Coreopsis grandiflora 'Sunray' is a little ray of sunshine to brighten up your garden in spring and summer with its glorious blooms. These semi-double flowers are bright yellow and attract bees with their rich nectar, making them well-suited to wildlife gardens. Alternatively, Tickseed is a great addition to perennial borders, annual beds, patio containers and even cut flower displays. With its neat, compact habit and ability to flourish even in partially shady areas, there's nothing this hardy perennial can't do! Height: 45cm (1'6). Spread: 45cm (1'6).
An absolute gem of a winter flowering plant, little seen but a really good winter garden plant, not grown widely enough. In late winter and early spring, before there's much colour about at all, even before daffodils, it produces intriguing yellow and cream flowers, lightly scented, smothered over bare stems, as flowers are produced before the leaves. It is a relative of the Daphne, sharing it's preference for cool, lightly shaded spots. Martin distinctly remembers being blown away by the first sight and smell of this plant, a large specimen on a remote Dutch Nursery, on a wet, windy and grey February afternoon, but finding much stock has been a challenge. Now we have some, it deserves a space in many gardens.
'Sunkiss' is a wonderfully bushy and compact Coreopsis and certainly one of the most colourful perennials that you can grow. With its long flowering season, it's a must-have for any gardener! Masses of daisy-like, bright golden yellow flowers with rich maroon centres appear from May and continue right up to October, covering the plant in vibrant colour. They're much larger than those of most other Coreopsis and their colouring is amazingly intense, shining out in the garden like miniature sunflowers, and they last well in a vase too. Bees and butterflies love their nectar and birds will feast on the seeds, making these ideal plants for bringing wildlife into your garden. Also known as tickseed, Coreopsis in a native of North American prairies and is extremely rugged, easy to grow and drought tolerant. Grown in patio pots and in flower borders, you'll be treated to month after month of vivid colour with almost no maintenance, just regular deadheading to keep the flowers coming until autumn. Supplied as 3 x established plants in 9cm pots, ready for planting and growing to a height and spread of 35cm (14in).
Great clusters of banana yellow blooms appear from February to April on the bare stems of this hardy shrub, and what's more they smell of honey, filling your garden with a wonderful aroma. This popular shrub is an ideal addition to your garden border, or plant in a patio pot by your door, to appreciate the fragrance as you pass. Supplied in 19cm pots.
Create a stunning backdrop with this energetic climber with its dense green foliage and crisp white flowers in the early summer months between May and June.
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 elegant plants is extremely hardy, with glossy and long-lasting foliage. Height: 3m (9?). Spread: 4m (13?).
The gorgeous blooms of 'Catawbiensis Grandiflora' are produced in extravagant clusters in May in a wonderful mauve-blue colour with yellow and orange freckles, making this a striking Rhododendron. The striking flowers contrast beautifully with the glossy, dark green leaves that cover this vigorous shrub all year, growing into a rounded evergreen shrub after a few years. 'Catawbiensis Grandiflora' definitely has an exotic look and will look spectacular either planted in blorders or in a large pot as an eye-catching specimen plant. Rhododendrons are low-maintenance shrubs that will perform superbly provided you plant them well and keep them well-watered. Lovers of acid soil, they mostly prefer bright to dappled shade or partial shade, avoiding morning sunlight which can damage buds. As Rhododendron roots are shallow, spreading to sides in search for nutrients, they shouldn't be planted too deeply - remember that they often grow in shallow cracks on mountainsides. Soil does need to be on the acidic side and rich in humus, cool and always moist which will allow established plants to withstand direct mid-day and afternoon sun. Supplied as an established plant in a 21cm pot, reaching a height and spread of 2m (6½ft).
The magnificent foliage of this pretty evergreen shrub blends from citrus greens and yellow in spring/summer to gorgeous reds and purples through autumn/winter. Bears white bell-shaped flowers too. Height when mature 1m. Supplied in 8cm pot.