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Pinus mugo 'Carsten's Wintergold' is a lovely, small, compact, broadly globose, low-spreading shrub with short, green, needle-like leaves in spring and summer, and rich golden yellow in cold weather, and small, inconspicuous cones. It is one of the best “winter gold” pines. Pinus mugo 'Carsten's Wintergold' can grow in most soil types, alkaline, sandy, loamy, sandy, or clay, as long as they are well-drained. It thrives in full sun. Once established, it is resistant to drought. It is tolerant of coastal conditions but its colour is most intense in colder climates. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require pruning. Dwarf mountain pine 'Carsten' is an exceptional shrub, perfect for brightening and adding colour to any cottage, urban, coastal, or rock garden. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant in small gardens. Great as a ground cover or for banks and slopes when planted in groups. Suitable for growing in containers.

The Strawberry Tree is an evergreen tree trained here as a half standard, giving it a clear stem with a rounded head of foliage. The leaves are dark green, glossy and leathery, providing year-round structure and interest in the garden. This tree offers attractive features across multiple seasons. In autumn, it produces small, white, urn-shaped flowers that hang in clusters, appearing at the same time as the previous year's fruit ripens to a strawberry-like red, creating a striking contrast against the dark foliage. The rough, reddish-brown bark also adds textural interest throughout the year. The flowers are a valuable source of nectar for bees and other pollinating insects at a time of year when other nectar sources are becoming scarce, making it a useful addition for supporting late-season pollinators. The fruit, while edible, is also enjoyed by birds and other wildlife, adding a further biodiversity benefit to the garden. This tree is well suited to coastal gardens, being tolerant of salt-laden winds, and performs well in a range of soil types provided drainage is reasonable. It is a versatile specimen tree suitable for smaller gardens due to its manageable size as a half standard.

A Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) trained into an umbrella shape is an elegant and highly suitable feature for a garden, combining structure, shade, and ornamental interest. In this form, the plant is pruned with a clear single or multi-stem trunk and a broad, spreading canopy that creates a graceful, rounded “parasol” effect. The dense evergreen foliage, dark green above and silvery beneath, provides year-round texture and light dappled shade beneath the canopy, making it ideal for seating areas, pathways, or as a focal point in courtyards.

The umbrella shape highlights the plant’s natural branching habit while allowing good air circulation and light penetration, which encourages healthy growth and fruit production. In spring, striking red and white flowers appear across the canopy, followed by fragrant, oval fruits in autumn. Feijoa is tolerant of wind, coastal conditions, drought once established, and moderate frost, making it adaptable to many climates. This trained form suits both formal and contemporary garden designs, offering a refined architectural presence with the added benefit of edible harvests.

Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is an upright, compact, deciduous shrub or small tree with palmate, deeply lobed, dark green leaves, flushed pink and then bronze-green in spring, vibrant red in autumn. Inconspicuous flowers bloom in spring and are followed by red, winged seed pods in summer. Acer palmatum 'Jerre Schwartz' is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. It likes partial shade and best leaf colour is achieved in partial shade, but it tolerates full sun. Excessive exposure and lack of soil moisture can cause leaf scorch. It is resistant to frost, but it has to be sheltered from harsh winds. Low maintenance plant, doesn’t require much pruning. Japanese maple 'Jerre Schwartz' is a great ornamental tree suitable for informal, cottage, rock and gravel, and urban gardens. Excellent as a specimen or accent plant. It is great for growing in containers.

A deciduous, early-flowering large shrub or small tree with a dome-shaped crown. In spring, before the leaves emerge, clusters of mildly fragrant, star-shaped, white flowers appear. They are followed by small, edible, red to dark red, berry-like fruits in summer. The leaves are oval, toothed, dark green in summer and yellow, orange and red in autumn. Elegant growth habit makes it attractive even in winter. Amelanchier Canadensis is easily grown. It prefers moist, well-drained acidic soils, but it tolerates most soil types and both wet and dry locations. For best autumn colours and berry production, it should be planted in full sun. Very resilient, usually pest-free and disease-free. This attractive tree is perfect as a specimen plant, suitable for hedges, great for banks and slopes. It is especially nice when planted around ponds, lakes, and streams. It doesn’t mind marshy ground. It can also be used for erosion control.

