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Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia) is a medium-sized, exotic-looking, evergreen shrub with huge, palmate, deeply-lobed, glossy, bright green leaves. Clusters of bright to cremy-white flowers bloom in autumn and are followed by small, round, shiny, black ornamental berries. Fatsia japonica can grow in any type of soil, but prefers compost-rich, slightly acidic, moist and well-drained soils. It is very adaptable and can grow in full sun, partial shade, or full shade. It’s a tropical plant that likes warm temperatures, but too strong sun, as well as strong winds, can damage the leaves. It needs annual pruning. Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia) brings an exciting tropical look to the landscape, especially when combined with bamboos and grasses. Perfect for informal, cottage, coastal, or urban gardens. Great as a focal point in shaded areas, as a foundation plant, near pools and water gardens, or in outdoor containers. Suitable for growing as a houseplant.

Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens' is a small, evergreen tree of widely conical to broadly oval habit with spiny, toothed, extremely glossy, emerald green leaves. Small, greenish-white flowers that bloom in spring are followed by abundant and long-lasting crop of attractive, large, orange to red, berries in autumn and winter. It’s a female, partially self-pollinating plant. 'Nellie R. Stevens' Holly is a cross between English holly (ilex aquifolium) and Chinese holly (ilex cornuta). It can grow in various soil types, but prefers fertile, medium moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. It can withstand frost and wind, but needs to be sheltered from drying winter winds. It is suitable for coastal areas. Low maintenance plant. Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens' is great as a specimen plant, good for hedges and screens, foundations, path edgings, and for growing in containers. Its branches with glossy leaves and red berries are typical Christmas decoration.

Pinus Nigra 'Brepo' or Dwarf Austrian Pine, is a small, very attractive, slow-growing, conifer of upright, spreading habit. It forms a neat, compact, densely branched, dome-shaped shrub with short and thin, rich green needles and small cones. Pinus Nigra 'Brepo' is a dwarf form of a hybrid between Pinus nigra (Austrian Pine) and Pinus densiflora (Japanese Red Pine). It’s a tough plant, adaptable to various soil types and conditions, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun. Very resistant to frost and wind, it can withstand exposed positions. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. It retains its shape naturally, but can be trimmed into topiary forms. ‘Brepo’ Dwarf Pine is an exceptional, ornamental shrub, perfect for shrub borders and pathways, especially attractive during the winter. Great-looking in rock and gravel gardens, but also suitable for informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Excellent for growing in containers on patios and roof gardens.

Enkianthus 'Pagoda' is a bushy, spreading, deciduous, tree-like shrub with simple, oval, toothed, dull green leaves that turn red, orange, and yellow in autumn. Clusters of lovely, small, bell-shaped, creamy to pink flowers with red veins bloom from late spring to summer and are attractive to bees. Enkianthus 'Pagoda' can adapt to most soil types, even poor ones, but prefers fertile, humus-rich, lime-free, moist, well-drained soils in light shade. It also grows well in full sun. Resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, winter winds. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, but it may require some pruning to retain its size and shape. Pagoda bush is an unusual and attractive plant with beautiful flowers and excellent autumn foliage. It is not demanding and very easy to grow. Great for Japanese-style and woodland gardens. Perfect for mixed and shrub borders. Suitable for growing in containers.

Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Purple Gem’ is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking year-round structure, fragrance, and low maintenance in shaded or partially shaded areas. This compact evergreen shrub, reaching around 60–80 cm in height, is particularly suited to small gardens, courtyards, or shaded borders where many other plants may struggle. Its glossy, dark green leaves provide a rich backdrop throughout the year, while its reddish-purple stems add subtle color and texture.

One of the plant’s most attractive features is its sweetly scented white flowers, which bloom in late winter to early spring—often when little else is in flower. These delicate blooms attract early pollinators and are followed by small black berries that add seasonal interest. ‘Purple Gem’ thrives in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, though it is tolerant of a range of conditions once established.

It performs beautifully as ground cover under trees, along paths, or in shaded containers. Hardy and easy to grow, Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Purple Gem’ offers enduring beauty and fragrance for any low-light garden space.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom' is a vigorous, spreading, upright, deciduous shrub with yellow green leaves, and spectacular, huge, dense, conical flower panicles, lime green when young, creamy white in late summer, and soft pink in autumn. Attractive to bees and butterflies. Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom' can grow in a wide range of soils, but prefers humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun with some afternoon shade in hot summer climates. Very resistant to frost, one of the most winter hardy hydrangeas. Tolerant of urban pollution. It can withstand heat, humidity and sea salt, therefore suitable for coastal areas. Low maintenance plant, requires minimal pruning. 'Phantom' Hydrangea is a beautiful, long-lived, undemanding and easy to grow flowering shrub perfect for any garden – cottage, coastal, urban, or woodland. Excellent for shrub borders or planted in masses in front of fences and walls Great for informal hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers.

