Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'
Unique and highly ornamental large shrub or small tree for a very sheltered site in full sun. Bright blue-green leaves with new growth deep plum-purple through the growing season. Golden yellow 'Mimosa' flowers in early spring. Easy in a pot, can be hard pruned every year. Takes a fair amount of frost, though is best sited sensibly. My best selling plant by far.

Acacia dealbata var. subalpina
The hardiest form of true mimosa collected at high altitude. A vigorous, evergreen small tree to be tried in a sheltered spot, covered in clouds of bright yellow, scented flowers in late winter. Beautiful ferny, grey-green foliage. Can be hard pruned, coppiced or pollarded. Will often sprout from the base if cut back by a very hard winter.

Acacia kybeanensis
This rare little species forms a smallish bushy, evergreen shrub with narrow, grey-green, willow-like foliage. The typical bright yellow Acacia flowers are borne in early spring. Proving fairly hardy, and worth a sheltered position in full sun and well drained soil.

Acacia pravissima
One of the hardiest Acacias, usually best in a sunny sheltered spot. A large evergreen shrub with arching growth and distinctive triangular foliage, covered in bright yellow, fragrant 'mimosa' flowers in very early spring. Very vigorous, like most Acacia. I grew this successfully in a high Cotswold garden against a SW wall.

Acacia rubida
Ferny juvenile foliage gives way to adult phyllodes edged with a thin red line on this fairly hardy and rarely seen species. Light yellow mimosa-like flowers are seen in early spring. Makes a large shrub with dark red stems, though can be pruned hard to keep smaller. For a sunny, well drained, preferably sheltered position.

Acanthus mollis var. latifolius
Bear's Breeches. Extra big, wide, glossy green leaves and spires of soft mauve and white flowers on stems to 2m high. Sun or shade, dry if you like, can cope with most situations.

Acer capillipes
One of the finest 'Snake-bark' maples, hailing from Japan. It grows quickly into a small tree with a spreading crown, and highly attractive green and white striated bark. The bright green three lobed leaves emerge with orange red tints and return to those colours for autumn. Dangling racemes of flowers and fruit are conspicuous.

Acer capillipes 'Gimborn'
A selection or possibly hybrid of this excellent Snakebark maple. The leaves are exceptionally broad for the species, up to 12cm across, with 5 shallow lobes, turning golden yellow in autumn. Very beautifully and clearly striped green and white bark on a fast growing medium sized tree with an arching, spreading, graceful branch formation. Hardy, easy.

Acer cappadocicum subsp. lobelii
A neglected and rarely seen fast growing medium to large tree with handsome foliage and ascending branches forming a tight upright crown, broadening with age. Very tolerant and easy.

Acer cappadocicum subsp. sinicum
A very attractive and unusual hardy maple from China with 5 lobed leaves copper-red when young and red fruit in autumn. Quite different from the typical form. Eventually reaches about 50ft. Tough and easy.

Acer caudatifolium
A very rare snake-bark maple collected in the mountains of Taiwan, making a very graceful, hardy small tree of spreading habit with long thin taper pointed leaves and white-striped green bark.

Acer davidii 'Karmen'
This comparatively new form of snake-bark maple was selected in Holland for its new foliage, which surprisingly emerges a glistening chocolate-brown in spring, later turning reddish-green, then yellow or orange in autumn. The mature leaves are narrowly oblong, and the bark is conspicuously striped white. A fast growing, small to medium, open branched tree.

Acer davidii 'Serpentine'
Another snake-bark maple, this time a very pretty diminutive form making a densely branched large shrub or small tree. The foliage is small and elegant, turning to yellow or orange in autumn, and the bark is superb, purplish-green with conspicuous white striping. Suitable for any reasonable soil

Acer elegantulum
This Chinese species was only introduced about 1990 and is as yet very rarely seen in the West. It makes a small tree with, as the name suggests, rather lovely foliage, emerging light purple, becoming green later. The leaves are deeply lobed, looking similar to some forms of A. campbellii. Hardy throughout much of the UK.

Acer fulvescens var. pentalobum Sich 731
This collection from Sichuan, SW China is referred to as A. longipes by some botanists. It is a handsome, vigorous thing with 5 lobed leaves up to about 15cm across on red shoots, the leaves with red petioles. Should have good yellow autumn colour. It has made a small tree near here in 10yrs. Hardy though very rarely seen.

Acer griseum
The Paper Bark Maple is one of the most attractive of all small trees with a very long season of interest. Very beautiful cinnamon-orange bark peeling off in thin papery pieces, and fine, yellow orange and red autumn colour are its principal attractions. Very tolerant and easy even on thin chalky soils. Not fast but lovely even when small.

Acer grosseri var. hersii
A 'snakebark' maple with wonderfully marbled green and white bark, making a small tree with rich autumn colour of yellow/orange/red, and conspicuous, long racemes of winged seeds. Any ordinary soil.

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium'
A form of this bushy small tree with deeply dissected foliage turning a rich ruby-crimson in autumn. Delicate drooping clusters of red flowers with yellow anthers appear with the leaves in spring. Any fairly good soil in a not too exposed place.

Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium'
A bold leaved selection of this Japanese maple. Very handsome vine like foliage colours brilliantly in autumn turning red orange or yellow. Makes a hardy, bushy, small tree with attractive drooping clusters of purplish red flowers with yellow anthers appearing with the leaves in spring. Any fairly good soil in a not too exposed place

Acer micranthum
A wonderful maple from Japan, rarely seen in the UK, with handsome, deeply lobed and finely dissected foliage, beautifully tinted red on the new growth throughout the season, turning bright scarlet and orange in autumn. Makes a small tree for any ordinary soil. Equal, or superior, to any Acer palmatum, depending on your standpoint.

Acer mono var mayrii  Akagi 448.91
This is wild source material of this very rare variety from Japan. The quietly attractive maple foliage turns to a rather lovely soft orange in autumn on this hardy medium sized tree.

Acer morifolium
This snakebark maple from Southern Japan is still very new to cultivation and very rarely seen. Near here it has made a very vigorous, round headed small tree with striated bark and rather richly red tinted new growth. Autumn colour should be yellow.

Acer negundo subsp. mexicanum F&M 48
This is possibly this extremely rare form. Collected high near Pico de Orizaba, Puebla, Mexico, this southerly race makes a handsome young plant, with red-bronze stained new growth opening to leaves with 3 to 5 leaflets so far. Leaf petioles are bright red and the young stems are violet covered with a white bloom. Attractive flower tassels in spring.

Acer palmatum 'Beni-tsukasa'
Slow growing, densely branched vase shaped shrub eventually reaching about 3-4m. Spectacular salmon-pink, red and greenish foliage turns somewhat greener in summer.

Acer palmatum 'Burgundy Lace'
A wide spreading heavily branched shrub up to 6m eventually, deeply divided foliage with dissected margins is a good deep red, holding through the summer.

Acer palmatum 'Filigree'
A slow growing dwarf dissectum type only attaining 2m high after very many years. The leaves are bright green and very finely dissected, turning yellow in autumn. Suitable for pot or garden. A fine cultivar of its type.

Acer palmatum 'Fireglow'
A fine form similar to, but sometimes considered an improvement on, 'Bloodgood', though never as large. Makes a large shrub or small tree after very many years with very richly couloured deep red-purple foliage which holds its colour very well throughout summer, turning to brilliant glowing crimson in autumn. The spring flush of leaves is a bright pink-red.

Acer palmatum 'Ichigyôji'
Regarded as an equal to the glowing red of 'Ôsakazuki', this form has large bright green leaves that turn to intense, brilliant yellow or orange-yellow in autumn. Makes a bushy shrub up to 6m high eventually but responds well to pruning.

Acer palmatum 'Inaba-shidare'
Strong growing mushroom shaped dissectum type with very dark, wine-red foliage which doesn't fade in summer. A wide spreading dome to 3m eventually.

Acer palmatum 'Mapi-no-machihime'
A dwarf form with lovely, small, star-like green leaves edged orange-red in spring turning green then completely orange-red in autumn. After many years this dense rounded bushy shrub will reach about 2m.

Acer palmatum 'O-kagami'
Beautiful purplish-red new foliage deepens to a shiny blackish red through summer changing to various tones of red and scarlet in autumn. Makes an upright small tree to about 5m after many years.

Acer palmatum 'Okushimo'
Known in Japan as The Pepper and Salt Leaf. Three outstanding features distinguish this plant: Odd shaped foliage, sweeping upright growth form and rich yellow autumn colour. Strong growing to about 7m after very many years, with a narrow vase shaped crown. Any reasonable soil.

Acer palmatum 'Ôsakazuki'
A well known hardy, strong growing cultivar making a small, round headed tree eventually reaching about 8m after many decades. Comparatively large green leaves turn to an intense crimson in autumn, possibly the strongest colour of all maples. Any reasonable soil.

Acer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku'
The Coral Bark Maple. A small tree of upright growth with the young branches and twigs a very conspicuous, fiery, coral-red in winter. Autumn colour is bright golden-yellow.

Acer palmatum 'Sazanami'
This form is distinct in its sharply pointed, deeply divided and serrated foliage giving an unusual appearance, with the leaves emerging light orange-red in spring, turning rich green in late summer and changing to strong gold blends in autumn. A strong growing form making a small tree eventually.

Acer palmatum 'Seigen'
A dwarf multi-branched bush to about 2m after many years, with long lasting, bright, fire-red, dainty new foliage in spring, turning light green in summer then yellow to orange-yellow in autumn.

Acer palmatum 'Seiryu'
Very unusual for a dissectum, this form is an upright grower forming a large shrub or small tree after many years. The foliage is bright green turning to a very lovely mixture of bright gold with crimson edges in autumn. Together with the frothy dissected foliage this makes a gorgeous effect.

Acer palmatum 'Trompenburg'
Rich, deep purple-red leaves have very distinctive wide spreading lobes with margins curled under. Autumn colour crimson. Makes a wide spreading small tree eventually. A very popular new-ish cultivar.

Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto'
A dome shaped bush eventually to about 3m high, the leaves with very long, very narrow, parallel sided lobes, emerging orange-crimson and turning to a unique green with a light reddish overtone. Autumn colour is yellow to gold. A very distinct clone.

Acer rubescens
Otherwise known as A. morrisonense, this rarely offered snake bark maple from the mountains of Taiwan grows into a small, spreading tree with white striped green bark. Attractive foliage, lobed and toothed with a fine point, on red stalks. Any ordinary soil.

Acer rufinerve 'Erythrocladum'
This form of an otherwise superb Snakebark maple has visual affinities to the more widely known Acer pensylvanicum 'Erythrocladum'. Like it, it is a joy in winter when the pale yellow summer twigs turn to a glowing red, after a good display of autumn leaf colour. Like the normal form this will make a small to medium sized tree for most soils and situations.

Acer sempervirens
A rarely obtainable, slow growing, semi-evergreen large shrub or small tree from the Eastern Mediterranean with variously lobed, comparatively small, leathery leaves, often held until Christmas. Hardy at least in the southern half of England, where it probably enjoys the warmer summers. A fine old specimen grows near here.

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'
'Golden Full Moon Maple'. A very distinct and slow growing Japanese maple, with leaves bright, glowing yellow in spring, turning yellow-green as the season progresses, with often very fine orange and red autumn colour. Will make a shrub over time and a small tree after 150 years.

Acer sterculiaceum
A very rare and remarkable hardy Himalayan maple, with very large palmately lobed leaves flushed red when emerging. Racemes of large flowers in spring followed by drooping clusters of substantial fruits. Usually colours well in autumn. Will make a fairly big tree eventually, happiest in a reasonably sheltered position. Very special.

Acer 'White Tigress'
A superb new Snakebark Maple hybrid from the USA making a bushy little tree with highly ornamental blue-green and white striated bark and big, 5 lobed leaves, turning yellow in autumn when the fruits hang in large red-stalked clusters. Sun or semi-shade in any ordinary soil.

Acer x conspicuum 'Silver Vein'
A hybrid 'snakebark maple' raised by Hillier in the early 60's. This is a vigorous plant, but still only makes a small tree with branches spreading and arching out at the top. Very fine green and white striped bark turns a lovely, and fairly indescribable, somewhat redder tone in winter. Large leaves on red stalks turn butter-yellow in autumn.

Achillea 'Fanal'
Scarlet flowers in summer, feathery foliage. Height to 60cm, sun. Syn. 'The Beacon'

Achillea 'Forncett Citrus'
Large heads of good-sized flowers in a beautiful shade of palest yellow. Height 75cm. Sun.

Achillea 'Marmalade'
Flower heads a blend of yellows and oranges. Height 60cm. Sun.

Achillea 'Schwellenburg'
Clumps of low silvery grey foliage. Hard, dense, yellow heads in summer. Height 30cm. Sun and drainage. Uncommon.

Achillea 'Summerwine'
Large heads of wine-red flowers over a long season. Height to 70cm. Sun.

Achillea 'Walther Funcke'
Flower heads of a brown-tinted orange-red, fading yellow. Height 60cm. Sun.

Aconitum 'Blue Opal'
	Large pale blue flowers on stout 1m stems 	in late summer. Sun or part shad. 	A really excellent variety.

Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii'
Rich blue monkshood flowers on upright stems in late summer. Height 120cm. Sun or shade. Poisonous if eaten. Very easy, tough, bulks up well.

Aconitum napiforme BSWJ943
Deep blue monkshood flowers on 60cm stems in autumn. Clumps up well. Sun or part shade. Poisonous.

Aconitum wilsonii grey blue form
Pale grey blue monkshood flowers in late summer. Height to 1m. Sun or pt shade, not too dry. Poisonous if eaten.

Acradenia frankliniae
A very unusual evergreen from Tasmania. This Choisya relative makes an upright small to medium sized shrub with three fingered aromatic foliage and flat clusters of white flowers in May, and occasionally again in autumn. Proving hardy so far but best in a not too cold spot.

Actaea matsumurae 'White Pearl'
Bug Bane. A lovely sight in late summer when these send up their tall spikes of scented white flowers to about 1.5m over prettily dissected bright green foliage. Prefers a moist-ish, shady-ish site.

Actaea simplex Atropurpurea group (Very dark)
Deep purple, almost black, leaves perfectly offsetting tall spikes of scented white flowers, late summer. 150cm. Pt shade.

Actinidia deliciosa 'Solo'
A hermaphrodite form of the 'Kiwi fruit' or 'Chinese Gooseberry', avoiding the need for both male and female plants. Very vigorous, hairy, twining stems cover walls or buildings easily and quickly with luxuriant foliage and a crop of juicy fruits come in late summer. A hardy deciduous climber, best on a warm wall for fruit production.

Actinidia kolomikta
Can't be mistaken for anything else, this well known twining climber is best known for it's striking temporarily variegated foliage, pink, white and green in spring, turning to fully green over the summer. However it also has sweetly scented creamy flowers hidden amongst the foliage. Easy and hardy reaching about 5m with suitable support. Sun or semi-shade.

Actinidia pilosula
A lovely, vigorous climber from China, with narrow, taper pointed leaves tipped with a conspicuous, variably sized silvery-white blotch, as if dipped in paint. Coral-pink saucer shaped flowers in spring. Climbs by twining stems so needs support. Sun or semi-shade and any reasonable soil.

Adiantum aleuticum 'Imbricatum'
Aleutian Maidenhair. Very similar to the lovely A. pedatum, but found on the Western coast of the USA and Japan. Forms clumps of highly attractive, much divided fronds with distinctive triangular segments. Much tougher than they appear, these ferns can tolerate quite dry shade once established. This form is dwarfer than the norm. Very hardy. Height 15-30cm.

Adiantum aleuticum 'Subpumilum'
A very diminutive form of the Aleutian Maidenhair reaching only 7-15cm high. It has the most wonderful congested, though highly divided fronds. More suitable for an exposed position.

Adiantum venustum
A very hardy and beautiful Maidenhair fern, slowly creeping to form a patch of delicate fronds. New fronds emerge pink early in the spring. Ht 30cm. Very tough, in dry-ish or moist humusy soil in semi-shade.

Aesculus californica
'Californian Buckeye'. A superb, but totally neglected, very dwarf Horse Chestnut making a small spreading tree with fragrant white flowers tinted pink in dense erect panicles in mid summer. Small, neat, very attractive foliage emerges very early in the season, though is not affected by frost. Hardy and drought tolerant. In my top 10 trees.

Aesculus indica 'Sydney Pearce'
This selected form of the species was raised at Kew in 1928 and has a tendency for better flowers and more of them. A large tree, but not as big as the common Horse Chestnut, with far more refined foliage and much later, tall slim candles of pink-flushed, white flowers in June/July. Easy virtually anywhere, but at its very best with a little shelter from others.

Aesculus parviflora
A shrubby horse-chestnut from the south eastern USA reaching only 2-3m, forming in time a wide, multi-stemmed bush. Very attractive, erect, bottle-brush-like panicles of white flowers in abundance in late July, followed by butter-yellow autumn colour. Any ordinary soil, sun/semi-shade.

Agapanthus Ardernei Hybrid
An African Lily with large heads of pure white flowers in summer. Height 70cm. Sun.

Agapanthus 'Blue Giant'
Large heads of mid-blue flowers on upright stems to 1.2m. Sunny position.

Agapanthus 'Buckingham Palace'
Round heads of deep blue flowers on stems to 1.5m in summer. Sun. Scarce and slow to propagate.

Agapanthus campanulatus
This is wild source material originally collected Howick, Natal, South Africa. A lovely species with mid-sized heads of bright blue flowers on stems to about 60cm. Hardy. Sun.

Agapanthus campanulatus subsp. patens
Probably the hardiest species. Stems to 60cm with heads of bright blue flowers with wide spreading petals. Grey-green foliage. Sun.

Agapanthus caulescens
Raised from African seed, these should be the real thing. Good blue flowers on stems up to about 1m. This species is distinctly trunk forming. Deciduous and hardy.

Agapanthus caulescens ssp. angustifolius
Umbels of blue flowers in high summer on upright 1m stems. Foliage on long-necked shoots. Deciduous. Sunny position.

Agapanthus inapertus
Clear blue, rather drooping flowers in large heads on stout 1.2m stems. For a sunny position.

Agapanthus 'Jack's Blue'
Tall, impressive, vigorous variety to 1.5m. Deep purple-blue flowers in summer. Sun.

Agapanthus 'Mooreanus'
An old dwarf variety with pale blue flowers on short stems. Different, pretty and reliable. Sun.

Agapanthus praecox 'Flore Pleno'
Deep blue double flowers, like great fat buds. Height 60cm. Evergreen, so keep nearly frost-free in winter.

Agapanthus praecox 'Vittatus'
Striking cream variegation, blue flowers. Height 60cm. Evergreen, so best in a pot with winter protection.

Agapanthus 'Sandringham'
A semi-dwarf, with heads of very dark blue flowers in summer. Height to 60cm. Sun.

Agave aff. garciae-mendozae NJM 05.073
A pretty plant in the wild where it formed neat rosettes of green leaves edged and toothed in brown turning cream. Teeth comparatively large for the size of plant. Slim inflorescences to about 3.5m from a rosette approx. 60cm across. Hardiness unknown. Seed collected 2200m, Queretaro State, Mexico.

Agave americana subsp. protamericana
This is the rare wild type of the ubiquitous A. americana, which generally forms a smaller plant than the typically cultivated forms. Highly variable in the wild state, these will make plants with blue-green leaves and rosettes to at least 1m across with fearsome armoury. These are from Dr Arroyo, Nuevo Leon in NE Mexico.

Agave chrysantha
A very pale glaucous form of this unusual and potentially hardy species collected at 4700ft alt. near Globe, Arizona. Eventually forms an open rosette 3 to 5ft across. Try it outside in full sun and exceptionally well drained soil/rock when it is a reasonable size or enjoy it as a potted specimen. Should take down to -15c if dry.

Agave gentryi
Collected as seed at La Escondida, Nuevo Leon, NE Mexico, this plant appears to fit the description of this species, making a very beefy looking, chunky rosette of broad green, rigid, well armoured foliage of triangular form with long drawn out tips ending in a formidable spine. Very rare in cultivation in the UK. This should be quite hardy.

Agave gentryi F&M 213a
A green, smooth leaved species in the wild, though young plants are grey-green. Expect a robust specimen with fine form and sharp teeth! Considering their provenance, these will be rather hardy here in the UK given unhindered drainage. A very rare species in cultivation, this was collected as seed in the La Peņa Nevada mountains above Miquihuana, NE Mexico.

Agave gracilipes
Collected as seed in W Texas this is one of the rarest hardy species and forms plants to about 1m across composed of many comparatively slim, stiff, blue-green leaves. This species should be hardy to -26c if dry, so like Agave parryi and others, should be fairly easily growable outdoors in the UK in an exceptionally well drained bed.

Agave lechuguilla
Collected at Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, at 2700m, this species forms a slim leaved plant and in this case with a central pale green stripe down the middle of each leaf. Never very big, it is worth experimenting with outside in poor, well drained ground or broken rock. Some forms of this species have proven quite easy and hardy. Very drought tolerant.

Agave mapisaga NJM 05.036
One of the true giants of the genus reaching to 2.5m high, but with very beautiful slim, long, guttered foliage, reminding one of a giant Medusa's head. Closely related to A. salminana and used by the Campesinos for making Pulque but far less commonly seen than that species in Mexico as it doesn't sucker so readily. Virtually unknown in the UK.

Agave montana F&M 221
Truly one of the most exciting plants in Mexico and an absolute gem of an Agave, forming a rosette of variably patterned and variably armed foliage of immense beauty, up to 1.5m across. These, from 3000m in the La Peņa Nevada Mountains will be some of the hardiest and easiest Agaves to grow in the UK, given a very well drained site in full sun .

Agave parryi JCA 1.035.000
One of the hardiest Agaves if given extremely well drained conditions, known to have survived for decades in cold inland gardens in the UK. A beautiful rounded clump of thick, tough, spine-tipped and toothed glaucous leaves, quite different and smaller growing than the common A. americana. For a raised bed in full sun. From Yavapai Co., AZ, USA.

Agave parryi large form
Seed collected from exceptionally large plants, with rigid, broad leaves in dense rosettes of up to 4ft across at over 7000ft in New Mexico at the North Eastern corner of its natural range. These should cope with cold down to minus 28c if dry, and will cope perfectly well outside in the UK in very well drained conditions This is most probably referable to the var. huachucensis.

Agave polyacantha F&M 120
A fairly soft, smooth leaved species related to A. celsii, with a line of fine red teeth lining each leaf. These were collected at the type locality for the var. xalapensis in Veracruz State, Mexico, so some may turn out to be that taxon, with larger teeth. Worthy of experimentation in mild coastal gardens and should be rather moisture tolerant considering its rainy home.

