This rarely grown American sub-shrubby plant is an unlikely member of the 'Loosestrife' family. Thin woody stems, which will slowly spread to form a clump, produce masses of small, bright yellow flowers in early spring. ... Learn More

One of the most unusual shrubs in the UK, this beauty bears willow-like leaves, arranged tight to the branches. Both male and female plants occur, but only the females bear the amazing solid clusters of soft golden berries. These are famous for their many health benefits and are most commonly used in herbal teas. It is also making its way in to some of the most adventurous chef’s kitchens, becoming a very popular alternative in household recipes. With a sweet, sharp flavour, the berries add a fresh twist to many recipes, and also make a refreshing health juice drink. Some studies have also s ... Learn More

From New Zealand comes this unusual shrub/small tree which, surprisingly, belongs to the mallow family. Delightful sprays of white flowers are borne from midsummer onwards. ... Learn More

In spring the spectacular trusses of pink and white flowers hang between the huge distinctive leaves, which have five or more long leaflets. The common name "horse-chestnut" originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut, (it is only distantly related), and that that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses. In Britain and Ireland, the gorgeous, very large and highly polished seeds (when freshly-collected) are used for the popular children's game conkers, when the seeds are drilled, threaded onto string and used t ... Learn More

This delightful, diminutive, aromatic shrubby plant is a British native, freely producing from June into autumn its yellow flowers with conspicuous stamens. These are followed by red fruits that turn purple-black when ripe, all above beautiful purple tinged foliage. It grows well and flowers in shade and is very dependable with early summer blooms. ... Learn More

Native to north eastern Turkey into Russia, this bone-hardy, fascinating, rare and unusual species has perfoliate, paired, fused leaves clasping the stem, forming a cupped arrangement. Large, golden-yellow flowers with reflexed petals and prominent, very long stamens form a broad pyramidal inflorescence. In a semi-shaded spot in moisture retentive soil it will make a superb specimen. ... Learn More

This ever-popular prostrate or low-growing shrub is widely cultivated for its attractive yellow flowers. Although it is widely grown in Mediterranean climates, it is a popular, evergreen hardy shrub throughout the world. In the wild it occurs in the Strandja Mountains along the Bulgarian and Turkish Black Sea coast. ... Learn More

This lovely tufted shrub has erect to decumbent stems up to a foot or so in length with golden flowers in small terminal bunches. In the wild it lives in Northern Turkey and the Caucasus in light woodland or among volcanic rocks in the mountains. ... Learn More

The soothing foliage of Henry’s St. John’s Wort is a pleasant backdrop for the golden yellow flowers borne in summer on this upright, deciduous shrub. The erect, arching branches of this species typically form a vase shape, and are covered with red-brown bark. In midsummer to autumn, loose clusters of starry, cup shaped, golden yellow flowers open at the branch tips where they attract bees and butterflies, and are followed by small, red-tinted, green fruits. ... Learn More

This semi evergreen shrub, which is fully hardy, bears dark green oblong leaves, and profuse yellow flowers in early and mid summer, followed by masses of berries in shades of peach, pink and yellow and finally bright red. These eye-catching berries stay on the plant until winter. ... Learn More

An amazing plant on all accounts, this spectacular, fast-growing shrub with masses of bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers and soft leaves is closely related to Brugmansias. Over many months throughout the growing year it provides a blistering colour display, the 2 inch (5cm.) trumpet-like flowers hanging in heavy clusters turning this beauty a fiery red. Much sought after, it is native to high cloud forests along the Andes from Colombia to Argentina between 800 and 3500 m. In cultivation this floriferous plant in the "Angel'sTrumpet" family prefers a warm or cool temperate climate, but it is ... Learn More

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 gorgeous dark red flowers only open at night and are pollinated by bats and hawk-moths, a feature which is unusual for a bat-pollinated species (bats are normally attracted to white flowers), and finally large sausage-shaped fruits hang from the branches. The sausage tree is found across sub-Saharan tropical Africa and as far south as South Africa and is used as an ornamental tree in Australia, the USA and parts of Southeast Asia. The generic name Kigelia comes from the Mozambican name for sausage tree, "kigeli-keia". These trees are sacred to many communities and are often protected when ... Learn More