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Cercis siliquastrum, 
The
Judas tree. The photo on the left is of a tree growing in a sheltered situation
on a university site in Cambridge. The tree has a spreading multi-stemmed habit
with inversely heart shaped to kidney shaped leaves which are glaucous
blue in colour. The clusters of magenta pea-like flowers appear before the
leaves in spring on previous years wood. The flowers are still evident as the
leaves start to burst, flattened seed pods follow the flowers. This is a
excellent small tree that can also be grown as a shrub or trained against a
wall.
Trachycarpus fortunei, add a tropical effect to your garden with this slow growing hardy palm, some winter protection will be necessary. Can be grown in a large pot or tub for the patio, bring inside during cold periods.
Prunus subhritella 'Autumnalis Rosea', winter or autumn flowering cherry. This tree will flower during winter when mild weather allows. Rose pink flowers brighten up winter and early spring days, may also be grown as a shrub when obtained as a bush.
Nandiana domestica, commonly known as the scared, heavenly or Chinese bamboo. This interesting plant is best grown in a protected situation or in a pot so that it can be moved inside in very bad winter weather. The evergreen foliage shows good autumn colour, the summer flowers are attractive followed by red autumn fruit. The plant is upright in habit , slow growing up to about 6', will grow in medium shad to full sun.
Rhamnus alaterna 'Argenteovariegata', This variegated evergreen shrub is a must have plant for the flower arranger. It makes a very dense bush up to 8' high, if left un-pruned it will form a small multi-stemmed tree. The small gray-green leaves have cream margins, the bush is pyramidal in habit and bares a good crop of red fruits. Will grow in sun or part shad, dislikes wet conditions.
Parrotia perscia, One of the best autumn foliage large shrubs or small trees. The leaves turn vivid orange, yellow and red before they fall in autumn. Prefers a neutral to acid soil, tolerates limited alkalinity ,but this inhibits4 its overall performance.
Ceanothus, The California Lilac is one
of the most
spectacular shrubs for spring and summer displays. Flowers are in
various shades of blue, best grown against a wall as in the photo on the right, but some dwarf types can be
freestanding.
Best planted in mild areas or protected situations to give the most prolific effect. This shrub prefers full sun but will grow in part shade where they will be less vigorous. When not in flower the evergreen ovate foliage is attractive. Ceanothus tolerate most soil conditions but show induced chlorosis on thin chalk or limestone soils. Many suitable varieties, my favorites are thyrsiflorus, Blue Mound, Pugrt Blue, Concha, Trewithen Blue, Cascade and Impressus. All gardens should have at least one bush planted .
Little pruning is required but when they have reached there ultimate size prune after flowering to keep in shape, remove some old wood to encourage new growth.
Buddleia, The butterfly bush a truly beautiful shrub if given enough space. These late summer to autumn flowering shrubs have large fragrant racemes of tubular flowers, named varieties offer a wide range of colours. Prune back hard each spring, this will increase flower size and extends the life of the shrub.
Solanum crispum, Climbing Chilean Potato Tree, is a most attractive wall shrub requiring space to develop to its full potential. Flowers are small, star shaped, purple with a yellow eye and borne in clusters from late June to September. The fruit that follows is known to be poisonous.
This shrub requires a sheltered spot, prune hard each spring and tie in shoots to wires or trellis.
Mahonia, A tall growing winter flowering shrub. Varieties of interest Buckland, Winter Sun, lomariifolia and Lionel Fortescue. All have large racemes of fragrant yellow flowers and bright green pinnate foilage.
Leycesteria formosa, The Himalayan Honeysuckle or Pheasant berry is an interesting plant, it has striking displays of white flowers surrounded by purple-red bracts. Berries follow the flowers in late summer, the leaves fall in autumn to reveal attractive green stems. The shrub is good for mass plantings needing plenty of space , a quick grower in any soil except in extremely alkaline conditions.
Lonicera fragantissima, This delightful scented winter flowering shrub is easy to grow and tolerant of most situations. Its common name is shrubby or winter honeysuckle. It as lots of small creamy white flowers which are produced on leafless branches from late autumn to mid spring, these stand up well to light winter frosts. Also grow Lonicera syringantha the Lilac scented shrubby honeysuckle. The small pink flowers on this species my be sparse but this is compensated by their beautiful fragrance in late spring to early summer.
Lonicera pileata, The privet honeysuckle is a low spreading ground cover shrub, use for mass planting to cover banks or areas of poor soil. The bush is evergreen or semi-evergreen in a hard winter, no pruning required but may be reduced in size if necessary. Will grow in heavy shade, under deciduous trees and on moist soil types. Two more interesting varieties are Lemon Beauty with yellow edged leaves and Silver Beauty that has white edges to the leaf.