Agave scabra x americana NJM 05.057
A natural hybrid often found in the wild, these are from an area with some utterly superb plants. Glaucous to white-glaucous with rough undersides to the foliage and of course vicious teeth, often emerging from teat-like extensions to the leaf edges. Should make plants to about 1m across, and pretty hardy too. These are from W of Cd, Victoria, NE Mexico.

Agave scabra x americana subsp. protamericana
A natural hybrid often found in the wild, these often tend to sit nicely between the parents as regards their features, being glaucous to white-glaucous with rough undersides to the foliage and of course vicious teeth, often emerging from teat-like extensions to the leaf edges. Should make plants to about 1m across, with a fair degree of hardiness. These are from Dr Arroyo, NE Mexico.

Akebia quinata
A fast growing, semi-evergreen, twining climber for sun or semi-shade. Chocolate-purple, sweetly scented flowers in early summer, sometimes followed by big, dark-purple, sausage shaped fruit in autumn, especially if grown on a warm wall, though it is perfectly hardy without. Vigorous and easy.

Akebia quinata Cream form
A form of this fast growing, semi-evergreen, twining climber with the sweetly-scented flowers cream with a central maroon zone, quite different from the norm and in my opinion more attractive. Handsome foliage with 5 leaflets and, after a good year, big, dark-purple, sausage shaped fruit in autumn. Good for covering fences, arches or small trees.

Albizia julibrissin 'Rosea'
Unique among foliage plants hardy throughout southern UK and a real taste of warmer climes with its exceptionally beautiful, feathery, Mimosa like foliage and sprays of light pink, fine brush-like fragrant flowers in late summer on a large shrub or small tree with spreading, layered branches. An absolute gem for a warm sunny corner or sheltered courtyard.

Alchemilla ellenbeckii
A ground covering Lady's Mantle. Tiny evergreen leaves, red stems. Ordinary soils, sun or part shade.

Alchemilla iniquiformis
A mini-mollis! Many yellow-green flowers over a 30cm mound of leaves. Sunny position. Very easy.

Aloe polyphylla
A gem of the succulent world and admired across the globe for its incredible spiral leaf arrangement and hardiness. Forms a single, dense rosette up to 75cm across with the leaves arranged in a perfect spiral. The flowers are orange red and come on a branched inflorescence. For very freely drained but not dry soil in full sun with protection. Magnificent, and a great rarity.

Aloe striatula
A hardy Aloe!! Well almost. This is successfully grown outside throughout the SW but can also be grown further inland in a very sheltered, sunny, very, very well drained spot. Survived -15c in 1987 by regrowing from the base. Multi-stemmed to 1.5m high, topped by orange and yellow Kniphofia-like flowers in July over the succulent deep-green leaves.

Aloysia triphylla
Good old 'Lemon Verbena', which of course makes the nicest, purest, most refreshing and totally summery herbal tea in the world. I love it. Makes a small shrub for well drained soil against a sunny sheltered wall, where it can survive many a winter. Otherwise keep it in a pot and overwinter it inside or under glass without heat. Fabulous foliage fragrance.

Alstroemeria psittacina
Unusual, narrow throated, scarlet and green, spotted flowers in summer on stems to 1m. Sun or part-shade in good soil.

Alyogyne huegelii 'Santa Cruz'
Exquisitely beautiful large mallow flowers in an amazing shade of silvery-mauve with a dark eye, over deeply divided foliage, potentially at any time of year. Essentially a conservatory or cool greenhouse plant but hardy outside in mild areas. Sun.

Amorphophallus konjac
An awesome aroid, the 'Snake palm' or 'Devil's Tongue', producing a heavily dissected leaf up to 2m across on a white/pink/green mottled stalk. Massive funnel shaped, wavy edged, spotted, brown-green, bad smelling flower with a maroon spadix up to 1.1m appears after a few years. Treat like a Dahlia, lift in winter and store dry-ish. Just moist, half shade.

Ampelopsis aconitifolia 'Chinese Lace'
A vigorous climber attaching itself with curling tendrils. Lacy, very deeply divided foliage turns orange, yellow and red in autumn. Small orange-yellow fruit also produced in autumn. Any ordinary soil in sun or part shade.

Ampelopsis megalophylla
The leaves on this bold, strong, but not overly rampant deciduous climber can be huge, sometimes up to 60cm long, and are divided into many leaflets in a bipinnate arrangement. Bunches of purple then black fruit are borne in autumn, and can look quite effective if good pollination has occurred. Any ordinary soil. From W China.

Anemone hupehensis 'Bodnant Burgundy'
Mid-height (1m) Japanese anemone with deep reddish pink, multi-sepalled flowers. Sun or part shade.

Anemone hupehensis 'Bowles' Pink'
Japanese anemone: deep pink/purple bicoloured flowers in late summer. Height 60cm. Sun or shade.

Anemone hupehensis hupehensis alba
Rare and lovely. Pure white petals, flushed purple on reverse, late summer. Light shade, not too wet.

Anemone hupehensis japonica 'Pamina'
A lovely Japanese Anemone with semi- double, intense purple-pink flowers in late summer. 60cm. Sun or shade.

Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
Robust Japanese anemone with white single flowers in early autumn. Height 1.5m. Sun or shade.

Anemone x lipsiensis
A hybrid Wood Anemone with the loveliest sulphur-yellow flowers in spring. Height 10cm. Light shade.

Anthericum liliago var. major
Pure white flowers of good size on stems to 90cm, in early summer. Grassy leaves. Ordinary soil in sun.

Anthericum ramosum
Lots of starry white flowers on branched stems in summer. For fertile soil in a sunny position.

Araucaria angustifolia
A close relative of the Chilean and Argentinian Monkey Puzzle tree, this time from cool areas of S Brazil and looking more like Araucaria bidwillii from Australia. This rarity has definite potential in milder gardens of the British Isles and is known to possess a certain degree of hardiness.

Araucaria araucana
The Monkey Puzzle hardly needs an introduction. A most distinct large tree eventually with very spiny evergreen foliage encircling the branches. Like nothing else we can grow in this country, it makes an arresting sight, especially if planted en masse, for example in an avenue or group. Hardy and tolerant.

Arbutus 'Marina'
A stunning, but still rarely seen, new-ish hybrid Strawberry tree named after the Marina area of San Francisco. Wonderful peeling bark, changing from cinnamon-red to sandy-yellow in autumn, large glossy foliage, big clusters of red-stained white flowers in autumn, and vigorous growth. Best in a sheltered, sunny position in free draining soil.

Arbutus unedo f. rubra
This is the red flowered form of the common Strawberry Tree, bearing bunches of bright red-tinged white flowers in autumn simultaneously with the abundant, small, rounded wild strawberry-like fruit. Develops a gnarled appearance after many years with shredding bark. Good for exposed coastal sites but perfectly hardy inland.

Arbutus x andrachnoides
Hybrid Strawberry Tree. Truly one of the loveliest of small evergreen trees and one I would not be without. Very beautiful cinnamon-red peeling bark on usually very picturesque gnarled stems. Clusters of white flowers in late autumn, and strawberry-like, rounded fruit over glossy foliage. Lime tolerant and hardy.

Arbutus xalapensis F&M 206
This Mexican species covers a large area of that fabulous country and can be variable in it's ornamental qualities. Seeds for these were collected in a cold area of the North East at 2600m alt above La Peņa, Tamaulipas where they made particularly attractive specimens with rich red bark peeling to reveal a creamy white under-layer. Fruit are vibrant scarlet.

Arisaema candidissimum
Exotic, scented, hooded white spathes, striped pink, in June. Height 30cm. Lt shade. Dormant until late spring.

Arisaema ciliatum var. liubaense CT 369
This Cobra lily has striking brown and white striped flowers in summer, with excellent foliage, on stems to 1.2m. Refined and handsome, and in no way coarse like some species. Rich, not dry soil in light shade.

Arisaema consanguineum
A Cobra Lily with green spathes washed with dusky grey-purple in summer up to 1m. Beautiful foliage, a joy in itself. Light shade and good rich soil, not too dry.

Arisaema costatum
A truly sinister and most impressive beast. The huge veiny trifoliolate leaf stands up to 60cm high, and as it unfolds, there emerges the big, hooded, white-striped, purple flower. From the spathe hangs a long thread that reaches the ground, allowing pollination by ground dwelling creepy-crawlies. Rich, open, well drained, humusy soil in light shade.

Arisaema exappendiculatum
A rare species of Cobra Lily from Nepal and Tibet. A whorl of umbrella-like foliage sits above the barely open, long-pointed purpley-brown and green flower, seen in June. As the name suggests, the flower is (interestingly) missing it's male appendage, me-oh-my, and reaches 60cm. Rich soil and light shade.

Arisaema flavum
A short and pretty species; little squat yellow spathes among the leaves in summer. 30cm. Light shade, not dry.

Arisarum proboscideum
The mouse plant. Carpets of low foliage with dark purple mouse tails disappearing into the leaves in spring. For a shaded site, where it will form a colony.

Aristolochia baetica
A fascinating little evergreen climber from S Spain and Portugal with grey-green evergreen foliage and bizarrely shaped little maroon-brown tubular flowers, upturned with a flared mouth, like some wind instrument, borne mainly in spring. Best on a warm sheltered wall, though acted as a perennial growing from the roots each year in a cool northern garden.

Artemisia lactiflora 'Jim Russell'
Clean white flowers on dark stems, rather arching, to 120cm, in summer. Sun or part shade.

Arthropodium cirratum 'Matapouri Bay'
Exotic and attractive. Clumps of bold evergreen leaves, 1m spikes of white flowers in summer. Frost free in winter. Sun.

Arum pictum L/Co 28
Excellent broad, glossy-green, nicely veined foliage through the cooler months, dormant in summer. Autumn brings the superb darkest maroon flowers, with an 'interesting' fragrance, before the leaves emerge again . Not the hardiest species but quite good in sheltered spots under dry deciduous shade. A Chris Lovell collection from Corsica.

Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus
A dwarf form, under 50cm. Attractive pleated leaves and branched heads of creamy flowers in early summer. Sun or part shade.

Aruncus 'Johannifest'
Fine compact hybrid. Rather arching stems of white flowers, tinted pink as they age. Lovely autumn leaf colour. 50cm. Sun or part shade.

Arundo donax 'Macrophylla' 
A truly gigantic grass forming big clumps of blue-green towering foliage to 3m+ high. This is the wider leaved form, good for even more exotic effect. Any ordinary soil in full sun.

Arundo donax 'Macrophylla'
A truly gigantic grass forming big clumps of blue-green towering foliage to 3m+ high. This is the wider leaved form, good for even more exotic effect. Any ordinary soil in full sun.

Asarum caudatum
Attractive heart shaped leaves on creeping stems. Flowers dark-red, exotically shaped. Full shade, not heavy soil.

Asarum splendens
Big, evergreen, silver-mottled leaves. Clusters of brown/white banded flowers in spring. Height to 20cm. Shade.

Asplenium scolopendrium 'Crispum'
A form of our native Hart's tongue fern, the edges of the glossy green fronds with a rippling, frilly, undulating edge. Very tough and tolerant, especially in dry-ish limey soils in shade.

Asteranthera ovata
A very lovely gesneriad from the forests of S. Chile where it climbs tree trunks on the edge of forest clearings. In this country it requires humidity and leafy soil to prosper, so is good on a sheltered north wall or tree. Raspberry-red 2-lipped tubular flowers appear from June and through the summer. 3-4m.

Astilbe koreana
A subtle species from the far East, quite unlike those hybrids with their loony colour combo's. Palest pink flowers in June and July, to 60cm over divided foliage. The rootstock slowly spreads to form a patch. Best in soil that is never totally dry. Very hardy.

Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegated'
Masterwort. White pin-cushion flowers in summer. Leaves emerge bright yellow variegated and turn green over summer. Height 45cm. Part shade

Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae'
Tatting fern. A popular form of our native Lady fern, looking nothing like the norm, the pinnae on the fronds reduced to a little rounded lobe alternating each side of the midrib, resembling tatting (handmade lace). Fronds only reach up to 25cm long, and the plant is more tolerant of drier sites than the species.

Athyrium filix-femina 'Victoriae'
A very pretty form of our native Lady fern with the fronds generally reduced to very narrow pinnae, often criss-crossing each other. Ht 75cm. Best in moist leafy soil in shade/semi-shade, but fine in sun if moist. Deciduous.

Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum
The 'Japanese painted fern' has fronds variously marked with mauve, silver-grey and green creating a striking effect. Best in a semi-shaded site in leafy soil, not too dry, where it will spread slowly. Ht 35cm.

Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls'
A newish form of the Japanese painted fern with lovely subtley marked fronds, mainly in ghostly silver-grey. Best in a semi-shaded site in leafy soil, not too dry, where it will spread slowly. Ht 35cm.

Athyrium otophorum
A colourful, very hardy Lady fern from Japan with fronds an unusual creamy-green with reddish stalks and veins. Great as a contrast in greener plantings. Ht 40cm. Semi-shade and humus rich soil.

Azara microphylla
The hardiest Azara, this makes an upright large shrub or small tree quite quickly, bearing wonderfully vanilla scented, small yellow flowers under the very graceful sprays of tiny dark green foliage in very early spring. Wise to plant this where you can appreciate a good whiff of this delicious scent.

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr'
A none too hardy but highly ornamental bamboo very suited to pot culture, but could be tried outside over winter in mild areas. Bright yellow culms have random vertical green stripes, and the plant gives off a pleasant odour, noticeable when brought indoors. Tightly clump forming and happy to be divided regularly, keeping the plant small and suited to a pot.

Bambusa multiplex 'Tiny'
A highly attractive miniature version of this handsome, though not very hardy species, best treated as a pot plant over-wintered in a glasshouse. Culms to 1m with clusters of pale green, pointy little leaves, only 2--3cm long.

Baptisia australis
Spikes of deep indigo pea flowers in early summer. Blue-green foliage Height 1m. Sun and rich soil.

Bashania qingchengshanensis
Fairly new to cultivation and still very rare. Seemingly an extremely tough bamboo suited to harsh sites and cold areas. The culms, which emerge early in the season, have thick, hairy, persistent sheaths and the foliage is long and slim. Perhaps reaches 4m high with a spreading but manageable rootstock. A good windbreak?

Begonia grandis evansiana 'Claret Jug'
'Hardy Begonia'. Glossy, red backed leaves; pink flowers in summer. Height 45cm. Height 45cm. Pt shade; sheltered spot.

Begonia palmata
Uncommon hardy Chinese species. Striking palmate leaves. Pink flowers. Height 30cm. Some shade.

Berberidopsis corallina
An interesting and beautiful Chilean endemic for a cool shaded position in preferably lime free soil, where it will make an evergreen climber to about 5m on a suitable wall, bearing pendant racemes of deep crimson flowers in late summer over the leathery, toothed foliage, dark green but glaucous beneath.

Berberis montana
A most unusual species from Chile and Argentina, very rarely offered, but one of the finest in the genus for floral display, with exceptionally large, 'Jonquil-like', golden-yellow flowers over diminutive foliage in May. Happy on most soils, even chalk, making an erect, hardy, deciduous shrub to about 2m high.

Berberis sp. Ex CDR 2497
These are true to type seed raised plants of this collection from the Hanyuan Pass, Sichuan, China. A most attractive species with very narrow, finely toothed foliage and pale yellow flowers in spring. Will probably reach about 1.8m. A fine foliage plant with long lasting scarlet autumn colour. Easy, hardy.

Berberis temolaica
One of the most striking and sought after Barberries. A vigorous deciduous shrub reaching 3m with arching growth. Conspicuously glaucous young stems and leaves, with the stems maturing to a bloomy purple brown with age. Pale yellow flowers in spring are followed by bloomy, egg shaped, red fruit.

Berberis valdiviana
A highly sought after and desirable species from Chile making a large, evergreen shrub with polished, leathery, almost spineless leaves and long drooping racemes of saffron-yellow flowers in spring. Always in demand, hard to propagate, and rarely available. Easy and hardy.

Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby'
Deep pink flowers in spring. Leaves rich red in winter. Height 30cm. Best in sun.

Bergenia ciliata
Beautiful palest pink flowers in spring. Attractive bristly, deciduous leaves grow to a huge size, turning red in autumn. Height to 30cm. Shade and shelter.

Bergenia emeiensis
Scarce, lovely Chinese sp. White, pink-blushed flowers in spring. Small clumps Height to 30cm. Mild site in sun/pt shade.

Bergenia stracheyi Alba group
Compact, elegant, white flowered species flowering in spring. Height 20cm. Part shade or sun.

Beschorneria albiflora
Quite probably never offered before in the UK, this is the only species in the genus to form trunks, upright or reclining with green or glaucous rosettes of strappy leaves. Huge, branched, red stalked inflorescences to 3m with dangling tubular flowers, greenish-white in bud, turning pink. The most Southerly in the genus but found at up to 3000m.

Beschorneria septentrionalis
The most Northerly species and most suited to our climate with big green rosettes of foliage. Principally grown for the striking, arching, shocking red-pink flower stalks about 1.5m high (the colour of a tarts knickers), with pendulous, red-green, tubular flowers, produced when established. Full sun, very well drained soil and a sheltered spot. Quite exceptional.

Beschorneria sp. Traub & Wilson coll.
Collected in an unknown area of Mexico this has yet to flower with me, though looks a little different in leaf from the many other species I grow. Very well drained soil in full sun and shelter please.

Beschorneria tubiflora
Hopefully at last the real thing, which is widely confused in cultivation with B. yuccoides. This species is smaller than the latter with a red/pink flower spike to about 1.8m with, most importantly, no branches. Should be as hardy as B. yuccoides, so give it a sheltered position in poor, very well drained soil and full sun. Native to Hidalgo, Mexico.

Beschorneria wrightii
A rare opportunity to purchase this member of the Agavaceae. This species forms a big rosette of fairly soft, particularly silvery-grey-green narrow leaves, narrowed further at their bases, sending up a mighty, pale-red arching flower spike, 2--3m tall, when it's good and ready. Hairy, tubular green flowers fade yellow. Untouched outside with me last winter.

Beschorneria yuccoides 'Quicksilver'
An amazing Mexican plant for a very well drained and sunny position, surviving many degrees of frost given these conditions. From the rosettes of narrow grey-green foliage emerge monstrous, bright red flower stalks to 3m long, arching outward, and dangling the pendulous, tubular, red and green flowers from their branches. Truly spectacular in flower.

Beschorneria yuccoides subsp. dekosteriana F&M 102
Wild collected material of this soft leaved member of the Agave family. These come from 2600m alt. on Pico de Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, where they inhabited sheer cliffs and ledges in the cloud forest. Expect large red-pink flower spikes in time with dangling tubular bell flowers. Relatively hardy outside in a warm, well drained, sheltered position.

Beschorneria yuccoides x septentrionalis
These are first generation plants from this hand pollinated cross. Expect the usual huge red/pink flower stalk after a few years, but who knows, perhaps these will have gained hybrid vigour. Be one of the first to try this new plant. Both parents are from rocky positions in cold parts of Mexico, so, full sun in very well drained soil in a sheltered position.

Betula albo-sinensis 'Bowling Green'
A form of this wonderful Chinese birch originally selected for its bark qualities from an Ernest Wilson collection growing at Werrington, Cornwall. The bark is a warm honey colour and peels in strips. Makes a fast growing medium sized tree. Easy and hardy.

Betula ermanii 'Grayswood Hill'
Often seen in nurseries and gardens under the name B. costata, this birch makes a fine specimen for all year bark and trunk interest. The normally heavily branching stem or stems are rich cream with red-brown young branches, and the new foliage is orangey-red on expansion. Hardy and easy in most places.

Betula ermanii var. saitoana MSF 865
A Mark Fillan collection from Korea, where it is endemic, this dwarf variety of a normally tree-like Asian species slowly makes a bushy, white-stemmed little tree. With me it has grown 2m in 10yrs. Easy and hardy in most soils. Very rarely encountered.

Betula 'Hergest'
This Birch arose as a self-sown seedling at Hergest Croft, that famous Herefordshire garden, and seems closest to B. albo-sinensis. It was selected for its beautiful, warm, pinkish-white bark, and makes a fast growing medium sized tree, attractive year round. For virtually any site or soil.

Betula szechuanica
Not often seen, this species from SW China and SE Tibet has glossy blue-green foliage and chalk-white bark. Makes a fast growing medium sized tree, suitable as a alternative to the excellent B. utilis var. jacquemontii, when you've tired of seeing it in just about every hospital car-park etc.

Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Inverleith'
A form of the Himalayan white-barked birch selected at Edinburgh Botanic Garden for its exceptional brightness in the department of white barkiness. Typically a fast growing medium sized tree for most soils in good light. Easy and hardy.

Bidens aurea 'Hannay's Lemon Drop'
Delicate daisies with lemon yellow, white tipped petals in late summer. Height 150 cm. Sun, sheltered site.

Billardiera longiflora
A little evergreen Tasmanian climber to about 2m high, for a sheltered warm wall, where it is principally grown for its glowing, deep-blue, fat little fruits borne in late summer/autumn, though the greenish-yellow bell shaped flowers have their own charm. Great in a conservatory in cold Northern areas.

Blechnum chilense
A wonderful South American fern producing very bold, very leathery, darkest green fronds with many, opposite pinnae. Slowly spreads to form patches, with fronds reaching about 1m, or more if moist and sheltered. Humus rich acid to neutral soil in semi-shade, or sun if moist.

Bomarea hirtella
Basically a climbing Alstroemeria with terminal clusters of narrow tubular flowers on herbaceous twining stems, reaching 2m + high with suitable support. Flowers soft red outside with a greeny yellow, darker spotted interior. Very showy scarlet seeds. Best in humus rich soil in sun/semi-shade. This form has survived -10c outside near here. Rare and beautiful.

Bomarea hirtella F&M 104
Seeds for these collected at 2600m on Pico de Orizaba, Mexico. Basically a climbing Alstroemeria with terminal clusters of narrow tubular flowers on herbaceous twining stems, reaching 2m + high with suitable support. Flowers soft red outside with a greeny yellow, darker spotted interior. Very showy scarlet seeds. Best in humus rich soil in sun/semi-shade.

Bomarea sp. F&M 130
A collection from the Sierra Chiconquiaco, Veracruz, Mexico at 1800m. Basically a climbing Alstroemeria with terminal clusters of narrow tubular flowers on herbaceous twining stems. Very showy scarlet seeds. Best in humus rich soil in sun/semi-shade. Unflowered as yet.

Borinda albocerea Yunnan 1
A new species from China, developing into a beautiful specimen up to 4m. Very tightly clump forming with delicate light green leaves and gorgeous icy-blue new culms, initially covered by hairy sheaths, and aging to a soft yellow. In this clone the culms are a very good colour. Best in a sheltered position, plants should tolerate about -13c. Vigorous.

