Search results

Ribes odoratum, commonly known as clove currant, is a highly suitable shrub for gardens due to its ornamental charm, fragrance, and adaptability. This deciduous plant typically grows 1.5 to 2 meters tall and wide, forming a rounded, bushy shape ideal for borders, hedgerows, or naturalistic plantings. Its standout feature is the profusion of golden-yellow, clove-scented flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring, providing a delightful fragrance and a valuable nectar source for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Following flowering, it produces small, edible black berries that attract birds and can be used in jams or jellies. The attractive, lobed foliage turns a warm reddish-purple in autumn, adding seasonal interest.

Ribes odoratum is drought-tolerant once established, performs well in full sun to partial shade, and is relatively low-maintenance. Its resilience and multi-season appeal make it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly and ornamental gardens alike.

Cider Gum 'Azura' is an evergreen tree with a naturally bushy, compact habit, making it a good choice for smaller gardens where space is limited. The rounded juvenile leaves are a striking silvery-blue, ageing to a more elongated grey-green as the tree matures, providing year-round colour and interest. Unlike the species form, this cultivar retains its attractive juvenile foliage for longer due to regular pruning or its naturally dense growth habit, giving it a soft, textured appearance throughout the seasons. The aromatic foliage releases a fresh, eucalyptus scent when brushed or crushed, adding a sensory dimension to any planting scheme. Its dense, bushy structure makes it useful as a specimen tree or informal screen, offering good coverage without the towering height of the species form. Small white flowers may appear in summer on mature wood, though flowering is not a primary feature of this cultivar when grown for its foliage. The blue-grey leaves are particularly valued by flower arrangers and are often used in cut foliage displays. This tree tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay, and once established is relatively drought tolerant. It performs well in full sun and is suited to exposed or coastal gardens, tolerating wind well.

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.

Ginkgo biloba is known as a “living fossil”, one of the oldest tree species. It’s a large, long-lived, coniferous, deciduous tree with deeply grooved, grey-brown bark and thick, fan-shaped, bi-lobed, green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Ginkgo has either male catkins or female single flowers on long stems. Female plants bear unpleasantly scented plum-like fruits, which are actually hard seeds with silvery yellow seed coats.

Ginkgo biloba grows in a wide variety of soils, except too wet and waterlogged, but prefers average, medium moisture, sandy, well-drained soils, in full sun. Once established, it is tolerant of heat, salt, and urban pollution. Generally, disease-free and pest-free. Ginkgo biloba is a perfect specimen plant for large gardens. Great as a shade tree, lawn tree, or planted in espaliers. Very good for streets and parks. Slower-growing varieties are suitable for growing in containers. While young, the crown can be trimmed and trained as desired.

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.

Amelanchier lamarckii is a large, vase-shaped, deciduous shrub or small tree of upright habit and horizontally spreading branches, and toothed, elliptic leaves, bronze when they emerge, dark green when mature, and orange-red in autumn. Fragrant, white, 5-petal flowers in loose, dropping clusters bloom in spring and are followed by edible, sweet and juicy, dark purple berries in summer.

Amelanchier lamarckii can adapt to a wide range of soil conditions, but thrives in fertile, lime-free, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It grows well in full sun and partial shade, but best fruit and autumn foliage are achieved in full sun. It is resistant to frost, de-icing slat, and wind. Tolerant of urban pollution. No serious pest or disease problems. Low maintenance plant. Amelanchier is a lovely, elegant shrub, perfect for cottage, wildlife, and urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen, for shrub borders, wall-side borders, and informal hedges and screens. Suitable for growing in containers on patios and roof gardens.

The Syringa vulgaris, commonly known as the common lilac, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Oleaceae (olive) family. Native to the Balkan Peninsula, it has been widely cultivated across Europe and North America for its fragrant, showy blossoms and ornamental appeal.

Growing to an average height of 4–6 metres (13–20 feet), Syringa vulgaris forms a dense, multi-stemmed thicket with an upright, spreading habit. Its dark green, ovate leaves are simple and arranged oppositely along the stems, providing lush foliage that remains attractive throughout the growing season.

The plant is best known for its spectacular blooms, which appear in mid to late spring. The conical panicles, measuring 10–20 cm (4–8 inches) long, consist of small, tubular flowers. The flowers are highly fragrant, making them a favourite for gardens and floral arrangements.

Thriving in temperate climates, Syringa vulgaris prefers well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil and full sun for optimal blooming. It is cold-hardy and can withstand harsh winters, making it a popular choice for northern regions. 

Historically, lilacs have symbolised love, renewal, and nostalgia, and they are often planted in cottage gardens, hedgerows, and public parks. They attract pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, while being relatively pest-resistant.

Camellia 'Doctor King' is a compact, bushy, evergreen shrub of upright habit, with broadly elliptic, glossy, dark green leaves and profusion of ruffled, single to semi-double, rosy-red flowers with yellow stamens in the centre, blooming from February to April.

