Seeds collected from the very best cultivars of the dark, narrow leaved forms of the fragrant-flowered elder such as 'Black Lace'. Seedlings will vary, with less than half having dark or very dark foliage, and pink or dark pink flowers. It is very important indeed to remember that many green seedlings will turn darker as the plants mature through the summer in their first year, so do not discard all green-leaved seedlings. ... Learn More

A generous packet of ready-stratified seeds from dark-leaved cultivars such as 'Black Beauty'. The leaves of these plants will vary a lot in colour from darkest purple through browns to green, and also in shape, from very finely divided ones to normal broad-leaved forms. Although less than half of these seedlings will have the darker leaves and more desirable pink, rather than white flowers, it is important to allow the plants to mature as the leaves often do not reveal their final colouring until the second year. ... Learn More

Bright red elder berries open in dazzling clusters amongst the finely-divided golden feathery foliage, and even in full sun the foliage of this superb and striking Elder will look luminous and healthy, completely resisting sun-scorch. These exceptional plants are long-lived, even making superb hedging plants up to 2 m tall! Few fertile seeds set. ... Learn More

White, fragrant spring flowers give way to dazzling, pendulous clumps of pillar-box red berries, which shine with great intensity. A great improvement on our own black-fruited elder and now you can make red elderberry wine! Collected on our Russian trip to Sakhalin (RBS0265). ... Learn More

A spectacular, small to medium sized, deciduous or evergreen tree that can reach up to 20 m tall. With a spreading crown, compound leaves and a profusion of deep red flowers in spring, it is well-suited to shade as an ornamental tree in warmer regions. The new leaves are bright red and add to the tree's attractiveness. It is named for the copious nectar that drips from its flowers, which attracts various species of birds and insects. ... Learn More

Securinega suffruticosa is a deciduous shrub growing to 1.5m. It flowers from Aug to Sept, and the seeds ripen from Sep to Oct. The flowers are dioecious, individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant, so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. The plant is not self-fertile. This plant is commonly used in Chinese herbalism,(USE AT OWN RISK) where it is considered to be one of the 50 fundamental herbs where it is used in the treatment of contusions and nervous paralysis. ... Learn More

The Candlestick Cassia gets its name from the large sprays of upright, fragrant yellow flowers that resemble candles, and in a similar way to the buddleia bush, it is a magnet for butterflies. A native to Central and South America, it makes a showy addition to any warm or well-protected garden, where it will bloom from spring to autumn, bearing large green leaves which fold up at night. ... Learn More

This is the rarely-offered pale pink form of this most ornamental shrub bearing clusters of attractive flowers held above evergreen compound leaves. It grows well in almost any position but is especially suitable for wet or moist areas in warmer climates. In winter, long seed pods with a distinctive rattle appear, hence one of its common names. ... Learn More

Attractive, evergreen, dome-shaped mounds display clusters of fragrant yellowish-white flowers followed by bright red fruit when pollinated. These shrubs are perfect for low hedging or specimen plants, and are especially good in containers. This really is an excellent shade-loving evergreen shrub, and is quite unusual in that the plants are either male or female, the female forms being the best (of course!) as they are the ones with attractive sprays of dazzling red berries which are an added plus. ... Learn More

This impressive, very choice and early flowering shrub is native to both Chile and New Zealand and produces large, bright yellow flowers which are borne in abundance over a long period from late winter to spring. These are followed by long slender pods, resembling a string of four-winged beads. Leaves are glossy and dark green, smaller than those of Sophora japonica. ... Learn More

Native to the Himalayas, this large, spreading shrub bears splendid plumes of creamy-white fragrant flowers in early summer. Sometimes called false or tree spiraea, this is a close relative of the more familiar garden spiraeas. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it their prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... Learn More

This well-loved tree produces clusters of white flowers in spring followed by bright, long-lasting, orange-red berries in the autumn that are loved by birds. The leaves go through dramatic colour changes in the autumn, turning yellow, then finally deep crimson before they fall off. The mountain ash is actually not an ash but a member of the rose family. The name "rowan" is derived from the Old Norse name for the tree, raun. It has numerous English folk names, including: Mountain ash, Quickbane, Quickbeam, Quickentree, Quickenbeam, Ran tree, Roan tree, Roden-quicken, Roden-quicken-royan, Ro ... Learn More

This medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree has fern-like pinnate leaves composed of many small leaflets, dark green in spring and summer, and plum purple before falling in autumn. The fragrant white flowers in spring are followed by masses of large clusters of drooping, waxy, porcelain-white berries in autumn that are extremely popular with wildlife. It was first discovered in central China in the early twentieth century by the famed plant hunter Ernest Wilson. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... Learn More

Fragrant golden 'pea' flowers smother this lovely shrub, which is native to the Mediterranean region in southern Europe, south west Asia and north west Africa, where it is found in sunny sites, usually on dry, sandy soils. With branches almost devoid of leaves, it is the sole species in the genus Spartium, but is closely related to the other brooms in the genera Cytisus and Genista. It will do well in any hot, dryish spot in the sun. ... Learn More

One of the world's most spectacular flowering trees, native to tropical western Africa. The large reddish-orange flowers (up to 15cm long) bloom with great profusion, contrasting with the glossy dark green leaves, and when flowers bloom at their peak in the spring, the tree can appear to seem on fire, hence one of the common names being 'fire of the forest'. The open flowers are cup-shaped and can hold water and dew, which makes them attractive to many species of bird and insect. This tree is believed in some parts of Africa to possess magical properties, with twigs being used as wands by witc ... Learn More