Borinda albocerea Yunnan 2
In this clone of this beautiful new Chinese bamboo the new culms are an excellent blue-grey and age to brown with dark red-brown branches. It appears to be a little beefier than some of the other clones. The leaves are a rich mid green. As ever it is tightly clump forming, and will enjoy a sheltered position, tolerating as low as -13c. Up to 4m. Vigorous.

Borinda albocerea Yunnan 3a
This particular clone of this new introduction from China is now thought not to be this species. What ever it turns out to be, it is a very fine new addition to the range of hardy clump forming bamboos. Very pretty, small, slim foliage, blue tinted culms and an elegant habit, reaching about 3m. Best in semi-shade, but tolerant of sunnier positions.

Borinda papyrifera  Stapleton 1046
A very exciting new bamboo, most desired by aficionados. Ultimate height in the UK unknown as yet. The icy-blue-white new culm colour lasts extremely well for a good season at least. Very strong upright growth with the older culms arching under the weight of foliage. This is the form to have, being far more attractive than the Keith Rushforth introdution.

Borinda perlonga  Yunnan 6
An exciting new introduction from China with beautiful blue culms. Culms are erect with drooping tips and persistent sheaths and reach about 3-4m from a tightly clumping base. Leaves are fairly long, narrow and pale green and the whole plant is particularly elegant.

Borinda sp. Yunnan 4
A quite magnificent beauty, this new introduction from China has made a stunning specimen at Carwinion garden, Cornwall. From a very tightly clumping base arise very thick culms, particularly pale-blue on expansion with contrasting orange-brown sheaths, turning glossy green. Very tall, erect culms arch over at their apex under the weight of pale green foliage.

Broussonetia kazinoki
Differing from the closely related 'Paper Mulberry', B. papyrifera, in minor details, this very rarely seen species from Japan and Korea grows into a large shrub, with leaves only slightly downy when young, occasionally deeply 2 or 3 lobed and with a handsome tapered apex. Orange fruits in a globose woolly heads on females. Interesting and obscure. A collector?s item.

Broussonetia papyrifera
The 'Paper Mulberry' from the Far East gains its common name from the Japanese use of its bark for paper making. In this country it forms a deciduous large shrub or small tree with hairy foliage, sometimes simple, sometimes deeply lobed like a mulberry (Morus). Male flowers drooping catkins, females round ball-like inflorescences followed by bizarre orange fruit.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost'
Excellent silver-netted foliage. Blue flowers in spring. Height 45cm. Part shade. PBR: propagation for resale prohibited.

Buddleja agathosma
A most distinct species, tall and very free growing with striking, large, white felted deeply toothed foliage and sweetly scented lilac flowers in terminal panicles in spring. Best against a warm wall. This species is sunk under B.crispa by botanists but is quite different from the typical form.

Buddleja alternifolia 'Argentea'
A large shrub or occasionally a very small tree if trained on a single stem. Graceful arching branches, with narrow silvery-grey, willowy leaves, are smothered in June with delicately fragrant, lilac flowers. Sun, any soil.

Buddleja cordata F&M 220
A species with a wide range in Mexico, and very variable with it. Found at 2900m above Miquihuana in Tamaulipas State this differed in its very silvery white hairy foliage, especially on tip growth, like no other seen elsewhere. Young plants here have yet to develop this extreme whiteness. Give it full sun and well drained soil. Flowers sweetly scented.

Buddleja crispa
Very lovely late summer flowering species reaching about 2m, usually grown against a wall. Soft, white-woolly stems and leaves: the latter with a serrated edge. Fragrant lilac-pink flowers freely borne in August/ September. Sun and well drained soil.

Buddleja lindleyana
A medium sized, hardy, deciduous shrub, much smaller and well behaved than B. davidii. Long, slender, curved racemes of narrow tubed, extended purple-violet flowers in Jul/Aug, exquisite on close inspection. Leaves are small and mid-green, again nothing like B. davidii.

Buddleja 'Morning Mist'
A superb newish hybrid from Peter Moore at Longstock. He wisely crossed B. crispa with B. loricata to produce a semi-evergreen shrub with lovely, soft, white-hairy, slim willowy foliage topped by compact heads of fragrant ivory-white flowers with darker centres in summer. Will make a dense bush to about 1.5m. Hardy. Incorrectly also known as 'Silver Anniversary'.

Bupleurum fruticosum
A marvellous medium sized evergreen shrub for a sunny spot on any soil well drained soil, and excellent in maritime exposure. Simple sea-green leaves and umbels of yellow flowers from July to September, followed by yellow seeds. Usually in short supply, though much in demand by those in the know. Quietly gorgeous.

Butia eriospatha
A very exciting new introduction from Brazil. From upland areas, these experience temperate conditions and have green fronds, unlike the grey leaved, lower altitude B. capitata which enjoys more heat. All in all this should be one of the most suitable feather leaved palms for our climate. Full heads of arching fronds atop a stout trunk in time. Marvellous.

Buxus wallichiana
Himalayan Box. A very rarely seen species usually making a medium sized bush of lax habit with long narrow foliage. Very hardy and adaptable to most soils, but best with some shelter in very cold gardens.

Caesalpinia mexicana
Not otherwise available in the UK, this handsome legume will possibly be herbaceous here, reaching 1.5m and flowering late. Attractive bi-pinnate foliage topped with terminal racemes of fragrant, golden yellow, untypical pea flowers; more like a Cassia. Plant against a hot wall here, where it will be very drought tolerant. Takes -10c in Texas.

Calamagrostis arundinacea (prev. Stipa)
A wonderful, easy grass, creating bushy, dense clumps of fine evergreen foliage in shades of orange, brown and olive-green. Incredibly fine, dusky flowerheads arch over the sides in summer. Height 1m. Sun.

Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam'
Variegated leaves & feathery brown upright flowers in summer, lasting through winter. Height to 180 cm. Sun.

Campsis x tagliabuana 'Madame Galen'
Very exotic looking, this strong growing climber needs a sunny, hot spot to produce it's conspicuous panicles of large salmon-red trumpet shaped flowers. They are borne at the tips of the seasons growth in late summer/autumn. Stems can reach 6m high but can also be pruned hard back in spring to create a neat, manageable plant.

Camptosema praenantrium
A brand new pea flowered climber from Argentina. This beauty has not been trialled here yet but it has proven hardy and floriferous in the USA where it is rated Zone 8. Expect a vigorous herbaceous climber covering a good area in one season, and racemes of coral-crimson flowers finely striped creamy yellow on the outer petals in summer. Heat tolerant.

Camptotheca acuminata
The Xi Shu or 'Happy Tree' of China. Whilst tender when young this new, vigorous tree from SW China develops hardiness with age and is grown successfully in Cornwall. New foliage emerges pink and flowers are balls of white followed by attractive hemispherical green fruit clusters in autumn. Closely related to Davidia, and in use an as anti-carcinogen.

Canna x ehemanii
Hardiest Canna. Big clumps of exotic foliage. Dusky pink flowers, late summer. 2m+. Protect in winter (pot or lifted).

Cardamine raphanifolia
A giant Lady's Smock. Bold low foliage, purple-pink flowers on 60cm stems, early summer. Sun/pt shade, moist soil.

Cardiocrinum giganteum var. yunnanense
The marvellous Giant lily from China producing, when ready, a giant scape of deliciously scented, creamy-white lily flowers, stained purple in the throat, and in this variety, contrasting flower stems stained almost black to about 2m high, and the young heart shaped leaves also tinged bronze. Cool, rich, humusy soil in part shade.

Carpinus fangiana
A very exciting new Hornbeam from China, quite different from our native tree, with comparatively huge leaves up to 20cm long, bronze when young, with as many as 30 prominent veins. In autumn hung with pendent fruiting catkins up to 30cm long. Should make a medium sized tree in time. Quite an exceptional new species to cultivation.

Carpinus pubescens
An Asian Hornbeam with a naturally weeping habit, new to cultivation, with smallish, dainty foliage, attractively red on emergence. Grows to 15m in its natural habitat. From SW China and N Vietnam growing at up to 2000m on limestone. This collection from Yunnan, China.

Carpinus shensiensis
Pretty new on the scene, this rare hornbeam from S. Gansu and S. Shanxi, China will make a small to medium sized tree here, with neat foliage emerging deep red flushed. Fruiting clusters to 10cm long. Any reasonable soil.

Carpinus turkzaninowii
A distinctive handsome small growing hornbeam from the Far East with slender stems and small leaves emerging bright red when in growth.

Carrierea calycina
This great rarity from Sichuan, China is virtually never available commercially, though is perfectly growable and flowers well in my garden here. A vigorous hardy tree eventually of medium size with handsome dark green foliage on red petioles and attractive, creamy, fruit scented lantern-like flowers in early summer. A member of the Flacourtiaceae, as is Poliothyrsis.

Carya glabra
The Pignut from E North America makes a fine specimen here with leaden-grey, smooth bark and pinnate leaves, turning to a wonderful gold and orange in autumn. As with most Hickories, it makes a medium sized to large tree eventually and is tolerant of most soils. Rarely seen, even in arboreta, but perfectly growable and attractive.

Carya laciniosa
The 'Big Shellbark Hickory' from the Eastern USA makes a medium sized tree here, bearing very big, pinnate leaves, sometimes as much as 75cm long, turning a good yellow in autumn. The grey bark becomes wonderfully shaggy in later life, with thick, jagged edged plates peeling off. Very hardy and easy in most soils.

Catalpa x erubescens 'Purpurea'
A hybrid 'Indian Bean Tree' with striking broad foliage opening black purple, turning purple then green. Panicles of foxglove-like flowers in July. Will make a medium sized wide spreading tree, or can be kept as a bush by cutting back hard for extra foliage effect.

Cautleya spicata 'Robusta'
A very exotic looking but hardy ginger relative with yellow and red flower spikes in August, borne atop clumps of luscious foliage to about 70cm. Rich soil, sun/semi-shade.

Cenolophium denudatum
Deep green, finely divided leaves form Broad flat umbels of white flowers in summer. Sun or shade, even dry shade.

Centaurea cheiranthifolia
Butter yellow cornflowers in summer on a low clump of greyish foliage. Height 15cm. Sun and drainage. A good doer!

Centaurea fischeri
Pale lilac-pink cornflower heads on a low clump of grey-green foliage. Height 15 cm. Sun and drainage.

Centaurea glastifolia
Rich yellow knapweed flowers in summer. Height 120cm. Sun.

Centaurea montana 'Lady Flora Hastings'
Large, delicate white cornflowers with dark centres. Greyish leaves. 45cm. Sun and drainage.

Centaurea triumfettii 'Hoar Frost'
White cornflowers, tinged purple in centre. Grey leaves. Summer dormant. Height 30cm. Sun, good drainage.

Centaurea triumfettii x montana
Lovely big cornflowers in silvery-blue, centred pink. Height to 75cm Dormant in summer. Sun and drainage.

Cercidiphyllum magnificum
A rarely seen species, closely related to C. japonicum but differing in the larger, more heart-shaped leaves with coarser serrations, and the smoother bark. A medium sized tree with lovely yellow autumn colour, the leaves sugar scented as they fall. These are seed raised from hand pollinated plants originally collected on Honshu by Mikinori Ogisu.

Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'
A form of the North American Redbud or 'Judas Tree' grown principally for its superb foliage which is rounded, heart-shaped and a rich, deep reddish-purple. One of the best small trees of this colour and quite stunning when backlit in summer. Flowers pink but not borne freely in this country. For sun or semi-shade and ordinary reasonably well drained soil.

Cercis chinensis 'Avondale'
A selection of a Chinese 'Judas Tree' made in New Zealand. This form has a mass of deep pink flowers emerging from deep purple buds in May. Largish heart-shaped, glossy green leaves with a slightly rolled margin, making them look thicker than they are. Makes a small tree eventually.

Cercis siliquastrum
The Judas Tree. A classic small tree for a sunny site in well drained soil, where it will bedeck its bare branches in May with a mass of vividly coloured, deep lilac-pink pea flowers just before the rounded, heart shaped leaves expand. The deep red tinted seed pods dangle conspicuously on the tree from July onwards. Makes a characterful specimen over time.

Chamaerops humilis
The Mediterranean Dwarf Fan Palm is one of the hardiest we can grow in the UK, surviving 12 degrees C below zero when mature. Plant in a sunny sheltered corner in well drained soil and it will slowly make a large multi-stemmed shrub with impressive, rigid, wind proof foliage. Can also take shade, and great in a pot if given a little protection over winter.

Chelonopsis moschata
Wine red tubular flowers on slender stems in summer. Height 30cm. Moist shady site.

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis
'Square Stem Bamboo'. Very elegant and distinct species when growing well in a sheltered position, where it will reach about 3m. Fine foliage arches out from upright culms which are square to the touch when larger. Very shade tolerant and happiest in woodland conditions. Running habit easily controlled. Not for very cold areas. Likes rain.

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis 'Svow'
This is an attractive and very rare form of the Chinese 'Square Stem Bamboo' producing soft yellow culms with occasional vertical green stripes. Like the ordinary green form, this requires a sheltered and preferably shaded position, not in very cold gardens. Very elegant foliage on stems to 3m, and an inquisitive rhizome, but not difficult to control.

Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda
Rare and amazing bamboo with swollen nodes on the culms; used for making the famous Chinese walking sticks. Beautiful and very distinct narrow foliage on graceful arching culms to 2-3m. Running habit easily controlled - great in a pot. Gorgeous, one of my favourites, and probably the most elegant of all bamboos. At it's best in semi-shade.

Chionochloa conspicua
The Plumed Tussock Grass from New Zealand makes a robust, ornamental specimen to 1.5m high. The flat leaves are green with a central orange stripe. Graceful, semi-pendent, loose inflorescences are borne in summer. Sun, not too bone dry.

Chionochloa rubra
The 'Red tussock grass' of New Zealand. Bold clumps of thin foliage, mainly soft red-brown with a hint of purple, turning more orangey in winter. A striking grass for full sun and well drained soil.

Chloranthus fortunei
Whorls of dark purple-brown leaves on 25cm stems. Flowers in upright 'catkins' in spring. For humus rich soil in shade. Choice.

Chusquea culeou
Highly sought after Chilean species forming a very tight clump with thick upright, yellow-green culms and distinct, dense, leafy branching at each node. A real specimen bamboo, also great associated with big leaves. 3-4m, sometimes smaller. Hardy.

Chusquea culeou (quila of hort.)
Raised from Chilean seed in the 1980's, these were originally circulated under the name C. quila, which they most definitely are not. In fact they are an open and upright form of culeou. A very tight clump with thick upright, yellow-green culms and distinct, dense, leafy branching at each node. Hardy. About 3m maybe smaller.

Chusquea culeou 'Purple Splendour'
This new form of the Chilean 'Foxtail Bamboo' was selected by David Crampton from a batch of seedlings, principally for its very deeply coloured, chocolate-purple culms. The colour lasts very well and should be impressive as the plants get bigger. Tightly clump forming, reaching about 3-4m, sometimes smaller.

Chusquea culeou Weeping form
These are seed raised from a weeping from grown in the USA. Like any other C. culeou it is very tightly clump forming with thick yellow-green culms and distinct, dense, leafy branching at each node, though this form has an upright culm with weeping tops and branches. Hardy and tolerant. 3-4m high.

Chusquea deliculata
Brought back from Machu Picchu, Peru, 2400m alt, this is new to cultivation here. It is a vining species with downward pointing main branches at the nodes used for clambering over other plants. Elegant and arching growth with very small leaves.

Chusquea gigantea
The holy grail to many lovers of bamboo. This very large growing Andean species creates an awe inspiringly impressive clump of widely spaced thick culms extremely quickly. Culms are green, turning yellow between the nodes which are prominently branched. New culms have attractive, persistent cream sheaths, and the leaves are long and narrow. Height 6m.

Chusquea macrostachya
Very new, very exciting. An Andean bamboo best planted as a specimen where it will grow to 5m+. Similar to C. culeou and equally hardy but taller and more elegant, with arching growth and delicate foliage. Young culms colour rich purple in good light. Sun or shade.

Chusquea muelleri F&M 104a
Never offered before, this is a very rare Mexican endemic from the cloud forests of Veracruz and Oaxaca. Collected on the Pico de Orizaba, Veracruz at 2600m. In the wild state this makes a smallish species with a delicate appearance; leaves are narrow and the culms are slim and arching. Hardiness unknown, but the collection altitude is promising.

Chusquea valdiviensis
This is a potentially huge, climbing species from mild, temperate areas of Chile. In these islands it needs very mild conditions, as it is not too hardy. So that means coastal Cornwall or coastal Ireland. Given such a balmy climate it will climb high into trees, sometimes reaching the ground again where it will take root and head off in another direction. Yes, it's a Triffid.

Cimicifuga (see Actaea)


Cinnamomum micranthum
An extremely rare introduction from the far East, probably only suitable for mild areas. New growth emerges with attractive pinky-orange tints and expands into big glossy foliage, aromatic when crushed. Expected to make a large shrub in this country.

Cirsium heterophyllum
Mid-purple knapweed like flowers in summer. Undivided leaves. Height 1m. Sun or part shade.

Cirsium rivulare atropurpurea
Lovely wine-red knapweed-like flowers on upright stems in summer. Gently spreading. Height 1m. A lovely thing.

Cistus creticus
A small evergreen bushy Mediterranean shrub with pale-grey-green narrow hairy foliage and a multitude of yellow-centred pink flowers over several weeks in early summer. For full sun and well drained soil.

Cistus creticus dwarf form
This new form was collected as seed very recently on Crete and is offered here for the first time. It makes a very low, bushy, aromatic evergreen shrub for full sun where it will produce its yellow-centred rose pink flowers over several weeks in early summer. Very drought tolerant, enjoying well drained soil in full sun.

Cistus salviifolius 'Prostratus'
A dwarf, grey leaved shrub, prostrate and spreading in this form, with yellow centred white flowers very freely produced in June/July. Very drought tolerant and best in full sun in poor, well drained soil.

Cistus x dansereaui 'Decumbens'
A small spreading evergreen shrub for a sunny well drained site with dark green lance shaped, wavy edged leaves that are aromatic and sticky to the touch. Large white flowers are beautifully marked with a crimson basal blotch at the base of each petal and are borne en-masse over a long period in early summer. At least a metre across and half as high.

Cistus x heterocalyx 'Chelsea Bonnet'
A pretty hybrid from the Chelsea Physic Garden. A small shrub with very narrow, glossy evergreen foliage, covered in lovely, yellow eyed, comparatively small white flowers in June/July. Best in full sun on poor, well drained soil where it will be very drought tolerant.

Cladrastis sinensis
A very rarely offered or seen Chinese tree of small to medium size for a sunny position. Attractive pinnate leaves open late, and the tree is smothered in large panicles of pink-tinged white pea flowers in July, but not usually on very young specimens. Bark is smooth and grey, and the autumn colour is an exceptional, glowing, clear golden yellow.

Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'
A well known, magnificent evergreen climber with outsize, bold foliage composed of three big leathery leaflets. Clusters of large, fragrant, pink flushed white flowers borne in April/May. Stems reach about 6m high but can be cut hard back after flowering. Shoots appear very early but aren't usually affected by late frost. Best on a sunny wall.

Clematis cirrhosa 'Ourika Valley'
Pale creamy-yellow bell-like flowers with no spotting, from mid-winter to early spring over evergreen foliage. This cultivar was collected in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco and has proved to be hardier and better for exposed positions than var. balearica, and also more free flowering. Reaches about 3m, and suited to a sunny wall or screen.

Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica
An evergreen, winter flowering climber with pretty cream bells, slightly spotted with red inside, over ferny, dark green foliage, bronze tinted during the cold months, and a joy in itself. Attractive silky seed heads follow the flowers. Grows to about 3m high and best suited to a sheltered sunny wall.

Clematis fasciculiflora L657
Rare, beautiful and distinct, this evergreen climber from China usually has foliage attractively marked with a silvery blotch and bears it's fragrant, bell shaped, white flowers in late winter/early spring. New shoots appear red-purple with bronze-red foliage and eventually reach about 6m with suitable support. I have used it to cover a sunny 2m wall.

Clematis florida 'Sieboldii'
A natural Japanese variety of this striking species, looking more like a highly bred hybrid with its big white flowers with conspicuous violet-purple centres, borne in June/July on stems to about 4m high. Best on a sheltered sunny wall.

Clematis rehderiana
A very lovely, late flowering, hardy species from W China with clusters of wonderfully Cowslip scented soft primrose-yellow bells profusely borne during late summer and autumn on stems potentially to 7m given suitable support. I have seen this very successfully associated, on a brick wall, with early colouring Parthenocissus quinquefolia.

Clematis tangutica dwarf form
This is apparently a smaller growing and more manageable form of this lovely yellow flowered species. Similar in all respects otherwise, with an abundance of scented yellow lanterns in late summer and autumn, though some here have started to flower with me in June.

Cleyera japonica var. japonica
A rare member of the Tea family from Japan, where it is the sacred tree of Shintoism. Forms a rigidly wide spreading, distinctly layered evergreen shrub with red-rimmed, green, leathery foliage, often red tinted in winter. Masses of fairly inconspicuous, small, translucent cream flowers in summer. Not suited to shallow chalk soils. Height 3m.

Cleyera japonica var. wallichii
Rarely seen, the Western form of this hardy evergreen, densely leafy shrub forms a more upright plant than typical, to about 3m or more. Leathery, glossy, rich-green foliage often has red tints over winter. Interesting and quietly attractive, making a good backdrop to more showy things. Not for shallow chalk soils.

Clianthus puniceus 'Albus'
This white form of the 'Lobster Claw' is less strikingly exotic looking than the typical brilliant red form, though still is a lovely thing. Fascinating flowers in dangling clusters produced in early summer. Requires a warm wall in most areas, and cannot be recommended for very cold spots.

Clianthus puniceus 'Roseus'
The pink form of the New Zealand 'Lobster Claw' produces its exotic dangling clusters of flowers, rather appropriately, in lobster-pink. For those who need the normal mega-red form toned down a bit. Requires a sheltered warm wall, except in mild areas.

Clianthus puniceus var. maximus
The 'Lobster Claw' from New Zealand?s North Island, has to be one of the most spectacular flowering plants growable in the UK, but is not hardy enough for cold areas. Amazingly exotic, bright red, bizarrely shaped flowers in drooping clusters in early summer. Best against a warm sheltered sunny wall, or in a conservatory. Survives here most winters.

Colquhounia coccinea Sich 2458
This clone is thought to be the best in cultivation by Tony Schilling who introduced it. A tall deciduous shrub looking a little like a Buddleja in leaf, and a giant Salvia in flower with lovely, scarlet, tubular flowers in late summer/autumn, at the ends of the branches. This is a good hardy form, for full sun and well drained soil, but still best in a sheltered spot.

