The delicious honey-fragrance of this fine Magnolia is just one of several reasons why this might be the most perfect large shrub for a small garden. As well as the fragrance, there are the flowers: show-stoppingly magnificent goblet-shaped blooms borne on bare branches in late spring. They open in rich pink, and fade to a softer shade, always with a distinctive red stripe down the centre. The foliage is a lovely deep green colour and the slow-growing, compact tree needs minimal maintenance. Choose Magnolia 'Heaven Scent' and enjoy this most beautiful of all specimen trees! Height and spread: 10m (32' 10).
Osmanthus plants are extremely versatile, able to establish on tricky garden slopes and dry banks, and to grow in either sun or shade. Osmanthus x burkwoodii is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with a nice rounded habit that makes it an ideal choice for small gardens. Its shiny, dark-green foliage contrasts well with its spring clusters of small, highly-scented white flowers - a welcome arrival early in the year. It can also be trained as a screen or hedge, requiring little maintenance. Height and spread: 3m (9.8').
Astrantia major 'Roma' is a hardy perennial with a difference: it thrives in damp, shady areas, meaning you can reserve all the space in your sunniest borders for fussier species while still incorporating this unusual Masterwort into your summer display. The plant's palmate foliage is a striking bright green colour, which complements its pink flowers perfectly. These blooms make it easy to tell why this variety is nicknamed Hattie's Pincushion, for their heads, which emerge in the summer, are an unusual, round, pincushion-esque shape. The wiry stems can be easily cut to make interesting additions to indoor displays if you decide that Astrantia major 'Roma' is too special to confine to your woodland garden! Height: 75cm (2'6). Spread: 45cm (1'6).
Bring a touch of the Mediterranean to your garden with this head-turning perennial. Bees and other nectar hungry insects will be drawn to the impressive purple and white flowers that are carried on towering architectural spikes which could grow up to 1.2m tall. As a Mediterranean native, Acanthus spinosus is incredibly drought tolerant once established which makes it perfect for the hot dry borders that other plants would hate. Bear's Breeches would be suitable for a garden that is populated with other exotic specimens or to add height and contrast to cottage garden planting. Height: 1.2m (4'). Spread: 1m (3').
Exquisitely beautiful Agapanthus africanus 'Albus' bears globes of pure white trumpet-shaped blooms which emerge from clumps of glossy, strap-like leaves, flowering through the summer months. African Lilies thrive in a sunny position in the garden and also grow well in terracotta pots or other containers, bringing an exotic hint of the Mediterranean to the garden. After flowering, the seed heads can be left on the plants adding winter interest to the garden. Agapanthus blooms make fine cut flowers. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 50cm (19).
Brilliant by nature as well as by name, Aronia x prunifolia 'Brilliant' is a fantastic plant for autumn colour. This medium-sized, deciduous shrub produces clusters of pretty white flowers in late spring and early summer. The purple-black berries that follow are ready to harvest in the autumn. Commonly known as Purple Chokeberries, these tart fruits can be eaten raw, but are delicious cooked into jams, compotes, cakes and pies. Easy to grow and happy even in boggy conditions, Aronia x prunifolia 'Brilliant is perfect as part of a mixed border and extends the season of interedt - its autumn foliage takes on incredible fiery shades of orange and red. Height: 3m (10'). Spread: 2.5m (8').
Begonia 'Fragrant Falls Improved' in an improved cultivar of the original version. It has more colour, more flowers and more fragrance.
Sherbet Lemon is a quick and easy pre-planted basket for the busy gardener. The plants have been professionally chosen, to ensure the basket looks fantastic when in bloom, over the summer months.
The Fuchsia 'Giant Marbled Collection' provides a magnificent mixture of trailing fuchsia plants suitable for containers and hanging baskets. They also look effective trailing over walls and in rockeries. The delightful half-hardy perennials provide a unique combination of marbled colours from June to October. When grown in sunlight or partial shade and watered regularly, these plants will soon grow into magnificent Fuchsias with flowers combining pink, red, white, purple and lilac in an unusual marbled mixture. The flowers will keep coming throughout the entire summer and the plants will often continue to thrive even in milder winter months. Additionally, Fuchsia flowers can be used in the kitchen as an interesting salad garnish, while the berries can be made into delicious jam. Height: 30cm (12). Spread: 45cm (18). This great value collection comprises: Fuchsia 'Purple Rain' - Pink sepals above purple petals with magenta marbling. Fuchsia 'Flying Scotsman' - White sepals with white marbled magenta petals. Fuchsia 'Orange King' - Coral-coloured sepals with magenta petals and salmon orange marbling. Fuchsia 'Royal Mosaic' - Royal purple, slightly ruffled petals painted with a lovely magenta marbling. Fuchsia 'Heri Mochara' - rich purple petals with a striking white marbling.
Ajuga reptans 'Catlins Giant' is grown for its foliage as much as its flowers, slowly spreading to form a carpet of glossy, purple-green leaves. This semi-evergreen perennial flowers from late spring through to midsummer, producing masses of upright spikes of blue-purple flowers that are highly attractive to bees. 'Catlins Giant' is a popular Bugle selection, with larger leaves and flowers than the original species, and has been awarded a prestigious RHS AGM. Perfect as ground cover for woodland gardens and shady borders, Ajuga plants prefer partial shade, and are extremely low maintenance. Height: 50cm (20). Spread up to 1m (39).
Clematis 'Pink Fantasy' bears delicate pink flowers, with darker pink stripes and gorgeous cream and magenta anthers, in mid to late summer. This hardy climbing perennial is a free-flowering variety with a neat, compact habit, making it the ideal choice for planting in a container. It is also happy growing up a trellis or against a pergola; for a subtle contrast try planting through shrubs and roses. Clematis 'Pink Fantasy' is extremely simple to look after and will thrive in any garden, large or small. Height: 2.5m (8' 2). Spread: 1m (3' 2) Pruning group: 3.
Beautiful, deep blue florets stand proud on tall stalks each summer on this outstanding African Lily. Agapanthus ?Flower of Love?, being a hardy perennial, will flower year after year, getting larger and stronger with each passing season. These reliable plants are low maintenance so they will give you the maximum reward in your garden for a minimum of effort and perform really well when confined to a patio container, the restriction of the roots actually encourage it to produce flowers! The long leaves will remain evergreen too so even when it?s not in bloom it will help provide groundcover and structure to beds. Height: 60cm (24). Spread: 60cm (24).