Philadelphus species, A useful group of fragrant summer flowering shrubs with white single or double flowers. There is a wide selection of low growing, medium height and tall growing varieties. Good low growing species are 'Mantedu d' Hermine', 'Silver Showers' and microphyllus. Best medium height varieties 'Belle Etoile', Innocence' and 'Sybille'. Suitable tall types include 'Beauclerk'', 'Minnesota Snowflake', 'Virginal' and coronarius.
Liquidamber styraciflua, A moderately compact pyramidal tree, for good autumn colour and interesting architectural shape.
Aralia sieboldii, also known as
Fatsia japonica.
This evergreen shrub is best planted in a protected situation,
or planted in a container and moved in a unheated glasshouse during frosty
weather. This plant makes a real bold statement in the garden or on the patio in
a planter, (see photo on right). Its large, shallowly indented leaves are dark green, the variegated
forms are slower in growth and less hardy. An ideal plant for the cold
conservatory . A near relative of this plant is Fatshedera lizei, it has
similarly shaped leaves that are much smaller, its best grown against a wall
where it can be tied to and get winter protection.
Cotoneaster species, Evergreen or semi-evergreen groundcover, shrubs or trees without problems. Many different types that will flourish in even the most difficult situations. Most have red fruits in winter some like C. 'Rothschildiana' which is a tall growing form has yellow berries.
Azara
microphylla, This
evergreen shrub or small tree produces lots of small yellow vanilla scented
flowers on the underside of the twigs in early spring. The photo on the left
shows a young plant growing against a wall. It can grow up to 20'
high the variegated form has cream variegated leaves and is much slower growing.
If you like vanilla scent you must grow this plant.
Callicarpa giraldiana, This unusual, late flowering, autumn fruiting shrub should be more widely grown. When well established it produces a spectacular display of lilac pink flowers in late summer, followed by large clusters of vivid violet fruits. Grows to a large bush in sun or part shade, will tolerate any soil except extremely alkaline, no pruning required except to keep in shape.
Ribes laurifolium, A very unusual wall shrub, which flowers in winter. This evergreen as oval leathery leaves, the flowers hang in racemes and are yellow to light green in colour. Will require training to a wall and tying in, well worth growing if you can find it.
Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin', A spectacular plant from New Zealand noted for its winter and early spring foliage display. Young growth produced from late autumn starts as dark red, the colour increases in intensity through winter into early spring. May be grown as a free standing shrub or trained against a wall. It will tolerate deep shade and most soils, only disliking extreme alkalinity. Pruning only required to keep the bush in shape. Young Spring foliage can be damaged by late frosts.
Elaeagnus pungens 'Maculata', A hardy variegated freestanding shrub that will brighten up a dull winters day. This bush as small inconspicuous fragrant flowers in autumn, the fragrance is distributed through the air by light autumn winds. It will grow in sun or shade but may be unhappy in extremely alkaline and dry soils.
Cistus species, This tender shrub is worth growing in sheltered situations, it will tolerate dry soils and is best in full sun. Bushes are very free flowering, My favourite varieties include purpureus, corbariensis, 'Sunset', laurifolius and lusitanicus 'Decumbens'.
Itea ilicifolia, A little known evergreen wall shrub with 12" racemes of fragrant green ageing to yellow flowers in late summer. Likes a sheltered spot, takes a few years to get established.
Pittosporum, useful evergreen shrubs for mild areas or grown in containers as patio shrubs needing some winter protection. Unusual smal brown to purple , honey scented flowers appear in late spring on mature plants. Varieties of interest include tenuifolium with small grey-green foliage, tenuifolium 'Silver Queen' has silver variegated leaves and tenuifolinm purpureum has deep bronze outer foliage and is dwarf in habit.
Indigofera heterantha, A very under planted, attractive, mid to late summer flowering wall shrub that can be grown as a free standing shrub given some support. It is useful for growing in dry conditions, the purple / pink pea type flowers contrast well against the gray green foliage.
Petunia types and varieties, This tender annual must be one of the best known garden plants. One of the main draw backs with petunias was their weather resistance, flowers would soon die or damage easy when they get wet. To-day the new varieties show better and faster recovery after adverse weather, also we now get less summer rain to cause damage so they have become more popular. Best planted in sunny situations. Breeders have focused on the petunia and we have a large variety of types to chouse from. I can't list them all but consider planting the following.
Petunia F1 Express, one of the cheapest general bedding strains, early and uniform with large single flowers in a full range of colours.
Petunia F1 Purple wave, very good for ground cover, the fast growing petunia I know and very tolerant of adverse weather conditions.