Convolvulus cneorum
Possibly the silveryest shrub available with glistening silky foliage on a small compact, bushy evergreen shrub, studded in May with trumpet shaped white flowers tinged with pale pink and yellow in the throat. Needs a sunny dry site to thrive, and in colder areas should be placed in a sheltered position.

Cordyline indivisa
An awesomely impressive foliage plant when grown well, with a huge crown of very broad leaves to 15cm across. This New Zealander comes from higher altitude than the common C. australis and is hardier, though can die from heat stress in summer. It likes a cool position in not too dry soil to thrive, though I know plants in full sun in inland places doing well.

Cornus alternifolia 'Argentea'
Very distinct and extremely attractive medium to large shrub a bit like a miniature, multi-stemmed Wedding Cake Tree with layered, tabulate branching and silvery-white variegated leaves. Leaves are small however, giving an incredibly delicate effect. A plant deserving of a prime position.

Cornus alternifolia 'Silver Giant'
A new form selected as a branch sport from the more common 'Argentea'. In this form the variegation is more subtle: the leaf blade being grey green with a thin variable margin of white, sometimes tinted with a hint of pink. This has the same lovely tabulate branching habit but has more vigour and the lesser variegation allows it to blend better with natural settings.

Cornus capitata
A highly regarded evergreen species from the Himalaya and China, making a large shrub or small tree for a sheltered position. Small flowers, surrounded by four large conspicuous, sulphur-yellow bracts, cover the branches in June, followed by a mass of pendulous strawberry-like fruit in October. Not for very cold areas.

Cornus controversa 'Variegata'
'Wedding Cake Tree'. A well known and ornamental small deciduous tree with level and distinctly layered branching, and strikingly variegated white and green foliage, providing a unique effect in gardens. Grows well on any ordinary soil. Young plants usually look a bit lopsided, but will sort themselves out if left alone.

Cornus 'Eddie's White Wonder'
A hybrid between the American species C. florida and C. nuttallii, making a large shrub or small, compact tree, with layers of branches smothered in large white flower heads in spring. Leaves give brilliant autumn colour. Quite a sight in flower, closely resembling a good C. nuttallii.

Cornus excelsa F&M 57
Collected at 2250m in the foothills of the mighty Pico de Orizaba, Mexico's highest peak, this was a tree to 10m laden with light blue fruits in November when we happened to be passing by. Flowers will be clusters of white in summer. Could very well be perfectly hardy in the UK. Who's tried it? Will probably make a shrub here.

Cornus kousa 'Satomi'
In this Japanese selection of this much loved large flowering shrub, the natural red pigments are much more in evidence. The spectacular bracts that surround the flowers in June are deep pink instead of white and the leaves are red tinted through the season, turning rich purple red in autumn. A success in most reasonable soils, it will reach about 3m eventually.

Cornus kousa var. chinensis 'China Girl'
Spectacularly beautiful in flower, this form of the taller growing Chinese variety was selected for its large-bracted white flower heads, and its willingness to flower profusely, covering the branches, even on young plants. Autumn colour starts with a hint of red, building to rich bronze and crimson and lasts for up to a month. This var. will make a small tree.

Cornus 'Norman Hadden'
A beautiful, graceful, spreading small tree with nearly evergreen foliage. Small flowers surrounded by large, conspicuous, creamy-white bracts in June, turning pink in July. Large crops of pendulous, strawberry like fruit in autumn. A bit lovely.

Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina'
Not really a climber, more a small shrub best suited to wall cultivation in most areas. This lovely evergreen, blue-green leaved, dwarf shrub from the Mediterranean has clusters of deliciously peach scented, pale-lemon pea-flowers covering the branches mainly in April, and then intermittently through the year. Enjoys sun and well drained soil.

Corydalis flexuosa 'Norman's Seedling'
Violet/blue flowers in spring-summer. Bronzed foliage. Moist but drained soil in shade. Height 25cm.

Corydalis flexuosa 'Purple Leaf'
Blue flowers over a long season. Purple foliage. Moist but drained soil in shade. Height 25cm.

Corydalis 'Tory MP'
Striking new hybrid with intense bright blue flowers on reddish stems to 75cm, from late spring. Repeats if very happy. Sun or shade. Easy, and very perennial. Found by me as a seedling and named such as it's a true blue and tends to go on and on (flowering that is).

Corylopsis sinensis
A magnificent deciduous shrub attaining a large size eventually. The branches strung in spring with pendulous racemes of cowslip-scented, bright yellow flowers, before the foliage emerges. Far too rarely seen in gardens Corylopsis are first rate shrubs, hardy and suitable for most soils and situations.

Corylopsis sinensis 'Spring Purple'
One of the loveliest of spring flowering shrubs with its drooping clusters of small, soft yellow, cowslip-scented flowers borne just before the new plum-purple leaves emerge. These turn green as the season progresses but any further growth has this colour. A medium to large shrub for any reasonable soil.

Corylopsis sinensis var. calvescens
A form of this large deciduous shrub lacking the hairy leaf undersurface. Handsome glaucescent foliage and typical drooping racemes of lemon yellow scented flowers dangle in their thousands from the bare branches of a large plant in early spring. Hardy and easy in all but shallow chalk soils.

Cotinus 'Grace'
To me the best of the purple Smoke Bushes, this is a vigorous large shrub bearing soft, plummy, purplish-red leaves which are thin and wonderful when backlit, especially in autumn when they turn scarlet. Large, purplish-pink, conical clusters of 'smoky' flowers in summer. Much nicer than those nasty black purple varieties. Can be pruned hard.

Crambe cordifolia
Massive, fabulous, open heads of diffuse white flowers to about 1.5m or more in early summer over big dark-green foliage, which then gets devoured by things that find it tasty. Easy.

Crataegus sp. F&M 196
Collected in Hidalgo State, Mexico this formed a small tree with small lobed leaves and red fruit. Expect white flowers and probable hardiness, though possibly best with some shelter and full sun.

Crinum moorei
A huge bulb from SA with lovely pale pink trumpet shaped lily flowers clustered at the tops of the stems in summer. Height 120cm in flower. Full sun in rich soil. Reasonably hardy, but best against a warm wall as an insurance.

Crocosmia 'Baby Barnaby'
New variety with branching stems of orange flowers, blotched maroon. Late summer. Height 60cm. Sun.

Crocosmia 'Carmin Brilliant'
Red buds open to paler flowers in summer. To 75cm. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Debutante'
Rich yellow flowers tinged with pink in late summer. Height to 1m. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Dusky Maiden'
Orange-brown flowers in summer. Strongly bronze-tinted foliage. Height 50cm. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Gerbe d'Or'
Apricot yellow flowers in summer; bronze tinted leaves. Height 90cm. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Brilliant red flowers in summer. Bold clumps of pleated leaves. Height 120cm. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Mrs Geoffrey Howard'
Large tomato red flowers in summer. Height 90cm. Sun.

Crocosmia 'Rayon d'Or'
Good sized bright orange-yellow, prettily marked flowers in summer. Height 75cm. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Sir Matthew Wilson'
Vigorous red flowered variety. Sunny position.

Crocosmia 'Star of the East'
Huge apricot flowers in late summer. Height to 90cm. Mild sunny position, moist but well drained.

Crocosmia 'Sultan'
Dark orange flowers with paler centres. Brown tinted foliage. 50cm. Sun.

Cunninghamia lanceolata
An exotic looking and unusual hardy Chinese conifer, making a medium sized tree with rich green, spiky looking foliage, white banded beneath, bearing some resemblance to a Monkey Puzzle. Slow growing so can be used in smaller gardens until very old. Hardy but best with some shelter.

Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca'
This is the wonderful blue leaved form of this exotic looking but quite hardy Chinese conifer. Very rarely seen, this form will reach the same size as the standard green form, which means normally a medium sized tree, only becoming larger if very happy and/or given 100yrs or so. Best away from the very coldest exposed sites.

Cyathea australis
This beautiful Tree fern from SE Australia and Tasmania is thought to be as hardy as Dicksonia antarctica, and will happily shed its fronds every year if damaged by cold, as they often do in the wild, where it naturally grows in more sun. This is a more elegant plant than D. antarctica, with a trunk covered in thicker, glossier, fibrous roots and spiny frond bases.

Cyclamen purpurascens 'Lake Garda'
Rare pewter leaved form of this very sweetly scented, summer flowering, hardy species. Leafy well drained soil in semi-shade. Not dry in summer.

Cyrtanthus mackenii
Dwarf bulb with heads of tubular, peachy orange flowers in early spring. 40cm. Sun, winter protection. Summer dormant.

Cyrtomium falcatum 'Rochfordianum'
A striking evergreen 'Holly fern' up to 60cm high with glossy, leathery fronds composed of broad pinnae and in this form with handsomely lacerated margins. Hardier than once imagined and suitable for a sheltered position in most areas.

Cyrtomium fortunei
A perfectly hardy 'Holly fern', the evergreen fronds with attractive, broad leathery pinnae on dark stalks, very different to most other ferns. For a shady, humus rich spot. Ht 60cm.

Dahlia aff. mollis NJM 05.072
Hairy leaves and pale lilac-pink flowers to 12cm diameter on a plant to about 1.5m high. From the Sierra Gorda, Queretaro State, Mexico at 2100m alt.

Dahlia aff. tenuicaulis F&M 99
Collected in Eastern Mexico at high altitude this is a large and impressive species. It was often seen by the side of the road in wild places and gardens with strong stems to about 2.5m, topped in late autumn with a profusion of strong pink single flowers. Late to flower in the UK like its cousin D. imperialis. Sun. Lift over winter or mulch heavily.

Dahlia australis
A very unusual species a bit like a taller, beefier merckii with a stiffer habit and larger lilacy flowers. Possibly fairly hardy, especially with a mulch. Up to about 1m.

Dahlia coccinea
Quite different from those nasty fluffy things, this is a lovely simple Mexican species with bright orange-red single flowers on very long stalks in late summer. Fairly hardy, so try it outside over-winter if you like, with a mulch. Sun and well drained soil. Height 1.5-2m.

Dahlia dissecta F&M 191
Collected nr Jacala, Hidalgo State, Mexico. A pretty species with small white flowers, sometimes with a merest hint of pink, over very ferny, dissected, glossy-green foliage on stems to about 60cm. Possibly fairly hardy, especially with a mulch. This comes from a fairly dry area, so well drained soil in full sun.

Dahlia merckii
A fairly hardy species with pretty, single, small flowers in pinky-lilac, on stems to 1.5m, flowering in late summer. Easily grown in a well drained sunny position. Mulch in winter.

Dahlia merckii F&M 222/223
Originating from the Volcan Ajusco in Mexico State, Mexico at between 2700m and 3000m, plants from this area generally have broader overlapping petals in anything from a lovely shade of white flushed soft pink through to lilac. Will be as hardy as any D. merckii. Sun and good well drained soil, and a mulch in winter.

Dahlia neglecta NJM 05.023
This newly described species was collected at the type locality at 2300m, nr Tulancingo, Mexico. It made a plant to 80cm high and has flowered in cultivation with variably pinky-lilac single flowers. Mulch over or dig and store for winter.

Dahlia sp. NJM 05.008
Seed for these was found at 2600m alt. on the East side of the mighty volcano Popocatepetl, Puebla State, Mexico. They appear to be D. merckii and are very similar to the plants that occur on Volcan Ajusco to the West.

Danae racemosa
'Alexandrian Laurel'. A close relative of Ruscus, this forms a small evergreen shrub with arching sprays of healthy looking, glossy green leaves, and orange-red fruits in autumn. Shade tolerant, tough as old boots and great for flower arrangements.

Daphne bholua 'Alba'
A Himalayan gem of a plant. This, the white flowered form, seems to make a more compact, evergreen, upright shrub with slightly smaller, neater foliage. Deliciously scented clusters of flower borne for an unusually long period in Jan/Feb. No garden should be without this lovely thing.

Daphne bholua 'Gurkha'
A mighty fine winter flowering, very sweetly scented Himalayan shrub for any well drained soil. This form, collected at high altitude in E Nepal in 1962, is deciduous, with clusters of comparatively large flowers, purplish-pink and white, borne continuously in Jan-Feb and worth trekking across a garden, or mountainside, to sniff. Rarely seen now. One of the hardiest forms.

Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata'
Hardly needing an intro, this much admired small evergreen shrub has one of the most powerful fragrances of any plant that we can grow. The clusters of piercingly citrus-sweet purple-pink and white flowers are borne all over the bush in late winter and early spring. The foliage has a narrow creamy yellow margin. Ordinary well drained soil in sun or semi-shade.

Daphne pontica
A small, rounded, hardy evergreen shrub from the Near East, very tolerant of shade and poor soil. Clusters of spidery, yellow-green flowers in April/May, deliciously fragrant in the evening. Similar in a way to our native D. laureola, but with broader leaves and better flowers.

Daphniphyllum himalense var. macropodum
A superb, unusual, evergreen, large shrub with fairly sizable, Rhododendron-like foliage, pale beneath and with red petioles. Easy and hardy in any good soil, acid or alkaline, in sun or shade. Male flowers, when in bud, look a bit like Mulberries. An aristocratic foliage plant of fine form.

Dasylirion miquihuanensis NJM 05.062
A magnificent species from NE Mexico, and considering the seed provenance these should be pretty hardy given very free drainage and full sun. In the wild these form huge globes of hundreds of perfectly regularly spaced long, narrow, minutely spine edged leaves, forming a rosette up to 2m across with a slim inflorescences up to 6m. From La Peņa, 2000m.

Datisca cannabina
Clumps of arching 2m stems with pinnate leaves. A very graceful foliage plant: sunny site, not too cold.

Davidia involucrata
The fabled 'Handkerchief Tree'. A beautiful, hardy, medium sized tree for any soil, draped in May with a multitude of large white bracts, "Like huge butterflies hovering among the trees" (Wilson)

Decaisnea fargesii
A very bold foliage plant making a wide spreading open shrub to about 3m eventually. Huge pinnate leaves emerge blue tinged, yellow-green flowers in long racemes in May followed by quite remarkable metallic-blue seed pods the size and shape of broad beans. Sun or semi-shade but best out of strong winds.

Deinanthe bifida
Fleshy, nodding white flowers on 60cm stems. Bristly, attractive leaves. For humus rich soil in shade.

Dendromecon rigida
Highly prized and always in demand, with never enough available, this is a 'Tree Poppy' from California best planted and trained against a very sunny wall in well drained soil, where it will make a tall shrub with rigid, narrow, glaucous, evergreen leaves and a very long succession of poppy-like, bright, buttercup yellow flowers in summer.

Desmodium elegans
A very lovely, Chinese, small to medium sized shrub with attractive trifoliolate leaves, composed of fairly broad, pale green leaflets, and large panicles of pale pinky-lilac pea flowers in summer, followed by flattened seed pods. Well drained soil and sun..

Desmodium yunnanense
Very different from the more usual D. elegans, this will make a large deciduous shrub with large, rounded, thickly silvery-hairy leaves and rich-purple pea flowers in dense clusters in late summer and autumn. This needs the backing of a warm sunny wall in most places and will come back strongly from the base if cut by cold.

Deutzia compacta
Not a bad name for a neat compact bush. Rarely seen, this Chinese species bears densely clustered, hawthorn-like, sweetly scented, white flowers, pink in bud, in July. Any ordinary soil.

Deutzia pulchra
A very beautiful medium sized hardy deciduous shrub of noble aspect, for any soil in sun or semi-shade. The drooping spikes of often pink tinged, white, golden centred flowers in June have been likened to lily-of-the-valley (without the scent). Mature plants have wonderful pale cinnamon bark peeling off in smooth papery sheets. Easy.

Deutzia setchuenensis var. corymbiflora
One of the finest in the genus. A deciduous medium sized, comparatively slow growing shrub to 2m. Innumerable clusters of white, star-like flowers during July/Aug over sea green, rough to the touch foliage. Even pretty in bud when the plant is speckled with tiny white dots.

Deutzia 'Strawberry Fields'
An easily grown vigorous, highly floriferous medium sized deciduous shrub for most soils and situations, covered in comparatively large bright mauve pink, edged white flowers in June.

Dianthus carthusianorum
From the Alps. Heads of magenta flowers on 30cm stems in spring and summer. Easy in a sunny, well drained spot.

Dichroa febrifuga
This Hydrangea relative hails from the foothills of the Himalaya, and like many of its cousins has flowers which are very blue on acid soils, and pink on alkaline. It makes a medium to large shrub with stems to about 3m. Diffuse heads of thick petalled flowers produced in late summer/autumn, followed by dark-blue berries. Best suited to mild gardens.

Dicksonia antarctica
The now well known Hardy tree fern from Tasmania and SE Australia. Grows slowly, so buy the size you like. Larger specimens have survived perfectly outside without protection near here for over 10yrs. Best in a sheltered, semi-shaded spot in leafy soil, but quite sun tolerant if moist.

Dicksonia antarctica
Hardly needs an introduction these days, this wonderful tree fern from SE Australia and Tasmania is the easiest and hardiest of it's kind for UK conditions. Slow growing, it will eventually reach 3-4m in ideal conditions given 100yrs or so, so buy a plant of the size you like and preferably grow it in semi-shade and sheltered conditions, though they are very tolerant.

Dicliptera suberecta
Tubular orange flowers over a long summer-autumn season; silvery leaves. 30cm. Mild sunny spot, but quite hardy. Beautiful.

Dierama 'Blackbird' seedlings
A very special Wand Flower with many purple bell flowers, often very dark. Height to 1.5m. Sun, not too dry.

Dierama 'Coral Bells'
Warm pink flowers in summer with silvery bracts. Height 1m+. Michael Wickenden's selection. Sun, moist in summer.

Dierama dracomontanum JCA 3.141.100
A dwarf, high altitude, hardy species bearing upright spikes of brick red flowers in summer, grassy leaves. Height 45cm. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama formosanum
A very rare species of Wand flower with pendulous inflorescences of pale lilac-pink to bright cerise-pink flowers on arching stems to about 1m high in summer. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama galpinii
An unusual species Wand flower with fairly erect flower stems to 1.5m bearing upright spikes of pale to bright magenta pink flowers in summer. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama 'Guinevere'
Arching spikes of white flowers in summer. Height 1m+. For a sunny position that does not dry out in summer.

Dierama igneum
A species Wand flower with pendulous rich pink flowers on stems 50-150cm high. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama 'Knee High Lavender'
This relatively new cultivar is possibly a wild species. As the name suggests, the plant is only about 50cm high in flower and produces lilac bells in summer over grassy, evergreen foliage. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama medium
A very elegant Wand flower, the stems erect at first, arching over with clusters of mauve to magenta bell flowers crowded at the ends of very pendulous, wiry stalks in early summer. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama pauciflorum JCA 3.143.500
A Wand flower with large, very open pink flowers, backed by rusty bracts, dangling from the 50cm arching stems in June/July. Sun, not too dry in summer. Genuine wild source material. Should be one of the hardiest.

Dierama 'Puck'
A short (50cm) hybrid Wand flower with pink flowers on upright stems. Sun, not too dry.

Dierama pulcherrimum
Genuine wild source material of this well known species. Clusters of rich-pink bell-shaped flowers dangle from tall arching stems in summer. Height 1.5m. Sun, not too dry.

Dierama pulcherrimum var. album
Clusters of white bell flowers dangle from tall arching stems in summer. Height 1.5m. Sun, not too dry.

Dierama reynoldsii
A very beautiful species with tall flower stems 1-2m high. The pendulous, deep wine-red bell flowers contrast effectively with the silvery bracts. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama robustum
A large species and probably one of the hardiest, with pale mauve-pink, open bells dangling in clusters from tall arching stems in late summer. Height 1.5m. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Dierama 'Tiny Bells'
Floriferous dwarf variety. Pink flowers on 40cm stems in summer Sun, moist in summer.

Dierama 'Westminster Chimes'
Very scarce hybrid Wand Flower: pale pink, very open bells on tall(to 1.5m) arching stems. Sun, not too dry.

Digitalis 'Glory of Roundway'
Lovely hybrid foxglove with lots of small creamy pink flowers in summer. Height to 90cm. Sun or part shade.

Dipelta floribunda
Much sought after, difficult to propagate, and never available in large quantity, this large deciduous Chinese shrub is laden, in May, with masses of fragrant pink, yellow throated Weigela like flowers. Its flaking bark is an added interest, as are the winged, papery fruits. Any reasonable soil in sun or semi-shade.

Dipelta ventricosa
Highly prized amongst those in the know, this very rare, large growing, deciduous hardy shrub from W. China is covered in May with conspicuous, Weigela like, vibrant deep lilac-pink flowers with golden yellow throats. Always in demand and rarely available. Any reasonable soil in sun or semi-shade.

Dipelta yunnanensis
A large deciduous shrub much prized and sought after by plantsmen. Weigela like flowers, cream with orange throats, borne in great profusion in May followed by interesting papery, winged fruit. More refined foliage than D. floribunda but smaller flowers. Hardy and suitable for most soils in sun or semi-shade.

Diplarrhena moraea
Beautiful, elegant flowers composed of three broad segments in pure white with yellow and purple central markings borne in early summer, several to a stem and posessing an iris-like quality (same family). Evergreen grassy foliage to 45cm. Flowers to 60cm. Sun.

Dipteronia sinensis
Very closely related to Maples but looks nothing like one. This is a rare multi stemmed small tree from China with bold pinnate foliage and big bunches of round, red tinged, winged seeds in autumn, similar to an Elm but much bigger (the seeds, not the plant). Hardy and easily grown.

Disporopsis aspera
Short stout Solomon's Seal look-alike. Smart maroon blotched stems. Little creamy bells. 30cm. For light shade.

Disporopsis pernyi
Wonderfully sweet scented white bells with flared mouths hang from arching, evergreen, leafy stems to about 20cm. Spreads slowly to form patches in leafy soil in shade. A Solomon's Seal relative from China.

Disporum aff bodinieri
Tall, olive tinted plant. Attractive fat, yellow-green bells with exerted stamens. To 2m. Leafy soil in some shade.

Disporum cantoniense B&L12512
Distinctive for its sombre purple, hanging bell flowers. Great foliage plant, to 1m. Good soil, light shade.

Disporum cantoniense DJHC98485
A tall (2m) form of this beautiful Chinese foliage plant for good soil in light shade. Tiny nodding bells, black berries.

Disporum flavens MSF 800
A Lily of the Valley relative with yellow bells in spring. Height to 40cm. Shade. This tall form was collected originally as D. smithii in S. Korea, and may well be that species.

Disporum sessile 'Variegatum'
Related to Solomon's Seal, this white and green striped plant forms colonies in shade where it will dangle it's little greeny white flowers from 40cm stems in spring/summer.

