One of the most very beautiful of all of the twenty species of lilac, this variety bears arching panicles of scented, lilac-mauve flowers in early to mid summer which are particularly large, broad, multi-stemmed and very strongly fragrant. These are exceptional as they can also vary from white to various shades of violet and purple-red, with even bi-coloured shrubs occuring. The individual flowers are horn-shaped, with four petals, each one attractively pointed. It blooms about two week after the common lilac (S. vulgaris), two species coming from Europe, the remainder mainly from eastern Asia where it grows naturally in Manchuria, Korea and the Russian Far East in the rocky mountain shrub layer, often in forests and river valleys. Despite its beauty, it has remained largely unknown in the West, but we have procured some valuable fresh seeds. ... Learn More

Tamarind trees are very versatile and can be grown in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. The pod-like fruit contain pulp which is used in cuisines all over the world often in desserts, as a jam, blended into juices, sorbets, ice creams and other snacks. In the West it is famously an integral part of the world-famous Worcester Sauce. The timber is use in woodworking and oil can extracted from its seeds. ... Learn More

This well-known evergreen tree bears masses of attractive red berries in summer. (Edible fruit but poisonous seed!) Seeds collected from the compact, columnar, fastigiate form of the longest growing of all of our native trees (even oak!) and plants may vary in stature. ... Learn More

Above sharply-toothed, lance-shaped green leaves open large, showy, bright golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers which attract bees, butterflies, and in warmer climes hummingbirds. It produces attractive pods containing yellow seeds with papery wings and is extremely drought-tolerant, growing well in warm climates. Found native in South America around the tropics. It rarely grows very large and blooms all the year round. ... Learn More

This lovely shrub or small tree has glossy dark green leaves, and fragrant saffron-yellow to orange or peach coloured flowers. The long funnel-shaped flowers are in terminal clusters and produce deep red fruits which form black seed pods and are not edible. It makes an ideal container plant for a sunny deck or patio. In USA Zones 8-10, these plants are used in a variety of landscape applications including hedges, screens, foundation plantings and borders. Native to the West Indies, southern Mexico and Belize, the generic name of this tropical evergreen shrub honours the 16th century French Franciscan monk Andre Thevet, who accompanied a French expedition to Brazil in the 1550s. ... Learn More

This grand, evergreen, pyramidal-shaped coniferous tree has bluish green foliage whose tips turn an attractive plum purple in the winter months. It is very widely used as an ornamental tree, both in its homeland, where it is associated with long life and vitality, and widely elsewhere in temperate climates. The wood is used in Buddhist temples, both for construction work, and for incense burning. It is native to the northeast of the United States and the southeast of Canada and the species was first described by Carolus Linnaeus in 1753, ... Learn More

This stunning palm has large, nearly-circular leaves, and when mature forms a smooth, grey, bare trunk. It has a very restricted geographical range in the wild and is found only in an isolated pocket in the Sikkim Himalayas in north-east India which is immediately threatened by destruction. This palm has only recently been introduced into cultivation, but is about to make a huge impression in the palm world! It is heat-resistant and hardy: -10 to -12°C (14 to 10°F) . ... Learn More

A plant to puzzle and impress your friends. This handsome Chilean plant has long tubular greeny-yellow flowers throughout spring and summer followed by yellow berries. It makes a solid shrub decorated with small, evergreen, glossy, dark green, rather musty-smelling leaves. ... Learn More

Unusual in this genus because of its height, this fishtail-like palm from the Himalayan region has a solitary trunk and large, stiff, feathery leaves arranged in opposite rows in the same plane. An extremely unusual looking palm, the leaves form just two rows on either side of the trunk, so that looking down on the palm from above, the leaves would all form a single straight line. The long, attractive leaflets are dark green above, and greyish white underneath. ... Learn More

This popular shrub bears clusters of bright pink, funnel-shaped flowers in spring and is the perfect specimen for a large shrubbery or even for growing in a lawn. ... Learn More

A truly outstanding deciduous shrub bearing showy funnel-shaped flowers. But this form is special! The buds open to give white flowers which age to pink and finally to red. The whole effect is quite stunning with flowers of all colours on the same plant! ... Learn More

An unusual white form of the popular garden shrub originally discovered in Korea and China in the mid-19th century. ... Learn More

A curious and attractive shrub in the rue family. Sprays of greeny-yellow flowers in spring later produce bright red berries amidst shiny aromatic leaves. Enormous thorns are produced on the old wood. ... Learn More