The soft peachy shades of Tulip 'Apricot Beauty' are a breath of fresh air in spring. Their summery shades hint of warmer days to come!
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 sized garden and is great for groundcover to suppress unwanted weed growth. Height: 1.5m (4'.9). Spread: 2m (6'.5)
Hypericum 'Hidcote', more commonly known as St John's Wort, a plant used traditionally to lift mild depression, has bright yellow flowers, with orange anthers in the centre, from summer through to autumn. Its evergreen foliage provides greenery all year round. It's a nice shrub for small and medium sized gardens and makes a colourful low hedge if planted in a line. It can be planted in all types of soil and prefers a sunny or partial shade position. Height: 1.2m (3.9'). Spread: 1.5m (5').
See this shrub in in its wispy flowering finery, or its fiery autumn colours, and you'll understand why it is loved by so many gardeners. Even when it's not putting on a special display, Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' is a beautiful sight with its neat form and rounded rich purple leaves. It's the feathery, smoke-like flowers, pink in summer and turning tan in autumn, which give the plant its popular name of the Smoke Bush. This large, deciduous shrub is easy to grow in almost any soil and thrives in sun or shade. It can be allowed to grow unchecked, or alternatively can be pruned hard every few years to keep it as a smaller shrub with larger leaves. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Height and spread: 5m (16').
Not for the faint hearted - this Scotch Bonnet/ Habanero type is volcanically hot! Originating from Mexico, this variety produces tall plants with good crops that ripen early. Chilli Pepper 'Animo Red' produces short lime green fruits that ripen through orange to a dark red colour, when the skins become slightly wrinkled.
When all risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise pre-planted patio pot to outdoor conditions over a period of 7 to 10 days before placing in their final positions. Grow begonias in a sunny or semi-shaded position.
Apricot 'Aprigold'® is a lovely addition to patios, decking and balconies. This pretty dwarf variety of Apricot tree, is ideal for growing in pots and planters and can be grown as an ornamental specimen, or as part of a fruit and vegetable container garden.
The extravagant, large double blooms of this Fuchsia 'Flying Scotsman' will grow in abundance in your garden containers. Trailing up to 30cm (12), these amazing fuchsias will drench your pots in a sea of exquisite marbled colour all summer long.
An elegant annual smothered in bright and cheerful blooms which exude a sweet fragrance on warm summer evenings. Nicotiana 'Eau de Cologne Mixed' are mid-height plants with upward facing flowers creating a really dazzling display. Fill your beds, borders and patio containers with these exotic-looking blooms and enjoy a myriad of flowers from midsummer right through until autumn.
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 using an ericaceous compost mix, which will provide instant greenery to a paved area.Height: 1.5m (4'.9). Spread: 2m (6'.5).
Begonia 'Fragrant Falls Improved' in an improved cultivar of the original version. It has more colour, more flowers and more fragrance.