Distylium racemosum
A rather unusual member of the Hamamelis family from the far East. This large evergreen shrub makes a wide spreading bush in this country, with conspicuous racemes of flowers in April and May. These have no petals, but are instead formed of red stamens. The foliage is deep green and leathery. For most soils, though probably best away from shallow chalk.

Dregea sinensis
A lovely sweet smelling thing for a warm sheltered wall or conservatory in cold areas. Stems clamber up to 3m with suitable support and produce long-stalked umbels of deliciously scented, Hoya like, red spotted, white flowers in summer over pale green leaves, felted beneath.

Drepanostachyum khasianum
This highly unusual, tightly clump forming Himalayan species is worthy of a sheltered spot in dappled shade. Very elegant with small, distinctly bright pea green leaves and upright culms marked with red above the nodes. For a sheltered conditions in not too cold gardens. Min -9c.

Drepanostachyum microphyllum
A rare gem with exquisite, tiny, soft-green foliage, a tight clump-forming habit and wonderfully deep-red stained, olive culms to 2--3m, frothing over under the weight of fine foliage. Best with some shelter, but hardly tried as yet, though unlikely to prosper outside mild-ish areas. Very, very beautiful. Previously sold here as Himalayacalamus asper.

Drepanostachyum porcatus
Very new to cultivation and extremely rare. Tightly clump forming with fine foliage and thin graceful culms that emerge covered with a grey green bloom. Originally collected at 2000-2300m in Nepal. Requires a sheltered site, not too cold, though will certainly take a few degrees of frost.

Drepanostachyum scandens
As the name suggests, this very rare species has fairly lax culms that branch widely, climbing or rather falling over other plants for support. If grown alone it will form an attractive frothy mound of fine foliage reaching the ground on all sides. It hails from low altitudes in S China and in theory should not be very hardy, possibly -5c? Sun or semi-shade.

Drimys granatensis
This species was collected in Mexico in the mid 1980's by Jim Russell and co. Closely related to D. winteri, it has much narrower leaves, twisting to show the bright white undersides (very attractive). Usual scented white flowers, followed by little black fruit. Certainly has a fair amount of hardiness, but who knows how much? A very rare plant in cultivation.

Drimys lanceolata
A slender, upright, medium sized, evergreen shrub with attractive copper tinted new growth and numerous small, creamy white flowers in April/May. The dark green leaves contrast with the purple-red stems and are aromatic if crushed. Best with some shelter. From cold areas of SE Australia and Tasmania.

Drimys winteri var. andina
A rare, hardy, dwarf, evergreen shrub with foliage pale glaucous underneath and clusters of white, starry flowers over a long period in summer. Reaches about 1m or more, but flowers borne at only 30cms. Sun. This is the high altitude form of an otherwise tree-like Chilean species.

Drimys winteri var. chilensis
A very handsome large, upright evergreen shrub or small tree for a fairly sheltered site. Can't be mistaken for anything else with its large leathery leaves, pale glaucous beneath, and loose clusters of starry white flowers in May. Magnificent specimens to be found in west coast gardens.

Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata'
'The King' of the male ferns. A highly crested form of a tough and easy native fern. Fairly evergreen upright fronds to about 1m with cresting on the edge of the frond and at the tip. Tough and tolerant.

Dryopteris affinis 'Polydactyla Mapplebeck'
A large fern with striking fronds, this form of our native 'Golden male fern' has heavy cresting along the edge of, and at the tip of the frond. Height up to 1.2m. Very tough and tolerant.

Dryopteris affinis 'Revolvens'
A distinct, rare and very attractive form of a strong growing, healthy, very tough native fern. The pinnae of the frond are strongly curved under, especially in mature plants, almost forming a tube. Fairly sun and wind tolerant, with fronds surviving the winter in a sheltered spot. Ht 60cm

Dryopteris affinis 'Stablerae'
A giant form of our wonderful native with narrower fronds reaching up to 120cm high, making it one of the largest ferns for colder gardens. Easy, hardy and tolerant of most positions, even coping well with a windy site and quite a few hours of sun a day.

Dryopteris affinis 'Stablerae' crisped
A very unusual newish form. Much smaller than 'Stablerae' with slightly crisped pinnae. Like it it will be tough and tolerant, even of quite some exposure to wind and sun, reaching about 60-75cm high.

Dryopteris erythrosora
One of the finest garden ferns, being tough, vigorous, evergreen and colourful. New fronds emerge red-pink in spring, turning bronze then glossy-green, with the sori underneath bright red. Bi-pinnate, triangular fronds reach about 60cm high. Any reasonable soil in semi-shade.

Dryopteris filix-mas 'Barnesii'
A form of one of our commonest native ferns with extra long, narrower and more divided fronds. Reaching up to 1.2m high. The 'Male fern' is very tough and tolerant, happy in many parts of the garden.

Dryopteris filix-mas 'Linearis'
A very delicate looking fern but one that belies its tolerance 'non ferny' conditions. A form of our native Male fern and extremely tough with it, tolerating fairly exposed positions. Fronds divided into very narrow, dark-green leathery segments. Height 60cm.

Dryopteris goldieana
A large and attractive N. American fern with an unusual look. The lance-shaped, divided fronds are soft yellow-green and have an 'ironed' appearance, reaching 1.2m as they arch out of the leafy clump. Though extremely hardy, best in a sheltered, shady position.

Dryopteris sieboldii
A most unusual and striking hardy fern from Japan. The pinnate fronds are composed of few, large, very leathery pale grey-green pinnae, and reach about 50cm. Would look good associated with exotic plants. Semi-shade and leafy soil.

Dryopteris tokyoensis
A bold Japanese deciduous fern with upright fronds with distinctive large pale green lobes. Height 90cm. For some shade.

Dryopteris wallichiana
A striking fern on account of the dark unfurling fronds. The effect is produced by the black scales on the stalk which travel right up the underside of the frond. Fronds can reach up to 120cm and are rich green, long-lance-shaped and divided into many pinnae. Good humusy soil in semi-shade.

Dryopteris wallichiana F&M 107
A recent Mexican collection of this widespread fern from 2600m on Pico de Orizaba, Veracruz; the highest peak in Mexico. In this form the fronds and stipe are covered in brown scales when expanding. A hardy and attractive species with fronds up to about 1m.

Ecballium elaterium
Squirting Cucumber. Amazingly this plant is proving fairly hardy so far in a cool Devon garden, shrugging off -8c for short periods, and perennial for four years in well drained good soil. Rough sea-green leaves on wandering stems to 1m or more. Yellowish flowers followed by exploding INEDIBLE mini 'cucumbers' from July to frosts. Kids love it. Seeds around.

Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High'
Big bright pink daisies with conical golden-orange centres in summer. A shorter plant to 50cm. Sun or part shade.

Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern'
A fine seed strain of this reliable perennial with big, rich red-purple daisy flowers, sitting horizontally atop vertical stems to 1m in summer. Good soil in sun.

Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan'
Big white daisies with large conical, ginger centres, borne atop vertical stems to 1m in summer. Good soil in sun.

Elaeagnus angustifolia
The Oleaster from temperate W Asia is a very hardy and drought tolerant small deciduous tree for virtually any soil bar shallow chalk. It makes a wonderfully characterful specimen with a dark, gnarled trunk and contrasting bright, silver, willow like foliage on silvery twigs. An abundance of sweetly scented flowers in June followed by silvery-amber fruits.

Elaeagnus 'Quicksilver'
One of the silveryest of shrubs and hardier than you'll ever need it to be. Fast growing deciduous shrub forming an upright plant if you don't hack it back, which, by the way, it responds admirably to, forming a bushy dome. Sweetly scented small, creamy flowers in early summer. A sun lover, it is very drought tolerant.

Elaeagnus x reflexa
A very interesting, rare and quite striking evergreen hybrid of great vigour. Long new stems arch from the bush like fishing rods closely covered in fine metallic bronze scales. The leaves retain these scales on their undersides. I have seen this climbing a redwood in a Portuguese garden. Excellent for exposed areas.

Elymus cinereus
From Washington State USA comes this beautiful bold blue-grey, broad leaved grass. To 2m in flower. Sun.

Embothrium coccineum Longifolium group
'Chilean Fire Bush'. A plant to take your breath away when in full flower in May, covered as it is in bright orange-scarlet flowers. An erect, slender, evergreen tall shrub or small tree for non limey soils and a sheltered position. Seemingly not quite as hardy as other forms but pretty darned tough and finer in flower.

Eomecon chionantha
Poppy of the Dawn. Crystalline white flowers, blue- grey leaves. Height 45cm, shade.

Epilobium angustifolium var. album
Bold clumps with white flowers in summer. Height 1.5m. Sun or part shade.

Epimedium acuminatum
Mauve and white spurred flowers in spring over heavily purple-red mottled new foliage. Height to 30cm. Partial shade and humus rich soil.

Epimedium brachyrrhizum CPC 940447
Big, soft violet-pink flowers. New foliage bronzed, matt green later. Good do-er for humusy shade. 30cm. Scarce and choice.

Epimedium brevicornu f. rotundatum Og 82010
Starry white flowers in late spring. Rather ferny green leaves. Deciduous. For humus rich soil in shade.

Epimedium 'Buckland Spider'
Big spidery dusky-pink flowers in spring with the new foliage. Deciduous. 25cm Acidic, humus rich soil, shade.

Epimedium chlorandrum hybrid
Spidery creamy yellow flowers streaked red. Young leaves heavily splashed maroon and stems maroon. Height 50cm. Humus rich soil, shade.

Epimedium chlorandrum Og 94003
Large spidery pale yellow-green flowers on tall stems in spring. Splendid mottled leaves. Humus-rich soil, shade. The type collection from Xiaoguanzi, Sichuan, China.

Epimedium davidii EMR 4125
Bright yellow, spurred flowers in spring over attractive Berberis-like, evergreen foliage. Height 45cm. Part shade.

Epimedium ecalcaratum Og 93082
Exquisite spurless yellow flowers in late spring. Attractive evergreen foliage with small leaflets. Height to 30cm. Humus rich soil in shade. A collection from W Sichuan, China.

Epimedium epsteinii CPC 940347
Chunky white and violet flowers; evergreen foliage. Height 30cm. For humusy soil in shade. Very uncommon.

Epimedium fargesii
Small purple and white flowers in spring. Evergreen foliage. Humus rich soil in shade. Pretty.

Epimedium flavum Og 92036
Butter yellow spurred flowers over a very long spring season, evergreen leaves Height 30cm. Humusy soil in shade. The type collection from 2000m, Tianquan Shan, Erlang Shan, Sichuan, China.

Epimedium franchetii 'Brimstone Butterfly' Og 87001
Big soft yellow flowers in spring. Evergreen, young foliage strongly tinted red. 40cm. Humusy soil in shade. Most desirable. Selected from seedlings raised from the type collection made in Shonnongia Forest District, Mauyuping, Hubei Province, China.

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Crimson Queen'
Deep pink spurred flowers in spring. Height 30cm. Part shade and humus-rich soil.

Epimedium grandiflorum 'Nanum'
Very pretty, crystalline white, spurred flowers above dainty foliage. Height only 15cm. Prefers shade and humus rich-soil.

Epimedium ilicifolium Og 93020
Rarely seen. Strikingly toothed, almost spiny leaves. Large yellow flowers, spring. Height 30cm. Evergreen. Humus rich soil in some shade The type collection from 1650m, Zhenping, Jinxinling, Shanxi Province, China.

Epimedium latisepalum Og 91002
Huge flowers of glistening white and cream. Evergreen foliage. Humus-rich soil in some shade. The type collection from Baoxing Xhian, Xiaoguanzi, Sichuan Province, China.

Epimedium lishihchenii Og 96024
Evergreen species with light yellow flowers in spring. Rarely seen. Height 30cm. For moist but well drained soil in shade.

Epimedium membranaceum Og 93047
Good sized light yellow spurred petals with contrasting paler bracts in late spring .Height 40cm. Humus-rich soil in some shade.

Epimedium rhizomatosum Og 92114
Spidery pale yellow flowers in spring. Evergreen foliage. Height to 45cm. Humus rich soil in light shade. The type collection from 2040m alt, Leibo Xian, Selenggong, Sichuan, China.

Epimedium stellulatum 'Wudang Star' L1193
Lots of starry white flowers on arching stems in spring. Evergreen. Height 45cm. For humus rich soil in light shade. The type collection from the Wudang Shan, Hubei Province, China.

Epimedium wushanense 'Caramel' Og 92009
Big spidery caramel coloured flowers on stems to 1m. Wonderful evergreen leaves, mottled red when young, with long narrow leaflets. Humus rich soil in light shade.

Epimedium x omeiense 'Akane' Og 82001
Eyecatching yellow and pink flowers in spring. Height 30cm. Humus-rich soil in shade. Originally collected from a hybrid swarm growing on Mount Omei, Sichuan, China. Most often known as 'Akame', this is apparently the correct spelling.

Epimedium x perralchicum
Glossy evergreen leaves. Bright-yellow flowers in early spring. Very tough. Height 30cm. Some shade.

Epimedium x rubrum
Crimson and yellow flowers in spring, the new foliage maroon with green veins, green in summer, then red again in winter. Height 30cm. Part shade and humus-rich soil. A superb foliage plant for ground cover.

Epipactis gigantea
Hardy clump forming orchid. 30-50cm spikes of green-purple-yellow flowers in summer. Humusy soil, usually in shade, but will take full sun in a wet spot.

Equisetum camtschatcense
Horse tail with smooth green, black banded shoots to 75cm. Sun or shade. Moist ground.

Eragrostis chloromelas
An African grass with very fine soft-grey leaves and arching, incredibly delicate grey flower heads in summer making billowing clouds of the airiest quality to 1m. A wonderful contrast to bold form. Sun, not cold.

Eragrostis curvula S&SH 10
A very good form of African Love Grass. Lovely delicate, arching, very diffuse panicles of tiny flowers in summer. Height 1m. Sun, not too cold. One of the finest, airiest grasses. A wonderful contrast to bold form.

Eragrostis curvula 'Totnes Burgundy'
Long, delicate, arching panicles of grey flowers in summer. Very fine leaves, wine-red from midway in summer. Height 90cm. Sun. A lovely new form raised by my friends the Suttons in Devon.

Erodium 'Whitwell Superb'
Uncommon excellent hybrid. Pink, veined flowers all summer and more, over grey leaves. Height 30cm. Sunny position.

Eryngium aff. deppeanum F&M 54
Collected west of Acultzingo, Puebla State, Mexico. 2251m alt. Forming plants with evergreen rosettes and inflorescences to approx 75cm.

Eryngium aff. proteiflorum F&M 168
Collected West of Chichicaxtla, Puebla State, Mexico. 2764m alt. Silvery 'everlasting' flowerheads on stems to about 1m, over green strappy and spiny foliage.

Eryngium aff. proteiflorum F&M 224
Collected 11km SW of Mexico City on road to Ajusco. 2950m. Silvery 'everlasting' flowerheads on stems to about 1.3m, over green strappy and spiny foliage. This has proved a great success in my garden here so far, unlike the usual form of this species in cultivation.

Eryngium agavifolium
Broad spiky tongues of glossy green foliage in rosettes, with clusters of greeny-white thimbles on stems to 1.2m. Sun.

Eryngium bourgatii 'GST Selected'
A sea holly selected for its intense blue heads of flowers. Spiny foliage. Height 60cm. Sunny position in well drained soil.

Eryngium elegans var. elegans CDPR 3076
Recently collected in Argentina, this evergreen species makes rosettes of spathulate softly spiny leaves and 1.2m stems of small white thimbles in a diffuse head. Hardy and easy so far.

Eryngium guatemalense
A recent introduction from high altitude. These have branched heads of very dark black/brown/purple flower heads set off by grey-green bracts on stems to about 1.3m. Try it in a sheltered position in sun or semi-shade and well drained soil, not too dry in summer.

Eryngium horridum ex HCM 98048
An extraordinarily tall collection of this South American species making big, bold clumps of long narrow evergreen foliage, with little white thimbles on many slim stems up to 2.5m. Sun and good well drained soil. Not horrid, in fact quite pleasant.

Eryngium monocephalum
A Mexican sp. with spiny, sword like leaves and greeny white thimbles on sturdy stems to 1m. More rigidly upright than similar species, and likes to be more singular in its form, though does produce offsets. Sun. This is apparently the true eburneum, which is wrongly represented in cultivation, but that's another story.

Eryngium pandanifolium
A huge species, fairly arresting when seen in flower in late summer and autumn. The airy heads of dark black-red, thimble-like flowers reach up to 2m or more on slender stems over the huge clump of spiny, sword-shaped, grey-green foliage. Good in most ordinary soils, though in the wilds of Argentina etc it is found in wet places. Most impressive.

Eryngium sp. F&M 208
Collected above La Peņa, Tamaulipas, NE Mexico. 2600m.

Eryngium sp. NJM 05.031
Evergreen perennial with spiny strap shaped leaves and stems to about 80cm, topped by darkest maroon and green flowers. Seed collected 2500m in Hidalgo State, Mexico.

Eryngium venustum
A scarce species from Mexico with extraordinary, very spiny 'Starfish' rosettes in light grey green. Green thimble flowers on stems to 60cm. Sun, and good drainage.

Eryngium x zabelii
A Sea Holly with large silver blue flowers each lasting for weeks. Height to 60 cm. Sun. Good for drying.

Erythrina crista-galli
Spectacularly incredible when in flower, indeed enough to bowl you over from 100 paces. Huge long heads of very big, intense crimson, waxy pea flowers borne in summer atop prickly herbaceous stems with trifoliolate leaves. Naturally a small tree in its native Brazil, but in this country killed to a stump each winter. Warm sunny wall and winter mulch please.

Erythronium californicum 'White Beauty'
Vigorous and beautiful, this 'Dog's tooth violet' bears big white flowers with pale yellow centres and reflexed petals in spring up to  25cm over leaves mottled brown and green. At its best in semi-shade and humusy, moisture retentive soil. Very hardy.

Erythronium revolutum
Deep pink flowers with yellow centres dangle 1 to 3 per stem over mottled wavy edged leaves in spring. At their best in semi-shade and humusy, moisture retentive soil. Very hardy.

Eucalyptus archeri
'Alpine Cider Gum'. A tough, hardy gum tree from Tasmania, closely related to the ubiquitous E. gunnii, but smaller, with narrow grey-green leaves and smooth grey and white bark. Can be stooled or pollarded to produce strong shoots retaining the very pretty, small, oval, blue juvenile foliage. Fast growing and drought tolerant.

Eucalyptus dalrympleana
'Mountain Gum'. A fantastic gum from SE Australia and Tasmania, not only one of the most attractive but one of the hardiest. Very fast growing, it soon makes a medium to large tree with beautiful bronze new foliage turning grey-green, and patchwork bark becoming a most wonderful creamy white all over from top to bottom. Sun.

Eucalyptus glaucescens
'Tingiringi Gum'. A beautiful blue leaved gum with the most delicious fragrance emitted from the foliage when brushed or bruised, very blackcurranty, and the best I know for this. Very fast growing, this will make a large tree with smooth, peeling, grey-green bark and white flowers followed by distinctive large, glaucous fruits. Drought tolerant.

Eucalyptus gregsoniana
Rarely seen, this is a hardy large shrub rather than a tree, with red new stems contrasting beautifully with the masses of white flowers, grey-green narrow leaves and branches with grey and white flaking bark. I have found this obscure relative of E. pauciflora a surprisingly attractive Eucalypt. Sun, drought tolerant.

Eucalyptus nicholii
Unique amongst Eucalyptus growable in the UK, this very attractive species is not the hardiest but has survived a number of winters near here in the Cotswolds. Very narrow blue-green leaves, especially when young when they also have a purple bloom, giving a soft, fluffy effect. Makes a small to medium sized tree here.

Eucalyptus parvifolia
An attractive small gum tree to about 10m with a dense rounded crown and very narrow blue-green foliage slightly broader when young. The ornamental peeling bark is pale grey and beige. One of the hardiest of Eucalyptus, also very lime tolerant, even coping with thin chalk. The RHS rate it: it's even got an AGM.

Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp debeuzevillei
'Jounama Snow Gum'. The hardiest of all Eucalypts, and very attractive with it, making a small tree with a low spreading crown, silvery bark and thick leathery grey-green leaves like a spear head. A group of 3 plants at RHS Wisley look wonderful, full of character and, after just 15 years of growth, like they've been there a lot longer.

Eucalyptus pauciflora ssp niphophila
'Snow Gum'. One of the most beautiful and certainly one of the hardiest of all Eucalypts, suffering little or no damage even in our very coldest winters. A small tree with very ornamental smooth patchwork peeling bark in green, grey-green and cream. Leathery small leaves on white shoots. Slower growing than most, but still gets on with it.

Eucomis comosa 'First Red'
Pineapple Lily with young leaves red, ageing to light carmine with paler midrib. Flowers 30cm, late summer. Sun, warm bed or pot.

Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'
Pineapple Lily with striking, rich purple-red leaves and pink flowers on 50cm dark red stems in autumn. Hardy as they come. Good soil in sun.

Eucomis pallidiflora
A fairly large Pineapple Lily with greeny-white flowers on stems to about 75cm. Good soil in a fairly sheltered sunny position.

Eucomis pole-evansii
A large Pineapple lily with big spikes of yellow green flowers to 1m in late summer. Pale foliage. Sunny, sheltered position.

Eucomis vandermerwei
A small Pineapple Lily with superbly red spotted leaves. Reddish flowers on spotted scapes. Height to 20cm. Sun, drainage.

Eucomis 'Zeal Bronze'
A fine Pineapple Lily raised in Devon. Foliage washed with red-purple, fading green. Strong, red, 70cm flower stems with pinky-cream flowers in late summer/autumn. One of the hardiest.

Eucommia ulmoides
A unique and very rarely seen Chinese, hardy, deciduous, small to medium sized tree. It is the only hardy tree known to produce rubber, and this can be seen when one tears a leaf in half, the stringy latex strands from the veins drying quickly. Only try this experiment however, after you've bought the plant! The leaves are leathery, glossy and dark green, bark is pale grey.

Eucryphia glutinosa miniature
Doesn't look like a glutinosa to me, more a hybrid, but miniature it is, and new it is, so give it a go and let me know how you get on. No Eucryphia is anything but handsome, so you can't go wrong. Acid soil.

Eucryphia lucida
A very lovely large, dense, evergreen shrub or small tree covered in Jun/Jul with fragrant, white, pendulous, round, flowers. Leaves dainty and narrow, glaucous beneath. Shelter and neutral/acid soil.

Eucryphia lucida 'Dumpling'
A brand new dwarf form of this lovely Tasmanian evergreen shrub. In this variety, found by the Suttons of Devon, the plant only reaches about 1m x 1m, considerably smaller than the norm and very suitable for smaller spaces. Flowers are typical, white and fragrant, produced freely in June and July. Neutral to acid soil please.

