Cotoneaster plants are best known for providing excellent ground cover and this variety is no exception. Its spreading stems grow quickly in sunlight or semi-shade, efficiently filling up borders with green foliage. However, keen gardeners could also use wires to train Cotoneaster horizontalis up a sunny wall, making for an unusual and distinctive display. Wherever it's grown, this hardy shrub will provide plenty of interest from the spring, when it produces dainty, pinky white blooms all the way through to the autumn, when its red berrries attract birds, making it worthy of a place in wildlife areas. What's more, the plant's oval-shaped, deciduous leaves turn bright shades of orange and red at the end of the season, adding colour to cottage gardens. Even its silver-brown branches make a lovely, winter feature thanks to their herringbone pattern. With so much year-round variety on offer, you can't go wrong with Cotoneaster horizontalis. Height: 1m (3'3). Spread: 1.5m (4'11).
Cornus sericea 'White Gold' offers year-round interest. In the spring, the plant bears white flowers, which grow in clusters amongst its variegated green and white foliage. The summer sees Red Osier Dogwood produce unusual, pale fruits, which look great in sunny, mixed borders. Even once the deciduous shrub has shed its leaves, it continues to stand out, for its naked stems are a bright, yellow colour. Cornus stolonifera is thus worthy of a place in any cottage or low maintenance garden, particularly those in need of winter colour. Height: 1.5m (4'11). Spread: 1m (3'3).
The large spreading nature of this deciduous shrub provides impact and structure to a garden, used predominantly as a specimen plant. Weigela ?Candida? has tall arching stems which give it a real presence and should be given plenty of space to allow the branches to arch to the ground, which in May through to June are covered with elegant, tubular white flowers. The nectar rich blooms make this an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, attracting a vast array of pollinating insects. Height and spread: 2.5m (8?).
If you are looking for a fast-growing, hardy tree with a compact, upright habit and dense, evergreen foliage, this Yew is a good choice. Taxus x media 'Hicksii' is a female variety and can be grown into an attractive hedge. However, it can also be left unpruned to become a spectacular, upright specimen. The plant looks particularly striking when it bears bright red berries, which stand out against its dark leaves. Like all Yews, it boasts versatility and adaptability, for it can be grown in sunlight or shade and will thrive in most soil types. This conifer is therefore an extremely practical choice for cottage and woodland gardens. Height: 8m (25'). Spread: 3m (10').
As a contrast to other Clematis varieties in shades of pink, Clematis 'Warszawska Nike' brings a darker shade to your garden with large, deep maroon/purple open blooms with yellow stamens to highlight the centre of each flower. Clematis 'Warszawska Nike' will flower in July and then another display will follow in September and as this variety has an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society you'll know that quality is assured. This hardy climber is happy in full sun so you can feature them on an obelisk or trellis containers on the patio or decking. Height: 3m (10'). Spread: 1m (3') Pruning group: 3.
The perfect way to add a final flourish of blooms to your beds and borders, Nerine bowdenii 'Stefani' will add a touch of cheer when many other plants have faded away. The white and pink coloured flowers of this lovely Guernsey Lily are also ideal for cutting and have a lovely spicy scent too.
The dark pink flowers of this stunning Guernsey Lily will add a vibrant flash of colour to fading autumn beds and borders. Nerine bowdenii 'Isabel' is a stunning variety with beautiful recurving petals atop long stems, which also makes them perfect for cutting and displaying indoors, where you can show them off day and night!
Popular and robust, fully hardy, garden perennial, that features large jagged dark green foliage and magnificent tall racemes of white flowers with mauve bracts, flowering from May to August. It's a fantastic addition to a large perennial border and is also suited to areas of dapple shade. Ht. 1.5m. Supplied as plug plants or in 9cm pots.
Agapanthus 'Bluestorm' is a new variety of Agapanthus, which has been bred specifically for its flowers. In June, this African Blue Lily grows an abundance of blue blooms on stiff stems, perfect for cut flower displays. It also boasts a long season, ensuring that your cottage garden remains colourful and interesting until the late summer. However, Agapanthus 'Atiblu' is by no means a one-trick pony; its strap-shaped, semi-evergreen foliage can be used to add structure to sunny borders. You won't even have to worry about its wellbeing when you go on holiday, for this hardy perennial tolerates drought exceptionally well, making it a good all-round plant. Height: 75cm (2'6). Spread: 50cm (1'8).
Chaenomeles x superba 'Elly Mossel' bears bright scarlet red flowers as the leaves begin to emerge in March, providing a useful early source of nectar for bees. The stunning blooms give way to green, apple-like fruits with a soft, sweet scent that turn to a golden shade as autumn arrives. These fruits, despite being unpalatable when raw, are delicious when cooked and also make a fabulous jam. The Japanese Quince is a neat, rounded shrub that is the perfect addition to your woodland gardens, mixed borders and cottage gardens. It can also be trained as a wall shrub. Height: 1.2m (4'). Spread: 2m (6.5').
Description for Delphinium 'Pacific Giants Mixed' not available
Chaenomeles x superba 'Nicoline', winner of an RHS AGM, features vivid red flowers which appear just as the leaves emerge in March. Green, apple-like fruits with a delicate, sweet fragrance appear after the stunning flowers, turning a gorgeous golden colour as summer progresses into autumn. The fruits of the Flowering Quince are unpleasant in their raw form, but can be enjoyed cooked and also made into a tasty jam. This Japanese Quince is perfect for training as a wall shrub and is also well suited to cottage gardens, woodland gardens and mixed borders, thanks to its compact, spreading habit. Height: 1.2cm (4'). Spread: 2m (6.5').
Hibiscus syriacus 'Azurri' bears gorgeous, lilac-blue flowers, each with a contrasting maroon centre, from late summer through to October. Contrary to its exotic name and looks, this deciduous shrub is fully hardy and provides stunning, enduring colour long after other plants have faded. The three-lobed, dark green leaves, although late to appear in spring, make a superb foil for summer-flowering perennials. This attractive Rose Mallow is an excellent addition to any garden, where it is perfect for sunny borders and requires little maintenance. Height: 3m (10'). Spread: 2m (6.5').
Tree Peony 'Feng Dan Bai' is covered in big, pure white flowers with stunning yellow and burgundy centres in late spring. The simple, crepe-paper blooms are certainly eye-catching in their position above appealing divided foliage. This deciduous shrub is hardy and known for its longevity, adding an exotic feel to borders or your busy cottage garden. Tree peonies are also ideally suited to making cut flowers for the home. Height and spread: 1.5m (5').
Description for Physocarpus opulifolius 'Amber Jubilee' not available
With its stiff, arching yet compact foliage and conveniently tidy growing habit, the Blue Fescue is an ornamental grass that won't leave you feeling blue! When grown in the sun its evergreen foliage is a beautiful silvery-blue colour, while its spiky, midsummer flowers have a green tint. Festuca glauca plants are easy to grow, forming neat clumps which rarely need maintaining. This grass looks great in rockeries and gravel gardens and the hardy perennial can also be grown alongside complementary Mediterranean-style plants in borders and containers.
This Shrubby Cinquefoil is a nice plant for cottage or alpine gardens, even small ones. Potentilla fruticosa 'Limelight' is a hardy deciduous shrub with pretty white flowers, with yellow centres, and remains in bloom from May, all the way thorough to September. It is easy to grow and is low maintenance, but is best planted in a full sun position. The RHS have awarded this plant its Award of Garden Merit. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 1.5m (59).