When it flowers in the summer, Silene x robotii 'Rollys Favourite' is sure to be one of the brightest plants in your garden. The hardy perennial produces bubblegum pink blooms in abundance throughout June, July and August. These flowers are sure to catch your eye when placed at the front of a sunny or partially shady border. Campions also make great patio plants despite their sprawling habit; such versatility makes them suitable for novices as well as experienced gardeners. This Catchfly has been crossed with Lychnis to form a unique, hybrid plant that will stand out in any cottage garden. Height: 40cm (1'4). Spread: 40cm (1'4).
This dwarf conifer, that is super low maintenance, is an excellent addition to gravel gardens, Japanese gardens, and rockeries. Picea abies 'Little Gem' is evergreen, and slow growing, reaching a maximum height of just 50cm. A minature Norway Spruce, with a compact cushion habit, it has fresh green growth every year, that contrasts with the mature dark green needle foliage. The RHS have awarded the plant its Award of Garden Merit. Height and Spread: 50cm (20).
Description for Penstemon 'Pensham Plum Jerkum' not available
Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, also known as Cape Gooseberry, is a highly unusual and exotic looking plant that provides garden interest throughout the seasons. In midsummer the plant is covered in small creamy-white flowers that contrast with the oval green foliage. Later in the year they become full of berries that are inside bright red-orange papery calyces that look like Chinese lanterns. If left on the plant over winter the berries, which have been hidden inside, become visible as the calyces slowly skeletonize and end up, on frosty winter days, looking like gilded cages surrounding the berries.
An RHS AGM winning Black Eyed Susan bearing bright, golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark button eyes that make excellent cut flowers. The radiant, coneflowers of Rudbeckia fulgida ?Goldsturm? are produced over a long period, attracting bees and butterflies to their long lasting blooms. These compact perennials are easy to grow, reliably filling gaps in borders, and returning year after year.
Sarcococca confusa, known more commonly as Sweet Box or Christmas Box, is the perfect way to ensure there is colour and life in your garden during the long, dark winter months. White flowers are produced on the underside of stems which are full of green waxy leaves and followed by long lasting black berries. The distinctive, pleasant honey like fragrance adds to its winter appeal. Sarcococca confusa is an easy to grow evergreen shrub that requires little maintenance to grow well in shade and partial shade. Height 2m (6.6'). Spread: 1m (39).
Pyracantha 'Orange Glow' is a tough and resilient, evergreen shrub - perfect for adding year-round colour and interest to your garden. This RHS AGM Firethorn has dark and glossy foliage, a lovely backdrop to the small white and lightly fragrant flowers that form in late spring. Shiny orange-red berries give a glowing display in autumn, and provide a valuable source of winter food for wild birds.
A real eye-catcher, Virginia Creeper will quickly cover a wall or fence with attractively shaped leaves which turn the most beautiful shades of crimson, apricot and yellow in autumn, sometimes bearing clusters of blue-black berries at the same time. A vigorous and easy-to-grow climber, Parthenocissus quinquefolia is a useful choice for sun or shade. But don't underestimate its zest for growth - it really does need plenty of space! Height: up to 12m (39'). Spread: 4m (13').
Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is valued for its attractive variegated leaves, with white edging. It has a dense, compact habit and is a shrub suitable for a range of settings, from patio planters to borders and raised beds. This Spindle plant can even be trained up the sides of walls and fences. It is extremely durable and can be planted in all types of soil types and is drought and shade tolerant. Height: 1m (3?). Spread: 1.5m (5?).
The foliage of Juniperus chinensis (also known as Juniperus x pfitzeriana) 'Blaauw' has an unusual blue-grey tone. Its colouring makes this dwarf conifer stand out in rockeries and other sunny or partially shady parts of the garden. Alternatively, the Chinese Juniper can be grown as a specimen plant or tree. Like most Sabinas, it is slow-growing, but requires little maintenance once mature. The plant is therefore a useful and long-lasting hardy shrub. Height: 1.2m (3'11). Spread: 1m (3'3).
The Sweet Bay is an attractive evergreen shrub with glossy, aromatic leaves and small yellow flowers in springtime which attract bees and beneficial insects. It looks good among naturalistic planting, but can also be used in formal or contemporary gardens, and is often clipped into topiary shapes, or grown as a Standard 'lollipop' Tree. Laurus nobilis is also at home in a patio container or in the herb garden where its leaves are highly prized for flavouring curries, soups and stews. Bay Laurel holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Height: 12m (39'). Spread: 10m (32').
Such an unusually shaped flower with Clematis 'Princess Diana'. Instead of the more common large open-faced blooms this attractive variety of clematis has trumpet shaped magenta pink flowers that are narrow at the base then flaring as a star shape that gives a view of the contrasting stamens. The overall effect is as beautiful as it's namesake. Clematis 'Princess Diana' is a late flowering texensis cultivar which will be in flower from mid-summer through to autumn. The maintenance is minimal as all that is required is that it's cut back to almost ground level to ensure yearly displays. Height: 4m (12'). Spread 1m (3'). Pruning group 3.
No perennial border would be complete without at least one variety of Sedum, and if you?re looking to encourage a host of pollinating insects into your garden, together with attractive foliage and flowers, look no further. Sedum 'Matrona' is one of the best, blessed with succulent leaves flushed bronze, with purple stems and clusters of soft pink umbel flowers in late summer. This hardy perennial will provide years of joy and happiness, due to its long lasting nature and structural habit. The seedheads not only add a splash of colour late in the year, but remain most attractive through winter, especially when frosted. Very easy to propagate and a valuable plant that makes an excellent cut flower too. Height: 75cm (30). Spread: 30cm (12).
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)
An extremely versatile ornamental shrub that can be grown as an upright specimen plant or even trained as a hedge. Thanks to its prickly nature, it is the perfect choice for creating a secure property boundary. These plants require minimal maintenance or trimming and have an upright, columnar habit. Berberis 'Orange Rocket' is suitable for a range of soils and positions, especially difficult, exposed areas.
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').
With glossy evergreen foliage, and lemon yellow flowers in spring, Mahonia aquifolium makes a fantastic informal low hedge or planted as a stand alone specimen alongside other shrub varieties. The masses of yellow flowers are followed later in the year by deep blue, autumn berries. Also, at this time of year the leaves gain a purple flush. The leaves are prickly, making it useful for security planting, to deter cats and burglars. It thrives in shade, making it ideal for gardens with tall trees, or in a woodland garden. Very low maintenance. Height: 1m (39). Spread: 1.5m (59).
Ideal for woodland gardens Philadelphus 'Manteau d'Hermine' or Mock Orange is a wildlife friendly, deciduous shrub, that is popular with bumblebees. In summer it has clusters of fragrant white flowers. It has a compact habit and is very manageable, so it's a great choice for small gardens, or planted at the front of wide shrub borders in larger gardens. A holder of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Height: 75cm (30). Spread: 150cm (59).
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').