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Top 10 Shrubs
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: May to June
- Hardiness: hardy (Ideal for coastal gardens)
In May and June, this low-growing, evergreen shrub is smothered in fluffy, powder-blue flowers. It is easy to grow and care for, and forms a natural mound, so looks best towards the front of a mixed border with a backdrop of larger shrubs.
3 litre Pot £4.99
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Pieris 'Mountain Fire'
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, moist but drained
- Rate of growth: slow-growing
- Flowering period: April and May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Glossy, brilliant red young leaves mature to chestnut brown and in late spring, clusters of pretty, ivory, nodding, bell-like flowers appear, resembling lily-of-the-valley. The fiery red young foliage of this rounded, evergreen shrub will add a splash of vivid colour to a shady border or woodland edge. Pieris needs a moist, well-drained acid soil and shade from morning sun.
3 litre pot £4.99
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Fuchsia (Hardy)
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: June to October
- Hardiness: fully hardy (borderline)
Showy, scarlet and purple flowers hang from arching stems from June to October among slender, deep green leaves. This vigorous, single-flowered fuchsia makes a lovely feature plant for a partially shady border. Bushy and upright in habit, it performs best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil with protection from cold, drying winds.
2 litre pot £3.50
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Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia'
- Position: full sun to full shade
- Soil: any garden soil (except waterlogged soils)
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: April and May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
This resilient evergreen shrub has become popular because it will thrive in inhospitable, shady areas of the garden where little else will grow. It copes well with dry shade, urban pollution and salt-laden air, and is easy to look after. The leaves are large and splashed with pale yellow, and it has insignificant, small clusters of red-purple flowers in April and May. It will light up a shady corner of the garden, or make an excellent dense hedge for an urban or coastal site.
3 litre pot £4.99
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Lavandula angustifolia
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A compact form of the popular English lavender, named after plantsman Laurence Johnston's famous Arts and Crafts garden in Gloucestershire. It produces dense spikes of fragrant, deep violet summer flowers above slender, aromatic, silvery-grey leaves. It is possibly the best lavender for edging paths and borders and the aromatic foliage perfumes the air if you brush against it. It also works well in a gravel garden, or clipped into a formal sphere for a contemporary look. The flower-spikes are highly attractive to bees and other nectar-loving insects.
2 litre pot £4.99
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Hebe 'Autumn Glory
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: poor or moderately fertile, moist, well-drained.
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July-October
- Hardiness: frost hardy (Excellent in coastal areas)
Deep purple flowers appear on short spikes from midsummer to late autumn, among masses of dark green, lance shaped leaves with red margins. Long-flowering, tough and easy to grow, this spreading, rounded, evergreen shrub will flourish in a wide range of conditions, and once established, is drought-tolerant, too. Plant it en masse along a fence or path, or to add structure to a mixed, sunny border, and underplant it with contrasting, drought-tolerant foliage plants such as Bergenia. The flowers are a magnet for bees and butterflies.
3 litre pot £4.99
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Cistus × purpureus
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: June and July
- Hardiness: frost hardy
Cistus originate from dry, rocky parts of the Mediterranean and Canary Islands, and so are drought-tolerant and low maintanance. They produce masses of flowers in midsummer, but each lasts only one day. In June and July, Cistus x purpureus produces crumpled, dark-pink flowers splashed with maroon at the base of each petal. Try this rounded, sun-loving, evergreen rock rose towards the front of a sheltered, sunny, well-drained border, or in a container. It will tolerate chalky soil and salty air.
3 litre pot £4.99
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Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'
- Position: partial shade or full sun (but not south-facing)
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to acid soil
- Rate of growth: slow-growing
- Flowering period: April to May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
This upright Japanese maple is one ofthe best purple-leaved varieties. It has deeply cut, dark red-purple leaves that turn bright red in autumn and tiny purple-red spring flowers. Try it as a focal point in a small, contemporary or minimalist garden, where the intensity of the autumn colour can really sing. It needs a sheltered spot, away from strong winds or all-day sunshine.
3 litre pot £19.99
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Hypericum Hidcote
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately-fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July to October
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Masses of cheeful, deep yellow, cup-shaped flowers appear on red stems from July to October. This compact, semi-evergreen shrub makes a valuable plant where space is limited. Less invasive than the ubiquitous 'rose of Sharon' (Hypericum calcycinum), it grows equally well in sun and shade,excellent late summer flowering shrub.
3 litre pot £4.99/£5.99
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Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin'
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: any fertile, well-drained neutral to alkaline soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast growing
- Flowering period: April and May
- Hardiness: frost hardy
With its parrot-red, glossy young foliage, and large, rounded heads of ivory flowers, this versatile evergreen shrub is deservedly popular. It colours up best in full sun, and will usually only flower in sunny conditions, although it makes a handsome background evergreen shrub in partial shade, too. It can cope with hard pruning, so can be trimmed to form an informal hedge or clipped into strong shapes. The flowers appear in mid and late spring, and are sometimes followed by spherical red fruit. In frost-prone areas, train as a wall shrub against a south or west-facing wall
3 litre pot £4.99
4 litre pot £6.99
5 litre pot £8.99/£9.99
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Other shrubs worthy of a mention
Viburnum, Spirea, Weigela, Skimmia, Rhodo/Azalea, Ilex, Phormium, Berberis, Hydrangea, Philadelphus.
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My Selection Of Our top 5 Climbers
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Clematis montana rubens
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May and June
- Flower colour: pink
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Sweetly scented, pink flowers in May and June amid purple-flushed, mid-green leaves. This vigorous montana clematis is ideal for covering a wall or fence in sun or partial shade. An ideal climber for covering large areas of fencing or other structures, much better choice than Russian Vine.