Camellia 'Doctor King' prefers organically rich, slightly acidic to neutral, moist, well-drained soils. The soil needs to be consistently moist, but too much water may lead to a root rot. It thrives in partial or dappled 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, dry winds, as well as early morning sun. Late frosts may damage the flower buds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require regular pruning.

Camellia 'Doctor King' is a wonderful, long-flowering, colourful, evergreen shrub perfect as an accent plant, great for mixed borders and shrub borders, and excellent for growing in pots and containers.

Himalayan Birch 'Snow Queen' is a deciduous tree, supplied here in a feathered form with branches retained down to the base for a full, natural structure. The bark is one of its most striking features, maturing to a brilliant white that provides interest throughout the year, particularly in winter when the branch structure is most visible. The foliage consists of mid-green, ovate leaves that turn a soft yellow in autumn before falling. In spring, the tree produces yellow-brown catkins, adding a further point of seasonal interest alongside the emerging foliage. The feathered shape gives the tree a dense, pyramidal habit when young, which becomes more open as it matures, making it a strong structural specimen within a garden setting. This tree offers some benefit to wildlife, with catkins providing an early-season source of pollen for insects, and the canopy offering shelter for birds. Himalayan Birch is tolerant of a range of soil types, including clay, and performs well in both sunny and partially shaded positions, making it a versatile choice for most garden settings.

Pittosporum Silver Ball is an evergreen shrub with a neat, compact, rounded habit, making it ideal for small gardens or as a low-maintenance feature plant. Its dense growth naturally forms a tidy ball shape, reducing the need for regular pruning or clipping. The foliage is small, wavy-edged and grey-green with a silvery hue, providing year-round interest and a soft textural contrast to darker green planting schemes. Small, dark purple, honey-scented flowers appear in late spring, though they are often hidden among the foliage and are more valued for their subtle fragrance than visual impact. This shrub performs well in coastal gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds and exposed positions, and is also suited to well-drained soils in sheltered or sunny spots. It works well as a specimen plant, in containers, or grouped for low hedging and borders. Minimal maintenance is required beyond an occasional light trim to maintain its natural rounded form. Its compact size and dense structure make it useful for small-space planting, topiary-style features, or mixed shrub borders where year-round structure and colour are desired.

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.

Rose ‘Bengala’ grown as a standard (tree) rose is a bold and eye-catching feature, bringing vibrant colour and structure to any garden setting. With its elevated crown of bright orange-red, repeat-flowering blooms, it creates a striking focal point that stands out above surrounding planting.

This form is particularly effective in formal gardens, patios, and courtyard spaces, where height and symmetry are desired. It works well as a standalone specimen in a decorative container or planted in pairs to frame entrances, pathways, or seating areas. The vivid flower colour adds warmth and energy, contrasting beautifully with green foliage or softer-toned companion plants.

Best grown in a sunny, open position, ‘Bengala’ thrives with plenty of direct light, which encourages strong flowering and healthy growth. It prefers fertile, well-drained soil and benefits from good air circulation to maintain plant health and flowering performance throughout the season.

As a standard rose, it requires regular care, including feeding during the growing season, deadheading to promote repeat blooms, and annual pruning in late winter or early spring to maintain a balanced, rounded canopy.

Ideal for formal gardens, patios, or as a pair flanking an entrance, it provides long-lasting colour and elegance. Its elevated blooms also make them easier to appreciate up close, adding both charm and structure.

The Purple Indian Bean Tree is a deciduous shrub, grown here for its striking foliage. Large, heart-shaped leaves emerge a deep purple-black in spring, gradually maturing to a bronzed green as the season progresses, giving a rich colour contrast within the border or as a specimen planting. Growth is dense and bushy when maintained as a shrub, forming a rounded, compact habit that responds well to pruning, encouraging even more vigorous and vividly coloured new growth. Spring and early summer are the times of greatest interest, when the newly unfurled purple leaves are at their most vibrant, fading slightly as summer progresses but still offering good textural and colour interest through to autumn. If allowed to develop beyond a regularly pruned shrub form, mature specimens can produce foxglove-like white flowers marked with purple and yellow throats during mid to late summer, which are attractive to pollinating insects such as bees. This plant performs best in a sheltered, sunny position, protected from strong winds and late frosts which can damage the young foliage. It adapts well to a range of soil types, including loamy and clay soils, provided drainage is reasonable.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides 'Amber Glow' is a striking deciduous conifer that belongs to the Cupressaceae family. It is a dwarf cultivar of the dawn redwood tree, which is native to China. The Amber Glow variety is highly prized for its stunning coloration, which adds an extra layer of visual interest to any landscape. The tree's foliage is a unique combination of green and gold hues, which take on a beautiful amber glow in the fall. The soft needles are arranged in a spiral pattern around the branches, creating a delicate, lacy effect. As the tree matures, its bark develops an attractive, fluted texture that adds another layer of visual interest. This variety of Metasequoia glyptostroboides is a slow-growing tree that reaches a height of around 6-8 feet and a spread of 3-4 feet over 10 years. It prefers full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It is also tolerant of wet soils and can be grown near bodies of water.

