The Manila Tamarind, or Madras Thorn, is a rugged yet graceful tree native to Central and South America, now naturalized across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Its spreading, umbrella-shaped canopy is supported by a trunk adorned with rough, grayish bark. The small, bipinnate leaves lend a soft, feathery texture to the tree, which is often complemented by clusters of greenish-white, fragrant flowers during the blooming season. These blossoms are a magnet for pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The tree’s standout feature, however, is its twisted, spiraling pods, which e ... Learn More

The Pongam Tree, or Indian Beech, is a majestic evergreen or semi-deciduous tree native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. It features a dense, spreading canopy of glossy, pinnate leaves that offer ample shade, making it a popular choice for streetscapes, gardens, and agroforestry systems. During late spring and early summer, the tree produces clusters of pale pink, lavender, or white pea-shaped flowers that attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, adding to its ecological value. Its flattened, brown seed pods contain oil-rich seeds that are highly valued for biodiesel pr ... Learn More

Primula candelabra 'Pillar Box', is a stunning perennial known for its tiered whorls of bright crimson-red flowers that bloom in late spring to early summer. The vivid blooms are held on tall, upright stems above a rosette of vibrant green leaves, creating a striking candelabra-like effect. It thrives in damp, shaded areas, making it ideal for woodland gardens, pond edges, or shaded borders and humus-rich soils that remain consistently moist. Its bold color and unique flowering habit make it a standout in spring and early summer displays, while its ecological benefits include attracting pollin ... Learn More

Pulsatilla grandis, commonly known as Greater Pasque Flower, is a charming perennial celebrated for its silky, bell-shaped blooms that emerge in early spring. The flowers, in shades of violet-blue, are adorned with golden stamens at the center, creating a striking contrast. The plant's finely divided, silvery-green foliage adds texture and remains attractive after flowering. As the flowers fade, they are replaced by feathery seed heads that provide visual interest well into summer. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, Pulsatilla grandis is an excellent choice for rock gardens, alpin ... Learn More

Pulsatilla vulgaris 'Rode Klokke', commonly known as Rode Klokke Pasque Flower, is a compact perennial admired for its striking deep red, bell-shaped blooms that emerge in early spring. The silky petals surround a golden yellow center, creating a vibrant contrast against finely divided, silvery-green foliage. As the flowers fade, feathery seed heads develop, adding visual interest throughout the season. This low-maintenance plant thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soils, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens, borders, or naturalized settings. Its early bl ... Learn More

Very rarely seen, this fabulous, dark-leaved variant of the celandine is also one of our earliest spring flowers, blooming just after the snowdrops as early as February. It makes solid carpets of superb, shiny, ebony-black, tightly-packed foliage, liberally studded with golden stars. This solid, glistening foliage is an astonishing annual weed suppressant, making a solid low carpet, stifling germinating annual seedlings which simply do not have light to survive until May or June. Then the celandine's leaves promptly die completely away, having achieved their "mulching/weed suppressing" duty. T ... Learn More

Ricinus communis 'Impala', commonly known as Impala Castor Bean, is a striking ornamental plant prized for its bold, exotic appearance. This compact cultivar features deeply lobed, glossy bronze-red leaves that create a dramatic contrast in the garden. Its architectural form is complemented by bright red seed pods that emerge in summer, adding both texture and color to borders, containers, or tropical-themed landscapes. Growing quickly to a manageable height of 4–5 feet, Ricinus 'Impala' thrives in full sun and well-drained, fertile soils. While highly decorative, gardeners must note that a ... Learn More

Ricinus communis 'Zanzibarensis', commonly known as Zanzibar Castor Bean, is a towering ornamental plant that adds bold, tropical flair to any garden. Renowned for its massive size, this cultivar can reach heights of up to 15 feet in a single growing season, making it an excellent choice for dramatic focal points or screening. Its huge, deeply lobed, palmate leaves are green with a slight bronze tint, creating a lush, jungle-like effect. Bright red seed pods emerge in mid to late summer, providing additional visual interest. This fast-growing plant thrives in full sun and well-drained, fert ... Learn More

A very rare, semi-deciduous bramble, making long slender stems bearing most attractive, solitary, arrow-like leaves in a herring bone pattern. Dense bunches of white flowers finally produce elongated but compact clumps of almost opalescent orange-red fruits, which posses a unique good flavour when ripe. Almost certainly the latest to fruit of all brambles in the UK, ours was still fruiting on a shady bank in December (when this picture was taken)! Also an excellent ground cover plant, it is sumptuous when planted to overhang a wall or container. Like most brambles it does best if controlled a ... Learn More

Bring a splash of vibrant color to your garden with Salvia nemorosa 'Merleau Rose,' also known as Wood Sage or Balkan Clary. This stunning perennial belongs to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, recognized for its aromatic foliage and showy flower spikes. 'Merleau Rose' is a cultivar of the Salvia nemorosa species, sometimes listed under its synonym, Salvia x superba. It is a favorite among gardeners for its ability to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators while offering a long blooming season. 'Merleau Rose' is perfect for borders, containers, or cottage gardens. Its dense ... Learn More

Cyphomandra betacea 'Yellow', commonly known as Yellow Tamarillo or Yellow Tree Tomato, is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Andes region of South America. It produces large, heart-shaped leaves with a purple tinge, adding ornamental value to gardens. In spring to early summer, it bears clusters of small, fragrant, pink-white flowers, which give way to egg-shaped, glossy yellow fruits approximately 10 cm (4 inches) in length. The yellow fruits have a milder, sweeter flavor compared to the red variety, making them ideal for fresh consumption or culinary uses such as ja ... Learn More

Possibly the most impressive plant you can grow outside in the UK, this rare, fast-growing shrub produces a compact thicket of upright, downy stems topped by astonishing, very large, deeply-lobed green leaves up to 60 cm. or more across. New shoots and leaves have an intriguing coating of fine, felted, pale brown hairs. Creamy clusters of attractive pompom flowers are produced in large sprays in the autumn, followed by black fruit. Preferring well drained soil in full sun, it may be cut back by the winter frost, but each year it comes back reliably in spring in all but the very coldest areas ... Learn More

Tropaeolum tricolor is a captivating annual prized for its vibrant, three-toned blossoms appearing in swarms of small but gorgeous red flowers, with distinctive black and yellow lips. This plant will effortlessly brighten any garden space, creating a stunning display against a backdrop of glossy, circular leaves. This charming nasturtium enhances garden borders, containers, and hanging baskets alike with its dazzling colors. With a naturally trailing or climbing habit, it makes an excellent choice for vertical accents and ground cover in sunny, well-drained areas. ... Learn More

Your original description - Seldom seen white dwarf variety of the previous. CHILTERNS his lovely Violet is not a hybrid with other Viola varieties but a natural variety of the blue wild form. Of a compact, spreading, upright habit, it bears, in comparison to most of the innumerable hybrids, its quite delightful pure white flowers continuously from April until October by which time your thoughts may be turning to indoor pursuits! When cut back regularly, the plant regenerates very quickly and becomes a durable perennial. A sunny to partially shaded position in any good garden soil is all i ... Learn More

Vitis amurensis, commonly known as Amur Grape or Siberian Grape, is a vigorous, deciduous climbing vine native to the Amur River region of Siberia, China, and Korea. This cold-hardy species is known for its ability to withstand temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F), making it one of the hardiest grapevines available. The plant features large, deeply lobed, green leaves that turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, adding ornamental value to landscapes. Small, fragrant flowers bloom in late spring to early summer, followed by clusters of edible, dark purple-black grapes in late ... Learn More