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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 consistantly 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.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum', or red leaf Japanese maple, is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub with delicate, upright branches and beautiful finely-divided, deep red leaves that change colour throughout the year. It is grown for its stunning foliage and interesting growth habit. Deep burgundy red of spring leaves fades to light green in early summer, then turn to golden, orange, and red in autumn. Unnoticeable red-purple flowers are followed by winged purple fruits.

Acer palmatum 'Atropurpureum' thrives in moist, well-drained soil, in a sheltered position. To achieve the best leaf colour, it must be in partial shade, though it tolerates full sun if the soil is moist. It also needs to be sheltered from drying winds. An outstanding ornamental tree, perfect for small yards, urban gardens, or as a front yard accent. Suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Acer palmatum 'Sumi-nagashi' is a small, upright, deciduous tree, vase-shaped when young, broader when mature, with palmate, deeply lobed, red leaves - purple-red in spring, bronze green in summer, crimson red in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers bloom in spring and are followed by winged fruits in autumn. Acer palmatum 'Sumi-nagashi' is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but thrives in fertile, organically rich, moist, well-drained soils. It prefers partial shade and best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade, but it can withstand full sun. Excessive exposure or lack of soil moisture may cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be protected from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, needs little to no pruning. Japanese maple 'Sumi-nagashi' is a beautiful, red-leaved ornamental tree suitable for smaller informal, cottage, urban, and rock gardens. Perfect as a specimen and accent plant, excellent for beds and borders, and for growing in containers.

Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit', commonly known as the Golden Spirit smokebush, is a deciduous shrub admired for its striking foliage and unique flowering. This cultivar stands out due to its vibrant golden-yellow leaves, which provide a dazzling display from spring through autumn.

In the spring, new leaves emerge in a bright lime-green hue, maturing to a rich golden-yellow as the season progresses. These leaves are oval-shaped with a slight waviness at the edges, adding texture and interest to the plant. During autumn, the foliage transforms again, taking on hues of orange, red, and purple, offering a spectacular end-of-season show.

The Golden Spirit smokebush grows to a height and spread of approximately 2.5 to 3 metres, making it an excellent choice for both small and large gardens. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant, adding to its versatility in various garden settings.

One of the most captivating features of Cotinus coggygria 'Golden Spirit' is its airy, plume-like flower clusters that appear in early summer. These flowers, though individually insignificant, collectively form large, fluffy panicles resembling puffs of smoke, hence the common name "smokebush." The flowers are initially greenish-pink, fading to a soft beige as they age, and they add a whimsical, cloud-like quality to the shrub.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Golden Spirit is a low-maintenance plant. It requires minimal pruning—usually just the removal of any dead or damaged wood and an occasional thinning to maintain its shape and vigour. This shrub is also resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a reliable choice for gardeners.

Nyssa sylvatica is a medium-sized, slow-growing, deciduous tree with elegant, horizontal branches forming rounded to pyramidal crown. Its glossy, dark green leaves turn beautiful orange, scarlet and purple in autumn. Flowers are inconspicuous, small, greenish, and grow in clusters on female plants, and in dense flower-heads on male plants. Oval, long fruits appear in autumn and are dark blue when they mature. Nyssa sylvatica is an adaptable tree. It grows well in various conditions, but prefers moist, acidic soil, in full sun to partial shade. It tolerates poorly-drained soils and standing water, but it can also withstand some drought and dry soils. It needs to be sheltered form harsh, drying winds. It doesn’t suffer from any serious insect or disease problems. Low maintenance plant. Nyssa sylvatica, with its spectacular autumn foliage, is perfect as a specimen plant in informal, cottage, urban, and woodland gardens. Great near ponds and streams and for foundation planting. Suitable for streets and parks.

Sciadopitys verticillata, commonly referred to as the Japanese umbrella pine, is a distinct and architecturally striking evergreen conifer. Native to Japan, this tree is prized for its unique appearance, featuring glossy, dark green needles that radiate around its branches resembling the spokes of an umbrella. The needles are thick and leathery, arranged in whorls that contribute to the plant’s dense, sculptural form.

