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This plant is specifically shaped into a ball with very dense foliage. It is exceptionally large for this type of plant. 

Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' is a dense, neat and tidy, evergreen shrub or small tree of compact, rounded to conical habit, with narrow, long, glossy, dark green leaves. Young stems are vivid red. Small, fragrant, creamy-white flowers bloom in late spring or early summer and are followed by dark purple berries in autumn. Attractive to pollinators and birds. Prunus lusitanica 'Angustifolia' is adaptable to a wide range of soils and conditions. It thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, and grows well in full sun or partial shade. It is resistant to frost, but doesn’t’ like very exposed sites, therefore, needs to be sheltered from strong winds. Low maintenance plant, tolerant of hard pruning. Portuguese Laurel 'Angustifolia', differs from the classic variety for its greater density and narrower leaves. It is, therefore, superb for formal hedges. It forms great windbreaks and privacy screens. It reduces noise and pollution. It can be grown as a topiary tree.

Cornus mas is a vigorous, bushy, deciduous shrub or small tree with exfoliating bark and ovate, dark green leaves which turn purple in autumn. The clusters of tiny bright yellow flowers on short stalks bloom in late winter on bare branches, before the leaves emerge. Flowers are followed by edible, red, cherry-like fruits that can be used for making syrups and jams. Cornus mas is easily grown in average, medium moist, well-drained soils, in full sun to partial shade. It can grow in almost any type of soil, but prefers organically rich soils. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance and resistant to frost. To prevent spread, root suckers need to be removed immediately. Cornus mas is a very adaptable, highly decorative early-bloomer that brings brightness and colour to bare winter gardens. It is perfect as an unusual specimen plant, great for shrub borders, hedges and screens, informal and cottage gardens.

Cherry Laurel is a vigorous, evergreen shrub with large, glossy, dark green leaves that are broad and rounded in shape, giving the foliage a particularly bold and lush appearance. It forms a dense, bushy habit, making it a popular choice for hedging, screening and boundary planting where year-round coverage and privacy are required. The plant responds well to clipping, maintaining a compact and uniform structure even when trimmed regularly. In spring, small white flowers are produced in upright spikes, adding a seasonal contrast against the dark foliage. These are followed later in the year by small black cherry-like fruits, which appear once the flowers have faded. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, while the dense evergreen growth provides shelter and nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year. The berries produced later in the season can also provide a food source for wildlife. This shrub tolerates a wide range of growing conditions, including shade, and is well suited to most soil types, including clay and loamy soils. It is a reliable choice for creating a substantial, low-maintenance evergreen hedge or backdrop planting in a variety of garden settings.

Pittosporum 'Irish Luck' – A Hardy and Elegant Evergreen

Pittosporum 'Irish Luck' is a stunning evergreen shrub known for its glossy, narrow, dark green leaves that add year-round interest to gardens. A relatively new variety, it is prized for its graceful, upright growth habit and slightly weeping foliage, which sets it apart from other Pittosporum varieties.

Native to New Zealand, 'Irish Luck' thrives in the UK’s temperate climate, making it an excellent choice for a variety of garden settings. It typically reaches a height of 2.5 to 3 metres and spreads about 1.5 metres, forming a dense, bushy shape. This makes it ideal for hedging, screening, or as an architectural focal point in mixed borders. It also works well in containers for patios and courtyards.

One of the key attractions of 'Irish Luck' is its ability to tolerate coastal conditions, strong winds, and light frosts, making it particularly valuable in exposed locations. It prefers well-drained soil and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires minimal maintenance, needing only occasional pruning to maintain its shape.

In spring and early summer, Pittosporum 'Irish Luck' produces small, deep purple, honey-scented flowers, which contrast beautifully against the rich green foliage. While not highly conspicuous, these blossoms attract pollinators, adding ecological value to the plant.

Due to its refined, elegant appearance and resilience, 'Irish Luck' is a popular choice for contemporary and traditional gardens alike. Whether used as a hedge, feature plant, or in mixed planting schemes, it brings structure, texture, and year-round greenery to outdoor spaces with minimal effort.

Phormium tenax 'Sundowner' is a bold and colorful evergreen perennial, ideal for adding year-round interest and architectural structure to a variety of garden styles. Its long, arching, sword-like leaves display a striking mix of bronze, rose, copper, and olive-green tones, bringing warmth and depth to borders, gravel gardens, and containers.

