One of the world's most fabulously fragrant trees, frilly yellow flowers pour out sweet perfume all summer long. Best grown in the tropics and sub tropics, this gorgeous, fast-growing plant can be successfully grown and flowered in a conservatory in cooler climates. The essential oil derived from the flowers, which last a long time after being cut, is used in aromatherapy and perfumes. When we made a visit, just one specimen of this incredible tree perfumed the whole of the Miami Botanical Gardens at Palm Beach. ... Learn More

Large, gleaming, pure white scented flowers with conspicuous yellow stamens open in early summer on this lovely Californian shrub, the only one in its genus. Making a dense, bushy, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark-green, narrow foliage, it prefers a warm sheltered spot, ideally against a wall, although in mild areas it can be grown in the open garden and although it is normally evergreen, it may lose some of its leaves in a cold winter. Good fertile seed is rarely set. ... Learn More

A show-stopping bloom of five-petaled, perfumed yellow flowers bloom in 8-18" pendulous, terminal racemes covers the tree with profuse bloom. Leaves return as the flowering progresses, although it is often considered to be semi-evergreen because of this brief loss of leaves. A second less significant bloom often occurs later in the season but without loss of leaves. It will tolerate light brief frost, but can get damaged if frost persists. It is the national flower of Thailand, its yellow flowers symbolizing Thai royalty, and is also native to India, Malaysia and Southeast Asia, and is well-known for producing a show-stopping bloom of yellow flowers in May, June and July. There are also many traditional medicinal uses known from Asia. The flesh of the fruit is used as a laxative, while the bark can be used to treat skin infections and in India the strongly scented pulp is sometimes added to tobacco and smoked! ... 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

Beautiful crimson and pink flowers open in compact bunches on this fast-growing, deciduous or semi-deciduous tree which flowers in spring and sheds its leaves in the winter months. Although its origin is in Southeast Asia, it has been extensively grown in tropical areas worldwide as a straight-trunked garden tree owing to its impressive appearance at all times of the year. Its flower is the provincial flower of Chainat Province, Thailand, and indeed it is one of Thailand's Nine Auspicious Trees as it is said to bring good luck, ensure continued high rank and afford victory to all who grow it! ... Learn More

This outstandingly beautiful, medium-sized tree bears bright deep-pink flowers with shades of orange and red. Originating in Eastern India, it produces large-seeded long pods containing a black cathartic pulp which has been used as a horse medicine. ... Learn More

This unusual specimen can finally grow into a tall, deciduous tree bearing large, short, sharp prickles all along the branches, and also on the trunk which has a pronounced buttress at the base. The leaves drop off in the dry season, and it is leafless for a long period, allowing the glorious array of large and beautifully-marked pink flowers to display to their best. The large Kapok seed pods contain the fibrous fluff which has been used since early times for a large variety of uses. ... Learn More

This extremely choice shrub or smallish tree, is clad in pink flowers, which open from tiny winter buds which appear on last year's wood, sometimes on the trunk itself, the branches being totally covered with blossom before the heart-shaped leaves appear. The flowers are displayed over a very long period from spring into early summer. ... Learn More

Amidst light green shiny leaves arise sprays of small, tubular, very fragrant, yellow-green flowers on the ends of the stems, flowering from late spring to autumn, and which produce clusters of small, black, egg-shaped berries during summer and autumn. This easy, hardy, evergreen shrub is quite possibly the hardiest and longest blooming Cestrum of them all, as it perfumes the night for many months. In cooler countries it attracts bees and butterflies, and in the Americas, hummingbirds! In 2004 this species made the Royal Horticultural Society’s list of the top 200 plants of the last 200 years. Warning, all parts of this plant are poisonous, but so are a good percentage of many garden plants! ... Learn More

This incredible plant looks tropical, but is in fact perfectly ok with non-tropical conditions. Indeed, It is one of only two palms native to Europe and copes happily with British weather. Cold temperatures, wind and drought won’t phase it. One has thrived, unprotected on a north facing hillside in our gardens in Southern England for more than 30 years, and we have had minus 12C at times. It is one of the most cold-hardy palms and is used frequently in landscaping in colder countries. In the wild, it grows mainly in southwestern Europe, especially in Spain and Portugal. It provides an exotic focal point in the garden with its evergreen fan-shaped leaves, and is naturally slow growing and rarely exceeds head height. Although it is very hardy indeed, it will do best in moist but well-drained soil in a warm, sheltered position such as in a sunny border. ... Learn More

Large, frilly-petalled, golden-eyed, purple-pink flowers open in early summer on this superb, easy-to-grow plant which is perfect for a really hot border or shrubbery. Native to south-western Europe and western north Africa, it is often grown solely for its attractive, greyish-white oblong leaves. ... Learn More

An exceptional pink hybrid seedling here years ago, possibly with some of the blood of the rare Cistus palhinhae we collected in Portugal. Huge, frilly, paler-eyed pink flowers cover this dwarf shrub in spring and early summer. Will thrive in a baking hot position. ... Learn More

A compact and bushy, evergreen shrub, flowering from February until June, with colours that can vary from rose pink to purple. It is native to southern Europe and the area around the eastern Mediterranean, but is naturalized in other areas of the world, such as California. It prefers a well-drained soil and does best in full sun. All cistus do best if pruned after flowering which will retain shape and provide healthy young growth for next years flowers. The seeds were collected at 2000m if that is relevant. This plant is the source of the resin labdanum - used in perfumes as a replacement for ambergris! Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

Coffee is one of the world's favourite drinks, and also one of the most important commercial crop-plants, and actually the second most valuable international commodity. Coffee trees can be grown outside anywhere there is a subtropical climate, although they make an attractive specimen and talking point as a pot plant in cooler climes. Arabica coffee is accepted as the best of all forms and this variety is "Ethiopia Sidamo", a type grown exclusively in the Sidamo Province of Ethiopia. It produces small greyish beans, and is especially valued for its deep, spicy wine, or chocolate-like taste and floral aroma. ... Learn More