An attractive, short-trunked, compact rosette of broad, stiff, blue-green, reddish centred leaves, appears from a deep, branching underground rhizome. This extremely pretty and unique spectacle slowly grows in size, until, after several years, an impressive, large, terminal, cone-like inflorescence with recurved bracts shoots upwards, and is finally pollinated by birds. Very rarely seen or offered as viable seed, this amazing plant grows in the alpine zone of the Ruwenzori Mountains in Zaire and Uganda between 3000 and 3500 m, where the extreme climate is usually clear and cold in the mornings, with intense sunshine, and cloudy or foggy in the afternoons with frost at night. Daytime temperatures are usually only a few degrees above freezing, and in a similar way to many bromeliads, the leaf rosette holds a reservoir of water among the tightly fitted leaves, which is key to its survival in this inhospitable habitat. In cultivation, the giant Lobelias are extremely rare, and will do best outside in temperate, highly oceanic climates such as Ireland, New Zealand, southern Chile or the coastal Northwestern of the U.S. Otherwise they make stunning pot plants if slowly potted on until they flower. Viable seed difficult to collect and very, very scarce indeed. ... Learn More

An amazingly choice and heat-tolerant plant with very large, brilliant yellow, purple-eyed flowers. Although a perennial shrub in warmer climes, this plant is best grown in a large pot or sheltered garden elsewhere. ... Learn More

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 frost hardy plant is surely the most desirable of all mallow relatives. Clusters of large, bowl-shaped, pale to deep purple flowers, with the occasional white flowered form, open from late spring to summer over a foil of felted grey-green leaves. ... 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

One of the hardiest mimosas with thin, strap-shaped, willow-like leaves and dense sprays of fragrant, light lemon, fuzzy flowers in spring and summer. This little beauty is called Wirilda in Australia. ... 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

Probably the most lovely of all of the "New Zealand Burrs", this species forms a low mat of beautiful, steel-blue, ferny leaves. Greenish-blue flowers are produced on short stems in summer, followed by attractive mahogany-red burr-like fruits. This very eye-catching, slow-spreading, and attractive plant is excellent either in the rock garden, or even in mixed containers, and is incredibly adaptable to almost any soil condition, flourishing in the poorest of areas. ... 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. ... Learn More

This small evergreen to semi-evergreen tree is different to most other Chinese Maples in having unlobed dark green leaves. It makes a vibrant ornamental tree for the garden due to its bright purple-red bark (which darkens to grey-brown with maturity), its glossy oblong shaped leaves, its purple-white flowers and the yellow-brown fruit. New plant growth also often takes on a a reddish tinge. ... Learn More

An outstandingly lovely ornamental tree with orange-cinnamon coloured bark which peels back revealing the smooth shiny new bark beneath. In autumn the entire tree seems to be ablaze as the leaves turn deep crimson-red and it is utterly hardy and long-lived. ... 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

Grown for its tiny purple spring flowers and spectacular red purple foliage that turns darkest fiery crimson in autumn, this beautiful tree is a superb specimen with a slow growing, compact rounded habit that makes it ideal for growing in small gardens and containers. This variety also makes a very attractive bonsai tree. ... Learn More