Quercus robur 'Fastigiata', commonly known as the Fastigiate English Oak, is a deciduous tree as a feathered form, retaining lateral branches down to ground level. It displays a distinctly narrow, upright, columnar habit, making it a useful choice where a strong vertical accent is required without the wide spread of the common oak. The foliage consists of the typical lobed, dark green leaves of English Oak, turning russet-brown before falling in autumn. In spring, inconspicuous yellow-green catkins appear, followed by acorns in autumn, held singly or in small clusters on long stalks. The tree provides good value to wildlife, with acorns offering a food source for birds and small mammals, while the foliage supports a range of insect species. As a native species, it contributes positively to local biodiversity and supports a long-established ecological network of associated fauna. Its compact, upright form makes it particularly suitable for use in avenues, parks and larger gardens where space is limited but height and a strong architectural form are desired. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, including clay and loamy soils, and adapts well to most situations once established.

Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst', commonly known as the Golden Honey Locust, is a deciduous tree grown as a feathered specimen. Its most distinctive feature is the foliage, with delicate, fern-like compound leaves that emerge bright golden-yellow in spring, maturing to lime green through summer before turning golden-yellow again in autumn. As a feathered tree, it retains a light, airy branching structure from near ground level, giving it an open and graceful habit rather than a dense canopy. This open structure allows dappled light to filter through, making it a useful tree for underplanting. The tree is particularly attractive in spring when the fresh golden growth appears, and again in autumn as the leaves turn a rich yellow before falling, providing strong seasonal colour throughout the growing season. It is thornless, unlike the wild species, making it more suitable for garden settings. Gleditsia triacanthos 'Sunburst' tolerates a range of soil types, including clay, and copes well with urban pollution and exposed or windy sites, making it a versatile choice for various garden and landscape situations.

Camellia Lady Vansittart is an evergreen shrub with a compact, upright, bushy habit, making it suitable for borders or specimen planting. The foliage is dark green and glossy, providing year-round structure and interest even when the plant is not in flower. Flowering occurs from mid to late spring, when the shrub produces striking semi-double blooms. The flowers are white to pale pink, often streaked or marked with deeper pink or red, giving each bloom a distinctive, variable appearance. The petals are broad and slightly waved, surrounding a cluster of golden stamens at the centre. This camellia prefers a sheltered position with dappled or partial shade, as strong winds and early morning sun following frost can damage both flowers and foliage. It performs well in acidic to neutral, moist but well-drained soil, and is well suited to woodland gardens or shaded borders where it benefits from protection against harsh weather. It is tolerant of a range of soil types, including loamy soils, provided drainage is adequate and the soil is not excessively alkaline. This cultivar is a reliable choice for adding structure and seasonal colour to a garden, particularly valued for its reliable spring flowering display and tidy, dense growth habit throughout the rest of the year.

Amelanchier x grandiflora 'Robin Hill', commonly known as Robin Hill Serviceberry or Juneberry, is a deciduous tree grown here as a full standard. Its foliage emerges bronze-tinged in spring before maturing to mid-green, then turning shades of orange and red in autumn, providing seasonal interest across multiple periods of the year. In spring, the tree produces an abundance of star-shaped flowers, opening from distinctive pink buds to pale pink-flushed white blooms, giving a delicate, cloud-like appearance across the branches. This display makes it particularly attractive during the spring months, while the autumn foliage colour extends its appeal into the later part of the year. Following flowering, small purple-black berries develop through summer. These fruits are attractive to birds, making the tree beneficial for garden wildlife, while the spring flowers provide an early source of nectar for pollinating insects, supporting local biodiversity. As a full standard, this tree has a clear stem with a rounded, well-proportioned head, making it suitable as a specimen tree or for smaller garden spaces where an ornamental, multi-season tree is desired. It performs well in a range of soil types and is tolerant of most garden conditions, making it a versatile choice for many planting situations.

