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Acer platanoides 'Royal Red' is a bold and elegant cultivar of the Norway maple, prized for its deep, rich purple foliage that remains vibrant throughout the growing season. This slow-growing, deciduous tree typically reaches a height of 12 to 15 meters with a spread of 10 to 12 meters, forming a broad, rounded crown. Its glossy, lobed leaves provide dramatic color contrast in gardens, parks, and streetscapes. In spring, small yellow-green flowers appear before the leaves, adding subtle seasonal interest. 'Royal Red' is highly adaptable, thriving in a range of soil types and urban conditions, including pollution and drought once established. It is an excellent choice for creating a striking focal point or providing bold, long-lasting color in the landscape.

Photinia x fraseri Robusta is an ornamental, fast-growing, rounded, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree with large, finely serrated, glossy, oval leaves – crimson to copper when young, dark green when mature. Small, inconspicuous, white flowers in dome-shaped clusters bloom in spring and are followed by red berries. Spring pruning eliminates flowers and stimulates new red growth. Photinia x fraseri Robusta grows best in average, fertile, slightly acidic, medium moisture, well-drained soils, but is adaptable to a wide range of soils, except waterlogged and compact. Once established, it is resistant of frost, drought, heat and urban pollution. Young leaves may be damaged by late frosts, therefore it should be sheltered, especially from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, tolerant of hard pruning. Photinia x fraseri Robusta is great as an accent plant, but perfect for tall hedges and screens which are useful for noise reduction or wind protection in cottage and urban gardens.

This is a deciduous tree, grown here as a full standard with a clear stem supporting a broad, rounded crown. The leaves are dark green above with a distinctive silvery-white, felted underside, giving the tree a shimmering, two-tone appearance when the foliage moves in the wind. In autumn, the leaves turn a soft yellow before falling. In spring, grey-green catkins appear before the leaves emerge, adding early seasonal interest, though the flowers themselves are not especially ornamental. The tree is dioecious, with male and female catkins borne on separate trees. Growth is vigorous and fast, making it useful for quickly establishing structure or screening in a landscape. The crown has a moderately open density, allowing some light through while still providing shape and form. This tree is particularly well suited to coastal locations, as it tolerates salt-laden winds and exposed conditions better than many other species. It also copes well with poor or sandy soils and urban pollution, making it a versatile choice for challenging planting sites. The early catkins provide a source of pollen for insects in late winter and early spring, offering some benefit to pollinators at a time when few other food sources are available.

Hosta 'Mouse Ears' is a compact, clump-forming herbaceous perennial that dies back completely in autumn and regrows each spring. It produces small, thick, rounded blue-green leaves that form a dense, tight mound, making it one of the more diminutive hosta cultivars suitable for smaller spaces. The foliage has a slightly cupped, textured appearance and holds its colour well through the growing season, providing good ground cover from spring until the leaves die back in autumn. In summer, pale lavender, bell-shaped flowers appear on short stems held just above the foliage, adding a modest but pleasant contrast to the blue-toned leaves. The flowers can attract bees and other pollinating insects, offering some benefit to garden wildlife. This hosta performs best in shady or partially shaded positions and prefers moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, making it a good choice for woodland-style borders, shaded patios, or container planting. It is also useful for underplanting beneath larger shrubs or trees where light levels are lower. As with most hostas, it can be vulnerable to slug and snail damage, so protection may be needed to keep the foliage looking its best throughout the season.

Feijoa, also known as pineapple guava, is an evergreen shrub valued for its year-round foliage interest. The leaves are oval, leathery and grey-green on top with a distinctive silvery-white underside, creating a shimmering effect when the leaves move in the breeze. The dense, bushy growth habit makes it a good choice for informal hedging or screening, and it can also be trained against a wall. During early summer the shrub produces unusual and attractive flowers with thick, fleshy white petals tinged with purple or pink, surrounding a prominent cluster of long, deep red stamens. These flowers are edible and have a sweet, slightly spicy flavour, often used in salads or as a garnish. Following flowering, in a favourable position, the plant may produce oval, aromatic green fruits in autumn with a flavour reminiscent of pineapple and guava. The flowers are attractive to pollinating insects and birds, offering a nectar source during the summer months. Feijoa is well suited to sheltered, sunny positions and performs particularly well in coastal gardens, as it tolerates salt-laden winds and free-draining soils. It is a versatile shrub for borders, hedging or specimen planting where both ornamental and edible qualities are desired.

Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’ is an evergreen shrub valued for its attractive year-round foliage and clusters of delicate flowers, making it a popular choice for UK gardens. This compact variety is especially appreciated for its hardiness and ability to thrive in a wide range of soils and light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. Reaching an average height and spread of about 1.5 to 2 metres, it’s well-suited for hedging, borders, or as a standalone feature in smaller garden spaces.

The foliage of Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’ is lush, dense, and a rich dark green, providing an excellent backdrop for its flowers. The leaves are oval-shaped with a leathery texture, adding structure and depth to garden displays. Flowering from late autumn through to early spring, it produces rounded clusters of small, star-shaped flowers that open in pale pink buds and gradually transition to a bright, creamy white. This long blooming period makes it especially valuable for providing colour and interest during the colder months when many other plants are dormant.

The flowers of Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’ are followed by metallic blue-black berries, which ripen in spring and attract birds to the garden. These berries add an extra visual appeal and make the plant a good choice for wildlife-friendly gardens. The shrub is relatively low-maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain shape, and it’s resistant to most pests and diseases. Additionally, Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’ is tolerant of coastal conditions, making it a resilient option for seaside gardens.

Overall, Viburnum tinus ‘Spirit’ is a versatile, robust, and decorative shrub that brings a mix of evergreen foliage, seasonal flowers, and attractive berries to any garden, ensuring year-round interest with minimal effort.

Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’ is a crossing between F. sylvatica 'Dawyck' and a red-leaved beech. It’s a medium-sized, fastigiated, deciduous tree of columnar, upright habit with attractive, broadly oval, purple leaves - reddish purple in spring, deep purple in summer and burgundy purple in autumn. Small, inconspicuous, yellowish flowers bloom in spring and are followed by small beech nuts in autumn. Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawkye Purple’ prefers humus rich, moist, well-drained soils and doesn’t tolerate too wet or waterlogged soils. It thrives in full sun or partial shade. It is moderately tolerant of frost, air pollution and wind. Generally, doesn’t have any serious problems with pests or diseases. Easy to grow, low maintenance plant. It can be difficult to transplant. Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawkye Purple’ is a gorgeous columnar, perfect as a specimen plant or in larger groups, great for avenues and narrow streets. It can be used for informal hedges and screens.

Pittosporum ‘Victoria’ is an upright, bushy, dense, evergreen shrub with small, elliptic, leathery, silvery-green leaves with irregular, wavy, white margins, tinged dark pink in winter. Small, fragrant, bell-shaped, dark purple flowers bloom in late spring and early summer and are followed by dark grey seed capsules. Pittosporum ‘Victoria’ can grow in a wide variety of soils, but prefers fertile, moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun and the best leaf colour is in full sun, but it can grow well in partial shade. Resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh, drying winter winds. It is tolerant of coastal conditions and ideal for coastal areas. Tolerant of urban pollution. Generally, pest-free. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Tawhiwhi or Kohuhu 'Victoria' is a great ornamental shrub, very attractive and resilient. Suitable for coastal, urban, and cottage gardens. Excellent for beds and borders, wall-side borders, and trellises. Great for hedges and screens, and for growing in containers.

Corylus avellana 'Contorta', commonly known as the Corkscrew Hazel, is a deciduous tree with a distinctively twisted and contorted branch structure that gives it year-round interest. The spiralling stems are particularly striking in winter once the leaves have fallen, revealing the full extent of the gnarled, curling growth pattern. The mid-green, rounded leaves are themselves slightly twisted and textured, turning yellow in autumn before dropping to expose the sculptural framework beneath. In late winter and early spring, before the leaves emerge, the tree produces pale yellow catkins that hang from the bare contorted branches, creating an attractive display during an otherwise quiet period in the garden. Small, inconspicuous red female flowers appear around the same time, occasionally followed by edible hazelnuts in autumn, though fruiting tends to be light. This tree is slow-growing and generally compact, making it well suited to smaller gardens or as a specimen planting where its unusual form can be fully appreciated. It is also a popular choice for cut stems used in floristry and decorative displays. The Corkscrew Hazel tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay, and adapts well to both sunny and partially shaded positions.

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.