Growing up to 1.5–2 meters tall, it makes an excellent focal point or backdrop in both contemporary and traditional planting schemes. ‘Sundowner’ thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil.

It’s highly tolerant of wind, salt, and drought once established, making it perfect for exposed or coastal gardens. Low-maintenance and hardy in milder climates, it may require winter protection in colder areas. Its vibrant foliage and tough nature make Phormium ‘Sundowner’ an ideal choice for gardeners seeking striking form with minimal upkeep.

Prunus serrulata ‘Taihaku’, commonly known as the Great White Cherry, is a superb ornamental tree well-suited to spacious gardens where its striking beauty can be fully appreciated. Renowned for its large, snow-white blossoms in early to mid-spring, it creates a dramatic and uplifting focal point in the landscape. Its broad, spreading canopy—paired with bronzed young leaves that mature to green—offers both seasonal interest and dappled shade throughout the growing season.

Reaching a mature height of around 20 to 25 feet (6 to 8 meters), with a similar spread, ‘Taihaku’ is ideal for open lawns, feature planting, or lining avenues. It thrives best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. While it is hardy and tolerant of urban pollution, it also performs well in coastal gardens, provided it is given some shelter from strong, salt-laden winds. With proper positioning, it will reward gardeners with a magnificent spring display and graceful presence all year round.

Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' is a cultivar of Laburnum x watereri and the best known Laburnum. It’s an attractive, large, deciduous shrub or small tree of bushy, spreading, capricious growing habit, vase-shaped crown, and glossy, deep-green leaves. Spectacular, long, dropping clusters of slightly scented, pea-like, golden yellow flowers bloom in spring, and are followed by attractive bean-like pods.

Laburnum x watereri 'Vossii' thrives in rich, fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It likes full sun, but in hot areas, it appreciates some afternoon shade. It doesn’t like heat and humidity, but is tolerant of frost, winds, urban conditions, and de-icing salt. Its roots can sometimes be badly anchored. A very tough and hardy plant. All parts of the palnt are toxic to humans and animals. This stunning shrub with its rich, dense, golden yellow flower clusters resembling golden chains, is great as a specimen plant, but can also be trained for arbours and pergolas.

Cordyline australis, or Cabbage Palm, is an impressive, vigorous, palm-like, sub-tropical tree with long, arching, narrow, dark burgundy leaves. The panicles of small, fragrant, white flowers bloom only on mature plants, in late spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by white or blue-tined berries. Cordyline australis (cabbage palm) thrives in full sun or partial shade and grows well in any kind of soil, except waterlogged. It prefers fertile, moist and well-drained soils. It is tolerant to salt, wind, and drought which makes it a perfect coastal plant. It can withstand some cold weather, but frost might damage it. Disease-free and low maintenance. Toxic to animals. Cordyline australis is an incredible specimen tree because of its tropical looks and bold colour. It’s a great addition to any garden, traditional or modern. Perfect for coastal areas. Great for beds and borders, patios and containers.

Pittosporum 'Arundel Green' is an evergreen shrub grown for its neat, rounded shape and dense habit. The small, glossy green leaves have distinctive wavy edges, creating a textured appearance throughout the year. Its compact growth makes it particularly useful for hedging or topiary, as it responds well to clipping and holds a tidy form. Small, honey-scented flowers appear in late spring, though they are often hidden among the foliage rather than being a prominent display feature. The dense branching structure provides good cover, offering shelter for small birds and insects within the garden. This shrub tolerates a range of soil types, including clay, and performs well in coastal gardens due to its resilience to wind and salt exposure. It also copes well in sheltered or lightly shaded positions, making it a versatile choice for screening, low hedges, or as a structural feature within mixed borders. Its consistent foliage colour and shape retention throughout the seasons make it a reliable evergreen presence in the garden, requiring minimal maintenance beyond an occasional trim to maintain its form.