Pinus mugo 'Klostergrun', commonly known as Dwarf Mountain Pine, is an evergreen conifer with a compact, bushy habit. It forms a dense, rounded mound of foliage, making it a popular choice for structural planting in smaller gardens or rockeries. The needles are dark green, short and arranged in dense clusters, giving the plant a neat, tufted appearance throughout the year. This dense needle coverage contributes to the shrub's solid, uniform outline, which holds its shape well without the need for extensive pruning. Small cone-like structures appear on the branches, typical of pine species, adding subtle textural interest. These develop from inconspicuous flowers in spring, maturing into brown cones by autumn. This plant maintains consistent year-round interest due to its evergreen nature, with its dense green form providing a reliable backdrop or focal point in any season. It is particularly valued for its hardiness and adaptability, tolerating a wide range of soil types including poor, rocky or sandy soils. It is also well suited to exposed and coastal locations, as it withstands wind and salt-laden air with ease. Dwarf Mountain Pine 'Klostergrun' is low-maintenance and ideal for use in containers, rock gardens, or as a low hedge, offering structure and texture with minimal care requirements.

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.

Cotoneaster Rothschildianus is a semi-evergreen tree, trained here as a half standard with a clear stem and a rounded head of branches. The foliage is mid to dark green, elliptic in shape, providing a good backdrop throughout the growing season. In early summer small white flowers appear in clusters, attracting bees and other pollinating insects. These are followed in autumn by an abundant display of yellow berries, which persist on the branches well into winter and provide a valuable food source for garden birds. The combination of flowers, berries and foliage gives this tree year-round interest, with particular appeal in autumn when the berry display is at its best. As a half standard, it works well as a specimen tree in a border or lawn, offering structure without excessive height. It is tolerant of a range of soil types, including chalky and clay soils, and adapts well to most garden situations. This cultivar is a useful choice for those wishing to support local wildlife while maintaining an attractive, low-maintenance tree suited to smaller gardens or as a feature planting within a larger landscape.

Sweet Gum Gum Ball is a deciduous tree, grown here as a quarter standard with a compact, rounded head of dense branching on a short clear stem. The star-shaped, glossy green leaves are a key feature, each with five to seven pointed lobes resembling a maple leaf. In autumn the foliage transforms into a striking display of orange, red and purple tones, providing strong seasonal colour and making the tree a particular feature during this period. The dense, rounded crown gives a neat, well-proportioned shape, making it suitable for smaller gardens or as a specimen tree where space is limited. The tree produces small, spiky, ball-shaped seed pods which can persist into winter, adding textural interest once the leaves have fallen. This compact form retains the ornamental qualities of the species while offering a more manageable size, making it a good choice for planting where a full-sized sweet gum would be impractical. It performs well in moist, well-drained soils and benefits from a position in full sun to ensure the best autumn colour development.

Hydrangea Magic Pillow is a deciduous shrub with a compact, mound-forming habit, making it well-suited to smaller gardens and borders. The foliage consists of broad, serrated, mid-green leaves that turn attractive shades of red and purple in autumn, providing seasonal interest beyond its flowering period. This shrub produces lacecap-style flowerheads from mid to late summer, typically from July through September. The blooms feature small, fertile florets at the centre surrounded by larger, sterile florets, creating a delicate, layered appearance. Flower colour can vary according to soil pH, ranging from soft pink to blue, with some plants displaying a mix of tones within the same flowerhead. The plant benefits from a sheltered position, as it is more tender than many other hydrangea varieties and can be susceptible to frost damage on young growth. It performs best in partial shade with moist, well-drained soil, and appreciates protection from strong winds and harsh winter conditions. Hydrangea Magic Pillow is a good choice for woodland-edge planting schemes or shaded borders where its compact size and long flowering season can be appreciated at close range.

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.

Heavenly Bamboo is a semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub, though in colder conditions it may take on deciduous tendencies, shedding some leaves. Its foliage is a standout feature, with delicate, compound leaves that emerge a reddish-purple in spring, mature to a rich green during summer, and then transform into vibrant shades of red and purple in autumn, providing year-round interest. The structure of Heavenly Bamboo is upright and slightly arching, creating an elegant, airy appearance in the garden. Its moderate density makes it suitable for borders or as a feature plant without overwhelming a space. This shrub is particularly attractive in spring with the emergence of its colourful young foliage, and then again in autumn when the leaves turn to striking reds and purples, offering a dramatic contrast to the summer green growth. In early summer, Heavenly Bamboo produces clusters of small, star-shaped white flowers which add a delicate touch to its early summer appeal. Following the blooms, it often bears bright red berries in autumn, adding further seasonal interest and additional texture to the display. Heavenly Bamboo adapts well to a range of soil types, making it a versatile choice for different garden settings.