Cotoneaster horizontalis, commonly known as the wall-spray or fishbone cotoneaster, is a deciduous shrub with a distinctive herringbone branching pattern that gives it its common name. The small, glossy dark green leaves turn attractive shades of red and orange in autumn before falling. Its low, spreading habit makes it particularly useful for covering banks, walls and difficult slopes, as the stiff branches naturally form a flat, fan-like structure when grown against a vertical surface. In late spring to early summer, small pinkish-white flowers appear along the branches, providing a valuable source of nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. These are followed in autumn by an abundance of bright red berries that persist well into winter, offering a reliable food source for birds during the colder months when other resources are scarce. The combination of spring flowers, autumn foliage colour and winter berries gives this shrub year-round interest. It is highly tolerant of poor soils and exposed conditions, making it well suited to coastal gardens and areas with thin, chalky or dry soil. Its dense branching also provides shelter for small birds and insects, contributing to garden biodiversity throughout the seasons.

Osmanthus x burkwoodii is a dense, shrubby, rounded, slow-growing, flowering, evergreen shrub with small, ovate, finely toothed, glossy, dark green leaves. Small, highly fragrant, jasmine-like, white flowers bloom in clusters in late spring. Flowers are rarely followed by oval, black-purple fruits. Osmanthus x burkwoodii is very easy to grow. It is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but grows best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. It brings more flowers in full sun, but can easily grow in partial shade. Once established, tolerant of drought. It is resistant to frost and heat. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Burkwood Osmanthus is a hybrid between O. delavayi and O. decorusa. It’s a beautiful and tough plant suitable for informal, cottage, and woodland gardens. Excellent for flower beds, mixed and shrub borders. Great for banks and slopes for erosion control. Very effective for hedges and screens.

Golden Treasure Dwarf Birch is a deciduous shrub with a compact, twiggy, densely branched habit, making it well suited to smaller gardens or as a low-growing feature plant. Its rounded, scalloped-edged leaves emerge with a bright golden-yellow hue in spring, gradually maturing to a soft yellow-green through summer before turning golden tones again in autumn, providing extended seasonal interest. The foliage remains a highlight throughout the growing season, offering good colour contrast against darker-leaved planting schemes. In spring, small, inconspicuous catkins appear, though these are not a significant ornamental feature compared with the foliage display. The dense, twiggy growth provides shelter for small garden birds and insects, while the plant can support some invertebrate life typical of birch species, contributing modestly to garden biodiversity. This shrub is tolerant of a range of soil types, including poor or damp ground, and copes well in exposed or coastal locations, making it a versatile choice for challenging planting positions. It is also suited to boggy or wet areas of the garden where many other shrubs may struggle. Its slow growth rate and naturally neat shape mean it generally requires minimal pruning to maintain a tidy appearance.

Pinus nigra 'Marie Bregeon' is an evergreen dwarf black pine, grown here as a quarter standard with a short clear stem beneath a dense, rounded head of foliage. The needles are notably short and tightly packed, held in twisted pairs of dark green, giving the crown a congested, bun-like texture that holds its compact form year-round. This cultivar maintains interest throughout all seasons, with its structural form becoming particularly prominent in winter when deciduous planting nearby has lost its leaves. The dense habit and rigid branching make it a useful specimen for adding year-round structure to a border or as a container plant on a patio. Mature trees may produce small, inconspicuous cones typical of the species, though these are not a significant ornamental feature. Pinus nigra is tolerant of exposed and coastal conditions, including salt-laden winds, and copes well with poor, chalky or dry soils once established. Its resilience to wind and pollution also makes it suitable for urban gardens or more challenging sites where many other conifers would struggle.