Petunia F1 Junior, a true miniature strain that forms a cushion making them ideal for pots, baskets, containers, window boxes or low bedding.
Petunia Tumbelina, has excellent double flowers, plant in baskets or window boxes.
Petunia Surfina, no other variety or plant produces such a reliable outstanding display, plant in hanging baskets or containers. New types are always being added this year a new blue and a variegated strain will be available.
Petunia Million Bells the small flowered type are excellent in tubs and baskets, last year a terracotta colour was introduced for the year 2000 we shall see a cherry colour.
Petunia F1 Super Cascade is a distinctly procumbent cascading variety, its large flowers come in 8 colours. Excellent tolerance to heat wet and drought, plant in baskets tubs or may be used for general bedding.
Impatiens, The UK's number 1 variety is Accent, large flowers, floriferous habit make this variety ideal for both bedding and containers. Plant in sun or shade these low growing plants are sure to please.
Ipomoea 'Star of Yelta', this large flowered type Morning Glory has large silk like purple flowers that last only for a few days, so many are produced that their lasting qualities are irrelevant. Plants look wonderful tumbling over walls, growing through shrubs, planted in baskets or trained against a wall or trellis.
Begonia semperfloriens, F1 Organdy is the variety I grow, small flowers in a range of pinks, reds and white. Suitable for planting in beds in the shady situation.
Universal Winter Flowering Pansy, For planting in beds or baskets in Sept./Oct. this pansy is free flowering under mild winter conditions, with compact plants in a good colour range. Remember to keep plants flowering at their best you must remove dead flowers and not let them go to seed. Varieties suitable for summer use include the Roggli and Swiss Giant strains.
Marigolds, A large range o types and varieties are available to chose from. The dwarf edging marigold give a wonderful display of colour in shades of yellow, orange and reds. best varieties are Aurora and Alamo types also consider the Boy, Safari and Disco series. The general bedding varieties with the larger flowers are taller growing, The F1 Inca are very reliable as are the American F1 Antigua and Perfection types, they all come in shades of orange and yellow. The F1 variety Vanilla is unusual in that it is the only marigold with large blooms of a soft creamy colour and is highly recommended.
Cobaea scandens, is a showy climber for the cool greenhouse, conservatory or outside trellis with a south facing aspect. It has large deep velvety-blue flowers which are cup shaped. This vigorous climber is also known as 'Cups & Saucers', C. s. alba is a choice white form that quickly grows to cover unsightly objects, both varieties are best treated as a summer annual.
Phygelius, the Cape Figwort is grown for their showy tubular flowers which are borne in late summer into autumn. This plant is best treated like a hardy fuchsia, varieties may be hard to find but well worth growing.
Geranium maderense, This tender short lived perennial has erect steams of large deeply toothed, bright green leaves. Numerous panicles of magenta / pink flowers are produced on established plants. Can be shy to flower be the leaves are magnificent even if the plant fails to flower, plant in full sun in a sheltered aspect, protect in winter if necessary.
Ceratostigma willmotianum, the very bright blue flowers of this plant are freely borne in late summer / autumn, its is valuable for its late flowering. Best treated as an herbaceous plant, cut down all stems annually to ground level in early to mid spring.
Fuchsia, hardy fuchsias are best reduced to ground level in spring each year to encourage new strong growth. The wide range of varieties of these exotic looking plants come in all shapes, sizes and leaf colour. They are suitable and grow best in light shade the following varieties are recommend, 'Golden Treasure' with yellow foliage, Riccartonii' which is one of the hardest and can be used as an hedge. 'Pumila a ground cover fuchia and magellanica versicolor a very hardy upright type with silver grey foilage.
Verbascum, New varieties are being bread and old varieties are being reintroduced of this attractive plant. The plants are rosette forming and usually short lived, they send up erect tall steams bearing dense flowers. Plant in sheltered situations or be prepared to stake flower spikes. Varieties of note are chaixii album (the nettle leaved mullein) with white flowers and mauve centers, 'Gainsborough' a widely grown variety with yellow flowers and 'Raspberry Ripple' a new dwarf hybrid.
Aquilegia, these clump forming plants plants mainly flower in late spring into early summer .They will grow in partial shade and are becoming very popular with gardeners to-day. Many varieties in a range of colours are available, an easy plant to grow for the new gardener.
Helleborus orientalis, The lenten rose produces outward facing saucer shaped flowers, of white or greenish cream, becoming pink with age from mid winter to mid spring. Ideal for growing in deep shade and under trees.
Sedum spectabile, produces a mass of pink flowers in late summer that attract butterflies and bees. The plant is clump forming , the grey-green leaves are attractive when the plant is not in flower.