Hydrangea paniculata on a clear stem, often referred to as a standard or tree-form hydrangea, is a versatile and elegant choice for a wide range of garden styles. Its distinctive shape features a single, clear trunk topped with a full, rounded canopy of vibrant green leaves and large, conical flower heads. Throughout summer, these blooms emerge in shades of creamy white, gradually maturing to soft pinks or blush tones as the season progresses, providing long-lasting seasonal interest.

This plant is highly suitable for gardens of all sizes because of its compact footprint and vertical emphasis, which make it ideal for smaller spaces or as a focal point in larger borders. It thrives in both modern and traditional settings, fitting seamlessly into formal designs or more relaxed cottage gardens. Its height and form also make it perfect for planting in pots or as a statement feature by entrances, patios, or pathways. Hardy and low-maintenance, it tolerates a variety of soils, enjoys full sun to partial shade, and rewards gardeners with stunning flowers and structure year after year.

Daphne transatlantica Eternal Fragrance is a stunning evergreen shrub that is highly prized for its intoxicating scent and attractive appearance. This plant is a hybrid of two different daphne species, which makes it unique in its own way. It was created by Robin White of Blackthorn Nursery in the UK. This plant typically grows to a height of around 3 to 4 feet and spreads up to 4 to 5 feet wide. The leaves are a glossy dark green, and the flowers are produced in clusters at the end of the stems. The blooms are small and pale pink, with a delicate fragrance that is reminiscent of vanilla and honey. The plant flowers continuously from April to October, providing an endless supply of delightful blooms. Daphne transatlantica Eternal Fragrance is easy to grow and care for, and it prefers a well-draining soil in partial shade. It is hardy down to USDA zone 7 and can be grown in a variety of climates. It is also deer-resistant, making it a great option for gardeners who live in areas with a lot of wildlife. This plant is perfect for a variety of garden settings, including mixed borders, woodland gardens, and cottage gardens. It can also be grown in a container and placed on a patio or balcony, where its fragrance can be enjoyed up close.

Nolina hibernica, commonly known as beargrass, is an excellent addition to a wide variety of garden styles thanks to its striking form, toughness, and low-maintenance nature. Its long, narrow, arching leaves create a graceful fountain-like shape that adds movement and texture to planting schemes, making it ideal for modern, Mediterranean, gravel, and xeriscape gardens. This plant excels as a standalone focal point or when grouped with other drought-tolerant species to create bold, sculptural displays.

One of its greatest strengths is its resilience. Nolina hibernica thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, showing impressive tolerance to drought, heat, and poor soil conditions once established. This makes it particularly suitable for gardens where water conservation is important or where conditions are too harsh for more delicate plants. Its evergreen foliage ensures year-round interest, helping maintain structure through winter when other plants may fade back.

In addition to its environmental tolerance, beargrass requires minimal upkeep. It rarely needs pruning and remains naturally tidy, making it perfect for gardeners seeking impactful yet easy-care plants. Whether used in borders, rock gardens, coastal settings, or contemporary landscapes, Nolina hibernica brings architectural beauty, longevity, and practical reliability to any outdoor space.

Alder Buckthorn is a deciduous shrub valued for its naturalistic form and seasonal interest. The foliage emerges fresh green in spring, maturing through summer before turning yellow in autumn, providing good seasonal colour change. Small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers appear from May to June, followed by berries that change colour from green to red and finally black as they ripen through late summer into autumn, creating an attractive multi-coloured display on the same plant. This shrub is highly beneficial for wildlife, acting as the primary larval food plant for the Brimstone butterfly, making it an essential addition for anyone wishing to support native butterfly populations. The berries also provide a valuable food source for birds in autumn, while the flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects during the summer months. Alder Buckthorn is particularly well-suited to damp, boggy, or waterlogged soils and thrives in locations where many other shrubs would struggle, including the margins of ponds and streams. It also tolerates a range of soil types including clay and copes well in partial shade, making it a versatile choice for naturalistic planting schemes, wildlife gardens, and wetland margins.