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 large tree is native to south and southeast Asia, and is more commonly known the commercial wood product, teak, with a wide variety of uses from furniture to boat building. The leaves are used for fermenting soybeans. With clusters of small, lightly fragranced, white flowers which are pollinated by bees, flies and ants. A tree for a sunny position with moist, well-drained soil, it can however tolerate drought. ... Learn More

This rare and new-in-cultivation evergreen shrub from Madeira is worth growing as a foliage plant alone with its large soft, velvety-sage-green scallop-edged leaves. However, a glorious multitude of showy, six inch purple-violet-rose spikes, many to a stem, are held upright, smothering the foliage from top to bottom on a dense rounded bush from May to August. In addition, it is easy, drought tolerant, and deer proof. Gentle pruning in early spring will keep it flowering every year. Finally it will grow almost anywhere, from bone dry (as in Madeira) to a damp shady corner. A worthy introduction ... Learn More

A truly appropriate common name, this rare plant opens glorious, dazzling purple goblet-flowers, which slowly open making a five-bladed windmill! New to cultivation, this slow-growing, dwarf, evergreen shrub will make a stunning plant for a sheltered spot or even a large container indoors. The name Tibouchina is actually adapted from a Guianan indigenous name for a member of this genus. ... Learn More

Masses of goblet shaped, carmine-red flowers open amidst dark green, deeply-carved, soft fuzzy leaves on this very rare shrub, which can eventually become a compact tree. A magnet for butterflies and bees, in the wild it is actually pollinated by hummingbirds, where it thrives high in the cloud forests and paramo of the Andes, in Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador between 2400 and 3800 m. Seldom yet seen in cultivation, it will make an outstanding specimen in cool temperate climates. ... Learn More

Masses of sizeable, sumptuous, beautiful royal-purple blooms open wide, amidst velvet leaves, constantly from March or April. These continue all through autumn and sometimes into early winter, or even all-year-round in warmer climates. Perfect trained as a shrub, or even allowed to grow finally into a small tree, it is one of the world's most spectacular plants. In the wild, Tibouchina lepidota is fairly widespread in montane and cloud forests of the Andes mountains between Venezuela and Peru from 800 to 3200 m, and therefore has a considerable measure of hardiness. ... Learn More

This gorgeous and completely hardy Australian shrub grows to around 2 feet tall,with bluish-purple drupes clustered at the ends of branches which, predictably, hold thyme-like leaves. Flowers form attractive pink clusters, often appearing at the same time as ripe fruits from the previous season. Flowering period is during summer. T. thymifolia occurs on scattered mountains, mainly in the central part of Tasmania and often on dolerite bouldery ground. ... 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

Flattened heads of strongly fragrant pinkish-white flowers open above a foil of evergreen leaves from December to May. Attractive dark blue-black berries appear later, and indeed growing several in the same area will encourage a good display of these. Native to the Mediterranean area of Europe and North Africa, this lovely, long-flowering shrub is perfect for brightening partly shady areas when little else is in flower. Reliable and easy-to-grow, the dark green foliage provides a dense backdrop for ornamental or feature plants. ... 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

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

This short, tender shrub has elliptical green leaves, producing small bell-shaped, five-petaled flowers and small red berries. Preferring a sheltered spot in full sun, this plant will grow well after all chance of frost is gone, but would need to be brought inside the green house to overwinter, or grown again from seed. The berries are very popular with birds! ... Learn More

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