Growing slowly, the Japanese umbrella pine eventually reaches an ultimate height of about 15-20 meters in the UK, making it a magnificent specimen tree in larger gardens. It thrives in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil and prefers a sheltered position to protect it from harsh winds. Partial shade to full sun is ideal for its growth.

In British gardens, Sciadopitys verticillata is often used as a focal point due to its rare and exotic appearance. Its resilience and year-round beauty also make it a popular choice for ornamental planting.

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ is an attractive, evergreen shrub or small tree of pyramidal shape, with attractive, peeling bark, and ovate, sharply toothed, glossy green leaves. Masses of beautiful and delicate, fragrant, star-shaped, white flowers, resemble cherry blossom and bloom throughout summer. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Snow White’ prefers fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist, well-drained soils but can adopt to any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. It needs to be sheltered from cold, dry winds and roots should be protected in winter with mulch. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. This beautiful evergreen shrub with lovely summer flowers is a great addition to any informal, cottage, urban or coastal garden. If heavily pruned, it can be turned into an attractive evergreen hedge and provide privacy and some wind protection. Perfect for shrub borders, wall-side borders, hedges and screens.

Acer palmatum 'Inaba-shidare' is a vigorous, slow-growing deciduous shrub with a pendulous, weeping habit. Feathery, deeply dissected, lobed, dark purple leaves, become crimson red in autumn. Its inconspicuous, purple-red flowers bloom in April and May and are followed by winged nuts. It can grow in every soil type, except chalk. Thrives best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soils. Although it prefers partial shade, it tolerates full sun very well. If planted on dry locations, the foliage colour may be less intense. Easy to care for. It requires very little pruning. Lack of soil moisture or excessive exposure can cause leaf scorch. Acer palmatum 'Inaba-shidare' is perfect as a focal point in a small garden. It looks stunning when planted by the pond because of the waterfall effect of its pendulous habit. It is also easily grown in containers and suitable for roof gardens or patio gardens.

Prunus Kanzan is a beautiful, medium-sized, ornamental, deciduous cherry tree of vase-shaped when young, spreading and rounded habit when mature. Its ovate, toothed dark green leaves are coppery-red when young and in shades of orange and bronze in autumn. The profusion of bright pink, double flowers bloom in clusters before the leaves emerge. Flowers are sterile and are not followed by fruit. Prunus Kanzan thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soils, sandy or clay loams. It prefers full sun, but tolerates light shade. It is necessary to prune it after flowering, but is generally low maintenance plant. Susceptible to many diseases and pests and may be short-lived. Cherry Kanzan is one of the most ornamental of flowering cherries. It’s a stunning, elegant tree, whether as a specimen plant or planted in groups, great for small informal, cottage and urban gardens. Excellent for streets and parks. Suitable for growing in containers or as a bonsai.

Pinus mugo 'Ophir' is a dwarf cultivar of the mountain pine, Pinus mugo. It is a slow-growing, coniferous evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height of 2-3 feet and a spread of 4-5 feet at maturity. Its compact and rounded form, with bright golden-yellow foliage, makes it an excellent choice for rock gardens, container plantings, and low borders. The needles of Pinus mugo 'Ophir' are short and twisted, measuring about 1-2 inches long. They emerge in spring as a vibrant golden-yellow colour, which gradually fades to a soft green in summer. The bark of the plant is a dark brown color with a slightly rough texture, adding to its ornamental value. This cultivar is very hardy and can withstand harsh winter conditions, making it an ideal choice for cold climates. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. Once established, it is drought tolerant and requires minimal maintenance.

Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ is a medium-sized, compact, mounded deciduous shrub with exfoliating bark on mature branches, and ovate, three-lobed, bright golden-yellow leaves when young, lime-green when mature, yellow-bronze in autumn. Small, pink-tinted, creamy-white flowers in dense, flat, rounded clusters bloom in late spring and early summer and are followed by reddish fruit. Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ prefers average, dry to medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade, but can tolerate a wide range of soils. Doesn’t like hot and humid climates. If planted in chalky soil, susceptible to chlorosis. Very resilient, can grow in harsh conditions. It is very tolerant of urban pollution, therefore, suitable for growing in cities. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. Physocarpus ‘Darts Gold’ is best used for mass planting in shrub borders and wall-side borders, or for hedges and screens. Great for erosion control on banks and slopes.

