. Additionally, this grass is drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and resistant to most pests and diseases, making it an excellent choice for sustainable gardening.

Beyond its ornamental uses, Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' is also valued for its ecological benefits. It provides habitat and food for various wildlife, including birds and beneficial insects. Its deep root system helps in soil stabilization and erosion control, contributing to healthier ecosystems.

Overall, Panicum virgatum 'Heavy Metal' is a versatile, durable, and attractive addition to any garden, combining aesthetic beauty with ecological functionality.

Perovskia 'Little Spire', commonly known as Russian Sage, is a popular ornamental plant prized for its elegant and compact appearance. This deciduous perennial belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is a smaller, more refined version of the traditional Russian Sage. Native to Central Asia, it thrives in dry, sunny conditions and is well-suited to garden borders, rockeries, and containers.

The 'Little Spire' variety typically grows to around 60-75 cm in height, with a spread of approximately 45 cm. Its upright, slender stems are covered in finely dissected, aromatic, silvery-grey foliage, which provides visual interest throughout the growing season. The foliage emits a pleasant scent when brushed against or crushed, adding to its appeal.

One of the plant’s most striking features is its spires of small, tubular, lavender-blue flowers, which bloom from midsummer through early autumn. These delicate flowers are held in loose panicles that extend above the foliage, creating a soft, airy effect. The long flowering period and vivid colour make Perovskia 'Little Spire' an excellent choice for pollinator-friendly gardens, as it attracts bees and other beneficial insects.

Perovskia 'Little Spire' is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, making it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun, although it can tolerate a range of conditions. Regular pruning in early spring helps maintain its shape and encourages strong new growth.

In addition to its ornamental value, this compact plant is highly resilient to deer and rabbits, adding to its versatility in a range of garden settings. Overall, Perovskia 'Little Spire' is a charming, durable plant that brings colour, fragrance, and structure to any garden.

Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’ is a striking evergreen shrub that adds vibrancy to gardens, particularly in autumn. A member of the Rhamnaceae family, it is often referred to as a Californian Lilac, though it bears no relation to true lilacs. This variety is prized for its compact, bushy growth and its attractive blue flowers, which bloom later in the season compared to many other ceanothus varieties, typically appearing from late summer through to early autumn.

The shrub grows to a medium height, often reaching between 2.5 to 4 metres in both height and spread, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as part of a mixed border. Its dark green, glossy leaves form a dense canopy, providing interest year-round, even when not in bloom. However, the real show begins when the clusters of bright blue flowers emerge, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’ prefers a sheltered spot with full sun, ideally planted against a south or west-facing wall where it will thrive in well-drained soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to shape after flowering, and it is drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for UK gardens, especially in coastal areas where conditions can be dry and windy.

In addition to its beauty, this shrub offers ecological benefits, providing a late-season source of nectar for pollinators. Its compact size and autumnal bloom time make it a perfect choice for gardeners looking to extend the season of interest in their borders, while its evergreen foliage ensures year-round structure. Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’ is a stunning and resilient addition to any garden, offering both aesthetic and ecological rewards.

Ceanothus 'El Dorado' is a striking, evergreen shrub prized for its attractive foliage and vibrant flowers. Known for its compact form, this plant typically reaches around 1 to 1.5 metres in height and spread, making it an excellent choice for small gardens, borders, or as a feature plant in containers.

The foliage of Ceanothus 'El Dorado' is its standout feature. Its leaves are dark green with a distinct yellow margin, creating a striking contrast. The yellow-edged leaves add a bright, cheerful element to the garden throughout the year, even when the plant is not in bloom.

In late spring and early summer, Ceanothus 'El Dorado' produces clusters of small, vivid blue flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. The combination of blue blossoms against the golden-edged foliage creates a stunning display. The flowers are densely packed into panicles, giving the shrub a luxuriant appearance.

This cultivar thrives in full sun and prefers well-drained soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, though it benefits from some shelter from harsh winds and frost. While it is drought-tolerant once established, it will perform best with regular watering during dry spells.

Ceanothus 'El Dorado' is also an excellent choice for coastal gardens, as it is tolerant of salt winds. Its evergreen nature ensures it provides structure and colour to the garden year-round.

Whether used as a feature plant or as part of a mixed border, Ceanothus 'El Dorado' adds a bright splash of colour and texture to any garden. Its combination of vibrant foliage and eye-catching flowers make it a popular choice among gardeners seeking an easy-to-grow yet visually striking plant.

Hypericum Radiance is a striking semi-evergreen shrub, highly valued for its ornamental appeal and low maintenance. It is part of the Hypericum genus, commonly known as St John's Wort, and is cherished for its vibrant, long-lasting display of flowers and berries.

Growing to a height and spread of approximately 60cm (2ft), Hypericum 'Radiance' has a compact, mounding habit, making it an excellent choice for small gardens, containers, or mixed borders. The plant features attractive, lance-shaped, golden variegated leaves, which bring year-round interest even when the shrub is not in bloom.

During summer and early autumn, this plant bursts into life with a profusion of bright yellow, star-shaped flowers. These blooms are notable for their striking contrast against the variegated foliage and are a magnet for pollinators, such as bees. Each flower is adorned with prominent stamens, adding texture and visual appeal. After flowering, the shrub produces small, decorative red berries, extending its season of interest well into autumn.

Hypericum 'Radiance' thrives in full sun or partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, though it is quite adaptable to a range of soil types. It is hardy in most parts of the UK and tolerates occasional drought once established. Regular pruning after flowering can help maintain its shape and encourage fresh growth. It is also fairly disease-resistant, although some monitoring for rust or leaf spot is recommended.

This versatile shrub offers year-round beauty, from its striking foliage to its cheerful blooms and berries, making it a wonderful addition to any garden seeking vibrant, low-maintenance plantings. It is particularly well-suited to borders, slopes, or ground cover, bringing colour and interest through the seasons.