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

"Chusan Palm". Probably the only palm which is hardy in the UK. Best grown in a sheltered spot to preserve the beauty of the impressive fan-shaped leaves. ... 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

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 magnificent, rare, choice, amazing, and extremely beautiful tree with gorgeous upright panicles of large white flowers with a dazzling deep red centre in late spring. Although it is completely unrelated, the attractive shiny leaves are similar in appearance to those of the common Mountain Ash. In a warm position it will produce large sized, walnut-like fruit that contain edible, cherry-sized seeds resembling small chestnuts. It was described by Joseph Hooker (Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew from 1865-1885) in 1887 as 'one of the most attractive and interesting hardy garden shrubs that has been introduced for many years'. It is native to northern China in the provinces of Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Liaoning, Nei Monggol, Ningxia, Shaanxi, and was originally collected near Beijing in about 1830 by the botanist Alexander von Bunge. A monotypic plant, it is the only species in the genus Xanthoceras. Fresh seeds very rarely obtainable. ... Learn More

Showy flower spikes, reaching up to 15 feet tall, produce masses of waxy white flowers in the late spring which open on several branches. Long flexible leaves with white margins and fuzzy white fibres make attractive spherical heads. Doing best in full sun and well-drained soil, and hardy down to -10º F, this is a great choice for colder locations. In the wild it ranges from southeast Arizona through New Mexico and into west Texas, and south into Mexico. ... 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