Sweetly fragrant, lavender-blue flowers with a curved trumpet shape and a white inner throat that shows only slightly at the base of the upper petals, are formed in abundance in terminal panicles in the late spring and summer. This sub-tropical tree, native to South America, has been widely planted elsewhere because of its beautiful and long-lasting flowers. ... Learn More

A rare and stunningly beautiful plant from the colder parts of Chile and also New Zealand. Thin, branching stems with attractive wavy-edged leaves produce clusters of countless delicate orchid-like cream flowers gently marked with yellow and purple, which appear throughout spring and early summer and produce very few dust-like seeds. This delicate plant will stand severe frost in well-drained soil, and will almost always re-shoot from the base when killed back by severe winters. (RHS Award of Garden Merit). ... Learn More

These ancient plants are dioecious, individual plants being either male or female unlike most trees. Male flowers appear as yellow blossoms and release pollen, which is wind-dispersed, the female flowers being in the form of small clusters of scales, and pollinated by the wind. The berries are green at first, but ripen after 18 months to a dark, blue-purple colour, each berry contains three or more seeds, which are very slow to germinate, sometimes requiring two winters of dormancy before they will sprout and begin growing. This amazingly tough plant has the largest geographic range of any woo ... Learn More

The "Golden Rain Tree" or "Pride of India" is a valuable, very rarely available, highly ornamental tree. Mature specimens produce enormous numbers of yellow flowers on foot-long panicles which later produce papery "Japanese Lantern" pods. The pinnately compound leaves open pink before turning gold in autumn. ... Learn More

A mesmerising medium-sized deciduous shrub, prized for its beautiful appearance. From May to June the arching stems play host to masses of pale pink, trumpet-shaped blooms that contrast beautifully with the delicate yellow throat. These gather in abundant clusters on arching branches amongst simple green leaves. As the flowers fade, this dark green foliage makes an elegant backdrop for other summer-flowering shrubs and perennials. Beautiful enough to be awarded the prestigious RHS AGM. ... Learn More

The well-known laburnum tree produces long racemes of beautiful yellow flowers in early summer followed by pods full of black seeds which are poisonous. ... Learn More

Making an impressive evergreen shrublet, this beautiful plant bears large, soft, velvety leaves, and almost as a bonus, purple flowers smother the plant in early summer. Although it looks tender, it is frost hardy, and either in a very large pot or in the garden it is an arresting sight. ... Learn More

This unique plant often stands pride of place amongst the winter foliage plants, where it shines like a lantern in the garden. As a bonus, purple flowers smother the plant in early summer. Either in a very large pot or in the garden it is an arresting sight. ... Learn More

This unusual Turkish plant has woolly, grey green foliage which is surrounded by pearly pink flowers that make a rustic and ornamental addition to the garden. A lovely tall and slender wild flower, it has blossoms quite similar to "Bryony", whence it takes its name. ... Learn More

From Kashmir comes this tall showy plant with remarkable propeller-like white-centred pink mallow blooms. Strong stems clad in downy ivy-shaped leaves survive without staking throughout the very long flowering season. "A remarkable stately plant" (Graham Stuart Thomas) ... Learn More

This popular plant bears large pink Hollyhock-like blooms, each with a pretty magenta centre, that smother the branches which are clad in attractive grey leaves, from June to November. A fast growing shrub, it is brilliant for quickly filling in gaps at the back of your borders. Most attractive to bees and butterflies, it does of its best in well-drained soil in sun. ... Learn More

This popular shrub is grown for the masses of dark pink, hollyhock-like flowers that smother its branches all summer long from June to September. The deeply lobed, grey-green leaves are attractive too. Extremely long-flowering, this vigorous tree mallow will thrive in a well-drained shrub or mixed border, but needs plenty of space to spread itself out as its puts on tremendous growth in just one season. In cold areas of the country it may be best grown against a warm wall to minimise wind and frost damage. ... Learn More

This very old, softly-prickly cottage garden plant, between June and August, has hairy flowers which are pale pink to purple, alternating up the stems, with whorls of leaves which are oak-shaped and deeply lobed into three. Motherwort has a long history of use as a herb in traditional medicine in Central Europe, Asia and North America. Midwives used it for a variety of purposes, including uterine tonic and prevention of uterine infection in women, hence the name Motherwort. And finally, in the Victorian 'Language of Flowers' it symbolizes concealed love. ... Learn More

Bearing grey-green foliage, which is highly aromatic when crushed, this evergreen, upright shrub has hairy white stems, and saucer-shaped white flowers borne in summer. It thrives in a hot sheltered position, but is nonetheless quite frost hardy in a well-drained spot. ... Learn More

A challenge for your knowledgeable friends to name. Whilst related to L.formosa, this beauty bears no comparison, with trusses of golden yellow trumpets showing prominent stamens, amidst distinctive bronzed foliage which clads the cane-like stems. ... Learn More