Search results

The Camellia japonica 'Nobilissima' is a striking variety of camellia known for its exquisite blooms and elegant appearance. 'Nobilissima' is distinguished by its large, pure white flowers, which are semi-double to peony-formed, showcasing a delicate yet captivating structure. The blooms typically appear in late winter to early spring, creating a stunning contrast against the dark green, glossy foliage that characterises this plant. Each flower can measure up to 10-12 cm in diameter, and the petals are often slightly ruffled, adding to their charm.

The foliage of the Camellia japonica 'Nobilissima' is equally attractive, consisting of leathery, deep green leaves that provide year-round interest. These leaves are elliptical and serrated, offering a lush backdrop to the plant's beautiful flowers. The overall growth habit of 'Nobilissima' is upright and dense, making it an excellent choice for hedges, screens, or as a standalone specimen.

In terms of cultivation, 'Nobilissima' prefers acidic, well-drained soil and benefits from a sheltered location with dappled shade. It is advisable to protect the plant from harsh, direct sunlight and strong winds, which can damage the delicate blooms and leaves. Regular watering and mulching help maintain optimal soil conditions and promote healthy growth.

This camellia variety is relatively low-maintenance but may require occasional pruning to shape and remove any dead or damaged branches. 'Nobilissima' is also known for its longevity, often thriving for decades with proper care.

Cornus alba 'Sibirica' is a medium-sized, suckering, fast-growing, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub famous for its red stems, especially spectacular in winter, when they turn bright coral red. It has ovate, greyish-green leaves with white margins and small, creamy white flowers that bloom in spring and summer and are followed by bluish-white berries in autumn. Attractive to birds and butterflies. Cornus alba 'Sibirica' thrives in fertile, medium moisture, well-drained soils, in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate, wet, dry, and poor soils. Pruning is not required but it can stimulate the growth of new stems. Young stems have the best colour. Cornus alba 'Sibirica' is most attractive during the winter when its fiery red stems bring colour to a winter garden and beautifully contrast the whiteness of the snow. It looks best when planted in groups or beside water. It is great for shrub borders, hedging and screens, or as an accent plant.

The Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood', commonly known as the Bloodgood Japanese Maple, is a stunning ornamental tree highly valued for its striking red foliage and elegant form. This deciduous tree typically reaches a height and spread of 4.5-6 metres, making it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized gardens. Its deep burgundy leaves emerge in spring, maintaining their vibrant colour throughout the summer before transitioning to a brilliant crimson in autumn. The Bloodgood is known for its hardiness and adaptability, thriving in RHS hardiness zones H5-H6. It prefers well-drained soil and partial to full sun exposure. This tree is not only aesthetically pleasing but also low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning and care. Ideal for use as a focal point, in mixed borders, or as a specimen tree, the Bloodgood Japanese Maple adds year-round interest and elegance to any garden in the UK.

Diervilla sessilifolia 'Butterfly' is a vigorous, dense, spreading, suckering, deciduous shrub with reddish, arching stems and simple, ovate, rich green leaves. Small clusters of tiny, yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers, coral when mature, bloom in late spring and summer for about 6 to 8 weeks. It may bloom again in October. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies and are followed by oblong fruits. Diervilla sessilifolia 'Butterfly' can tolerate a wide range of soil types, even poor ones, but thrives in humus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. It prefers full sun, but also grows well in partial shade. Once established, tolerant of drought. Resistant to frost and very low temperatures. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant. Bush Honeysuckle 'Butterfly' is a tough and resilient shrub, perfect for mixed and shrub borders or banks and slopes for erosion control. Great as a groundcover or for foundation plantings. Ideal for wilder areas where it can spread freely. Suitable for growing in containers.

Acer campestre, or the field maple, a medium-sized deciduous tree, is the UK’s only native maple tree. Its round, dense, bushy crown is asymmetrical and capriciously growing. The branches have corky fissures. The foliage is dark green, turning golden yellow in autumn. Small, yellow-green flowers are followed by winged fruits. Acer campestre is a very adaptable tree. It likes rich and well-drained soil, but also grows well in high pH soils or acid soils. It is tolerant to draught and air pollution and resistant to frost and wind. In its first years, it is very shade tolerant, but subsequently, it requires more light. Apart from growing in woods and hedgerows, it is often planted in broad streets, coastal and industrial areas. It is perfect for medium and large gardens, as a tree or a hedge, and suitable for roof gardens and growing in containers.

Nandina domestica, or Heavenly Bamboo, is small, compact, dense, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with a wonderful, colourful, bamboo-like, lance-shaped, lacy foliage – in shades of red in spring, green in summer, and again red in autumn. The clusters of small, star-shaped, white flowers may bloom in summer and are sometimes followed by bright, red berries.