Photinia Magical Volcano is a compact, evergreen shrub valued for its dense, rounded habit, making it an excellent choice for low hedging or structured garden borders. Its most striking feature is the vivid foliage, which emerges bright red in spring before maturing to a glossy dark green, with new growth continuing to appear in flushes of red throughout the growing season, providing ongoing colour contrast. This repeated flush of red new leaves against the darker, established foliage gives the shrub a lively, variegated appearance from spring through to autumn. In late spring, small white flowers may appear in clusters, adding a further seasonal interest, though the shrub is primarily grown for its foliage display rather than its blooms. The tight, dense growth habit makes it particularly useful for creating neat, low hedges or defined shapes within a garden, and it responds well to regular clipping, allowing it to be maintained at a compact size. It is a hardy shrub, tolerant of a range of garden soils, and suits both formal and informal planting schemes where consistent colour and structure are desired throughout the year.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is an exotic-looking evergreen shrub or small tree of narrowly columnar habit, dense and compact, with leathery, oblong, glossy, dark green leaves, coppery-brown underneath. Its lightly scented, creamy-white to pure white flowers with yellow stamens, bloom in summer and early autumn, and are followed by red, cone-like fruits. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is easily grown in a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist, and well-drained soils. It doesn’t like too wet or too dry soils. It thrives in full sun and partial shade. It can withstand cold, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, dry winds. Not very tolerant of urban pollution, but somewhat tolerant to salt. Low maintenance plant. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ is a lovely, small, slow-growing ornamental tree, perfect as a lawn specimen or planted in groups. Great for informal, cottage, and woodland gardens. Excellent for informal hedges and screens, and for growing in containers.

Clematis ‘Apple Blossom’ is a vigorous, twining, evergreen climber with leathery, waxy, green leaves, bronze-tinged when they emerge, and profusion of almond-scented, single, pale pink to white flowers opening from deep pink buds and blooming in spring. Flowers persist for 2 to 4 weeks and are attractive to butterflies. Clematis ‘Apple Blossom’ is not picky about the soil type, but prefers fertile, loose, moist, well-drained soils. It grows best in full sun, but likes its roots to be kept cool and shaded. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. A Mediterranean climate plant. Low maintenance, no regular pruning is required. Toxic to pets and humans. Apple Blossom Clematis, with its captivating, fragrant flowers and attractive foliage, is one of the most popular evergreen clematis. It’s perfect for covering walls, fences, pergolas, and trellises. Great for wall-side borders and privacy screens. Suitable for growing in containers.

Spindle Euonymus is an evergreen shrub with a dense, compact, rounded habit, making it a reliable choice for structured planting. The foliage is the standout feature of this cultivar, with glossy, leathery leaves edged in creamy-yellow variegation that brightens throughout the year, lending a consistently fresh appearance to borders and containers. New growth often carries a brighter gold tone before settling into its mature variegated pattern, providing subtle seasonal interest without being dependent on flowers for impact. Small greenish-white flowers may appear in early summer, though these are inconspicuous and not a significant feature of the plant. This shrub tolerates a wide range of conditions and is particularly well suited to coastal gardens, as it withstands salt-laden winds and exposed positions with ease. It also performs well in urban settings, coping with pollution and poor soils, and adapts to most well-drained soil types including chalky, sandy and loamy ground. Its dense branching habit makes it useful for low hedging, topiary or as a structural specimen shrub, holding its shape well with minimal maintenance. Being evergreen, it provides year-round colour and screening, making it a dependable choice for gardeners seeking consistent foliage interest and resilience in varied planting situations.

Golden Grey Alder is a deciduous tree, grown here as a feathered specimen with branches clothed down to ground level. Its most striking feature is the golden-yellow foliage, which emerges bright in spring and holds its colour well through summer before fading as autumn approaches. The leaves are rounded with a softly toothed edge, giving the canopy a dense, textured appearance. In late winter and early spring, before the leaves unfurl, the tree produces attractive yellow-brown catkins, adding early seasonal interest when little else is in flower. These catkins provide an early source of pollen for insects, and the tree's small cone-like fruits that follow offer seed for birds through the colder months. Golden Grey Alder is particularly valuable in damp or wet ground, including heavy clay or waterlogged soils where many other trees struggle. It is well suited to pond margins, streamsides, and low-lying parts of the garden prone to standing water. Its root system also has a beneficial association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, helping to improve soil fertility over time. This makes it a useful choice for naturalising damp areas or for use in shelterbelts and mixed plantings where soil conditions are less than ideal.