2 litre deep pot £5.99
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Rosa 'Climbing'
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: July to September
- Flower colour: various colours
- Other features: excellent cut-flowers
- Hardiness: fully hardy
A profusion flowers from July to September and dark green leaves. These repeat-flowering climbing roses looks lovely displayed against a sunny wall. Best on fertile, moist, well-drained soil, it produce several flushes of beautifully shaped blooms, renowned for their superior scent.
3 litre deep pots £4.99
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Ceanothus 'Skylark'
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil
- Rate of growth: vigorous
- Flowering period: April to June
- Hardiness: frost hardy
Although not a true climber, this evergreen is a great choice for a sunny wall or fence and being almost self supportive reduces the need for trellis and other various tieing methods.This spreading, evergreen shrub is an arresting sight, smothered in dense clusters of dark blue flowers. It makes a superb specimen plant for a south or west-facing border among spring-flowering bulbs, and when has finished flowering, provides an excellent foil for later-flowering deciduous shrubs and perennials. Avoid a north aspect site, as the deeply veined, dark green leaves are easily scorched by cold, drying winds.
3 litre deep pot £5.99
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Pyracantha Red Column
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: any fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: May
- Flower colour: pure white
- Other features: bright red berries
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Again not a true climber but an excellent srub for walls and fences. Upright, later spreading, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, spiny branches and bunches of small white flowers in late spring. These are followed by a profusion of bright red berries in autumn. It is for these showy berries that it is grown, providing colour in the garden when there is little else. It can be grown as a free-standing shrub, against a wall or as a hedge.
2/3 litre pot £4.99
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Passiflora caerulea
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: July to September
- Hardiness: frost hardy (needs winter protection in cold areas)
A really exotic-looking plant, with large white flowers and central filaments of purple, blue and white from July to September, followed by egg-shaped, orange-yellow fruit. The leaves are pretty, too; deeply lobed, dark green and glossy. This blue passion flower is a vigorous, trouble-free climber that thrives in hot summers and will quickly cover a sunny wall or fence. Ideal for a tropical planting scheme, it grows best at the base of a sheltered wall in full sun, although it will tolerate some shade. The fruit are edible, but not very tasty!
2 litre pot £5.99
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Other climbers worthy of a mention
Lonicera, Jasminum, Trachelospurmum, Sweet peas, Thunbergia, Vitis, Wisteria, Solanum, Hydrangea.
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My Selection Of Our top 5 Trees
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Sorbus aucuparia
- Position: full sun or lightly dappled shade
- Soil: tolerates most soils but prefers slightly acidic soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: April to May
- Flower colour: white
- Other features: birds are fond of the berries
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Rounded tree with mid- to rich green leaves that turn deep red and yellow in autumn, especially after cool summers. Sprays of tiny white flowers cover the tree in late spring, followed by bunches of red berries in autumn. Berries are quickly eaten by birds making it ideal for a wild or woodland garden. This conical-shaped tree can also tolerate harsh conditions and is perfect for a small, urban garden.
10 litre pot £22.50
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Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: all soils except waterlogged
- Rate of growth: average
- Flowering period: March to May
- Flower colour: pink
- Other features: a tough tree for all gardens
- Hardiness: very hardy
A popular thorny tree with mid-green, three- to five-lobed leaves and a profusion of double, dark pink flowers in late spring. It is an ideal plant for all conditions, as it is tough enough to stand exposed sites, city pollution and even costal gardens, while also have ornamental value in the garden.
10 litre pot £22.50
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Betula pendula
- Position: full sun or lightly dappled shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: March
- Flower colour: yellowy-brown male catkins
- Other features: graceful pendant branches and attractive white bark
- Hardiness: very hardy
Diamond-shaped, bright green leaves hang from graceful, pendant branches. It is a fast-growing tree with white, peeling bark that becomes marked with black, rugged cracks as it gets older. In spring, yellow-brown male catkins appear and in late autumn the foliage turns yellow before falling. It is one of the most widely used birches, grown for its narrow, conical shape and ability to grow in almost all soils and situations.
10 litre pot £24.99
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Robinia pseudoacacia 'Frisia'
- Position: full sun
- Soil: fertile, moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May and June
- Flower colour: white
- Other features: autumn colour
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Glorious, almost fluorescent-yellow foliage turning yellow-green in summer, then orange-yellow in autumn and clusters of fragrant, white flowers in late-spring and early summer. This vigorous, broadly columnar tree makes an excellent specimen for a sunny, suburban garden. Shelter from strong winds and avoid disturbing the roots, since the tree is prone to suckering.
10 litre pot £24.99/ £29.99
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Sorbus aria 'Lutescens'
- Position: full sun or lightly dappled shade
- Soil: tolerates most soils, even dry chalky soil
- Rate of growth: slow-growing
- Flowering period: April to May
- Flower colour: white
- Other features: silvery grey foliage on a compact tree
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Silvery young leaves with yellow down carried on purple shoots make a striking feature in spring. The foliage remains grey-green throughout the summer, with bunches of white flowers in late spring and dark red berries in autumn. An attractive tree for the garden as it maintains its compact size and shape.
10 litre pot £22.50
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My Selection Of Our top 5 Bedding Plants
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Begonia non Stop
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average to fast-growing
- Flowering period: May to the first frosts
- Flowering colour: mixed, including white, pink, rose, red, yellow, apricot, salmon and peach
- Other features: double flowered
- Hardiness: tender (needs frost protection)
Perfect for creating a dazzling summer bedding display in a partially shaded spot, the large flowers of this cultivar are sure to turn heads.
Pack of 4 plants £2.49
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