This lovely tree is valued for its very large fragrant flowers, which are up to 5 inches or 12cm across and have five white, waxy petals and numerous yellow stamens, and arise solitary at the ends of the twigs facing downward. Later ripen its lemon-flavoured fruits which are used in jellies and curries, often mixed with coconut and spices to make chutneys. The thick attractive leaves are 15-36 cm long, with a conspicuously corrugated surface with impressed veins, rather like wavy potato chips. It is native to Southeast Asia and western Malaysia. ... Learn More

New, rare, delicious, and barely ever available in the Western World, the beige skin of this fruit contains luscious flesh which is sweet, tasty and delicious, and which is translucent white, with the shiny brown seed visible inside, looking like the pupil of an eye. As a result, they resemble the bulging eyes of the dragons often depicted in Chinese art. Closely related to lychees, they are native to China, Taiwan and South East Asia. The skin is hard and smooth, rather than softly-prickly like the common lychee, but peels off more easily than that of the lychee, rather like an egg shell! Con ... Learn More

This lovely, long-leafed shrub produces shiny leaves, whilst the flowers of this tree mature into attractive winged fruits which become red or purple as they mature, making it a popular garden plant in warmer areas. It has a wide distribution of areas where it will thrive, from subtropical to warm temperate region. The wood is unusually tough and durable and the Maori of New Zealand have used it to fashion clubs and other weapons, the Maori name for the shrub, akeake, meaning "forever and ever" ... Learn More

Velvety, fleshy, pulpy fruit, rather like a tomato or small apple, fills this rarely-seen member of, believe it or not, the willow family! An attractive tree at all times, it is widely grown in warm temperate to tropical gardens around the world. And as it is many-branching, and has a dense crown, It is also used as an inpenetrable hedging plant, on account of the masses of spines that adorn the inner branches. And finally, it has valuable uses in local and popular medicine, specifically for relieving pain and rheumatism. ... Learn More

Reputedly one of the world's oldest living plants, these amazing, evergreen, subtropical tree-like plants bear just a few branches of lance-shaped leaves, often crowded towards the tips. Mature plants produce fronds of fragrant greenish-white flowers, which are followed by attractive clusters of bright orange berries, each of which holds a sizeable, very hard, pearl-like seed. When the bark is damaged it exudes thick, red, blood-like sap, hence one of its common names! Making statuesque specimens in warmer countries, these are also superb, highly-valued, expensive pot plants elsewhere. It is ... Learn More

One of the most beautiful of the clumping/clustering palms, this is a beautiful specimen for smaller gardens and can be used as a smaller dramatic palm in a larger garden design also, and even in a large container. Native to montane forest throughout Madagascar, it is mostly admired for its prominently ringed multiple trunks which rtesemble tyhick sugar canes. It performs best in a sheltered, shaded site, however it will certainly take full sun as well. While it closely resembles the popular Golden Cane Palm (Dypsis lutescens), this one is more tolerant of cool conditions and light frosts, and ... Learn More

This lovely tree from the Himalayas has both a prickly trunk and also branches, which display beautiful orange-red flower clusters. It is relatively tough, and can be overwintered at a minimum of 5 degrees Celsius. The name coral tree is used as a collective term for this group of trees, as the growth of the branches can resemble the shape of sea coral. ... Learn More

Fantastic, striking, torch-like flowers, formed of countless waxy bracts, are borne on separate, leafless stems and on this rare form are brilliant pink edged with a white margin. One of the world's most magnificent plants, this gorgeous Indonesian beauty produces long, elegant arching canes which are produced annually, and bear pointed banana-like leaves. In hotter countries, this fabulous exotic gem can be enormous. In SE Asia, it is sometimes used as a food ingredient for delicacies and also as a medicine. ... Learn More

Spikes of white flowers open with a leafy topknot above them. This variety is the earliest flowering "Pineapple Plant", flowering from mid August but providing interest right through to the autumn frosts. These lovely plants are long-lived, easy and accommodating, preferring a position of full sun, although they will tolerate partial shade, and prefer a rich, well composted soil. ... Learn More

These impressive bulbous perennials form a large basal rosette of wide, strap-shaped leaves, with an erect purple-spotted stem bearing a dense raceme of star-shaped pale green flowers, each tepal edged with maroon, and all topped by a crown of leafy bracts, opening in late summer and early autumn. ... Learn More

One of the most extravagant and impressive forms for the garden, this variety makes a clump of long, wavy-margined leaves, with stout stems, bearing large numbers of greenish-white flowers, all topped by a rosette of small bracts. It is easy to keep going if allowed to remain dormant in winter and makes an absolutely fabulous display if grown in a large pot! Few good seeds collected. ... Learn More

The biggest and most impressive of the "Pineapple lilies". Massive stems, which can be as thick as broomsticks, hold aloft glorious pineapple-like heads of green and cream flowers. A stupendous specimen plant, especially in a large pot, but which usually produces almost no seed here! ... Learn More

Euphorbia stenoclada, commonly known as the "Thin Candelabra Tree," is an intriguing succulent renowned for its distinctive and sculptural appearance. Native to Madagascar, this Euphorbia species belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. Euphorbia stenoclada is characterized by its upright, columnar stems that grow vertically, resembling a candelabra. The stems are thin, angular, and segmented, creating a captivating geometric silhouette. The stems of this succulent display a striking bluish-green color, providing an appealing contrast to its surroundings. The unique hue enhances the plant's visual ... Learn More

A rare and narrow-leaved form of this hard member of the pineapple family collected from the southern Chilean Andes. In autumn the centre of the large rosette of leaves turns flaming red around the central golf-ball like cluster of egg-shell blue flower buds. ... Learn More

The sizeable rosette of this immensely striking, tough plant is surprisingly hardy. When it reaches maturity it sprouts a rapidly growing spire. This is quickly covered with numerous branches bearing absolutely countless beautiful palest lemon flowers, which in turn produce many plum-sizes seed capsules. However, normally only a few ripen into solid seed pods, the remainder falling off. But do not despair, each place that lost a flower, soon sprouts a sizeable baby plant! These occur in some number, and they progressively fall off into winter to instantly become new plants!! From Mexico, and ... Learn More