The Persian Silk Tree is a deciduous tree, grown here as a half standard with a single clear stem supporting a broad, spreading crown. The foliage is fern-like and finely divided, made up of numerous small leaflets that give the canopy a light, feathery texture and cast dappled rather than dense shade. Leaves fold together at night and during rain, a characteristic trait of the species. In summer, the tree produces an abundance of silky, pink pompom-like flowers with long, delicate stamens, creating a striking display across the canopy from mid to late summer. These flowers are followed by flat, pod-like seed fruits that persist into autumn. The blooms are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, making this tree a useful addition for gardens aiming to support pollinator activity during the summer months. This tree prefers a warm, sheltered, sunny position and is well suited to free-draining soils. It performs best in locations protected from strong winds and cold exposure, making it a good choice for town gardens or sheltered courtyards where its exotic appearance and summer flowers can be appreciated at close range.

Pittosporum tobira is a dense, slow-growing, mound-forming, rounded, evergreen shrub with leathery, obovate, glossy, dark green leaves arranged in a whorl around the stem. Clusters of small, yellow flowers, white when they emerge, bloom in late spring and summer. Flowers are long-lasting and heavily scented. Pittosporum tobira grows best in average, moderately fertile, medium moisture, slightly acidic, well-drained soils, but can adapt to almost any soil type, except waterlogged. It thrives in full sun with some afternoon shade. Once established, tolerant of drought. It can withstand sea salt and is ideal for coastal areas. Resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, drying winds. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance, but needs some trimming to maintain its shape. Japanese pittosporum is a great-looking and resilient plant providing interest all year round. It is excellent for beds and borders, foundation plantings, or informal hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers and as a houseplant.

Camellia ‘Brushfields Yellow’ is a vigorous, compact, neat and tidy, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves, and abundance of beautiful, creamy-white, double flowers, primrose yellow in the centre, that bloom in spring. Camellia ‘Brushfields Yellow’ loves organically rich, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. The soil needs to be consistently moist, too much water may lead to a root rot. It thrives in partial shade. Direct sunlight will burn its leaves and full shade may lead to thinner leaves and fewer blooms. It can withstand frost but needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. Late frosts may damage the flower buds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require regular pruning. Camellia ‘Brushfields Yellow’ is one of the most popular camellias. Its evergreen foliage and spectacular flowers makes it a wonderful specimen plant in informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Great in beds and borders, wall-side borders, and shrub borders. Excellent for hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers.

The Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Magic' is an elegant, evergreen shrub prized for its striking variegated foliage and compact growth habit. This cultivar is a popular choice in British gardens for hedging, borders, and specimen planting due to its year-round visual appeal and low maintenance requirements.

'Silver Magic' is characterised by its small, wavy-edged leaves, which display a delightful blend of silvery-green centres with creamy-white margins, sometimes tinged with soft pink hues in cooler weather. These delicate leaves are borne on slender, dark purple to black stems, creating an attractive contrast that enhances the plant’s ornamental value. Over time, it forms a dense, bushy habit making it an excellent choice for compact spaces.

During late spring to early summer, 'Silver Magic' produces inconspicuous, honey-scented dark purple flowers, which attract pollinators such as bees. Though small, these blooms contribute to the plant’s overall charm.

This Pittosporum thrives in well-drained soil and prefers a sunny or partially shaded position. It is relatively hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -5°C, though it benefits from some shelter in exposed or particularly frosty locations. Regular pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages denser foliage growth, especially when used as a hedge.

With its elegant variegation, year-round interest, and versatility in the landscape, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Magic' is a superb addition to contemporary and traditional gardens alike. It works beautifully as a specimen plant in pots, in mixed shrub borders, or clipped into formal shapes for structured garden designs. Its subtle yet sophisticated colouration ensures it complements a wide range of other plants, providing contrast and texture throughout the seasons.

Pyracantha, also known as Firethorn, is a genus of vigorous, compact, evergreen shrubs and includes seven species. It has thorny, upright branches, small, ovate, glossy, dark green leaves, and clusters of lovely, white flowers in summer. Flowers are followed by masses of attractive, yellow, orange or red berries that create a spectacular display from late summer to winter. Firethorn is adaptable to various types of soil, but prefers fertile, slightly alkaline, sandy, loamy, moist and well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun, but grows easily in partial shade. However, flowering and fruiting are better in full sun. Once established, it is tolerant of drought. Resistant to frost and urban pollution. Generally, pest-free. Low maintenance plant. Pyracantha is a very decorative fruiting shrub, valued for its evergreen foliage and attractive fruit. It is great as a specimen or foundation plant, excellent for barrier hedging and espaliers, wall-side borders and trellises. Ideal for informal, cottage, urban, and wildlife gardens.