Cytisus battandieri, or the Moroccan Broom, is a medium-sized, rounded, deciduous shrub with, long, upright, whip-like stems and trifoliate silvery green leaves which can hold all year round in mild winters. Very attractive, bright golden yellow flowers, held in dense cones or plumes, bloom in June and July and give off wonderful pineapple scent. Attractive to bees and butterflies.

Cytisus battandieri is very adaptable, can grow in any type of soil, as long as it is well-drained, but prefers average, lean, gritty, well-drained soil, in full sun. It is generally pest-free and low maintenance. It requires almost no pruning. It naturally has a good shape. Cytisus battandieri is an attractive shrub perfect as a specimen plant in small informal, cottage, or urban gardens. Suitable for coastal areas, especially with Mediterranean climate. Great for beds and borders, wall-side borders, for growing in pots and containers on balconies and patios.

Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is an upright, compact, deciduous shrub or small tree with palmate, deeply lobed, dark green leaves, flushed pink and then bronze-green in spring, vibrant red in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers bloom in spring and are followed by red, winged seed pods in summer.

Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It likes partial shade and best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade, but it tolerates full sun. Excessive exposure and lack of soil moisture can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but it has to be sheltered from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning.

Japanese maple 'Jerre Schwartz' is a great ornamental tree suitable for informal, cottage, rock and gravel, and urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant. It is great for growing in containers.

Pittosporum tenuifolium is an evergreen shrub or small tree native cultivated for its attractive foliage and versatile growth habit. Belonging to the Pittosporaceae family, it is valued by gardeners and landscape designers for its year-round structure, tolerance of pruning, and suitability for hedging and screening.

Typically, Pittosporum tenuifolium grows to a height of around 4–10 metres, though in garden settings it is often kept smaller through regular pruning. It has a naturally dense and bushy form, with slender, dark brown to almost black stems that create an elegant contrast with its foliage. The leaves are small, oval, and slightly wavy at the edges, usually around 2–5 cm long. They are glossy and mid- to dark-green, although many cultivated varieties display variegated or coloured foliage in shades of silver, cream, lime green, or purple.

In late spring to early summer, the plant produces small, star-shaped flowers that are typically deep purple to nearly black. Although the blooms are modest in size and often hidden among the foliage, they release a pleasantly sweet fragrance, especially noticeable in the evening. These flowers may later develop into small capsules containing sticky seeds.

Pittosporum tenuifolium is particularly appreciated for its adaptability. It grows well in a wide range of soils provided they are reasonably well drained, and it thrives in full sun or partial shade. In the UK climate it performs best in sheltered positions, as cold winds and severe frosts can occasionally damage young growth. Once established, however, it is relatively hardy and drought tolerant.

Gardeners frequently use Pittosporum tenuifolium for hedges, windbreaks, or ornamental specimen planting. Its tolerance of clipping allows it to be shaped neatly, making it suitable for formal garden designs as well as more naturalistic landscapes. With numerous cultivars available, it remains a popular choice for adding structure, colour, and evergreen interest to gardens throughout Britain.

Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket,' commonly known as the Skyrocket Juniper, is a striking evergreen shrub that has gained popularity in British gardens for its unique and captivating appearance. This particular juniper variety offers a range of features that make it a valuable addition to the UK landscape.

One of the standout characteristics of the Skyrocket Juniper is its narrow, columnar growth habit. It forms a tall, slender silhouette with dense, blue-green foliage that remains vibrant year-round. This growth pattern makes it an ideal choice for gardens with limited space or for those looking to add vertical interest to their landscape. Its elegant shape and compact size are well-suited for both formal and contemporary garden designs.

This juniper is well-suited to the UK climate. It is hardy and can withstand the challenging conditions often experienced in British gardens, including cold temperatures and exposure to wind and salt spray in coastal areas. Its resilience and adaptability ensure that it thrives in a variety of soil types, provided they are well-drained.