The Indian Bean Tree is a deciduous tree with a bushy habit, forming a dense, rounded crown of branches. Its foliage consists of large, heart-shaped leaves that emerge pale green in spring and mature to a deeper green through summer, creating a lush, bold canopy. In summer, the tree produces showy clusters of white flowers, marked with yellow stripes and purple-brown spots in the throat, giving it a decorative appearance during the flowering period. These are followed later in the season by long, slender, bean-like seed pods that hang from the branches, adding further interest into autumn and often persisting into winter once the leaves have fallen. The flowers are attractive to pollinating insects, offering a nectar source during the summer months, while the dense branch structure can provide shelter for garden birds. This tree performs well in a range of soil types, including loamy and clay soils, and tolerates urban pollution, making it a suitable choice for town gardens as well as more open, rural settings. Its bushy form makes it a good option where a fuller, rounded shape is preferred over a more open or upright tree habit.

Yellow-twig Dogwood is a deciduous shrub with a bushy, multi-stemmed habit, forming a dense thicket of upright stems. Its most striking feature is the bright yellow-green bark on young stems, which provides vivid colour throughout the winter months once the leaves have fallen. The mid-green, oval leaves turn a modest yellow to purplish-red in autumn before dropping, revealing the colourful stems beneath. In late spring and early summer, small clusters of creamy-white flowers appear, followed by white or bluish-white berries that are attractive to birds. The flowers, while not large or showy individually, add a soft texture to the shrub when in bloom. This shrub is particularly valuable for winter interest in the garden, as the stem colour intensifies on newer growth, making regular pruning beneficial to maintain the brightest display. It is well suited to damp or waterlogged areas, including sites near ponds or streams, and tolerates a wide range of soil types including clay. It also performs well in partial shade, making it a versatile choice for different garden positions. Birds benefit from the berries, while the dense structure offers shelter for small wildlife.

Weigela 'Rubidor' is a deciduous shrub with a compact, bushy habit, forming a rounded mound of arching branches. Its most distinctive feature is the golden-yellow foliage, which provides a bright splash of colour throughout the growing season and contrasts strikingly with the flowers. In late spring to early summer, the shrub produces an abundance of funnel-shaped, dark pink to red flowers that create a vivid contrast against the yellow leaves, making this a particularly eye-catching plant during this period. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, offering a useful nectar source in late spring and early summer. This shrub works well as a specimen plant or within a mixed border, where its foliage colour can be used to brighten shaded corners or contrast with greener planting. It tolerates a range of soil types, including clay, and adapts well to both sun and partial shade, though the best foliage colour develops in a position with good light. It is a low-maintenance shrub, needing only an occasional prune after flowering to maintain shape and encourage strong new growth for the following year.

The Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' is an elegant, evergreen shrub prized for its striking foliage and versatile garden use. This cultivar is particularly noted for its deep purple leaves, which add year-round interest and contrast to garden borders, hedges, or containers.

This variety of Pittosporum tenuifolium has a naturally upright and bushy habit. Its slender, wavy-edged leaves emerge green but quickly develop a rich purple hue, deepening in colour as the season progresses. This feature makes it especially appealing in mixed planting schemes, where it provides a striking backdrop to lighter-coloured plants.

The small, bell-shaped flowers of Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' appear in late spring to early summer. These dark, almost blackish-purple blooms are relatively inconspicuous against the foliage but emit a pleasant honey-like fragrance, particularly in the evenings, attracting pollinators such as bees and moths.

Thriving in well-drained soil, this shrub prefers a sunny to partially shaded position. It is tolerant of coastal conditions and light frost but benefits from shelter in colder climates. It responds well to pruning, making it ideal for shaping into hedges, screens, or topiary forms.

Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant once established, Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Purpureum' is an excellent choice for modern and traditional gardens alike. Whether used as a focal point, an informal hedge, or a companion plant in mixed borders, its dramatic foliage and easy-care nature make it a valuable addition to any planting scheme.

Pittosporum tobira "Nanum" is a compact, dwarf evergreen shrub forming a dense, rounded mound. Its foliage consists of small, glossy, leathery leaves in a rich dark green, arranged in whorls along the stems, giving the plant a neat, tidy appearance throughout the year. The naturally compact growth habit means it requires minimal pruning to maintain its shape, making it a low-maintenance choice for borders, edging or low hedging. In late spring to early summer, the shrub produces small, creamy-white flowers clustered at the stem tips. These flowers carry a distinctive sweet fragrance, often compared to orange blossom, which can perfume the surrounding area on warm days. The blooms provide a point of interest against the dark foliage during the flowering period. This shrub is well suited to coastal gardens, as it tolerates salt-laden winds and exposed positions with ease. It also performs well in free-draining soils and benefits from a sheltered, sunny spot, where its compact form and glossy foliage can be fully appreciated. Its dense structure makes it useful for low hedging, small-scale screening or as a neat accent plant in mixed borders and containers.

