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').
High yielding Sweetcorn 'Tyson' is a reliable and rewarding variety to grow in any kitchen garden or allotment. This disease resistant variety produces good-sized cobs with vibrant juicy kernels and great flavour.
Aubergine 'Black Beauty' provides an excellent yield of shiny, near-black skinned fruit throughout the summer season which can be used in all kinds of delicious Mediterranean recipes. Tasty creamy-coloured flesh on the inside, pick them when small and enjoy them barbecued, or allow them fully form into larger fruits which can be cut up and added to recipes, sliced or stuffed and baked.
Turnip 'Golden Ball' delivers an exceptionally long cropping season of uniform round roots with buttery yellow flesh, perfect for use in hearty stews, casseroles and soups. Sow this very hardy variety successively and enjoy a harvest which lasts from summer through to winter.
Not only an impressive cropper but also an ornamental feature, you can grow tall and upright Artichoke ?Imperial Star? in rows on the allotments or as a dual purpose feature at the back of a sunny border. The flower buds are large and flavoursome, held above tall study stems during summer.
An attractive Cardoon with purple flower buds which provide good ornamental value as well as a tasty crop of fresh artichokes during summer. The purple-skinned flower buds of Artichoke ?Italian Purple? are generously large and can be removed from the stem when ready.
Description for Easy Grow Nurserymans Choice Vegetable Seeds not available
Description for Geranium pratense 'Azure Skies' not available
These striking white cobs are packed with exceptionally sweet kernels which are so juicy it?s like they?ve already been buttered! Cobs of Sweetcorn 'White Lady' look great on the dinner plate, present a stack of grilled ?White Lady? cobs at a barbecue they?re sure to impress your guests. Good weather resistance means this variety produces a good crop even in cool summers.