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 pretty evergreen tree, originally from Queensland, bears large racemes of attractive, fragrant greenish-yellow flowers, rather resembling a large-flowered hebe. In cultivation it can grow up to 25 metres tall in moist conditions, although it can be less than 5-10 metres tall, or even much less in drier areas. ... 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

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. Short-stemmed, greenish flowers are produced on short stems in summer, followed by attractive mahogany-red burr-like fruits. This very eye-catching 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

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

One of the very best Japanese maples for autumn colour, this spectacular variety really comes into its own in autumn, with the most intense, long lasting, fiery scarlet autumn colour of all the Japanese maples. It is ideal for border planting, and will also excel in a large pot or container for many years. ... 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

This typical and lovely high alpine plant grow on the mountains of Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria where it prefers a sunny location in pastures and rocky areas, usually at an altitude of 2,000–2,800 metres. ... 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