Eucryphia lucida 'Pink Cloud'
A June/July flowering species from Tasmania forming a bushy, upright evergreen large shrub or small tree with lovely narrow, dark green foliage, pale glaucous underneath. In this form the very beautiful nodding, fragrant flowers are pale pink shading to white, red at the base. Any good soil, not too chalky, in a fairly sheltered spot.

Eucryphia milliganii
This sought after Tasmanian species is a relatively small grower making a slim tall shrub. The dainty evergreen foliage is dark green above, pale glaucous beneath, and the flowers are small cups of pure white, freely produced in late summer. Best in neutral to acid soil, not too dry.

Eucryphia x hybrida 'Pink Whisper'
Originally found in Tasmania in 1976, this seems to be a hybrid between E. lucida and E. milliganii. It makes a dense evergreen shrub with small almost triangular leaves and little flowers with pink edges in July/August. This was perhaps the first pink discovery but is very rare in cultivation here. Needs a neutral to acid soil in reasonable shelter and cool roots.

Eucryphia x nymansensis 'Nymansay'
A very handsome dense, columnar, evergreen large shrub or small tree of rapid growth, wreathed in August and September with large round, white flowers. Best with some shelter from wind. I know of a plant that has grown healthily near here in the Cotswolds for about 30 yrs on thin rocky, very alkaline soil. A must for late summer.

Euonymus alatus 'Compactus'
A small, slow growing, deciduous 'Spindle' making a dense shrub, very tolerant of almost any soil. One of the finest shrubs for extremely intense and reliable crimson-pink autumn colour. Branchlets can develop interesting corky wings, and reddish-purple fruit with orange berries are sometimes borne, though are lost in the amazing foliage colour.

Euonymus cornutus var. quinquecornutus
A unique species of 'Spindle' from China with attractive very narrow foliage and fascinatingly beautiful, if subtle, soft-red translucent flowers. The finest feature is, however, the fruit capsules, which have 5 projecting horns, resembling a jester?s hat, the scarlet seeds dangling out on tiny threads. A small shrub reaching about 1m. Hardy. Rare.

Euonymus frigidus KR 937a
Collected on the Dochu La, Bhutan at 10000ft alt, this seems to represent a hardier form of the species. Makes a medium sized evergreen shrub, bearing small, thin-stalked, chocolate-brown flowers and 4 winged red fruit with orange seeds. Leaves with raised veins.

Euonymus grandiflorus 'Red Wine'
A quite exceptional new form of this species, of lower bushier habit with narrow leaves turning to a glowing deep maroon and lasting for a long period in autumn, showing off the yellow and pink fruit capsules well. Easy and hardy, for sun or semi-shade.

Euonymus hamiltonianus 'Indian Summer'
Superb, glowing, deep red, reliable autumn colour is the main feature of this selection. As usual it makes a large, hardy, vigorous shrub for most soils or sites, with pink fruit borne en-masse, opening to reveal orange-red seeds. Easy.

Euonymus phellomanus
A superb Chinese 'Spindle Tree', making a large shrub with amazing corky, winged shoots. A profusion of 4-lobed pink fruits with red seeds borne in autumn and, in a good year, excellent autumn colour. Easy on virtually any soil, even poor chalk.

Euonymus planipes
One of the finest of the Spindles on account of its superb autumn colour, this species from Sakhalin and Japan makes a large shrub. The fruit add much to the display, being large scarlet capsules, opening to reveal dangling orange seeds. Easy and hardy.

Eupatorium purpureum 'Atropurpureum'
Joe Pye Weed. Heads of pink-purple flowers on erect purple stems in late summer. Makes big impressive clumps. Height to 2m. Sun, good soil.

Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate'
Very dark foliage; heads of white flowers from August to October. Height 60cm. Sun or shade.

Euphorbia amygdaloides 'Craigieburn'
Grown for its lovely purple-tinted foliage, best in winter-spring. Height 40cm. Sun or part shade.

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae 'Pom Pom'
A charming freak: non-flowering shoots like rosettes on stalks, elongating to fl in 2nd yr. 40cm. Sun or pt shade.

Euphorbia ceratocarpa
A perennial spurge from S Europe with stems to about 50cm, bearing acid yellow flowers in summer over greyish-green foliage. Sun.

Euphorbia characias 'Portuguese Velvet'
Unlike other forms in the short, bluey-sea-green, velvety hairy foliage, densely clustered on a dwarf evergreen shrub. Columnar heads of green flowers with dark maroon centres. A lovely and distinct form from the far Western end of its natural distribution. Sun and well drained soil. Height about 60cm by 1m wide. Very drought tolerant.

Euphorbia mellifera
'Honey Spurge'. A shrubby evergreen species from Madeira, making a medium-sized rounded bush of luscious lime-green foliage, covered in clusters of honey-scented golden-brown flowers in May/June. I've grown this outside near here in a sunny sheltered spot for 12 yrs, only once was it cut to the ground by cold, after which it re-grew from the base.

Euphorbia rigida
Excellent blue-grey foliage; heads of acid yellow flowers in spring tint orange and red. Height to 50cm. Sun and good drainage. Like a giant E. myrsinites.

Euphorbia stygiana
The true Azorean species with impressive rosettes of thick, leathery, rich green foliage at the ends of low, serpentine, green stems. Yellowy-brown clusters of slightly honey-scented flowers are seen in May/June. A few specialist nurseries sell the hybrid E. x pasteurii as this species, though they aren't that similar. Hardier than E. mellifera. Best in sun.

Euphorbia stygiana
The true Azorean species with impressive rosettes of thick, leathery, rich green foliage at the ends of low, serpentine, green stems. Yellowy-brown clusters of slightly honey-scented flowers are seen in May/June. A few specialist nurseries sell the hybrid E. x pasteurii as this species, though they aren't that similar. Hardier than E. mellifera. Best in sun.

Euphorbia x pasteurii 'John Phillips'
A new, robust clone of this marvellous hybrid spurge, received from and named after a fine and generous plantsman from Wiltshire who was probably the first to grow it in the UK. Some E. x pasteurii can look very like E. mellifera, this does not, with big broad foliage and a very vigorous constitution. Honey scented flowers. Very tough but safest in a sheltered spot.

Euphorbia x pasteurii 'John Phillips'
A new, robust clone of this marvellous hybrid spurge, received from and named after a fine and generous plantsman from Wiltshire who was probably the first to grow it in the UK. Some E. x pasteurii can look very like E. mellifera: this does not, with big broad foliage and a very vigorous constitution. Honey scented flowers. Very tough but safest in a sheltered spot.

Euphorbia x pasteurii 'Phrampton Phatty'
A clone growing here in my garden, which has turned out to be quite distinct. It has formed a wide spreading, dense, evergreen dome, wider than high, covering the ground efficiently. E. mellifera gives it the dense uniform head of superb foliage and the other parent E. stygiana gives the broad spreading habit. Expect height about 1.5m and spread 2.5m.

Euphorbia x pasteurii 'Phrampton Phatty'
A clone growing here in my garden, which has turned out to be quite distinct. It has formed a wide spreading, dense, evergreen dome, wider than high, covering the ground efficiently. E. mellifera gives it the dense uniform head of superb foliage and the other parent E. stygiana gives the broad spreading habit. Expect height about 1.5m and spread 2.5m.

Euptelea polyandra
An obscure and subtly beautiful small tree from Japan with branches covered in red anthers (i.e. petal-less flowers) in spring, followed by elm-like seeds. Coarsely toothed, handsome, distinct foliage, heart shaped with a long drawn out tip, turns to shades of yellow and red in Autumn. Rarely encountered, but hardy and tolerant.

Fargesia angustissima
Otherwise known as a Borinda and apparently not particularly hardy, this very attractive, new-ish, tall, and still very rare species has never suffered a sniff of damage with me yet, or with friends in Cornwall or Kent, and should take at least -9c. The foliage is very slim and neat and culms are bluey-grey when young with contrasting purpley-brown sheaths.

Fargesia denudata
A very beautiful tightly clump forming species with fine foliage and an elegant, very arching habit. These grow in a Giant Panda reserve in China; a food plant for the species. The slim new culms erupt vertically from the centre and turn yellow in the sun, then arch gracefully outward as they expand their foliage, a bit like a fountain. Up to 3.5m.

Fargesia denudata L1575
A very beautiful tightly clump forming species with fine, small foliage and an elegant, very arching habit, collected by Roy Lancaster in a Giant Panda reserve in China; a food plant for the species. The slim new culms erupt vertically from the centre and turn yellow in the sun. Up to 3.5m. Perfectly hardy and easy in sun or shade.

Fargesia denudata Xian 1
A very elegant, tightly clump forming species with fine, small foliage and an attractive, very arching habit. The slim new culms erupt vertically from the centre and turn yellow in the sun. Up to 3.5m high. Collected in Xian, China at 2500 metres alt. by Mr. Ding Xingcui, December 1997. Perfectly hardy and easy in sun or shade.

Fargesia dracocephala
A very hardy species, similar in many ways to the widely grown F. murielae, though more upright. Tightly clump forming, masses of small, narrow, mid-green foliage and thin, yellow green culms, making a fairly small plant about 2.5m tall. Best in sun, where the foliage will look good year round, though very tolerant of shadier sites.

Fargesia frigida KR 4059
This is the real thing, from 3600m in Yunnan, as opposed to the other very pretty plant going around under its name. A very delicate looking, tightly clump forming plant with narrow culms ageing yellow with contrasting, persistent, red tinted sheaths and beautiful tiny leaves creating an airy, wispy look. Very hardy, tolerating -23c, and naturally deciduous. To 3m.

Fargesia murielae
Very elegant, easy, widely grown, tightly clump forming species with an arching habit. Masses of bright, pea green leaves sprout early in spring when other bamboos look their worst. Any reasonable soil in sun or semi-shade. 2.5-3.5m high.

Fargesia murielae 'Harewood'
Another dwarf form of this easy species, this time reaching about 1m high. The plant is dense and bushy with slim arching culms and typical bright, fresh-green, smallish, slim leaves flushing early in spring. Easy, very hardy and suitable for pot culture or garden.

Fargesia murielae 'Simba'
A fairly dwarf form of this fine species, making a very dense bushy specimen to only 2m tall. Equally easy in most soils and situations, and very suited to pot culture. The bright green leaves emerge early when other bamboos can look a bit drab. Very hardy and easy.

Fargesia nitida 'Chennevieres'
A new selection that shouldn't flower for a very long time. Tightly clumping upright habit with lots of pretty, pointed, narrow foliage. Culms mature to a deep purple-black and reach approximately 3m high. Easy, very hardy and suitable for sun or shade.

Fargesia nitida from Jiuzhaigou, China
Collected 1986 from N Sichuan, China, only now available in the UK, this is one of the most beautiful forms of nitida in cultivation and very distinct. Erect growth with new culms aging to a lovely deep red, and very pretty, tiny leaves arranged in small, downward pointing bunches. Very hardy and tightly clump forming.

Fargesia robusta 'Red Sheath'
A very fine and colourful new-ish bamboo, still not often seen, with large, glossy leaves for a Fargesia, and upright growth to about 4m. The persistent and prolific culm sheaths are copper-red tinted and add greatly to the beauty of this vigorous clump-former, especially in midsummer. Very hardy and one of the finest introductions of recent years.

Fargesia robusta 'Wolong'
Although a distinct collection from China, this new form seems to differ little from the superb 'Red Sheath', with larger leaves than normal and more colourful culm sheaths. Like it, it should reach about 4m with strong upright growth from a tight clumping base. Strong growth to about 4m. Tightly clump forming.

Fargesia rufa
Fairly new, this very beautiful clump forming species has great potential in small gardens, either in the ground or in a pot. Culm sheaths and branches tinted with rusty orange-red, and narrow, glossy, rich green foliage on thin, densely set culms all add up to a distinctive, refined look. Up to about 2m, though often a bit smaller, especially in a pot. V.V. nice.

Fargesia scabrida
Gem of gems, this is yet another fabulous species new to cultivation in the West. The colouring on this beauty is quite remarkable, with vibrant burnt orange culm sheaths contrasting magnificently with the violet-blue culms. Foliage is elegant glossy-green and slim like most Fargesia, and of course it will never run, making a clump about 2--3m high. Superb.

Fascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata
A virtually completely hardy bromeliad, never affected by frost here and in cold areas merely needing a very sheltered site. Quite extraordinary in flower when the central leaves of the dark green rosettes of very thin, toothed foliage turn bright crimson before the fat cluster of sky blue fleshy flowers open. Grow in very well drained soil in sun or part shade.

Fatsia polycarpa
This relatively new intro from Taiwan is a handsome beast indeed being superficially similar to F. japonica in leaf though with none of the gloss. These leaves are a lovely matt, slightly greyish green, and the white flowers that come in winter are similar to the norm but open from brown felt covered inflorescences. A very handsome plant for a sheltered spot.

Ferula communis ssp glauca
A wonderful, giant, fennel relative. Forms big mounds of fine feathery grey-green foliage, and after a few years sends up a 3m stem topped with fat balls of yellow flowers. Full sun. Summer dormant.

Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
A classic edible Fig, and in this form, one of the most commonly planted and reliable of its type. Striking, big, bold, deeply lobed foliage, a joy in itself, with big juicy, sweet, purple-brown fruit in late summer. Very hardy, and perfect as a free standing specimen across much of the UK, but will fruit more prolifically against a wall, especially in poor soil, or with restricted roots.

Ficus carica 'Precoce de Dalmatie'
A rare, early fruiting, hardy Fig with exceptionally large foliage and red fleshed fruit. Suited to a warm wall where it will respond very well to fan training if desired. Easy in any free draining soil, but best in very poor soil for good fruit production, either that or grow in a container to restrict the roots.

Firmiana simplex
'Chinese Parasol Tree'. Once thought to be tender, this fabulously tropical looking tree has grown outside at Kew for years, and in my garden looks chuffed to bits. Makes a medium sized deciduous tree with outsized maple-like leaves on very stout, green shoots: the bark staying green to the ground on young trees. Best planted in full sun to ripen growth.

Francoa appendiculata red form
Long stems of red-pink flowers in summer. Height 60-90 cm. Sun or part shade and shelter.

Fraxinus sp F&M 160
Collected West of Cuapancingo, Nr Tetela de Ocampo, Puebla, Mexico. 13/11/04.

Fraxinus xanthoxyloides var. dumosa
Test your gardening chums with this one. Hardly resembling an Ash, this very rare little deciduous bush has tiny leaflets and interlacing branches. Perfectly hardy and worth a place in any collection of unusual plants. Easy on most soils.

Furcraea parmentieri NJM 05.081
Collected at nearly 3000m alt in Hidalgo state, Mexico, this collection is from the Northern end of the range for this species and may prove hardier in cultivation. A mighty Yucca-like plant which we have witnessed growing to 4m in leaf with 6m of semi-pendulous inflorescence above. Absolutely awesome. This population had very silvery-blue foliage.

Galega 'His Majesty'
Goats' Rue. Lavender and white bicoloured pea flowers in summer. Height 120cm. Sun or part shade.

Galega orientalis
Upright spikes of lovely indigo blue pea flowers in summer. Pale green leaves. Height 1.2m. Sunny position. Spreads.

Galtonia princeps
Spikes of nodding green-cream bells in summer. Height to 1m. A hardy bulb for sun, rich or poor soil, moist or dry.

Galtonia regalis
More demure than G. candicans but equally lovely, with a spike of soft green bells in summer on stems to about 60cm. For good well drained soil, not dry in summer.

Garrya sp. F&M 215
Collected at 2600m nr Miquihuana, Tamaulipas, NE Mexico, this little shrub is thought to be possibly a Garrya. It formed a dense rounded shrub to about 1.5m with hairy grey leaves and black fruit. Probably new to cultivation. Try it in full sun and a sheltered position, though plants from this location should be hardy.

Genista aetnensis
The Mount Etna broom makes a very pretty small, light, airy tree with semi-weeping slender, green, leafless shoots, smothered in July and August with a multitude of small bright, golden-yellow, scented pea flowers. A beauty for a sunny well drained position. Hardy.

Gentiana asclepiadea 
The Willow Gentian. An easy herbaceous sp. for any reasonably good soil in semi-shade. Beautiful blue flowers produced all down the arching stems in summer. Height about 50cm.

Geranium 'Jean Armour'
Lots of pale silvery-pink flowers from May to autumn. Silvery green foliage forms a low non-rooting carpet up to 1m across. Height 20cm. Sun or part shade.

Geranium 'Mount Stewart'
A new Geranium from the garden of the same name in Northern Ireland. Big pale lilac-pink flowers with prominent purple-pink veins over heavily dissected foliage on a plant to 40cm high. Easy.

Geranium nodosum 'Julie's Velvet'
Hardy Geranium with rich purple flowers over a long season. Sun or shade. Height 45cm.

Geranium nodosum 'Swish Purple'
Hardy geranium with purple flowers over a long season. Sun or shade. Height 45cm.

Geranium phaeum 'Blue Shadow'
Nodding grey-blue flowers with reflexed petals in early summer. Height 60-100cm. Prefers some shade.

Geranium phaeum 'Samobor'
Beautiful purple-marked leaves. Purple-black reflexed flowers in summer. Height 60cm. Shade.

Geranium phaeum 'Stillingfleet Ghost'
Nodding pale grey-lilac flowers with reflexed petals in early summer. Height 60-100cm. Prefers some shade.

Geranium pratense 'Silver Queen'
Hardy geranium with pearly grey-white flowers in summer. Height to 1m or more. Sun or part shade.

Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis'
A hardy geranium with many purple flowers in early summer. Height 30cm. Sun or part shade.

Geranium robustum Hannays' form
Strong purple flowers all over a mound of dissected, silvery foliage in summer. Height 70cm or more, sun.

Geranium sanguineum 'Striatum'
Old rose flowers in summer, leafy clumps less than 30cm in height. Sun or part shade. A classic.

Geranium x cantabrigiense 'St Ola'
Dense groundcover with aromatic leaves. White petalled flowers in summer. Height 30cm. Sun or shade.

Geum 'Fresh Woods'
Vigorous new South African hardy hybrid. Orange flowers on tall stems to 50cm over a long summer season. Sun.

Gevuina avellana
'Chilean Hazel'. Not of course a hazel, but a member of the Protea family. An exceptionally fine foliage plant for a sheltered spot in a southern or western garden. Fine polished evergreen foliage covers loosely held branches on a large shrub or small tree. White Grevillea flowers in late summer followed by red fruit. Inside are edible nuts.

Ginkgo biloba 'Autumn Gold'
A fine cultivar of this most distinct and truly ancient Chinese tree selected for its outstanding golden-yellow autumn colour and upright habit. Very hardy and adaptable to most soils and sites, making a large tree over many decades.

Ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga'
An interesting and beautiful form of this most distinct and truly ancient Chinese tree. The leaves are drawn out, deeply divided and semi-pendulous and turn a good clear yellow in autumn. It is also smaller growing making a compact, upright tree for virtually any soil or site. Very hardy, tough and easy.

Gladiolus dalenii Orange form
One of the hardiest and easiest to grow in the garden, this species has hooded orange flowers of a good size on stems to 90cm. A summer grower from the E Cape and KwaZulu Natal, give it well drained in full sun, though not dry in summer.

Gladiolus dalenii Yellow form
Soft yellow hooded flowers of a good size in summer on stems to 90cm. Sunny position. Relatively hardy.

Gladiolus flanaganii
A most distinct summer grower from the high Drakensburg producing unusual, urn shaped carmine-red flowers from a stocky stem to about 30cm or more in July/August. A hardy species.

Gladiolus papilio
A hardy gladiolus with unusual slaty-lilac and yellow-green hooded flowers in late summer. Height 120cm. Sounds dull but looks fabulous, a real sultry, unpretentious beauty. Keep well fed for good flowering. Sun.

Gladiolus splendens
Fabulous swept back scarlet flowers in late winter. Fine leaves. Height to 75cm. This has proved a great success on my raised bed growing in pure crushed carboniferous limestone and not an inch of soil. Sun, dryish summer, not too wet in winter.

Gladiolus tristis var. concolor
Creamy-yellow flowers on stems to about 50cm or more in early summer, scented at night. Easy in a pot, kept moist in winter when the plant is in growth and dry in summer when dormant. For a cool greenhouse, or outside in milder areas.

Glyptostrobus pensilis
The Chinese Swamp Cypress makes a smaller tree than its American cousin, comes from a milder climate and prefers more moisture in cultivation. That said, a tree over half a century old at Nymans, Sussex, grows in ordinary soil. Give this fascinating plant a sheltered spot in soil that never totally dries out. Superb autumn colour. Not tender!

Gunnera tinctoria
This smaller species is hardier than G. manicata, and better suited to cold inland gardens. Still a giant foliage plant, for a moist location, with huge leaves up to 1.5m across on stalks to the same height. Big fleshy green flower spikes in May/June. Cover the crowns in autumn with the cut foliage to keep out the cold.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Our native 'Oak fern'. The fronds of this very pretty fern are pale green and have a wonderful soft, dissected look to them. For a well drained, preferably acid soil in a shady spot, never too dry, where it will spread to form a patch.

Gymnocarpium dryopteris 'Plumosum'
A form of our native 'Oak fern' with broader, more luxuriant and foliose fronds. The fronds of this very pretty fern are pale green and have a wonderful soft look to them. For a well drained, preferably acid soil in a shady spot, never too dry, where it will spread to form a patch.

Gymnocladus dioica
The 'Kentucky Coffee Tree' is only rarely seen in this country, which is a shame as the huge but very graceful, bi-pinnate leaves are quite a sight. Steadily makes a deciduous tree of small to medium size with foliage pink tinged in spring and turning a good yellow in autumn. Twigs conspicuously palest grey in winter. Very hardy though grows best in warm summer areas.

Hacquetia epipactis
An unlikely looking Umbellifer. Daisy-like flowers with bright green 'petals' and yellow centres sit just above the verdant foliage at about 15cm high. A very hardy ground cover for part or full shade in any good leafy soil, especially on limestone.

Hacquetia epipactis 'Thor'
Variegated fl heads at ground level in early spring, cream variegated leaves. V. choice. Height 10cm. For some shade.

Hakea lissosperma
A most unusual plant with a look like no other we can grow in the UK. A tall dense shrub or small tree with linear evergreen needle-like foliage looking more like a conifer, though actually a member of the Protea family from Tasmania and SE Australia. Clusters of attractive white flowers are produced in abundance during April and May. Not for very limy soils.