Abies koreana, commonly known as Korean fir, is an evergreen coniferous tree that belongs to the Pinaceae family. Native to the high mountains of South Korea, this tree species is renowned for its beautiful foliage, attractive cone clusters, and graceful habit. It is a popular ornamental tree grown in gardens, parks, and landscapes around the world.

Korean fir can grow up to 15-20 meters in height with a narrow pyramidal or conical shape. The bark is grayish-brown and smooth when young, becoming rough and scaly as the tree ages. The needles are 1-3 cm long, glossy dark green on the upper surface, and have two white stripes on the undersides. They are arranged in a spiral pattern around the branches, giving the tree a graceful and delicate appearance.

One of the most distinctive features of Korean fir is its stunning cones. They are upright and cylindrical, measuring 7-15 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width. The cones are green when young, but turn a beautiful purple or violet-blue as they mature. They also have unique, purplish bracts that protrude from the cone scales, adding to their aesthetic appeal. Korean fir is a hardy tree that prefers cool and moist conditions. It is best grown in full sun or partial shade in well-drained, acidic soils. It is relatively slow-growing, but can live for several decades with proper care. It is also resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a low-maintenance tree.

Vitex agnus-castus 'Latifolia', commonly known as the Chaste Tree, is a deciduous shrub valued for its aromatic, palmate leaves composed of five to seven narrow leaflets, broader than those of the species type. The foliage is a soft grey-green, providing an attractive backdrop throughout the growing season. This shrub produces upright spikes of lilac-blue flowers from late summer into early autumn, offering a valuable late-season display when many other shrubs have finished flowering. The blooms are held on the current year's growth and appear in dense, elongated panicles that stand out against the foliage. The flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, making this shrub a useful addition for gardens aiming to support pollinator activity during the later months of the year when nectar sources can be scarce. Vitex agnus-castus 'Latifolia' thrives in a warm, sunny, sheltered position and benefits from free-draining soil. It is well suited to coastal gardens, tolerating salt-laden winds, and performs best in areas with hot summers to ripen the wood and encourage reliable flowering. This makes it a good choice for south-facing borders or against a warm wall in cooler climates.

Holm Oak is an evergreen tree valued for its dense, dark green foliage that provides year-round structure and screening. The leaves are leathery, glossy dark green above with a pale grey-green felted underside, holding a somewhat variable shape from oval to slightly serrated, similar in appearance to holly when young. As a feathered specimen, it retains branches down to ground level, creating a naturally full and bushy outline without the need for early formative pruning, making it ideal where a solid, well-clothed tree is required from an early stage. The tree forms a broad, rounded canopy with a dense habit, offering good year-round screening and windbreak qualities. Inconspicuous yellow-green catkins appear in late spring, followed by acorns in autumn, which provide a food source for birds and small mammals. The dense evergreen canopy also offers shelter and nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year. Holm Oak is particularly well suited to coastal locations, tolerating salt-laden winds and exposed sites with ease. It also copes well with poor, dry soils and urban pollution, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of planting situations including parkland, large gardens, and boundary screening.

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.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold Promise is a captivating deciduous shrub, renowned for its striking winter blooms and vibrant fall foliage. Standing at an impressive height of 150cm, this cultivar of witch hazel makes a stunning statement in any garden.

The most notable feature of 'Arnold Promise' is its unique flowers. During the late winter, when most of the garden lies dormant, this shrub bursts into life with an abundance of ribbon-like petals. These flowers are a bright yellow colour exuding a spicy fragrance that adds a sensory delight to the garden. They contrast beautifully against the bare, woody branches, creating a striking visual display.

As the seasons change, so does the foliage of 'Arnold Promise'. In autumn, the leaves turn a fiery array of colours, from bright yellows to rich oranges and reds, before falling to the ground. This seasonal transformation adds year-round interest to the landscape.

This witch hazel variety thrives in well-drained, acidic to neutral soil and prefers a position in full sun to partial shade. It's relatively low maintenance, requiring minimal pruning, mainly to shape or remove any dead or crossed branches. 'Arnold Promise' is also known for its hardiness, making it a resilient choice for many gardens.

Euonymous alatus is a large, dense, spreading deciduous shrub with oval, green leaves, that turn spectacularly scarlet-red in autumn. Tiny, inconspicuous, greenish flowers bloom in spring and summer, and are followed by highly ornamental purple and red fruits in autumn and throughout the winter. Bare winter branches are attractive because of their “corky” wings.

Euonymous alatus can grow in a wide range of soils, but thrives in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. It prefers full sun and the best leaf colour is achieved in full sun, but tolerates partial shade and generally, pest-free. Attractive to birds.

It can withstand severe pruning, and has a tendency to be invasive. Euonymous alatus is a stunning shrub with beautiful fiery red autumn foliage, hence the name Burning Bush. It is perfect as a specimen plant, great for informal hedges and screens, wall-side borders, and shrub borders. Best-looking when planted against evergreens.