Maintaining the Skyrocket Juniper is relatively straightforward. It has a slow to moderate growth rate, which means it won't require frequent pruning. Occasional trimming may be necessary to maintain its slender form and to remove any dead or damaged branches. Its low-maintenance nature makes it a practical choice for gardeners looking for an attractive yet hassle-free addition to their outdoor space.

As an evergreen, the Skyrocket Juniper provides year-round visual interest. Its blue-green foliage remains vibrant even during the winter months when many other plants have lost their leaves. This feature ensures that it continues to contribute to the garden's aesthetic appeal throughout the year.

In addition to its ornamental qualities, the Skyrocket Juniper is known for its versatility. It can be used as a standalone specimen plant, a focal point in a garden bed, or planted in rows to create a unique and stylish privacy screen or windbreak. Its narrow profile makes it an excellent choice for lining driveways, walkways, or framing entrances.

Pot grown from seed at Arundel Arboretum.

Sorbus aucuparia, or European Mountain Ash, is a vigorous, deciduous tree with oval, upright habit when young, rounded when mature and pinnate, serrated, dark green leaves, yellow, red, and purple in autumn. Flat-topped clusters of small, white flowers bloom in late spring and are followed by a profusion of bright orange-red berries. Attractive to birds and bees. European Mountain Ash prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but is adaptable to various soil conditions, even poor and dry. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is resistant to frost and can withstand wind and short floods. Doesn’t like hot and humid summers. Very easy to grow, tolerant of urban pollution and exposed areas. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Sorbus aucuparia is an attractive ornamental tree, perfect for cool northern climates. Great for cottage, wildlife, and urban gardens. Excellent as a street tree. Suitable for growing in containers on patios and roof gardens.

Sambucus Golden Tower is a narrow variety of European elder. It’s a compact, slender, deciduous shrub of columnar habit, with vivid yellow to golden yellow leaves, and flattened panicles of scented, white flowers in spring, followed by edible berries in late summer. Elder Golden Tower is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions and will grow well in almost any location, but it prefers moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is very resistant to frost and suitable for growing in outdoor pots even in very cold areas. Tolerant of urban and coastal conditions. Low maintenance plant. It keeps its neat shape without pruning. Sambucus Golden Tower is lovely, resilient architectural shrub, perfect for adding colour and height to small, cottage, urban and coastal gardens. Great for shrub borders, wall-side borders, informal hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers.

Sorbus aucuparia ‘Cardinal Royal’ is a slender, vigorous, deciduous tree of narrowly columnar habit, with pinnate, dark green leaves, silvery underneath, orange and yellow in autumn. Small, creamy-white flowers grow in loose clusters and bloom in spring. They are followed by lovely, red berries attractive to birds. Mountain Ash 'Cardinal Royal' thrives in moderately fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils, but is adaptable to various soil conditions, even damp. It thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is resistant to frost and wind. Very easy to grow, tolerant of urban pollution, coastal conditions, and exposed areas. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. Sorbus aucuparia ‘Cardinal Royal’, with its autumn foliage, profusion of white flowers and attractive red berries, is an excellent slender ornamental tree. It is perfect as a specimen or accent plant in cottage, wildlife, urban, and coastal gardens. Great for hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers on patios and roof gardens.

Eucalyptus gunnii Azura is a new French selection of Eucalyptus tree. It’s an evergreen shrub or small tree with naturally compact and bushy habit and flaking bark. The juvenile foliage is rounded and silvery blue, while the adult leaves are long, lanceolate, azure blue-green with silvery hues and intense fragrance. Small, fluffy, white flowers bloom in summer and autumn, and are followed by rounded, olive-green fruit.

Eucalyptus gunnii Azura is extremely hardy and very suitable for British gardens. It thrives in any type of garden soil, as long as it is well-drained, but prefers average to moderately fertile, slightly acidic, dry to moist soils. It requires full sun and needs to be sheltered form harsh winds.

Eucalyptus gunnii Azura, with its mesmerizing, aromatic, silvery, azure blue-green leaves, is a perfect plant for small cottage and urban gardens. Great for shrub and wall-side borders, mixed beds and borders, or hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers.