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Liriodendron tulipifera, or Tulip Tree, is a wonderful, deciduous tree of pyramidal habit when young, and rounded when mature, with glossy green leaves with distinctive lobes, that turn vibrant golden-yellow in autumn. Lovely, tulip-shaped, yellowish-green flowers with orange at the base, bloom, usually high in the tree, in late spring and early summer. Flowers appear on mature trees, at least 12 to 15 years old. They are followed by cone-like fruit which persist on branches throughout the winter. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. Liriodendron tulipifera prefers fertile, loose, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun, but tolerates partial shade. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Tulip Tree is an attractive fast growing tree, perfect as a specimen plant or a shade tree, alone or planted in groups, popular for its beautiful, bright autumn foliage. Excellent for large woodland gardens. It is attractive to bees and hummingbirds.

The Juniperus chinensis 'Glauca', commonly known as the Chinese Juniper bonsai, is an exquisite, evergreen tree that is highly prized in the art of bonsai for its unique and captivating aesthetics. This tree features a stunning silvery-blue foliage that adds a serene and calming presence to any space. Its leaves are needle-like, creating a fine, textured appearance that contrasts beautifully with its rugged, often gnarled trunk.

Native to East Asia, this species is renowned for its resilience and adaptability, making it an ideal choice for both bonsai beginners and seasoned enthusiasts. The 'Glauca' variety, in particular, is celebrated for its compact growth habit and its ability to be shaped into various artistic forms. Regular pruning to maintain its stature and enhance its natural, sculptural qualities.

This bonsai tree thrives in well-draining soil and requires adequate sunlight and moisture to maintain its vibrant color and health. With proper care, the Juniperus chinensis 'Glauca' bonsai becomes a living masterpiece, symbolizing peace, harmony, and the enduring beauty of nature. Its majestic form and timeless elegance make it a perfect addition to any collection, offering a touch of meditative tranquility to homes, offices, or gardens.

Acer palmatum 'Skeeter's Broom' is a small, bushy, narrowly upright, deciduous shrub with neat, palmate, deeply-lobed leaves, bright red in spring, deep purple-red in summer, ruby-red in autumn. Small, inconspicuous reddish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by red, winged fruits in late summer. Acer palmatum 'Skeeter's Broom' prefers fertile, humus-rich, loamy or sandy, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in partial shade but is adaptable to full sun. Best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade. Excessive exposure to sun or lack of soil moisture can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but has to be protected from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant. Japanese maple 'Skeeter's Broom' is a lovely ornamental tree that creates a vibrant display throughout the whole season. It is ideal for small informal, cottage, woodland, rock, or urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant, or planted in groups in shrub or mixed borders. Perfect for growing in pots and containers.

A Ligustrum texanum shaped as a ball is a beautifully refined ornamental shrub that brings structure, symmetry, and elegance to any garden design. Carefully trained and pruned, it develops into a perfectly rounded sphere of dense, glossy green foliage. Each leaf is small, oval, and leathery, creating a smooth, uniform surface that enhances the plant’s sculpted appearance. When maintained regularly, the spherical shape remains crisp and tidy, offering a polished, contemporary look suitable for both formal landscapes and modern outdoor spaces.

In spring and early summer, the shrub may produce small clusters of creamy white flowers, adding a gentle fragrance and a touch of seasonal interest. Though subtle, these blooms contrast attractively with the deep green leaves, giving the ball shape an added dimension. Its evergreen nature ensures the structure remains intact throughout the year, providing year-round colour and architectural stability even in winter.

Because of its compact habit and adaptability, a Ligustrum texanum ball works beautifully in pairs flanking entrances, in rows along pathways, or as a single specimen in a pot. With consistent pruning and occasional feeding, it becomes a long-lasting, elegant feature that enhances both classic and contemporary garden styles.

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Teddy Bear’ is a delightful dwarf cultivar of the hinoki cypress, prized for its compact, evergreen habit and soft, tactile foliage. Unlike its tall tree-forming relatives, this variety grows slowly into a neat, rounded shrub that brings year-round structure and interest to gardens, patios and containers.

The foliage is composed of tiny, scale-like leaves in a rich, deep green that remain vibrant throughout all seasons, giving the plant a lush, almost fern-like texture. This dense, soft growth habit is the reason behind its common name, ‘Teddy Bear’, as the plant’s surface appears invitingly plush and sculptural.

In terms of size, ‘Teddy Bear’ remains a manageable shrub, typically reaching around 1.5–2.5 metres in height and spreading to about 1–1.5 metres over many years. It’s exceptionally slow growing, so it won’t overwhelm a small garden, border or large pot, making it ideal for smaller spaces where taller conifers might be unsuitable.

This variety prefers a position in full sun to partial shade, with moist but well-drained soil. While it thrives in slightly acidic conditions, it will tolerate a range of soil types as long as water does not stand around the roots. Once established, it is relatively low maintenance, requiring little more than occasional watering during prolonged dry spells and minimal pruning to maintain its shape if needed.

Because it retains its foliage and shape throughout the year, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Teddy Bear’ provides decorative evergreen interest in winter as well as through spring, summer and autumn. Its soft, rounded form complements both informal cottage gardens and contemporary landscapes, adding texture, structure and a touch of charm wherever it’s planted.

Liquidambar styraciflua is a large, deciduous tree with narrow, upright crown when young, conical to rounded when mature, and aromatic, lobed, star-shaped, maple-like, dark green leaves that turn beautiful orange, dark red and purple in autumn. Clusters of small, inconspicuous yellowish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by hard, rounded, prickly gum balls in autumn that remain on the tree in winter. Liquidambar styraciflua is an adaptable tree, easily grown in various types of soils, except shallow and alkaline. It prefers moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils in sunny, sheltered positions. It is tolerant of partial shade, cold, heat, and salty winds. Resistant to urban pollution. Low maintenance plant. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Liquidambar styraciflua is a large ornamental tree, popular for its wonderful autumn foliage, but it needs a lot of space to grow. Suitable for coastal and urban areas. Tasty, thick sap is harvested from under the bark and used for various purposes.

Callistemon laevis, commonly known as the Bottlebrush, is a striking evergreen shrub that brings vibrant color and texture to gardens. It features arching branches adorned with narrow, lance-shaped green leaves that offer year-round interest. The plant truly shines in spring and summer when it produces an abundance of vivid red, bottlebrush-like flower spikes. These unique blooms are not only visually stunning but also attract pollinators, including bees and hummingbirds, adding life and movement to the landscape. Callistemon laevis thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, demonstrating good drought tolerance once established. It is a versatile choice for borders, hedging, or as a specimen plant, and its tolerance to pruning makes it suitable for shaping and maintaining a tidy appearance.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' is a classic and highly reliable shrub, well suited to many garden styles. Valued for its spectacular, large, rounded flower heads, it produces masses of creamy-white blooms from early to late summer. The flowers can reach up to 25 cm across, creating a striking display that brightens borders and woodland-style plantings.

This hydrangea thrives in fertile, moist but well-drained soil and performs best in partial shade, although it will also grow well in full sun if the soil remains consistently moist. It is particularly useful in sheltered borders, cottage gardens, or informal planting schemes where its soft, billowing flowers can contrast beautifully with darker foliage plants and perennials.

A key advantage of ‘Annabelle’ is its hardiness and ease of care. It flowers on new wood, meaning it can be pruned hard in late winter or early spring to encourage vigorous growth and abundant blooms. This also helps maintain a neat, compact shape.

Growing to around 1.2–1.5 metres in height and spread, it works well as a specimen shrub, in groups for impact, or even as a low flowering hedge. Its dependable performance makes it an excellent choice for both experienced and beginner gardeners.

Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia' is a captivating and resilient deciduous tree, often recognized by its striking golden-yellow foliage. This robust cultivar stands out for its adaptability and rapid growth, often thriving in diverse environmental conditions, including urban areas with substantial pollution. Originating from the black locust tree, 'Frisia' inherits a hardy and enduring nature, demonstrating significant resistance to harsh weather conditions, rendering it a prevalent choice among garden enthusiasts and landscape architects.

The tree is a magnificent spectacle during the spring season when it is adorned with pendulous clusters of sweetly fragrant, white, pea-like flowers, attracting a myriad of pollinators, notably bees, enhancing biodiversity within its vicinity. The blooms are followed by smooth, elongated seed pods, contributing to the tree's visual appeal. The vibrant foliage, which creates a pronounced contrast with the surroundings, transitions to a lighter shade of yellow in the autumn, offering an extended period of visual interest.

Despite its aesthetic appeal and resilience, 'Frisia' necessitates vigilant management due to its propensity for suckering and its invasive nature. Proper pruning is vital to maintain its structural integrity and curtail unrestrained growth. This tree is suitable for individuals seeking a low-maintenance yet visually arresting focal point in their landscapes.

Cordyline indivisa, or Mountain cabbage tree, is a slow-growing, palm-like, evergreen tree with long, pointed, lance-shaped, arching, glossy, blue-green, leaves with orange midrib. Clusters of small, fragrant, greenish-white to purple, star-shaped flowers bloom in summer and are followed by tiny purple fruits. Young plants have a graceful rosette of arching leaves with no trunk. Cordyline indivisa grows best in fertile, organically rich, moist, well-drained soils. It likes full sun to light shade. In colder climates, it should be grown in containers and brought inside during the winter. Once established it is tolerant of drought. A sub-tropical plant, adaptable to coastal conditions. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Mountain cabbage tree is a nice, tropical-looking plant, perfect for Mediterranean-style, coastal, and rock and gravel gardens. It can also be a nice addition to cottage and urban gardens. Excellent for growing in containers and great in pots as house plants.

Wisteria sinensis 'Alba' on an 80cm clear stem is an elegant, compact addition to any garden, ideal for adding vertical interest with minimal space requirements. This stunning white-flowering wisteria showcases graceful, cascading racemes of pure white blooms in late spring, creating a mesmerizing display with a light, pleasant fragrance. The clear stem highlights its delicate beauty, providing a clean, structured appearance that enhances patios, terraces, or small garden beds. Its lush, green foliage emerges after the flowers, adding texture and colour throughout the summer. Hardy and easy to care for, this wisteria thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking elegance and sophistication in a manageable, space-saving form.

Corylus avellana 'Twister' is an unusual, deciduous, multi-stemmed, suckering shrub, well-known for its stunning contorted and twisted branches that curl and spiral in all directions. Long, golden yellow catkins appear in late winter or early spring, before the foliage, and hang loosely from the branches like ornaments. The leaves are ovate, dark green in summer, yellow in autumn. Usually does not produce fruit.

Corylus avellana 'Twister' likes rich, moist but well-drained soils, but tolerates average garden soil. Heavy clays should be avoided. It thrives in full sun to part shade. Root suckers should be removed to maintain its appearance. Generally, pest-free. It can withstand frost and wind. Corylus avellana 'Twister', with its unusual appearance, makes a stunning specimen plant, especially in winter garden. It is a great choice for hedges and screens, shrub borders, patio edges, or along sidewalks. Perfect for informal and cottage gardens. Suitable for containers and growing on roof gardens.

Cydonia oblonga 'Vranja' Nenadovic is a strong, robust, deciduous shrub or small tree with medium branching and pale green leaves, grey-felted beneath, yellow in autumn. Lovely, five-petal, white to pale pink flowers bloom in April and May. The fruit is large, fragrant, aromatic, pear-shaped, light to golden yellow, with hard, thick and hairy skin. This variety produces very large quinces – 250-230 grams on average, and up to 1kg. The harvest season starts in early October, the yield is very high, and fruits are good for storing. Quince 'Vranja' can grow in almost any kind of soil, as long as it is moist, and well-drained, but it prefers fertile, deep, well-drained soils in full sun. Once established, it tolerates dry soils. Cydonia oblonga 'Vranja' Nenadovic, with its large, white flowers and lovely foliage colour, is an attractive garden tree. Its fruit has excellent flavour and fragrance. It is mostly used for pies, jellies, and jams.

Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Golden Dragon’ is a striking and highly ornamental deciduous climber, prized for its luminous foliage and elegant floral display. A cultivated form of the Japanese silky wisteria, it combines the classic charm of wisteria with the added interest of golden-yellow leaves, making it an exceptional choice for decorative garden structures.

In spring, ‘Golden Dragon’ emerges with fresh foliage in vivid shades of yellow, often flushed with light green. This bright colouring persists into early summer, particularly in full sun, before gradually softening to a more lime-green tone as the season progresses. The leaves are pinnate, typically composed of 9–13 smooth, oval leaflets, creating a graceful, cascading effect when trained over pergolas, arches, or walls.

Flowering occurs in late spring to early summer, usually in May or June. Short, compact racemes of pea-like flowers are produced, typically 10–15 cm long. The blooms are a delicate violet-blue to lilac, often with a pale yellow or white marking, and are richly fragrant. Although the flower clusters are shorter than those of Chinese wisteria, they are produced in abundance and stand out beautifully against the golden foliage.

‘Golden Dragon’ is a twining climber with a moderate growth rate, generally reaching 6–8 metres when mature. It requires sturdy support and benefits from regular pruning to encourage flowering and maintain shape. Like other wisterias, it flowers best when grown in full sun and in fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardy throughout most of the UK, Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Golden Dragon’ is well suited to gardens seeking strong visual impact. Its combination of scented flowers, unusual foliage colour, and elegant habit makes it a distinctive and rewarding plant for both traditional and contemporary settings.

Callistemon laevis, commonly known as the Bottlebrush, is a striking evergreen shrub that brings vibrant color and texture to gardens. It features arching branches adorned with narrow, lance-shaped green leaves that offer year-round interest. The plant truly shines in spring and summer when it produces an abundance of vivid red, bottlebrush-like flower spikes. These unique blooms are not only visually stunning but also attract pollinators, including bees and hummingbirds, adding life and movement to the landscape. Callistemon laevis thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, demonstrating good drought tolerance once established. It is a versatile choice for borders, hedging, or as a specimen plant, and its tolerance to pruning makes it suitable for shaping and maintaining a tidy appearance.

The Azalea japonica, meticulously pruned into a spherical form, presents a botanical masterpiece that stands approximately one meter in both height and width. This exquisite ornamental shrub, celebrated for its captivating beauty, exemplifies nature's artistry.

Throughout the year, this Azalea variety showcases its allure through a symphony of colors and textures. In spring, it bursts into a profusion of radiant blossoms, each petal resembling a delicate work of watercolor art. Shades of pink, red, or white intermingle harmoniously, creating a captivating visual spectacle. The lush, glossy green foliage serves as an elegant backdrop to this floral spectacle.

As the seasons progress, the Azalea continues to enchant with its evergreen leaves, providing year-round interest. The meticulously maintained spherical shape adds a touch of formality and sophistication to any garden or landscape, making it an ideal choice for both traditional and contemporary settings. Its compact size ensures that it can be placed in various locations, from garden borders to pots on patios, offering versatility in garden design.

This one-meter-tall, one-meter-wide Azalea japonica embodies the harmony of nature and human cultivation, a living testament to the enduring appeal of this beloved ornamental shrub.

Jasminium nudiflorum, often referred to as winter jasmine, is a deciduous shrub known for its bright yellow flowers that bloom in the late winter to early spring, a time when few other plants are in flower. Originating from China, this jasmine species has become popular in gardens worldwide due to its vibrant winter display.

Unlike many other jasmine species, the winter jasmine is not fragrant. Its slender, arching, green stems often give the appearance of being evergreen, but they shed their simple, trifoliate, dark green leaves during the colder months. When left unpruned, the plant can sprawl, making it an excellent choice for ground cover or for cascading down walls and banks. It is especially effective for erosion control on slopes.

Winter jasmine is highly adaptable. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-draining soil, although it can tolerate a variety of soil conditions. This hardy shrub can withstand cold temperatures and is often one of the first plants to bloom after the winter chill, heralding the impending arrival of spring.

Regular pruning can keep the plant compact and promote more prolific flowering. Its resilience, paired with its striking winter display, makes Jasminium nudiflorum a cherished plant for gardens desiring year-round interest.

Physocarpus 'Magic Ball' is an excellent choice for a wide range of garden styles, valued for its compact habit, colourful foliage, and easy maintenance. This hardy deciduous shrub forms a neat, rounded shape, making it particularly suitable for smaller gardens, mixed borders, courtyard planting, and contemporary landscapes where space may be limited. Its richly toned foliage provides strong seasonal colour contrast throughout the growing season, while clusters of delicate pink-white flowers in summer attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, helping to support garden biodiversity.

The plant performs well in full sun or partial shade and adapts to most well-drained soils, including clay and loam, once established. It is tolerant of urban conditions and demonstrates good resilience to cold weather, making it reliable in many UK gardens. Minimal pruning is required beyond occasional shaping or removal of older stems to encourage fresh growth and vibrant foliage colour.

Physocarpus ‘Magic Ball’ works beautifully as a specimen shrub, in low hedging, or planted alongside ornamental grasses and flowering perennials for long-lasting visual interest.

Crataegus laevigata 'Plena' is a beautiful, ornamental, deciduous, shrubby tree with thorny stems, and shallowly-lobed, glossy, dark green leaves, yellow and bronze in autumn. Masses of small, fragrant, double white flowers, bloom in spring and cover the whole tree in June and July. Just before they fall, they fade to soft pink. The flowers are followed by pretty red berries attractive to birds. Crataegus laevigata 'Plena' is easily grown in any type of soil, as long as it is well-drained. It prefers full sun and tolerates partial shade. It is tough and resilient, adaptable to all kinds of growing conditions including coastal, exposed, or polluted. It needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. Low maintenance. Crataegus laevigata 'Plena', is a stunning, tough ornamental tree, great addition to any garden. Perfect as a specimen tree in cottage or urban gardens. It can be also used for hedges and screens.

Callistemon laevis, commonly known as the Bottlebrush, is a striking evergreen shrub that brings vibrant color and texture to gardens. It features arching branches adorned with narrow, lance-shaped green leaves that offer year-round interest. The plant truly shines in spring and summer when it produces an abundance of vivid red, bottlebrush-like flower spikes. These unique blooms are not only visually stunning but also attract pollinators, including bees and hummingbirds, adding life and movement to the landscape. Callistemon laevis thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, demonstrating good drought tolerance once established. It is a versatile choice for borders, hedging, or as a specimen plant, and its tolerance to pruning makes it suitable for shaping and maintaining a tidy appearance.