For the first five years or so this tree grows slowly, it then speeds up to become one of the fastest of conifers both for height and timber volume. This exceptionally handsome, easily grown and disease-resistant tree produces extremely ornamental, violet-purple cones even on small trees. It also has highly aromatic foliage, which, when crushed, has a strong fruity orange smell. Few good fertile seeds collected. ... Learn More

This striking, fast-growing, deciduous shrub bears countless single, fragrant, white (edible!) flowers which are borne in profusion from April to July. It bears downy, greyish, vine-shaped leaves, and does best in a sheltered spot making an absolute gem in any garden. ... Learn More

Trusses of large, saucer-shaped flowers, which vary in colour from almost white to light blue-mauve, are borne profusely from April until September, offset by large greyish-green, rather felted leaves. These completely frost hardy abutilons do well in almost any well drained soil growing well either against a wall or free-standing in a sheltered spot. ... Learn More

This beautiful small evergreen tree from Australia is smothered with masses of exceptionally fine silver-grey, delicate foliage which is topped with fluffy, pale lemon, sweetly scented flowers in late winter and early spring. It is best grown in milder gardens in a sunny spot and free-draining soil and is very fast-growing once established and ideal for exotic gardens. It has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ... Learn More

Long, hebe-like sprays of fragrant creamy yellow flowers open on branches clad in large leathery leaves. Native to north eastern Queensland in Australia, the Western Province of Papua New Guinea and also the eastern Maluku Islands where it is used mainly for environmental management and timber, when a mean annual height increase of 3 to 4 meters will be obtained if grown near the equator. Its success is down to its extremely vigorous growth rate and its tolerance of highly acidic, low nutrient soils, and also its relative freedom from disease. ... Learn More

Intriguing greenish flowers mature into copper-red burrs during the summer months. A good choice for between paving stones or as an edging, it is also ideal in the rock garden, but plants can grow beyond where they are wanted, so keep a firm upper hand. Acaena caesiiglauca is found in mountainous areas and subalpine tussock grasslands, east of the Southern Alps, on South Island, New Zealand. ... Learn More

This previously unreleased plant has romped around our "Chilean garden" here since we collected it from Chiloe Island, Chile, in 1994.(RB94002) Plum-sized, spiky, brown 'toffee apples' stand erect above a carpet of attractive, divided, green and silver leaves. ... Learn More

This very hardy, statuesque and handsome plant has large ornamental glossy leaves and strong spikes of very lovely 'hooded' pink and cream flowers, which over the years make impressive clumps. A superb and long-lived plant that makes a perpetual statement every spring and right into autumn. ... Learn More

These beautiful ornamental trees include some of the most decorative of foliage trees and shrubs. As well as having a large variety of ornamental barks, autumn turns the leaves, which are often finely divided, all shades of red, scarlet, yellow and bronze. ... Learn More

This attractive, bushy, round-crowned deciduous tree bears creamy white flowers and red fruit, and glossy bright green leaves, with toothed margins, that turn a flaming red or yellow in autumn. The thin pale bark is smooth at first but becomes fissured later. It is native to central and south eastern Europe and south western Asia, from Austria east to south western Russia and the Caucasus, and south to Turkey. ... Learn More

The flat-topped clusters of flower heads come in a superb mix of colours which together with the aromatic foliage will attract bees and insects. Prefers full sun in a border with shelter from the wind. Will flower for many months at a stretch and will slowly spread over the years. ... Learn More

This rarely-grown New Zealand relative of our UK "Cow Parsley" is a large plant with handsome tussocks composed of dense clusters of sharply-pointed, sword-like, yellowish-green leaves, and bearing huge, impressive, broad heads of golden flowers. In a well-drained spot this incredible specimen will intrigue everyone (well, most people) for years. ... Learn More

Forming a dense rosette of long, sharp and very narrow leaflets, this unusual frost-hardy plant produces attractive sprays of yellow flowers which are are carried on a strong stalk that can be up 40 in (1 m) high. It is native to tussock grassland in the drier parts of the South Island of New Zealand where it thrives between 300 and 1400 m. In cultivation it does best in a sunny or lightly shaded spot as it does not prefer high summer temperatures and is a perfect replacement for e.g. Agave and Yucca in such climates. In areas where humidity is high it prefers a windy, exposed site. ... Learn More

These delightful, dainty gems are bulbous perennials with linear leaves and nodding, bell-shaped, pure white or occasionally pink, fragrant flowers, which open with or before the leaves in late summer. Clumps multiply reliably. ... Learn More

Formerly Leucojum nicaeense, this is a delicate and most lovely little April-flowering plant, which will happily seed into a sand plunge, if you let it. The stems are about 5 inches (12 cm) tall and the fragrant flowers pure white. It flowers in late spring and increases well in a bulb frame if, kept relatively dry in summer. It is native to a small area in south eastern France, near the Mediterranean. ... Learn More