Hakonechloa macra
Rich green arching clumps to only 30cm high. Deciduous. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola'
Low clumps of arching, brilliantly yellow-striped leaves. Height 30cm. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Hakonechloa macra 'Mediovariegata'
Attractive, broad, cream-striped leaves on an arching little clump. Deciduous. Height to 45cm. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Halimiocistus sahucii
A delightful low, evergreen, spreading shrub for a sunny well drained spot with very narrow dark green leaves and a multitude of small, white, yellow-centred flowers from May to September. A bi-generic hybrid between Halimium umbellatum and Cistus salviifolius and perfectly hardy with it.

Hechtia aff. glomerata F&M 188
A Mexican bromeliad, ubiquitous in its native land, where it inhabits sunny dry cliffs and similar situations, forming stiff rosettes of glossy, spiny foliage which in the wild can take on fabulous shades of red and purple when stressed. Quite possibly untried outside in the UK, and quite possibly better kept in a glasshouse over winter. From Hidalgo State at 2000m.

Hedychium 'Anne Bishop'
A very rare hybrid ginger lily with brilliant orange, fragrant, exotic flowers on typically leafy stems up to 1.8m high. Needs a conservatory or glasshouse to flower well. Like all ginger lilies, it requires rich, just moist soil and warmth in summer, cool and dry in winter.

Hedychium coccineum 'Tara'
A very fine Ginger Lily selected by Tony Schilling, fairly suited to outdoor cultivation. Large, exotic, bright orange flower spikes in late summer, over typically lush, glaucous foliage. To 1.5m high. Sun or part shade in rich soil. Best to mulch over the rhizomes in winter.

Hedychium coccineum var. angustifolium
A marvellous, fairly hardy little Ginger lily with very narrow slightly glaucous foliage and broad rich red-orange flower-spikes, flowering with me in a pot at about 1m, much earlier in the season than others, most important in our cool climate. Outside it likes rich soil in a sheltered warm position and a winter mulch, or grow it in a pot in a conservatory.

Hedychium coronarium
Long cultivated in the tropics for it's most heavenly fragrance, this Ginger lily is best suited to a cool glasshouse or conservatory, where it will produce it's wonderful, large white flowers with yellow markings, borne from cone-like heads in late summer. Rich soil in sun or semi-shade.

Hedychium densiflorum 'Assam Orange'
This is one of the hardiest of all Ginger lilies. Dense spikes of small burnt orange flowers on leafy stems to about 1.2m in late summer. Sun or part shade in a sheltered position, mulch in winter. Originally discovered by Frank Kingdon Ward in 1938.

Hedychium densiflorum 'Stephen'
A tough Ginger lily suited to outdoor culture. Exotic foliage and dense spikes of soft yellow, delicately scented flowers, with contrasting deep-orange anthers, in late summer atop 1.2m stems. Sun or part shade. Safest with a mulch in winter. Flower spike larger than other forms of densiflorum.

Hedychium 'Elizabeth'
Spikes of large, exotic, deliciously scented raspberry-pink flowers atop 2m, leafy, red tinted stems. A Tom Wood hybrid Ginger lily, apparently fairly hardy, but also a superb plant for a glasshouse or conservatory. Rich soil in a warm position in sun or semi shade.

Hedychium ellipticum
This plant is possibly not true to name, but nonetheless has a big white, diffuse inflorescence a bit like a H. forrestii or spicatum. Flowers borne in late summer on leafy stems to 1.5m. Possible outside in mild areas, or perfectly suited to the cool glasshouse or conservatory. Rich soil in sun or semi-shade.

Hedychium 'Filigree'
Compact, clumping hybrid Ginger Lily. Height 90cm. Best grown in the conservatory for flowers before the frosts. Dark golden buds open pale-cream with a dark golden marking in the throat. Narrow foliage.

Hedychium flavum hybrid
A ginger lily with unusual flesh pink flowers with an exotic fragrance, in late summer, on leafy stems to 1.2m. Best in a cool glasshouse or conservatory. Needs rich soil in sun or semi-shade.

Hedychium forrestii
One of the hardiest species. Exotic spidery, white flowers in late summer/autumn on leafy stems to 1.5m. Rich soil in sun or part shade. Mulch in winter.

Hedychium gardnerianum
Imposing foliage, strikingly exotic and truly deliciously fragrant pale yellow flowers, with exerted red stamens on stems to 1.5m. Sun or semi-shade in rich soil. Possible outside in mild areas. A cool conservatory classic.

Hedychium 'Kinkaku'
Otherwise known as 'Shamshiri'. This supposedly hardy Japanese hybrid Ginger lily produces exotic peach-coloured flowers on leafy stems at about 1.5m in late summer. Try it in a warm sheltered spot in the garden with a thick winter mulch, but probably best grown in a pot in the cool glasshouse or conservatory, as it is late to flower.

Hedychium 'Luna Moth'
A Ginger lily with huge, white, exotic, highly fragrant flowers on relatively short stems to 1m in late summer. This Tom Wood hybrid will survive in mild gardens but is best in a cool glasshouse or conservatory elsewhere as it is late flowering, where it makes one of the best plants for such a position. Rich soil in a warm spot in sun or semi-shade.

Hedychium maximum
A magnificent species in leaf, flower and stem. The latter is variable, but in this clone they are a rich red, especially bright at the base. These stems reach 2m with erect broad leaves, topped by an inflorescence of broad, scented, soft-yellow flowers. Flowers emerge late in the season, so although the plant seems quite hardy, it is suited to mild areas or glass.

Hedychium 'Pink V'
Yet another Tom Wood hybrid Ginger Lily, this time with leafy stems to 1.5m, bearing a succession of scented cream flowers, with a deep-pink splash, on compact spikes. Seems fairly hardy so far and could be tried in the garden with a deep mulch, though safer in a cool glasshouse or conservatory. Sun or semi-shade and a rich, warm site.

Hedychium spicatum PB 57188
Collected in Yunnan, SW China as H. yunnanense this is in fact a superlative form of this species with potentially huge foliage. Diffuse inflorescences of spidery flowers, mainly white, including orange and yellow. The uniformly red marked stems are most unusual and an added attraction. Rich soil in a warm sheltered position in sun. One of the hardiest.

Hedychium wardii
A very exciting new introduction from NW Yunnan, China which has settled in very well at a sheltered Cornish garden. Most distinct from others in cultivation, this species produces 15cm tall cone-like inflorescences from August onward, from which emerge clusters of large scented, clear yellow, butterfly-like flowers with very short filaments.

Hedychium yunnanense
One of the hardiest, this species is closely related to H. spicatum. A compact plant reaching 80cm with broad foliage to 10cm wide, and spidery white flowers in summer with long, exserted orange-red stamen: earlier in the season than most. The true species and a tough garden plant.

Helenium 'Rauchtopas'
Big golden-yellow daisies with orange-brown backs on a plant to 1.5m tall in summer-autumn. Sun or part shade.

Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer'
Masses of big daisies, rich yellow, streaked red, finally burnt orange. Summer-autumn. 1m. Sun or pt shade. Good with grasses.

Helenium 'Zimbelstern'
Red-brown daisies age to yellow in summer-autumn. A taller plant, 1.5 to 2m. Sun or part shade.

Helictotrichon sempervirens 'Saphirsprudel'
A clump-forming grass with intense blue-grey leaves. Oat-like flower heads. Height 1m. Sun and drainage.

Helleborus atrorubens
From an Elizabeth Strangman collection. Carefully hand pollinated seedlings of this small red flowered Balkan species. Height 40cm. Good soil, sun or part shade.

Helleborus x ericsmithii
Excellent silvered leaves. Pinky-white flowers from mid-winter to spring. Height 40cm. For reasonable soil in sun or partial shade.

Helleborus x hybridus
Lenten Rose. Flowers in early spring in shades of pink / purple / green / yellow / white. Height to 60cm. Partial shade.

Heloniopsis orientalis Korean form
Blue-purple flowers dangle from the top of 10cm stalks in early summer over evergreen rosettes of glossy green, narrow foliage. Humusy soil in cool semi-shade. Not too dry.

Heloniopsis orientalis var. breviscapa
Pale pink flowers dangle from the top of 30cm stalks in early summer over evergreen rosettes of glossy green, narrow foliage. Humusy soil in cool semi-shade. Not too dry.

Heloniopsis umbellata
White tinged pink flowers dangle from the top of 15cm stalks in early summer over evergreen rosettes of glossy green, narrow foliage. Humusy soil in cool semi-shade. Not too dry.

Helwingia himalaica
This is one for the collector of obscure plants. A shrub apparently up to 2m or more from the E Himalaya and into China. Slender branches and very attractive narrow, toothed leaves, with the tiny flowers generally borne in the middle of the leaf! The fruit that follows on female plants turns from green through red to black.

Heptacodium miconioides
The 'Seven Son Flower of Zhejiang'. Only introduced from China in 1981 this vigorous, easy, very hardy and attractive large shrub has proved its worth. The foliage has 3 prominent veins and each leaf curls under the branch creating a tube effect. Clusters of scented white starry flowers are borne in late summer, the calyx turning red if it's warm.

Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay'
Scarce, super-vigorous variety with deep red foliage. Bold clumps and flower stems to 1m. Sun or part shade. This is from the legendary plantsman himself.

Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'
A very striking, very hardy and very bushy plant making an excellent specimen with large, highly variegated foliage, striped creamy-white and green, like no other bamboo. Great in a pot or in the ground where, over time, it will make quite a clump. Can spread a bit, but not fast in this respect, and easily controlled. Always looks good. Up to 2.5m.

Hibiscus sino-syriacus 'Lilac Queen'
Deserving of far wider planting, this is closely related to the common hardy Hibiscus but far superior with much larger sage-green foliage, more vigorous growth and, in this form, beautiful lilac flushed flowers with garnet-red bases. These are also larger than H. syriacus, and with thicker petals. Easy in a sunny position in well drained soil.

Hibiscus sinosyriacus 'Ruby Glow'
A very rarely seen relative of the hardy Hibiscus. This species is from China and has much wider sage-green leaves on a more vigorous, spreading bush, with flowers of a more substantial nature. In this form the white petals have a red base. Full sun in any reasonable soil. This is virtually unknown and should, along with the other clones, be more widely planted.

Hippeastrum 'San Antonio Rose'
A hardy dwarf hybrid from the USA. Pink spidery flowers in summer. Leaves tinted red. Height 30cm. Sun and good drainage.

Hippeastrum 'Toughie'
An apparently hardy plant, with dark-red- tinged leaves and deep red flowers on 50cm stems in late summer. Grow as Amaryllis belladonna, ie in a warm well drained spot that gets a good baking in summer.

Hoheria 'Glory of Amlwch'
A magnificent large, semi-evergreen shrub absolutely smothered in scented white, cherry-blossom like flowers crowded on the stems in late July, early Aug, an otherwise fairly dull time in the garden. Enjoys sun and a little shelter in cold areas. In my experience very good in poor limy soil.

Hoheria sexstylosa 'Stardust'
A more upright, very floriferous form of the species selected by Roy Lancaster. A large vigorous, evergreen shrub smothered in starry white flowers in Jul/Aug. Best with some shelter in cold areas. In flower when most things aren't.

Holboellia coriacea
Handsome and vigorous, this twining evergreen climber from the Himalaya bears compound palmate leaves with up to 7 leaflets with distinct stalks, and deliciously fragrant flowers in March, the males being purplish, the females greenish-white. Best on a warm wall where the sausage shaped, fleshy, purple, edible fruit can form if flowers are hand pollinated.

Hosta plantaginea var. japonica
Large, scented, pure white flowers in early autumn. Bold green leaves. Height 50cm. Sun or light shade, not dry.

Hosta tardiflora
A dwarf species with narrow, leathery, green leaves forming a mound 25cm high with scapes of white suffused pale-blue flowers in early autumn. Sun or shade.

Hosta yingeri
These are quite possibly a polyploid form of this rather lovely new species from Korea, being slightly larger in all its parts than other youngsters it was selected from. A handsome species with glossy, light-green, fairly thick textured foliage and star-shaped lilac-purple flowers spread evenly around the stems, seen in late July and August. Height 40cm. Semi-shade.

Huodendron thibeticum
A new tree from SE Asia, this very rare member of the Styrax family makes a small tree with peeling red-brown bark and colourful glossy, red tinted new growth. White flowers are borne in bunches in summer. For lime free soil. Full hardiness unknown, but certainly not very tender. Try it in a sheltered position, and be one of the very first to grow it in the UK.

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Similar to H. arborescens 'Grandiflora', differing in the slightly smaller florets making up the bigger globular heads of creamy-white flowers, borne from July to September. Prune hard in spring for gigantic heads of flower. A very hardy deciduous shrub reaching about 1.5m, for any reasonable soil in sun or semi-shade. Drought tolerant.

Hydrangea aspera from Gong Shan, China
This amazing new collection from the wild has wonderful and totally distinctive deep-red backs to the typically impressive large hairy foliage. Flowers are wide lacecaps of pale lilac, much like a strigosa form. A very impressive new introduction.

Hydrangea aspera Kawakamii group
A very lovely form of the species from the mountain forests of Taiwan. Broad softly hairy leaves of a subtly distinct colour topped by large flattened lacecap heads of deep violet with white sterile florets borne late during autumn. Flower colour does not change on different soils. Makes a large spreading deciduous shrub enjoying semi-shade.

Hydrangea aspera 'Macrophylla'
One of the most magnificent Hydrangeas, becoming quite a large shrub over time with large roughly hairy leaves and huge domed lacecap heads of porcelain blue flowers surrounded by a ring of pure white sterile florets in July. This colour will not be affected by soil alkalinity. To about 2m x 2m with me in 10 yrs. Absolutely gorgeous.

Hydrangea aspera 'Sam Macdonald'
This looks to me like a colourful selection of villosa with softly hairy leaves and lacecaps of lilac-blue with quite a bit of red-pink. Will make a medium sized deciduous shrub. Flower colour will stay the same on acid or alkaline soils.

Hydrangea aspera subsp. sargentiana
A very striking medium sized shrub with very large velvety leaves and big lacecaps of pale blue surrounded by white sterile florets in Jul/Aug. Hardy, but requires some shelter from sun and wind.

Hydrangea aspera subsp. strigosa
A rare, distinct and very late flowering form of the species from central China making a slow growing medium sized bush with very narrow foliage and lilac and white lacecap flowers in autumn. Flower colour is not affected by soil type.

Hydrangea aspera subsp. villosa
One of the finest Hydrangeas, making a spreading medium sized shrub with softly hairy leaves and stems. Large, lilac-blue lacecap flowers borne in Aug, whether on acid or alkaline soil.

Hydrangea heteromalla
A mighty Hydrangea making a large shrub or even a small tree looking marvellous in a woodland garden. Big creamy lacecaps by the dozen in summer over narrowly ovate foliage, pale beneath. Hardy and tolerant of exposure and drought.

Hydrangea heteromalla 'Snowcap'
A fine Hillier selection of this stately species. Makes a mighty shrub bearing large heart shaped leaves and broad corymbs of white flowers 20-25cm across in summer. Unlike many Hydrangeas this tough species will tolerate drought and exposure to sun and wind.

Hydrangea involucrata 'Plena'
A small plant up to about 1m eventually, producing lacecaps with purple-pink fertile flowers surrounded by cream coloured, doubled sterile florets, the sepals graded smaller to the centres, making little rosettes. Stronger growing and of a different appearance to 'Hortensis', reaching about 1m. Any reasonable soil.

Hydrangea involucrata 'Viridescens'
A remarkable form, originally found wild growing on the island of Yakushima, Japan. It is just like an ordinary involucrata, but the sterile florets are pale-green, creating a most unusual and attractive effect with the violet-blue fertile flowers. A shrub to about 1m. Any reasonable soil.

Hydrangea involucrata x aspera kawakamii
A brand new Mark Fillan hybrid between two superb species. With the appearance of involucrata but a larger plant with more colour in the flower and a longer period of flowering. Sun, semi-shade in not too dry soil.

Hydrangea involucrata 'Yokudanka'
A newly available Japanese cultivar making a shrub to 1m high. The soft, warm-pink lacecaps have doubled sterile florets, giving an effect similar to the cultivar 'Hortensis', though the plant is much stronger growing and less miffy than the latter. Best in semi-shade and any reasonably humus enriched soil.

Hydrangea longipes
A very rare species from W. China, and early to flower, in June, with wide blue lacecaps with large white-pink sterile florets. Related to the asperas, this is most evident in the foliage, being hairy and tapered, though with exceptionally long leaf stalks, and as a bonus, flushed bronze when young. Any reasonable well drained soil, happier with humus added.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ami Pasquier'
A vigorous and very floriferous plant, bearing a multitude of small, neat mopheads, bright red in alkaline soils, wine-purple in mildly acid, turning blue in very acid conditions. The leaves are also small. Preferring semi-shade, this cultivar reaches about 1.2m.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha'
Totally distinct amongst the mophead Hydrangeas, very floriferous, with large, rather flattened, dense heads of thick textured, small, cup shaped florets looking a bit like Lilac flowers. They are pale pink or pale blue and slightly scented. Makes a medium sized shrub.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Beaute Vendômoise'
A unique and rare variety making a medium to large bush bearing lacecaps with the individual sterile florets up to 12cm across, but usually a bit smaller. Overall colour is white with a hint of soft pale pink or blue depending on soil.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blaumeise'
One of the lovely Teller series from Switzerland, this is a broad, vigorous shrub with exceptionally deep blue (or bright pink) lacecap heads of a most regular habit, a characteristic of the series.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue Bonnet'
Originating as a branch sport of the superb 'Generale Vicomtesse de Vibraye', this cultivar has a long flowering season and gives well rounded mopheads of an intense blue, or dark pink depending on soil.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Brugg'
A very rare mophead, newly available in the UK. Dark pink florets made up of full, quite rounded sepals. Very early flowering. A small plant, apparently up to 90cm high.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Enziandom'
'Gentian Dome' in our language. This is one of the finest of all blue Hydrangeas, the mopheads being an intense deep, vibrant blue, or if you're on limey soil it's gonna be bright pink. In sunny spots the florets will age to a plummy colour. Mid to late season flowering. Excellent for cutting, holding the colour very well.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lanarth White'
A very highly regarded white lacecap of Cornish origin, bearing irregular heads of white sterile flowers with a central zone of blue or pink. A compact medium sized shrub, excellent in exposure to sun or sea.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillčre'
The classic white mophead, still regarded as probably the best white after a hundred years. A vigorous shrub to about 1.8m, it is best planted on a north wall or in semi-shade as the flowers can scorch in too much sun. Repeat flowering from July/August onwards.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Merveille Sanguine'
A stunning, distinct and much sought after cultivar. A mophead with intense, deep red florets turning a deliciously rich deep-plum, or a vibrant glowing red on alkaline soils, over thick textured, purple tinged foliage, darkening as the season progresses. Best in sun, as long as it doesn't get excessively dry. Makes a medium sized bush.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra'
Distinct in its very attractive, virtually black stems, setting off the bright green leaves beautifully. Mophead flowers in rosy pink or blue.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Sumida no hanabi'
A very new form from Japan making a large shrub to at least 2m in good conditions. It produces a mass of lacecap heads over a long period. These inflorescences are composed of a boss of blue or pink fertile flowers surrounded by many pure-white, double, star shaped sterile florets on long stalks. Hanabi means fireworks.

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Tokyo Delight'
A very lovely plant, seemingly a hybrid, with the robust constitution of a macrophylla, but more delicate in its flowers and foliage, tending toward a serrata. The beautiful lacecap flowers are held tier upon tier, white with a pink or pinky-lilac central zone, the sterile florets then turning pinky-red and finally bright crimson as the season progresses.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Floribunda'
A very old cultivar making a large shrub or almost a small tree several metres high and wide, though can be hard pruned in spring to produce a much smaller plant with extra large flowers. The panicles of creamy white flowers are long and conical with a good mixture of fertile and sterile florets. They start in July and continue well into autumn. Tough and hardy.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Kyushu'
A medium to large shrub, upright in this form with unusually dark, glossy leaves. Conical heads of white flowers with sterile florets lightly dispersed, giving an airy appearance. Flowers, from July onwards, remain white throughout the season. Can be hard pruned in spring to produce strong stems with huge panicles of flower. Very tough and tolerant.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
With huge white purely sterile flower heads this Dutch cultivar approaches the old form 'Grandiflora' but the florets turn slightly pinker as the season progresses. A well branched shrub to about 2.5m, or smaller if you prune hard in spring, whereby it will produce even bigger inflorescences. Easy, hardy, tough, flowering in late summer.

Hydrangea paniculata 'October Bride'
A seedling of 'Tardiva' this is a rarely seen late flowering form of this large deciduous shrub, starting late but flowering until the frosts. Typical conical, white inflorescences but large in this form. Prune hard in spring to obtain huge flower heads, or leave well alone for a more natural effect. Easy.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Phantom'
This cultivar has the largest flowerheads of all the paniculatas. Starting creamy-white in late summer, the huge conical panicles, made up mainly of sterile florets, change to soft pink as the season progresses. Absolutely huge heads could be obtained by hard pruning in spring. Easy, hardy, tolerant.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Pink Diamond'
A spectacular form of this easy undemanding species in which the large flowerheads turn from white to rich pink from late summer. The sterile and fertile florets are equally dispersed on the profuse inflorescences, which can be very large on hard pruned specimens. Left to grow naturally, this will make a large shrub. Easy and hardy in most sites and soils.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique'
An aptly named form of this medium to large oriental shrub, with very large, somewhat rounded, conical flower heads, consisting of a great number of sterile florets, opening white in July and turning pinker as the season progresses. Very tough and tolerant, useful where other Hydrangeas won't grow. Hard prune in spring for huge flowers on strong shoots.

Hydrangea 'Preziosa'
A compact and rounded bush of small to medium size with small mopheads in a lovely shade of red, even on acid soils. Immature sepals are cream with pink edges and mature to bright red. Excellent, distinct and suited to both ground or container cultivation.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'
A new form of this wonderful species apparently larger growing than the norm, with typically deeply lobed leaves and superb autumn colour, and very large conical panicles of white flowers turning pink with age. Altogether a giant form it would seem. Easy and tough, enjoying warmth in summer.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Burgundy'
This new form of the Oak leaved Hydrangea has been selected for its exceptional autumn colour, turning a deep, rich red and lasting well. Typical conical panicles of white flowers are large in this form turning pink as they age. Easy and hardy.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Harmony'
In this form the flower heads are very large, up to 30cm across and made up of purely sterile florets each 2cm wide, a bit like a conical creamy-white mophead. These huge inflorescences weigh the branches down in late summer. Typical, bold, oak-like foliage, turning deep red in autumn. Hardy and easy, enjoying sun and any ordinary soil.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Lady Anne'
A new form, but possibly the same as 'Snowflake', though this is no bad thing. The conical flower heads are composed of a mixture of sterile and fertile florets, the sterile being very doubled, producing a striking effect. Typical, bold, oak-like leaves turn red-purple in autumn. Enjoys a warm position

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee'
A dwarf, compact form of this excellent species, wider than tall, with mainly sterile, conical, creamy-white flower heads borne in late summer. Excellent red-purple autumn colour. Easy in most soils in sun or semi-shade.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Flake'
A spectacular form of the Oak Leaf Hydrangea with long conical heads of multiple 'doubled' sterile florets, white, turning pinker as they age, over striking foliage, young leaves bright green, older ones dark green turning deep red. Good in full sun or semi-shade on any reasonable soil, acid or alkaline.

