Exceptionally tasty fruits called sugar-apples or sweetsops grow on this small, well-branched tree or shrub that tolerates a tropical lowland climate better than its relatives Annona reticulata and Annona cherimola, whose fruits often share the same name. But this one is the most widely cultivated of these species. It is rather similar to soursop (Annona muricata). ... Learn More

A delicious late-ripening apple originally discovered as a seedling growing on the large Penn Inn roundabout at the entrance to our market town of Newton Abbot in South Devon. Even on the poor rocky substrate, this tree produces a large crop of sizeable red-blushed golden apples, and seedlings may produce different fruit. These soft, sweet-fleshed fruits usually keep until December, by which time many other varieties will be well past their eat-by date. ... Learn More

Leathery, spine-tipped leaves clad long spidery branches, which are geometrically arrayed around the trunk like spokes of a cartwheel. One level is produced each year enabling the age of the tree to be easily calculated. When mature this is one of the most handsome, graceful and noble of all the world's trees. Freshly-collected, refrigerated seed is offered, which must be sown on receipt. Very few good solid seeds available after poor weather affected the production of viable seed this year. ... Learn More

This stately palm has large, arching feather-like leaves, the newly emerging foliage having a coppery hue. Producing violet flowers in midsummer, the subsequent red fruits are most attractive to birds. It is tolerant of light frosts so can be also grown in an atrium or conservatory. In the wild it grows in the wet subtropics on the sides of Mt Warning Volcano in northern NSW and over the border in Queensland's Lamington National Park. In the United States, the palm is a popular plant in California from San Luis Obispo south to the Mexican border and in much of central and southern Florida. ... Learn More

This attractive palm originates from Australia, where it grows up to ten meters tall in time, although it still looks good when much shorter. It has a stunningly beautiful green crown shaft under the leaves, and despite its tropical appearance it can handle light frost. Indeed, this attractive variety grows better than many at low temperatures and is slightly more tolerant of frost. ... Learn More

This compact shrub has leaves that are dark green, thick, glossy, with tightly waved edges The flowers are small, white or reddish in colour, forming clusters beneath the leaves. They are fragrant, so attract many pollinators. The fruit is a glossy, bright red and popular with birds and other wildlife such as small mammals. ... Learn More

The "Himalayan Coralberry" is a cool growing compact bush from the eastern Himalayas bearing dark green leaves with undulate margins. Profuse, star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers in early summer produce many berries in autumn and throughout winter and early spring, which remain on the plant giving it a very decorative look, making it ideal for growing as a pot plant for indoors, although it can stand mild frosts. Though not usually grown as a fruit crop, the berries, which have have a mild sweet taste, are edible and children are very fond of them. ... Learn More

This attractive American woody shrub grows most attractive white flowers with prominent pink anthers, amongst gleaming, shiny leaves, later producing large pendulous clusters of juicy black berries with very few seeds. Being resistant to all manner of plant diseases, it is an extraordinary medicine plant which has been further developed in Poland and has an incredible array of health qualities, deserving a far higher recognition. The native Americans used it to prepare pemmican (dried meat). It has a higher concentration of vitamin C than blackcurrants, but it also contains a host of other valuable substances, especially xanthocyanins as antioxidants, (allegedly a highest proportion than any other known plant) polyphenols, bioflavonoids, and tannins. It is a very hardy and vigorous plant and can survive most conditions. Very few seeds collected. ... Learn More

These seeds were collected from our own twenty year old plants which were originally grown from seeds collected from the famous Exbury Gardens. Colours come in all shades from pale lemon to deepest red, and every flower is dripping with heady perfume in spring and early summer. ... Learn More

Collected on our 1994 Chile Expedition (RB94142) and new to cultivation is this dwarf South American equivalent to a New Zealand olearia. A compact evergreen shrublet bearing neat, diminutive, toothed leathery leaves. In July countless small 'shaving-brush' flowers smother its dome, before they become 'snowballs', turning the entire plant white. No-one will guess what this is! ... Learn More

This relatively compact but quite fast-growing oriental-looking tree bears extremely beautiful, fragrant, pink, five petalled orchid-like flowers. The branches are clad with large, deeply two-lobed leaves. Native to South China and south east Asia, it thrives outdoors in such places as Hawaii, coastal California, southern Texas, and Florida. Although the tree can stand a small amount of frost it will also do well in a conservatory. Very easy to grow from seed, in traditional medicine systems it is often used to treat various disease. ... Learn More

One of the world's most gorgeous and desirable trees bearing clusters of large, sweetly-scented, magenta or pink, orchid-like flowers, which are variegated with a striking yellow flash, and open in great profusion. The branches are clad with large, deeply two-lobed leaves. Although the tree can stand a significant amount of frost it will do best in warm countries or a conservatory. ... Learn More

A rare and unusual small shrub bearing unusually large, thick, shiny, holly-like leaves and masses of yellow flowers in spring, followed later by shiny black berries. ... Learn More

This attractive, medium-sized tree of low to medium elevations in the Mountains and adjacent areas in the Piedmont of North Carolina, can sometimes be misidentified as a Cherry tree. In some older tree specimens the bark can develop vertical cracks into irregular scaly plates revealing rough darkish brown bark patterns (unlike most birches). This, however, does not occur in all specimens. The twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of oil of wintergreen. The trees can also be tapped for syrup in a similar fashion to maples. ... Learn More

A serious contender for the world's most attractive palm, the impressive blue-silver fan-shaped leaves can reach up to 2m in width and are divided into 20 segments each. When mature it produces strong, star-shaped stems carrying just a small number of enormous seeds. A staggeringly attractive plant, when I first encountered one in the Canary Islands I simply stood in awe for two or three minutes. A monotypic palm (ie the only one of its genus) it was named for the first chancellor of the German Empire, Prince Otto von Bismarck. The plant is as statuesque and impressive as the man was himself, with a slender trunk capable of reaching over 30cm diameter in the right conditions. Any suitable garden in need of a living architectural statement could do a lot worse than grow this mighty plant. Very few seeds ever available. ... Learn More