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

The legendary 'Upside-Down-Tree' (Adamsonia digitata) makes an intriguing, long-lived bonsai or conservatory plant and is easily grown from seed. In the wild this tree is a valuable food commodity, the huge sausage fruits being the source of cream of tartar. ... 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

Long arching compact sprays hold tightly packed, deeply fragrant, yellow-eyed, pure white flowers. Most attractive to all pollinating insects, but especially butterflies, the more common blue form was only discovered in the late nineteenth century in central China where it is native to Sichuan and Hubei provinces. Jean-André Soulié, a botanist-missionary, sent seed to the French nursery Vilmorin, and B. davidii entered commerce in the 1890s. It was named for the Basque missionary and explorer in China, Father Armand David, who first noticed the shrub. ... Learn More

A dwarf variety with subtle Ivory-cream flowers on an upright, but containable habit. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with free-draining soil or compost. Excellent for containers and raised beds for the spring through summer, but can be planted in the border afterwards to enjoy for years to come. Some variation from seed may occur! ... Learn More

The "African Butterfly Bush" or "Mountain sage" is a splendid dwarf shrub from the high mountains of Southern Africa where it grows usually above 6,000 feet. Sweetly-scented, creamy-white or sulphur-coloured, orange-centred flowers appear in midsummer and attract many flying insects including bees and butterflies, whilst the wrinkly, narrow leaves are covered in attractive rusty brown hairs. It makes a superb standard in our African garden at Plant World where it survives arctic winters well on a bitterly cold East-facing slope. ... Learn More

This gorgeous, slow-growing South East Asian native tree opens its bright orange-red flowers, produced in clusters up to 15 cm long, from January to March, when it becomes a tree of flame, an absolute riot of orange and vermilion flowers, which cover the entire crown, massed along the ends of the stalks. Each flower consists of five petals comprising a standard, two smaller wings, and a curved beak-shaped keel, hence the name of "Parrot Tree". Traditionally the flowers were used to make the bright colour for the festival of Holi. In Manipur, when a member of the Meitei community dies and his b ... Learn More

Spindly, much-dividing branches produce relatively insignificant starry lilac flowers in spring. But after the leaves have fallen in autumn the extremely attractive stunning bunches of bright violet-pink berries persist through into winter, and these are almost certainly the most beautiful of any autumn berry. ... Learn More

This spectacular, and unexpectedly hardy shrub, bears dense spikes of flamboyant red bottle-brush flowers that appear in late spring and early summer. Narrow, sharply pointed leaves adorn this dazzling shrub that is possibly the hardiest of all bottle brushes. ... Learn More

This exceptionally hardy shrub produces large furry greenish-yellow "bottlebrush" flowers in profusion in spring. An outstanding new colour in the more usually red "bottlebrush" range. ... Learn More

This is a very rarely offered seed. Clusters of cream-coloured, three-petalled flowers form at the ends of the branches before developing into really large fruits holding almond-shaped seeds which are very rarely available in other countries. The kernels are often consumed locally, either raw or cooked, having a rich, pleasant flavour, when it is highly favoured as a snack, and are commonly used as a far better substitute for common almond. It is somewhat sweeter in flavour, and can even be ground into a powder and used to make tasty bread. Indeed, the seeds are used in a wide variety of dishe ... Learn More

Evergreen mounds of shiny evergreen leaves bear masses of large, fragrant, beautiful, propeller-like, snowy white flowers whose deep perfume intensifies at night, these flowers opening for months at a time and for all twelve months in hotter countries. Ornamental, plump, round, crimson, almost plum-sized fruits appears in summer and autumn at the same time as the fragrant blooms. In warm or coastal areas the fruits also appear throughout the year and can be eaten straight from the bush or made into pies, jams, jellies, and sauces. This rarely-seen shrub is actually a traditional food plant in ... Learn More

In the dry season this tall shrub or small tree produces long racemes of massed clusters of bright golden flowers, which appear on almost every branch, all of which are clad in attractive alternately arranged leaves, consisting of pairs of feathery, deep green ovate leaflets. Later appear the pea-like seed pods. It does best in a hot spot and full sun and well-drained soil. ... Learn More

When in flower, this is one of the most handsome trees of Central America, being valued especially for its dazzling floral display, especially along the Pacific lowlands, reminding one of apple trees, by both the form of the tree and the colouring of the blossoms. Petals are red at first, but gradually become pink and then peach as they age giving an unusual effect as spring progresses. ... Learn More