Nandina domestica is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, hummus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun with some afternoon shade. Once established, it is resistant to drought. It can tolerate frost, but may need some protection from harsh winds. In very cold climates, it may lose some leaves or die to the ground. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant. It is considered to be invasive. Heavenly Bamboo is stunning when planted in groups or masses. Perfect for shrub borders, foundations, informal hedges and screens, as a groundcover or edger. Suitable for growing in containers.

Malus Domestica 'Garden Sun Red' is a high-yielding dwarf apple tree of upright habit, with large, oval, toothed, brownish-green leaves, greenish-white beneath and abundance of beautiful, white flowers blooming in April. Large, round, solid red apples are delicious - sweet, juicy and crunchy. Ready for harvesting in October and can be stored until March. Malus Domestica 'Garden Sun Red' prefers fertile, neutral, slightly chalky or acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun and best crop is achieved in full sun. It can withstand very low temperatures and its flowers do not fear frosts, therefore, it is suitable for growing in many regions. Regular pruning is required to avoid small fruit size or occurrence of diseases. It is self-fertile. 'Garden Sun Red' Apple is a wonderful, ornamental, dwarf apple tree, excellent for growing in pots and containers. Perfect for orchards, small gardens, and low, informal hedges. It can be eaten fresh or used for culinary purposes – jams, jellies, or savoury dishes.

Malus domestica Blenheim Orange is a very old English apple variety. It’s an attractive, vigorous apple tree with pale pink flowers blooming in April and May and large, golden, flushed red, crisp, nutty, dessert and cooking apples with crumbly texture. Ready for harvesting in September and October. Malus domestica Blenheim Orange prefers moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but the crop is best in full sun. It is suitable for northerly, cooler, rainier climates. Resistant to scab and mildew. It can withstand frost, but it needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. It’s a triploid, it needs two other varieties for pollination. Regular pruning is required. Apple ‘Blenheim Orange’ is a vigorous architectural tree perfect for informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Suitable for growing in containers. Fruits can be eaten fresh, cooked to purée or cooked to keep its shape. It is thought to be one of the best dual purpose apples.

Root Stock MM106 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock commonly used for apple trees. It offers a moderate growth rate, producing trees 10-15 feet tall when mature. Suitable for medium-sized gardens, MM106 ensures good fruit yield and adaptability to various soils. It's resistant to woolly apple aphid and moderately resistant to crown rot. Ideal for bush, cordons, and espalier forms. Ensure proper staking in early years.

Sunset apple is a heavy-cropping garden apple with upright, compact habit and attractive pale pink flowers that bloom in March. They are followed by small, round to ovate, golden-yellow and green fruit with red and orange striping. A white to ivory flesh is crisp, firm and fine-grained, sometimes tinged with green. It has sweet, sharp, aromatic flavour. Sunset Apple was bred in approximately 1918 by G. C. Addy at Ightham, Kent. One of the parent varieties is Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple. Sunset Apple was meant to be similar to it, but easier to grow. It is very resilient, generally disease-free, cold and frost resistant, therefore, suitable for growing even in northern parts of Europe. Doesn’t need a pollinating partner because it is self-fertile. It is not commercially grown because of its small size. Sunset apples are crispy and juicy, great for eating or cooking. When cooked, they retain their shape.

M26 is a semi-dwarfing rootstock (smaller than MM106) used for apple trees, particularly in orchards and home gardens. It produces trees 10-12 feet in height, making them easier to manage and harvest. M26 ensures early fruit production, good anchorage, and medium vigor. However, it requires staking during early years and is moderately susceptible to fire blight.

Olea Europea is one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants with Mediterranean origin. It’s a wonderful, slow-growing, long-lived, evergreen tree of very attractive habit and spreading crown, with gnarled, twisted trunk and silvery foliage. The elliptic leaves are grey-green, silvery underneath. Tiny, fragrant, white flowers are followed by small, olive-rich, plum-like fruits, harvested when they are green or purple. Fruits are not edible directly from the tree, but after a special treatment.

Common Olive grows best in fertile, loamy, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. Once established, it is drought-tolerant. It thrives in warm climates. If grown in colder areas, it should be planted in containers and brought inside during the winter. Generally, disease-free. Olea Europea is mostly grown for its tasteful fruits, but it is also an attractive-looking addition to urban, coastal, Mediterranean, or rock and gravel gardens. It is suitable for growing in pots and containers.

Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' is a popular evergreen shrub that is highly valued for its attractive foliage and easy-to-grow nature. Native to Japan, it is a slow-growing plant that typically reaches a height of 3 to 4 feet and a width of 3 to 5 feet. It is a great choice for gardens in USDA zones 6 to 10, where it can thrive in both full sun and partial shade. One of the most distinctive features of Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' is its foliage. The leaves are glossy and leathery, with a deep green color that provides an excellent backdrop for the clusters of bright red berries that form in autumn. The berries are not only decorative but also attract birds to the garden, making this shrub an excellent choice for bird lovers. Aucuba japonica 'Rozannie' is a low-maintenance shrub that is easy to care for. It is tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, including clay, loam, and sand, and can even tolerate periods of drought. It does best in slightly acidic soil with good drainage, and benefits from a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Phyllostachys nigra, or Black Bamboo, is a vigorous, elegant, evergreen bamboo with tall, upright, slightly arching, black-brown canes, olive green when young, and narrow, short, glossy green leaves. It’s a gregarious flowering bamboo – every black bamboo around the world will bloom around the same time once in 40 to 60 years. That generation will soon after die. Black Bamboo is extremely fast-growing and need adequate space. It is less invasive than other types, but the spreading of its roots should still be restricted with a barrier. It can grow in a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, rich, moist, loamy, well-drained soils, in full sun or partial shade. It has shallow roots and needs to be protected from strong winds. It is not resistant to frost. In colder areas, it can be grown in containers and brought inside during the winter. Phyllostachys nigra is a stunning, exotic-looking plant, perfect for hedges and screens, and growing in containers.

Acer pensylvanicum, commonly known as the striped maple, is a deciduous tree native to the forests of eastern North America. It is a small to medium-sized tree, typically growing between 5 to 10 metres tall, with a slender trunk and spreading branches that create a rounded crown. The bark of young trees is particularly striking, characterised by green and white vertical stripes, giving the tree its common name. As the tree matures, the bark darkens to a reddish-brown or grey, and the stripes become less pronounced.

The leaves of Acer pensylvanicum are large and broad, usually measuring 12 to 18 centimetres in length and width. They are three-lobed, with a slightly serrated edge, and have a soft, velvety texture. The leaves are bright green in spring and summer, turning vibrant shades of yellow in the autumn before falling. This autumnal display makes the tree an attractive feature in woodland settings.

In late spring, the striped maple produces clusters of small, yellow-green flowers that hang down in delicate racemes. These flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers often found on the same tree. Pollinated by wind or insects, the flowers develop into distinctive winged seeds, called samaras, which mature in late summer and are dispersed by the wind.

Acer pensylvanicum thrives in cool, shaded environments, preferring moist, well-drained soils. It is commonly found in the understorey of mixed hardwood forests, where it grows slowly in the dappled light. The striped maple is also known for its ability to regenerate from stumps, making it resilient in disturbed forest areas.

Ligustrum excelsum Superbum - is a small, evergreen tree with a great, rounded crown that retains its rounded shape if grown in full sun. Long, ovate, pointed, glossy, light-green leaves have attractive, greenish-yellow to creamy-yellow margins. Numerous clusters of scented, creamy-yellow flowers almost cover the leaves in summer and autumn, and are followed by small, black berries that remain on branches for a long time. Chinese privet 'Excelsum Superbum' - can thrive in wide range of soil types, except waterlogged. It prefers deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils, in full sun, but it can tolerate some shade. Once established, it is resistant to drought. Tolerant of urban pollution and salty air. Low maintenance plant. In harsh winters, it may lose its leaves. Ligustrum excelsum Superbum – is a tough tree, perfect for restricted spaces as it can be planted very close to buildings, therefore, suitable for a street tree. Great for informal hedges and screens, or as an accent plant.

Alnus incana, commonly known as grey alder, is a deciduous tree belonging to the birch family, Betulaceae. Native to Europe, Asia, and North America, it is a resilient species often found in riparian zones, wetlands, and areas with moist soils. This medium-sized tree typically grows to heights of 15 to 25 metres, with a slender trunk and smooth, greyish-brown bark, which often develops fine fissures with age.

The leaves of Alnus incana are oval to elliptic in shape, measuring 5 to 10 centimetres in length. They are characterised by their serrated margins and a dark green upper surface, with a paler, slightly downy underside, giving them a distinct two-tone appearance. The leaves emerge in early spring and typically turn yellow before falling in autumn.

Grey alder is monoecious, meaning that both male and female reproductive structures are found on the same tree. The male catkins, which are long and pendulous, appear in early spring before the leaves, while the smaller, more upright female catkins develop into woody cones that persist on the tree through the winter. These cones release small winged seeds, which are dispersed by wind and water.

One of the notable features of Alnus incana is its ability to fix nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium *Frankia*. This allows it to thrive in nutrient-poor soils and contribute to soil fertility, making it a valuable species for land restoration and erosion control.

Grey alder is often planted in landscaping and reforestation projects, particularly in areas prone to flooding or soil degradation. Its rapid growth, hardiness, and ecological benefits make it an important species in maintaining the health of wetland ecosystems.

Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' is a medium-sized, vigorous, deciduous tree with round to pyramidal shape, dense crown, and interesting foliage. Its palmate, deeply lobed leaves are dark green with creamy-white margins throughout the summer, and yellow-orange in autumn. Clusters of yellow flowers emerge in spring, before the leaves show up, and are followed by winged nuts, samaras. Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' can grow in any soil, except peaty soils and soils with stagnant groundwater. It can withstand short floods and harsh winds, but it doesn’t like sea winds. It prefers full sun, but tolerates partial shade, heat, drought, and frost. Very resilient and low maintenance. Acer platanoides 'Drummondii' is used in parks and as a solitary. It tolerates air pollution well, therefore, it is suitable for planting in cities and industrial areas. Great specimen plant for a medium-sized or a large garden.

Prunus avium 'Bigarreau Burlat' is an upright, deciduous, fruiting tree, very reliable and highly productive. It has ovate, toothed, dark green leaves, orange and red in autumn, and lovely, white flowers blooming in mid-spring. Flowers are followed by heavy crops of glossy, rounded, delicious, dark red cherries with sweet and juicy flesh. Cherries are ready for harvesting in late spring. Prunus avium 'Bigarreau Burlat' can adapt to a wide range of soils, but grows best in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Overwatering may cause fruit split. It can withstand low temperatures and it is fairly resistant to wind, but needs to be sheltered from late frosts that can damage the flowers buds. It requires regular pruning and fruit thinning. Sweet cherry 'Bigarreau Burlat' is one of the most popular cherry cultivars in France. It is perfect for informal and cottage gardens. Great as a specimen tree or for wall-side borders and trellises.

Euonymus japonicus 'Albomarginatus' is a medium-sized, dense, bushy, upright-growing, evergreen shrub with beautiful variegated foliage. Pale-green young leaves mature to blue-green with irregular, creamy-white margins. Small, inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in summer and are occasionally followed by pink fruit in autumn. Euonymus japonicus 'Albomarginatus' will tolerate various types of soil, but prefers average, moist, well-drained, fast-draining soils, in full sun or partial shade. If grown in full sun, it requires moisture-retentive soil. It needs some pruning, all branches that turn all green should be pruned. Tolerant to salted spray and urban pollution. This bright and lovely shrub, with its delicately variegated foliage that creates nice shimmering effect, is a great addition to any garden – informal, cottage, urban, or coastal. It is perfect as a ground cover, for shrub borders and mixed borders, hedges and screens, banks and slopes. It is easy to shape and can be formed into a nice topiary. Suitable for growing in containers.

Pyracantha Coccinea ‘Red Column’ is an upright, dense, prickly, evergreen shrub with elliptical, glossy green leaves and clusters of 5-petal, white flowers blooming in summer. Flowers are followed by masses of bright red berries which last throughout autumn and part of the winter looking very attractive and providing food for garden wildlife. Pyracantha Coccinea ‘Red Column’ thrives in average, fairly fertile, neutral to alkaline, moist, well-drained soils. It grows best in full sun to partial shade. Once established, tolerant of drought. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, winter winds. Low maintenance plant, it doesn’t require pruning. Tough and very easy to care for. ‘Red Column’ Firethorn is an excellent and attractive shrub that provides interest all year round. Because of its dense and prickly habit, ideal for informal, impenetrable hedges and screens. Suitable for informal, cottage, and wildlife gardens. It can be trained up a wall or a trellis or grown as a freestanding shrub.

Alnus cordata, commonly known as the Italian alder, is a medium to large deciduous tree native to southern Italy and parts of Corsica. It belongs to the Betulaceae family and is highly valued for its ability to thrive in poor soils and challenging environmental conditions. This species is often planted for ornamental purposes, soil improvement, and as a windbreak due to its robust growth and adaptability.

The tree can reach heights of up to 25-30 metres (82-98 feet) with a trunk diameter of about 1 metre (3.3 feet). It has a relatively narrow, conical crown, which makes it an attractive choice for landscaping in urban and rural environments. The bark is smooth and greyish-brown when young, developing shallow fissures with age.

Alnus cordata is noted for its distinctive heart-shaped (cordate) leaves, which are bright green and glossy, measuring 7-12 cm in length. Unlike some other alders, the leaves of A. cordata remain on the tree until late autumn, giving it an extended season of greenery. In spring, it produces small, inconspicuous catkins, with male catkins being pendulous and yellowish, and female catkins more compact and upright. These develop into small, woody cones that persist on the tree through winter.

One of the key characteristics of Alnus cordata is its nitrogen-fixing ability. Like other alders, it forms a symbiotic relationship with the bacterium Frankia, which allows it to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. This quality makes it an excellent species for improving soil fertility, particularly in degraded or nutrient-poor areas.

Overall, the Italian alder is a resilient and versatile tree, well-suited to a variety of landscapes, including wet or compacted soils, and is an important species for ecological restoration projects.