Large fragrant nocturnal white flowers open on stems bearing enormous mature leaves which can reach a length and width of up to thirty five centimetres. Indeed, they can be used as actual dinner plates or as packaging and storage for wrapping materials inside. The leaves are also used as a primitive method of re-enforcing roofs and preventing leaks. The wood is flexible and durable and is often used for box making. Mostly planted as an ornamental or shade tree, the leaves, flowers, and wood thus all serve a large variety of functions. It is home to Southeast Asia, from India to Burma. ... Learn More

This attractive, moderate-sized, evergreen tree flowers from March to May when its yellowish male flowers crowd into rounded axillary clusters, the female flowers being solitary and greenish yellow. It has pendent branches and dark grey bark, with both bark and leaves being used as medicine, the leaves and fruits traditionally used as medicine for rheumatism. The fleshy fruit has a hard seed-containing stone within, which is strung into necklaces for putting on children, the belief being they ward off evil. The plant contains mustard oils as a chemical defence against herbivores and is widespr ... Learn More

The Quince, a small deciduous tree with ancient origins, is beloved for its delicate beauty and aromatic fruits. With its twisted branches and rounded form, it brings a charming, rustic appeal to orchards and gardens alike. In spring, it bursts into life with large, pale pink to white blossoms, drawing pollinators such as bees. As the season progresses, these flowers transform into golden, pear-shaped fruits that exude a sweet, floral fragrance when ripe. While too astringent to eat raw, the fruit is prized for its culinary versatility, lending its unique flavor to jams, jellies, and desser ... Learn More

Collected on our 1994 Chile expedition, (RB 941010,) this shrubby and spiny unlikely verbena relative, with small, shiny evergreen leaves, produces clusters of smallish mauve bell-flowers in spring followed by most attractive violet berries in autumn. ... Learn More

This is a very dwarf, bone hardy shrub, with large pink flowers up to two inches across and obovate leaves with bristly margins, growing in tundra and alpine areas of Alaska. In the wild, large sections of sea shores and mountain sides turn pink. ... Learn More

This is not just a superlative rhododendron, it is in fact one of the most magnificent plants one can grow. Maturing as a large evergreen shrub, it can, in many years, become a tree, with enormous, magnificent, glossy dark green leaves up to 30cm in length, with whitish down beneath. The large flowers, in dense rounded trusses, are bell-shaped, cream to pale yellow with a purple blotch in the throat. Both the BBC and Independent TV companies filmed this in full flower during the spring here in Plant World Gardens, whilst visitors come to our gardens especially to see these plants in full blo ... Learn More

Closely related to Kerria, this rarely encountered deciduous shrub is the only species in this (monotypic) genus. It has arching shoots and tapered, sharply toothed, deeply veined mid-green leaves, above which, in late spring and early summer, sizeable, four-petalled white flowers are produced from shoot tips, the large glossy black berries following later. ... Learn More

"Stag's-horn Sumach". Velvety shoots produce large divided leaves turning brilliant purple and orange in autumn. Clusters of deepest red fruits are displayed on female plants. If cut back hard in spring, enormous leaves, up to three-feet long, are produced. ... Learn More

This gorgeous plant has sweetly-fragrant flowers opening over a long period until mid autumn. This unusually dwarf compact form form was discovered growing on the sea cliffs near to Newcastle in the UK. The flowers open much larger the usual form and have correspondingly increased levels of perfume. The bright red autumn heps, hips, or seed pods, are also larger than normal. Seedlings may vary but expect some lovely forms. ... Learn More

Seemingly not in cultivation. We can find no references. Masses of medium sized pink flowers on a dense shrub. Vladimir, our botanist guide, asserts that this is the best rose for grafting purposes, but not apparently discovered in the West. ... Learn More

The lovely "Dog Rose" is native to Europe, North West Africa and western Asia. It makes a perfect addition to a wild garden and is often used for hedging. The gorgeous flowers can vary from deep pink to almost white, maturing into attractive, oval 1.5–2 cm red-orange fruit, or hip or hep! The flesh of the fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level, and is used to make syrup, tea and marmalade, and indeed it has been grown or encouraged in the wild for the production of vitamin C from its fruit (often as rose-hip syrup), especially during conditions of scarcity or during wartime. ... Learn More

These incredible, compact, disease-resistant plants will flower surprisingly quickly from seed, even in four months! We did not believe it until we trialled them! Yes, all this from seed! Sweetly-scented blooms, in a range of shades through pink to white, appear on this beautiful miniature rose, which is perfect for growing in pots, although if grown in the ground it will become a low growing, hardy perennial shrub. The rarely-seen and unique Fairy Rose is a Polyantha, with many clusters of blooms, and they are valued for their profuse clumps of ever-blooming double and single flowers, which a ... Learn More

Native to Europe and southwest Asia, this lovely rose bears fragrant, paler-centred pink flowers throughout spring and early summer. A vigorous plant, it is ideal in the wild garden or covering an unsightly wall! ... Learn More

A healthy, tough and extremely vigorous rose with spreading growth, bearing masses of pure white flowers, with a strong sweet fragrance, which are held in beautiful, flat-topped, cascading clusters. These can sometimes be made up of hundreds of individual flowers each facing outwards, exposing a cluster of pretty yellow stamens. The heavy masses of perfumed flowers are most attractive to bees, making it a good choice for a wildlife garden, and also for growing through large trees, or to cover large unsightly buildings or walls. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Aw ... Learn More

Rosa gallica, commonly known as the Gallica Rose, is a historical and well-recognized species within the rose family, Rosaceae. Known for its significance in horticulture and cultural history, this species has a straightforward yet enduring presence. The Gallica Rose is characterized by its deciduous shrub habit, typically reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). The stems are armed with thorns, and the pinnate leaves consist of several small leaflets. The flowers of Rosa gallica are notable for their simple, five-petaled structure and appear in a range of colors, including shades ... Learn More