Photinia Red Robin is a popular evergreen shrub valued for its vivid foliage colour. New growth emerges bright red, gradually maturing to a glossy dark green, creating a striking contrast throughout the growing season. This colour change is most pronounced in spring, when fresh red shoots appear, and again after trimming, as the plant readily produces further flushes of red leaves. The shrub has a dense, bushy habit, making it well suited to hedging as well as specimen planting. It responds well to pruning, maintaining a compact, tidy structure, and can be shaped to form a formal hedge or left to grow into a rounded shrub form. In late spring, small white flowers may appear in clusters, though the plant is primarily grown for its foliage rather than its blooms. These are occasionally followed by small red berries in autumn, which can provide a minor food source for birds. Photinia Red Robin is adaptable to a range of soil types, including clay and loamy soils, and tolerates both sun and partial shade. It is a versatile choice for screening, hedging, or borders, offering year-round structure and seasonal interest through its colourful new growth.

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.

Prunus domestica ‘Old Green Gage’ is a small European plum tree with elliptic, serrated, bright green leaves, masses of white, 5-petal, flowers in mid-spring, and heavy crops of delicious, small, oval, yellow-green plums, exceptional for culinary purposes - canning, making jellies, or eating fresh. European Plum ‘Green Gage’ is an old variety and regarded as the one of the best flavoured plums. It is adaptable to different types of soils, but prefers fertile, loamy, slightly acidic, moist and well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun. It is resistant to frost, but needs to be sheltered from harsh winds. Flower buds may be damaged by early frosts. Low maintenance plant. Prunus domestica ‘Old Green Gage’ is a lovely fruiting tree with extremely tasty and juicy fruits. A great addition to any informal and cottage garden. Excellent for wall-side borders and informal hedges and screens. Primarily grown for its fruit. Great for culinary purposes, canning, making jellies, or eating fresh.

Corylus avellana 'Twister', commonly known as Corkscrew Hazel, is a deciduous shrub prized for its distinctive contorted, twisting stems and branches, which create striking structural interest, particularly during the winter months when the plant is bare. The foliage consists of mid-green, rounded leaves with a crinkled texture, turning yellow in autumn before falling to reveal the twisted framework beneath. In late winter to early spring, before the leaves emerge, the shrub produces pale yellow catkins that hang from the bare branches, adding a soft, delicate contrast to the gnarled stems. These catkins are an early source of pollen for bees and other pollinating insects emerging in late winter, providing a valuable food source when little else is available. The dense, twisted branch structure can also offer shelter for small birds and insects throughout the year. This shrub is slow-growing and typically forms a compact, rounded habit, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as a specimen plant. It performs well in a range of soil types, including clay and loamy soils, and tolerates partial shade as well as full sun. Corkscrew Hazel is particularly valued for winter interest in the garden, with its sculptural form standing out against bare borders or when underplanted with spring bulbs.

Citrus sinensis 'Naranjo' is a beautiful evergreen citrus tree admired for its glossy deep green foliage, highly fragrant white blossom, and delicious sweet oranges. Bringing a Mediterranean feel to gardens, patios, and conservatories, this attractive tree provides year-round ornamental interest as flowers and ripening fruit often appear together on the plant. During spring and summer, the scented blossom attracts pollinators and fills sheltered outdoor spaces with a refreshing citrus fragrance.

Best grown in a sunny, sheltered position, Citrus sinensis ‘Naranjo’ thrives in fertile, well-drained soil and benefits from regular watering during warmer months. In the UK climate, it is commonly grown in containers so it can be moved into a greenhouse, conservatory, or frost-free area during winter. Its compact habit makes it particularly suitable for patios, terraces, courtyards, and smaller gardens.

As a mature specimen, the tree creates an elegant focal point with both ornamental and practical value. The vibrant orange fruit contrasts beautifully against the glossy foliage, adding colour and interest while also producing edible, home-grown citrus fruit.

Cornus alba 'Nightfall' is a deciduous shrub grown primarily for its striking winter stem colour. Through spring and summer the foliage is mid-green, turning to shades of red and purple in autumn before falling to reveal the deep blackish-red stems that give the cultivar its name. These stems provide strong colour and interest through the winter months, particularly effective when planted in groups or against a lighter background. The shrub forms a dense, upright and slightly arching structure, making it useful for informal hedging, borders or mass planting schemes. Small white flowers appear in late spring, followed by white to bluish-white berries in summer, though the plant is chiefly valued for its stem and autumn foliage colour rather than for its blooms. The flowers provide a source of nectar for pollinating insects, while the berries offer some food for birds later in the season. The dense branching habit also provides shelter for small wildlife. This variety tolerates a wide range of conditions, including damp or heavy clay soils, and performs well in moist or occasionally waterlogged ground. It is suitable for both sunny and partially shaded positions, making it a versatile choice for many garden situations.

