This fabulous scrambling vine will bring dazzling colour to your garden and a host of butterflies and bees who seek out the nectar of the flame coloured trumpet flowers. It'll grow to 10 feet or more if you let it but can easily be restricted by gentle pruning if you are short of space. It's not fully hardy so best grown in a large pot in a sunny spot with some support to allow it to climb upwards. Prune back in winter and protect from frost or move to the shelter of a greenhouse or conservatory.
Also known as the Indian Bean Tree, Catalpa bignonioides is an incredibly handsome medium sized deciduous tree. A beautiful specimen tree, the foliage is pale green with huge, broad heart shaped leaves that can be 30cm (1ft) long. In late summer panicles of large, exotic, orchid-like white flowers with splashes of maroon and orange appear, often numerous enough to cover the leaves. These are followed in autumn by long, thin, dark brown bean shaped fruits, hence the common name. Fully deserving its coveted RHS Award of Garden Merit, you can be sure that this is a proven garden performer, guaranteed to be suitable for UK gardeners at every level of experience. You can therefore plant this in the garden with confidence, for stunning displays for many years to come. Also recommended by the RHS as a 'Plant for Pollinators', the flowers are a favourite with butterflies and bees. Growing to a height of 6m and spread of 5m in 20 years, and ultimately twice that size, Indian Bean trees cope well with pollution so they're great for city gardens. Protect young trees from late spring frosts and choose a spot sheltered from strong winds which can shred the large leaves. Supplied as 3 x established trees in 9cm pots, ready to plant.
This delightful cherry variety not only tastes sensational, it will look spectacular in your garden, wherever you plant it. Once the gorgeous spring blossom has faded away, 'Bigarreau Napoleon's' very large, slightly elongated fruits ripen to a warm, golden colour, blushed with deep, cherry-red, providing a beautiful contrast with the lush green foliage in mid-summer. When you pick one of these cherries from your own tree and pop it into your mouth, a rich sweetness will explode from the creamy flesh - simply tantalising for the tastebuds! The flavour is sweet but not as sugary as dark sweet cherries such as 'Stella'. They taste so divine that you will want to pick the whole lot and eat them straight away - so it is a good job it is such a heavy cropper! Growing your own cherries at home is not only deeply rewarding, it will also save you an absolute fortune compared with supermarket prices. And, of course they taste so much better!
Simply the largest Blackcurrant we have ever seen - end of. If you like your fruits big and juicy, this is the currant for you. And they are particualrly sweet tasting too straight form the bush. This new variety packs a punch too in yield - with more and bigger fruit, expect to pick crops up to 4Kg (8 lbs) of fruit once mature. And, it is also very mildew and disease ressitance, so makes a great garden variety, and deservedly has just won the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Big Ben - the perfect blackcurrant all-rounder.
Also know as the Checkerberry or Partridge Berry, this low growing evergreen shrub is an excellent choice for containers on a terrace or balcony and makes a handsome ground-covering plant for shady spots. Bell shaped flowers in pinkish-white open from May to July, but 'Big Berry' really starts to put on a show in autumn, when it covers itself in large, aromatic, bright scarlet fleshy berries 10mm across. This display lasts through the winter, so you'll really appreciate the colour during the darker months. Gaultheria prefers partial shade over sun, and will do well in full shade too, so it'll perform fantastically brightening up those dull spots that all gardens have. The soil should be neutral or a little acid, so us ericaceous compost especially when growing in pots. Supplied as an established plant in a 13cm pot, ready to plant out. Reaching a height and spread of 15cm (6in) x 1m (3ft).