Category Archives: Garden
Ceanothus x delileanus ‘Gloire de Versailles’
The Royal Horticultural Society has awarded Ceanothus x delileanus ‘Gloire de Versailles’ it’s Award of Garden Merit, due to its profusion of beautiful lilac flowers throughout the summer. They fill the shrub, and their sweet smelling nectar attracts bees and butterflies to the garden. Californian Lilac has good drought tolerance, and thrives in most types
Weigela ‘Nana Variegata’
With variegated cream and light green foliage, Weigela ‘Nana Variegata’ looks great planted in contrast to a darker leaved shrub, in a mixed border. Alternatively, it makes a lovely informal and easy to maintain low hedge, if planted in long rows. In late spring and early summer, the arching branches are filled with pink to
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ is an appealing choice if you?re looking for a plant with interesting and light-coloured foliage to fill a gap in a large garden border. The European Red Elder has bright yellow-green, feathery leaves, contrasting wonderfully with shrubs with dark green foliage. Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ grows well in all types of
Mahonia aquifolium
With glossy evergreen foliage, and lemon yellow flowers in spring, Mahonia aquifolium makes a fantastic informal low hedge or planted as a stand alone specimen alongside other shrub varieties. The masses of yellow flowers are followed later in the year by deep blue, autumn berries. Also, at this time of year the leaves gain a
Hydrangea aspera ‘Macrophylla’
Simply stunning, Hydrangea aspera ‘Macrophylla’ produces flowerheads with violet blooms surrounded by pale lilac bracts throughout the summer. This large, deciduous shrub has an open, branching habit. A quintessential showpiece Chinese Hydrangea, Hydrangea aspera ‘Macrophylla’ fits perfectly into woodland borders and cottage gardens. It?s a resilient plant, quick to establish and easy to maintain and
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’
Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Kew Blue’ is a compact shrub with a neat habit. From late summer until autumn, Bluebeard stems are full of clusters of brilliant blue flowers, that look great set against the silvery foliage, which is subtly aromatic. It thrives in hot, sunny borders, and is very easy to maintain. An attractive plant
Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Orange Rocket’
An extremely versatile ornamental shrub that can be grown as an upright specimen plant or even trained as a hedge. Thanks to its prickly nature, it is the perfect choice for creating a secure property boundary. These plants require minimal maintenance or trimming and have an upright, columnar habit. Berberis ‘Orange Rocket’ is suitable for
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Abbotswood’ (Hedging)
Easy to grow and perfect for rockeries, borders, hedges and even municipal parks and gardens, Potentilla ?Abbotswood’ is a compact shrub with an abundance of 4cm wide pristine white flowers amongst attractively shaped foliage. Potentilla are real workhorse in the garden as they can flower from April through to September when the foliage turns a
Potentilla fruticosa ‘Pink Paradise’
Potentilla ?Pink Paradise’ is a rabbit and deer proof shrub that offers an abundance of pretty little pink flowers with yellow centres. Potentilla likes to be in full sun so if you can find a place in your rockery or border that suits it’s needs you’ll have a healthy, hardy shrub clothed with blooms from
Spiraea japonica ‘Magic Carpet’
Like magic, the new leaves of this compact deciduous shrub emerge a rich crimson, gradually maturing through to yellow and soft lime! New shoots continue to emerge throughout the growing season for a continuous show of colour and are complimented by clusters of bright pink fluffy flowers in mid to late summer. Spiraea japonica ‘Magic
Abelia x grandiflora
Abelia x grandiflora deserves to be seen more often in gardens, remaining colourful and fragrant over many months – particularly in the autumn. Semi-evergreen, with bowing branches that bear clusters of sweet flowers, Abelia grandiflora is perfect for borders in full sun, and for adding interest to mixed hedging. When grown by a wall, this
Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’
Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’ is an attractive shrub, loved for its vibrant glossy foliage that turns maroon red in autumn. It grows well in shaded areas with acidic soil and is fully hardy. Where soils are not naturally acidic, grow Leucothoe in patio containers using an ericaceous compost mix. It is a good shrub for a medium
Berberis buxifolia ‘Nana’
Berberis buxifolia ‘Nana’ produces delicate yellow-orange flowers in spring, emitting a wonderful sweet fragrance that is attractive to bees. These blooms are held on graceful, gently arching branches which are thickly covered in small, dark green leaves. This exceptionally dwarf evergreen shrub then produces rounded, purple-blue berries in the autumn, attracting birds and adding further
Leucothoe axillaris ‘Curly Red’
If you are looking for an evergreen shrub, that has foliage all year round, Leucothoe axillaris ‘Curly Red’ is highly recommended. It is a suitable shrub for medium sized gardens and has unusual curled leaves that turn deep red in autumn. Ideal for shady borders, with acidic soil. You can also grow Leucothoe in containers
Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’
A lovely textural herbaceous perennial, Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ produces fleshy, succulent pale green leaves and stems. From August through to September, large flattened clusters of tiny dark pink flowers open, creating a carpet of colour which is highly attractive to bees and butterflies. A valuable plant for late season colour, this RHS AGM Stonecrop also retains
Rose ‘Sea Foam’ (Shrub Rose)
Offering a tide of white flowers in summer, Rose ‘Sea Foam’ is a hybrid shrub rose, with gorgeous scented, white double blooms. It has great pest and disease resilience and flowers throughout summer, even in very hot weather. This shrub rose has a mounding habit, and is perfect for informal cottage gardens and white gardens,
Lavender ‘Papillon’
Grey-green foliage forms the backdrop to this handsome French lavender ‘Papillion’. The tall straight stems are topped with little lollipops of lilac-purple bracts under flamboyant lilac papery wings. As with all lavenders the very best place to position Lavandula stoechas ?Papillion? in the garden is where you’ll brush past them to release the scent so
Astilbe japonica ‘Washington’
Astilbe japonica ‘Washington’ is a variety of Astilbe. They are renowned as a plant that does well in damp areas of the garden. ‘Washington’ has fluffy white panicles of flowers on upright stems, with dark green foliage. It looks fantastic planted alongside Hostas, Ferns and other varieties of Astilbe, such as ‘Elizabeth van Veen’ which has
Laurus nobilis
The Sweet Bay is an attractive evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves and small yellow flowers in springtime which attract bees and beneficial insects. It looks good among naturalistic planting, but can also be used in formal or contemporary gardens, and is often clipped into topiary shapes, or grown as a Standard ‘lollipop’ Tree. Laurus
Microbiota decussata
Good ground cover doesn’t always have to mean creating a high maintenance border or flowerbed. Low-growing plants such as Microbiota decussata, an easy-to-maintain, evergreen conifer, provide excellent, year-round coverage and require little effort. What’s more, Siberian Carpet Cypress can be grown on steep slopes and in other problematic but sunny areas. Wherever it’s planted, Russian