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Silver Sheen' is an elegant, evergreen shrub admired in UK gardens for its light, airy appearance and refined foliage. A distinctive cultivar of Pittosporum tenuifolium, it forms a dense yet graceful plant, typically reaching 2–4 metres in height if left unpruned, though it can be easily maintained at a lower size through regular trimming.

Its most striking feature is its foliage. The leaves are small, narrow and slightly wavy, coloured a soft silvery-green that catches the light beautifully. Held on slender, dark brown to almost black stems, the foliage creates a subtle contrast that adds depth and texture. When planted en masse or used as a hedge, the overall effect is shimmering and delicate, lending movement and brightness to borders.

In late spring to early summer, small, dark purple flowers may appear, often hidden amongst the foliage. Though not particularly showy, they are lightly scented and can add a further layer of interest when viewed up close. However, the plant is primarily valued for its foliage rather than its blooms.

‘Silver Sheen’ thrives in a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade and prefers well-drained soil. In the UK, it performs best in milder regions or protected gardens, as hard frosts and cold, drying winds can damage young growth. Once established, it is relatively drought tolerant and low maintenance.

It is particularly well suited to contemporary planting schemes, coastal gardens in sheltered spots, or as a stylish alternative to traditional hedging plants. Regular light pruning will maintain a neat shape, while minimal intervention allows it to develop into a soft, architectural presence within the garden.

Prunus 'Okame', Taiwan Cherry 'Okame', is a small, deciduous tree of upright, vase-shaped habit, but becomes more rounded as it matures. Simple, ovate, green leaves turn bronze-red and orange in autumn. Mildly scented, 5-petal, rosy-pink flowers with red calyces bloom in profusion in early spring on bare branches before the leaves emerge, creating a beautiful display. Attractive to birds and bees. Prunus 'Okame' grows best in moderately fertile, moist, and well-drained soil, but is adaptable to a wide range of soils, as long as they are well-drained. It thrives in full sun, but can tolerate partial shade. It is resistant to heat and cold. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. May suffer from a large number of pests and diseases. Cherry 'Okame' is a beautiful ornamental tree, perfect for informal, cottage, and urban gardens. Stunning as a specimen plant or planted in small groups. Great choice for public areas, streets or parks.

Sorbus aria 'Lutescens', commonly known as Whitebeam, is a deciduous tree with a feathered form, retaining branches low down the trunk for a full, skirted habit. Its foliage emerges a striking silvery-white, covered in fine down, before maturing to grey-green on top whilst retaining a white, felted underside. This contrast is particularly noticeable when the leaves move in the breeze. In autumn, the foliage turns to attractive shades of russet and gold before falling. In spring, clusters of creamy-white flowers appear, providing an attractive display and a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. These are followed in autumn by bright red-orange berries, which are a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife, supporting biodiversity in the garden. This tree is tolerant of a wide range of conditions, including exposed and coastal positions, making it a reliable choice for gardens exposed to wind or salt-laden air. It also copes well with chalky and dry soils, where many other trees may struggle. Its upright, feathered form makes it well suited as a specimen tree or for planting in avenues and urban settings.

Portuguese Laurel 'Angustifolia' is an evergreen shrub with narrow, elegant dark green leaves that are notably smaller and finer than the species type, giving the foliage a more delicate, refined appearance. The leaves have a glossy finish and reddish stems provide a pleasing contrast against the foliage colour. This cultivar forms a dense, compact shrub, making it well suited to hedging and topiary work as well as informal screening. Its tighter growth habit and narrower leaves allow for a neater finish when clipped compared to the standard species. In late spring to early summer, small white flowers appear in slender, upright racemes, held above the foliage and offering a subtle scent. These are followed later in the year by small dark purple to black berries, provided the shrub is not clipped too hard before fruiting. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, while the berries provide a food source for birds through autumn and into winter. The dense evergreen structure also offers shelter and nesting opportunities for garden birds throughout the year. This shrub tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay, and performs well in both sun and partial shade, making it a versatile choice for many garden situations, including exposed or urban sites.