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 and 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.

Cordyline 'Torbay Dazzler' is an evergreen architectural plant forming a striking shuttlecock shape, making it a popular choice for Mediterranean-style planting schemes. The sword-like leaves are cream and green striped, with variegation that adds visual interest throughout the year. The foliage radiates outward from a central stem in a dense rosette, creating a strong architectural form that works well as a focal point or structural element within a border. As the plant matures, it develops a distinctive trunk, with older leaves naturally dying back to leave a textured stem beneath the crown of foliage. This habit gives the plant a tiered, palm-like appearance that remains attractive across all seasons, though the variegated foliage is particularly eye-catching against darker green planting. Mature specimens can produce panicles of small, fragrant creamy-white flowers in summer, followed by small berries, though it is primarily grown for its foliage and structural qualities rather than its blooms. This plant is well suited to coastal gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds and exposed positions once established. It prefers free-draining soil and a sheltered, sunny spot, making it ideal for gravel gardens, courtyards, and seaside planting schemes where a dramatic, exotic effect is desired.

Cabbage Palm is an evergreen architectural plant forming a distinctive shuttlecock shape, with a stout trunk topped by arching, sword-like leaves. The long, narrow foliage is a fresh green colour, radiating outward in dense rosettes that create bold structural interest throughout the year. As the plant matures, older leaves die back and hang down the trunk before dropping, giving a characteristic textured appearance. During summer, mature specimens may produce large, branched panicles of small, creamy-white flowers with a sweet fragrance, followed by small whitish berries later in the season. Flowering is more likely once the plant reaches a reasonable size and age. The flowers attract pollinating insects, while the berries can provide a food source for birds, offering some wildlife value within a planting scheme. This plant is particularly well suited to coastal gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds and exposed positions with ease. It thrives in free-draining soil and benefits from a sheltered, sunny spot in colder regions, as young plants can be susceptible to hard frosts. Its dramatic, palm-like silhouette makes it an effective focal point in Mediterranean-style planting, gravel gardens, or large containers on patios and terraces.

Tamarix Africana is an elegant deciduous shrub valued for its airy, feathery foliage and graceful arching branches. Native to Mediterranean coastal regions, it produces masses of delicate pale pink flowers in spring and early summer, creating a soft cloud-like effect that brings lightness and movement to the garden. Its fine blue-green foliage contrasts beautifully with bolder planting schemes and works especially well in coastal, gravel, or contemporary landscapes.

This hardy shrub is highly tolerant of wind, salt-laden air, drought, and poor soils, making it an excellent choice for exposed gardens or seaside locations where many other plants struggle. Once established, it requires little maintenance and performs best in full sun with well-drained soil. Tamarix Africana can be grown as a large shrub or lightly pruned into a small multi-stem specimen, providing architectural interest throughout the year.

Its natural, relaxed habit makes it particularly attractive in wildlife-friendly gardens, where the flowers can attract pollinating insects. Elegant yet resilient, Tamarix Africana offers texture, colour, and movement while thriving in challenging conditions.

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.

A large multi-stem Magolia ‘Susan’ creates a striking architectural presence in the garden, combining elegance with manageable proportions. Magnolia 'Susan' is one of the celebrated “Little Girl” hybrids, prized for its rich, goblet-shaped flowers in deep reddish-purple with paler interiors. Flowering in mid to late spring, it opens slightly later than many magnolias, helping the blooms avoid frost damage — a valuable trait in UK gardens.

As a mature multi-stem specimen, it develops a broad, vase-shaped framework with smooth grey bark and a naturally graceful silhouette. The multiple stems give it added character and year-round structure, making it ideal as a focal point in lawns, gravel gardens, or large borders. In flower, the bare branches are smothered in upright blooms before fresh green foliage emerges, creating a dramatic seasonal display.

Reaching approximately 3–4 metres in height and spread over time, it suits medium to large gardens and thrives in fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soils. Sheltered from strong winds, a large multi-stem Magnolia ‘Susan’ offers dependable spring impact and timeless beauty.