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
A refined form of the species, the conical flower heads with extra sterile florets lying flat against the head, pure white, turning cream to pink, and weighing the branches down with their substance. Lovely American Red Oak-like foliage turns to shades of red-purple in autumn and falls late. Hardy and tolerant in sun or semi-shade on acid or alkaline soil.

Hydrangea seemannii
An evergreen climbing Hydrangea from Mexico with long dark, glossy green leaves and domed heads of mainly fertile, white flowers surrounded by a few sterile florets, borne in summer. The flower buds are enclosed by conspicuous bracts. Climbs by aerial roots like the common climbing Hydrangea, grows well in shade but flowers best against a sunny wall.

Hydrangea serrata 'Beni-yama'
This very rare Japanese form has distinctive, red, dainty lacecap flowers. The light green leaves contrast with the dark stems. Forms a small shrub. Good well drained soil in partial shade.

Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Deckle'
A superb dwarf form with soft blue or light pink flower heads somewhere between a lacecap and a mophead. The edges of the sterile florets are prettily dissected. A prolific flowerer, blooms first appear in July and are seen into September. The flower heads turn slate green and lilac purple late in the season.

Hydrangea serrata 'Diadem'
A very hardy small shrub, wider than high, flowering very early for a Hydrangea from June to August and occasionally beyond. Lovely dainty lacecaps in mid to light blue, or pink depending on soil, with the sterile florets turning over and changing to a deep purple lilac after the flower has been pollinated. Best in semi-shade.

Hydrangea serrata 'Graciosa'
Another very rare form, the lacecap flowers with a large pinky-lilac fertile zone surrounded by full, rounded, sterile florets of a similar colour. Of low spreading form, probably reaching no more than 1m high. Good well drained soil in semi-shade.

Hydrangea serrata 'Grayswood'
This very showy plant is large for a serrata reaching about 2m eventually. Flowering starts at the beginning of August and shows colour into October. Lacecap heads have fertile flowers in pink or blue, surrounded by a ring of white sterile florets that soon start to turn brilliant red from the tips, then reverse and turn rich crimson. Elegant, slim foliage.

Hydrangea serrata 'Kiyosumi'
A beautiful, rare Japanese form with exquisite deepest red tinted new growth and red edged, white lacecaps in late summer. A small bush to about 1m for any good soil, preferably in semi-shade. Discovered in the wild on Mt Kiyosumi in about 1950.

Hydrangea serrata 'Miranda'
A hardy dwarf shrub with exquisite little lacecaps, perfectly formed, in blue or pink depending on soil acidity. The centre of the lacecap has distinct clusters of fertile flowers, with gaps between, creating a lacy effect. Wider than high, this is small and suited to pots, or as an edging to paths etc. Best in semi-shade.

Hydrangea serrata 'Miyama-yae-Murasaki'
An exciting new introduction from Japan. This small shrub has very beautiful lacecaps composed of distinctly double sterile florets, surrounding the central fertile flowers, strikingly rich blue, or pink depending on your soil. Rare and lovely. Probably best in semi-shade.

Hydrangea serrata 'Shinonome'
A rare form from Japan. Dainty lacecaps with double, star-shaped, pure-white sterile florets turn to shades of pink or blue. Borne in mid-summer over narrow foliage, on a slim-branched bush up to about 1m. Best in semi-shade and leafy soil.

Hydrangea serrata subsp. yezoensis 'Wryneck'
Obscure and hard to obtain, this sterile form of a wild Japanese subspecies bears irregular mopheads of rich blue (or pink) very early in the season, being over by the end of July. Like most H. serrata it only reaches up to about 1.2m, though the leaves are broader than most, and it enjoys a semi-shaded postion. Flowers dry well.

Hydrangea serrata 'Tiara'
A relatively new English form of this small shrub, with beautiful, delicate lacecaps mauve-pink, surrounded by soft blue or pale pink sterile florets. Foliage turns plummy-crimson in good light through the summer and bright crimson in autumn. One of the loveliest of all Hydrangeas.

Hydrangea serrata 'Yae-no-Amacha'
Very new and rare in the UK, though discovered in Japan around 1960. This low growing cultivar reaches only about 1m, and produces fascinating little lacecaps with many sterile florets. These florets are double, but irregularly so, and a soft shade of pinkish-white or bluish-white depending on soil. Semi-shade and reasonable soil.

Hydrangea serratifolia
Closely related to H. seemannii, this species from Chile is also a self-clinging evergreen with leathery leaves, but has densely set, entirely fertile, creamy-white flowers in columnar panicles, up to 15cm long in late summer. Will grow happily in sun or shade, but will flower best on a sunny wall. Still rare in the UK, this is the real thing, apparently most others are not.

Hydrangea sp. From Yunnan
This pretty plant has no name assigned yet though seems to have affinities with H. serrata. Makes a shrub to about 1m with delicate white lacecaps and slim foliage that emerges red tinted in spring, turning green through summer and finally takes on purple red tones in autumn.

Hypericum acmosepalum
A species from China with close set, distinctly narrow oblong leaves, and golden yellow flowers freely borne from June to October, on a small, erect shrub. Semi-evergreen leaves often turn orange or scarlet in late winter. Very hardy and easy in any ordinary soil in sun or semi-shade. Rare.

Ilex kingiana
A distinguished holly from the E. Himalaya and SW China, rarely offered for sale. Forms a large shrub or small tree eventually, with thick shoots bearing large, leathery, spiny foliage, the spines decreasing with age. Large red fruit in autumn. Hardy and easy.

Ilex latifolia
This is a fine form of a variable though always magnificent, very large leaved holly from the far East making a large shrub or small tree with glossy new foliage tinted deep black-purple. Orange red fruits often produced in abundance. Although hardy it needs shelter when young.

Ilex x koehneana 'Chestnut Leaf'
A female clone of this striking hybrid holly, bearing red fruit over the long, broad spiny foliage, similar, as the name suggests, to a Castanea (Sweet Chestnut) leaf, if one uses one's imagination. Makes a conical large shrub, best with the lateral branch tips pinched out to encourage bushiness.

Illicium floridanum 'Compactum'
A smaller growing form of this rich red flowered evergreen shrub from the USA, very rare in the UK. All parts of the plant are aromatic when crushed. Will make a rounded shrub to about 3 or 4 ft high, best suited to semi-shade in reasonable, not overly limey soil. Flowers in spring.

Illicium henryi
A rare medium sized shrub from W China closely related to Japanese Anise. Thick evergreen leaves and lovely little rounded, saucer-like, bright rose flowers in May/June. At its best in good soil, not desperately limy, in semi shade.

Impatiens arguta
A compact, floriferous perennial for a mild spot. Lilac-blue flowers in summer. 30cm. Sun / pt shade.

Impatiens sp. from China
Cream, red-spotted flowers in autumn. Silvery new foliage in spring. Spreads underground. Hardy. Height 50cm or more. Moist soil.

Impatiens tinctoria
A wonderful huge species from the mountains of E. Africa. Fleshy stems reach about 1.8m high and form a big clump, best suited to semi shade, or moist soil in full sun. Beautiful, large, orchid-like, long spurred, red blotched white flowers produced in summer, filling the evening air with a sweet fragrance. Deep mulch in winter please. Less Busy Lizzie, more Elizabeth Regina.

Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra'
Japanese Blood Grass Bright green leaves with blood red tips. Height 30cm. Sun, not too dry.

Indigofera dielsiana
An obscure but beautiful species from SW China. A deciduous shrub to about 1.5m, with attractive pinnate foliage and pink pea flowers in erect racemes 15cm long, from June to September. Full sun in well drained soil.

Indigofera heterantha
Probably the best known of this lovely genus. A deciduous shrub, potentially to about 1.8m high, but often grown coppiced to ground level every year with the shoots growing to about 80cm-1m in a season. The spikes of small purplish-pink pea flowers are produced continuously from June until the end of September. Great foliage. Sun.

Indigofera himalayensis Yu 10941
A very pretty little shrub from the W. Himalaya and apparently the earliest of the Indigofera to flower in the UK, opening its clear, bright pink pea flowers on short, erect racemes over the delicate bright green pinnate foliage in early summer. A hardy, previously unavailable, deciduous small shrub for a sunny site. This is wild source material.

Indigofera kirilowii
A rarely seen small shrub with beautiful pinnate foliage and comparatively large bright, almond-pink flowers in dense racemes during summer. Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant. Normally hardy but if cut back by frost in cold areas, will spring back from the base and flower that summer.

Indigofera pendula
An absolute gem of a plant, recently re-introduced from China, this tall growing species flowers for months during summer. Beautiful very, very long, pendant racemes of pink pea flowers, on close inspection really lilac-grey and deep carmine. Rare and worth every effort to grow. Re-shoots strongly from base after very cold winters. Full sun and well drained soil.

Indocalamus tessellatus
A semi-dwarf species only reaching 1m, but has the largest leaves of any bamboo that we grow in the UK, reaching a maximum of 60cm long, creating quite a tropical effect. The thin culms bend under the weight of foliage creating a leafy mound. For a large leaf bamboo this is slow to spread and very manageable.

Ipheion 'Alberto Castillo'
Large, glistening white flowers in late spring. Grey leaves. Height 10cm. Sun and drainage.

Iris confusa 'Martyn Rix'
Tall evergreen clump former with gorgeous blue, orchid-like flowers in May. Bamboo-like stems, 1m or more. Part shade or sun, ideally with at least a little shelter.

Iris x robusta 'Gerald Darby'
Big tough clumper. Purple leaf bases in spring. Purple-blue flowers, early summer. Height to 1m. Sun, can take moist soil.

Itea ilicifolia
An evergreen, holly like shrub 2-3m high on a wall in semi-shade or full sun. The lax stems are laden with long, pendulous, catkin-like racemes of fragrant greenish-white flowers in late summer.

Jaborosa integrifolia
Fragrant white upright trumpet flowers in early summer. Height 15cm. Sun and shelter. Spreading.

Jasminum officinale 'Inverleith'
A form of the common hardy jasmine with red flower buds opeing to a more usual white interior; the colour persisting on the tube and reverse of the lobes when the flowers are open. Truly lovely scent of course. Makes a large scandent climber for walls, fences etc, or up into a tree where it could reach as much as 9m. Can easily be kept under control for smaller spaces.

Jasminum polyanthum Dark form
A striking new form of this classic conservatory climber with large amounts of red pigment staining the leaves dark red and turning the white flowers pink-tinged. As ever, the heavenly scent from the flowers is almost overpowering in an enclosed space. This species is in fact grown outside with success in very sheltered corners against a house wall.

Jovellana violacea
A pretty little shrub from Chile with very unusual looking flowers. They are small and deeply cup shaped, pale violet with darker markings, and produced in bunches en-masse in June and July over delicate foliage with contrasting dark stems. For a sheltered, mild position in well drained soil.

Kalimeris mongolica
Large lavender, yellow eyed daisies on 1.7m stems in early autumn. Sun or part shade. Very floriferous.

Kirengeshoma palmata Koreana Group
More erect and taller than the typical form with wider flared flowers. Lovely soft yellow, fleshy flowers in autumn, smart, lobed foliage on dark stems. Height 1.5m. Good, preferably humusy soil in shade or sun, not too dry in summer. This is lime tolerant even though the books say it isn't.

Kniphofia ichopensis
A rare species Poker with well spaced flowers spreading, then strongly pendulous, in a range of muted colours on stems to about 90cm in summer. Sun. This is from wild source material.

Kniphofia laxiflora
A rare species poker with delicate open spikes of bricky-orange, spreading, then fairly pendulous narrow flowers on stems to about 1m in summer. Sun. This is from wild source material.

Kniphofia northiae JCA 3.462.600
A distinct, huge Poker with leaves up to 2m long and over 10cm wide, arching out of a dense clump giving an exotic effect. Big fat, dense, ovoid heads of very densely set flowers, pinkish-red in bud, and opening whitish-yellow in summer. Needs a sunny position in ordinary soil. I have seen this at 2500m in the Drakensberg, looking marvellous.

Kniphofia 'Tawny King'
A highly desirable poker with tawny buds opening cream on bronzed stems. Height 1.2m. Sun and reasonable drainage.

Koelreuteria paniculata 'Coral Sun'
A new selection of this very rewarding small deciduous tree. In this form the leaves emerge bright pink-red and turn through a flaming orange-red until finally becoming light green with contrasting red petioles. It also shows excellent autumn colour of yellow and orange. Should produce a fine display of bright yellow flowers in august followed by inflated seed pods.

Lamium orvala
Large, dull red deadnettle flowers. Bold clumps with attractive rounded leaves. Height 40cm. Not invasive. Some shade.

Lapageria rosea
Chilean Bellflower. A gem of a climber, and the national flower of Chile. Needing the shade of a North wall or similar cool but protected spot, and open, fertile, lime-free soil, this very beautiful plant will adorn itself with exquisite, large, rose-crimson, fleshy, bell-shaped flowers over a long period in summer/autumn. Evergreen foliage on stems 3--4m high.

Lathyrus cirrhosus
Lots of pink pea flowers over a long season in summer. Scrambling habit to 1m. Sun, drainage.

Lathyrus laxiflorus
Pretty mat forming pea, rooting at centre. Violet-blue flowers in summer. Trim back to encourage repeating. Sun.

Lathyrus vernus 'Rosenelfe'
A dwarf pea with pink flowers in summer. Height 20cm. Sunny position.

Ledebouria cooperi
Dwarf clump forming bulb. Pinstriped leaves, heads of purple flowers like bunches of grapes. Sun, drainage, not too cold.

Leptospermum myrtifolium 'Silver Sheen'
A lovely metallic looking, upright, medium sized evergreen shrub with lots of little narrow silver leaves on reddish stems. White flowers produced in July. Best in full sun in well drained neutral to acid soils, though doing well near here on lime. Hardier than many other species of Leptospermum.

Lespedeza thunbergii
Flowering in September and October, this low growing member of the pea family from China and Japan is a very useful sub-shrub and will grow in any well drained soil in sun. Attractive panicles of rose-purple flowers over trifoliolate pale green leaves bow the stems to the ground under their weight.

Lespedeza thunbergii 'Albiflora'
A pure white flowered form of this invaluable late flowering 'Bush clover'. Semi woody annual stems clad with pale green trifoliolate leaves rise to at least 1m or more from a hardy rootstock and then arch down under the weight of flower in September and October. For a sunny well drained position. Cut back hard in spring.

Leucojum autumnale
Snowflake. Flowers like tiny snowdrops in autumn. Narrow leaves. 15cm. Sun and drainage; rock garden / path edge.

Libertia 'Amazing Grace'
Arching sprays of many small cream flowers in early summer. A lovely medium sized hybrid to 75cm. Sun, good drainage.

Libertia peregrinans
Orange tinted iris-like foliage, especially in winter. Starry white flowers in early summer. Height 50cm. Sun, good drainage.

Libertia sp. HJCM 98.089
An interesting collection from Chile with distinctive bluey-green evergreen foliage and creamy-white flowers on stems to 40cm May/June. Proving hardy and accommodating so far. Sun

Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford'
Deep orange flowers over stunning, dark purple-red foliage in summer. Height 1m+. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Ligustrum quihoui
Do not confuse this with a hedging shrub! This relative of the scourge of suburbia is altogether a finer thing. Marvellous for late summer flower, it produces drooping panicles of white, scented blossom in August and September up to 50cm long, when most things are over. An elegant shrub up to about 2m high, easy on virtually any soil, far too rarely seen.

Linaria anticaria 'Antique Silver'
Masses of silver-blue flowers all summer, from May to August. Height 20cm. Sun.

Linaria x dominii 'Yuppie Surprise'
Many lilac flowers over a long season in summer. Height to 90cm. Sun.

Lindera reflexa
Yet another very rare Chinese species with little info attached. This time, large glossy deciduous leaves, red tinted on expansion. Possibly good autumn colour? Lime free soil required.

Liquidambar acalycina
A rare species from China, closely related to but hardier than L. formosana, with 3-lobed leaves and new growth bronze-purple throughout the growing season, turning rich red-purple in late autumn. Makes a medium sized tree for any reasonable soil.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Burgundy'
A fine form of the 'Sweet Gum' selected in California for its long lasting autumn colour of red-purple, often still in leaf well into winter. Foliage emerges with a red tint in the growing season, and the crown shape is fairly narrow-conical until old age, making a medium sized tree. Easy in most soils, even wet ones.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Happidaze'
An excellent new cultivar of sweet gum with a stupid name. The fairly typical summer foliage turns to wonderful shades of red, yellow and orange very late in the season, even holding leaves into December. Tolerant of most soils, even wet ones. Will make a medium sized tree eventually.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Midwest Sunset'
A new form of the American Sweet Gum. The maple-like leaves turning rich red in autumn. Forms a very hardy medium sized tree for any reasonable soil, coping well with wet sites.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Palo Alto'
This to me is the finest form of the American Sweet Gum with its maple-like leaves turning an extremely bright, long lasting, scarlet and orange in autumn. Will make a medium sized tree eventually. Very hardy and tolerant but not for shallow chalk soils.

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Stella'
A new form of this highly ornamental American tree with the maple like leaves very deeply cut into 7 lobes, turning red to deep purple in autumn. Any reasonable soil, but can tolerate fairly wet sites. Makes a very hardy medium sized tree. This form seems synonymous with 'Stared'.

Liriodendron chinense
The rare Chinese Tulip Tree, differing from its big American cousin in its smaller stature and more ornamental, narrower waisted leaves more glaucous beneath and purplish on expansion. Similar tulip like flowers. Any ordinary soil. Wonderfully strong growing.

Liriodendron tulipifera 'Aureomarginatum'
The striking and individual leaves of the Tulip Tree are here bordered with a bright yellow margin which turns greenish-yellow by late summer. Tulip shaped flowers, yellow-green banded with orange borne in June/July. Makes a fast growing large tree for any ordinary soil. Try coppicing for huge leaves.

Liriope muscari 'Goldfinger'
A brand new plant released here, differing from the normal form in its bright yellow foliage, contrasting beautifully with the dense spikes of violet flowers produced in late summer/autumn. Needs a position in shade to avoid leaf scorch. Originally from seed collected in Korea by Mark Fillan.

Liriope muscari variegated
Green/gold variegated strap like leaves Spikes of purple flowers in late summer Evergreen. Height 30cm. Sun or shade.

Lithocarpus edulis
An evergreen oak relative from Japan introduced over 150 yrs ago but very rarely seen in gardens or offered for sale. Handsome, bold foliage and often producing clusters of acorns. Makes a broad large shrub or small tree, best with some shelter, but grows in an open site near here.

Lobelia bridgesii
Like a small pink L. tupa. Pink curly lipped flowers on stems to 1.5m in summer, over fairly narrow, pointed, green foliage. From Chile, and probably not desperately hardy, but doing fine in a few gardens so far, given shelter. Sun, good drainage.

Lobelia sp. F&M 139
A rather impressive species collected in Veracruz State, Mexico. Rich, vibrant red frowers in late summer on spikes to possibly 1.5m, though it was only 40cm in the wild state. Possibly not very hardy.

Lobelia tupa
Striking orange-red to scarlet flowers in summer over grey-green leaves. Height to 2m or more. A magnificent species from Chile, requiring sun and well drained soil, not too bone dry in summer. Not for the very coldest areas of the UK.

Lobelia urens
An extremely uncommon native species, found only in a few Southern sites, usually flowering mid to late summer but often at other times. Spikes of clear lavender-blue flowers to 50cm high. Easy in acid or alkaline free drained soils in sun.

Lonicera alseuosmoides
An unusual evergreen species from W China, covered in July-Oct with broad panicles of small creamy yellow and purple flowers, followed by blue bloomed black fruit. Foliage narrowly oblong and very elegant. Like most honeysuckles, best in semi-shade.

Lonicera henryi 'Copper Beauty'
This new variety of an excellent evergreen climber has copper-red new foliage throughout the growing season. Yellow flowers with a red stain in June and July. Up to 2.4m. Easy.

Lonicera henryi Sich 1489
A strong growing evergreen species with handsome slender pointed foliage, setting off the clusters of yellow flowers, borne at the end of the shoots in June and July, and followed by black berries. Best in semi shade. This is wild source material of this species from W. China.

Lonicera hildebrandiana
A truly amazing Honeysuckle, and the biggest in every way in the genus. Clusters of huge flowers in summer, individually up to 15cm long, cream turning mango colour, and coincidentally, deliciously scented of mango. Big glossy evergreen foliage and vigorous growth. Only hardy in mild areas, but easy in a conservatory or cool glasshouse. Fabulous.

Lonicera similis var. delavayi
This vigorous late summer/early autumn flowering species has fragrant flowers, white turning pale yellow, over largish, dark, matt, semi-evergreen foliage. Best in semi-shade.

Lonicera sp. F&M 207
A smallish climber to about 2m in the wild state, with pale-green, small, neat foliage, found at 2600m above Miquihuana, Tamaulipas State, NE Mexico. Quite possibly L pilosa.

Lonicera subaequalis Ogisu 93.329
An interesting and very rare honeysuckle species collected in Sichuan, China. A climber with fairly glaucous foliage, the leaf stalks often encircling the stem. Yellow flowers produced in small clusters in summer, backed by and semi-enclosed with a hood, creating a fascinating effect. Perfectly hardy.

Lotus hirsutus 'Lois'
A particularly silver hairy and compact form of this lovely little Mediterranean shrub. Really a woody based perennial or 'sub-shrub' with erect annual stems to about 60cm; the pink tinged white pea flowers are borne in clusters at their tips, followed by deep-red tinged seed pods. Full sun and well drained soil. Hardy.

Luma apiculata (syn. Myrtus luma)
A stunningly beautiful evergreen large shrub or small tree with gorgeous smooth, cinnamon-orange bark peeling in patches to reveal the white inner bark. Masses of white myrtle flowers in late summer followed by edible black fruit. For a sheltered corner, unless you live on the west coast, though for decades now has proven hardy in places where it once wasn't.

Lunaria rediviva
Perennial Honesty. Profuse lilac-white flowers over dark green leaves in spring. Oval papery pods. Sun, not wet. Lovely.

Lyonothamnus floribundus subsp. aspleniifolius
'Catalina Ironwood'. Very rare and highly desirable, fast growing, slender, small evergreen tree with very attractive fern like foliage and handsome red-brown and dark-grey shredding bark, kinda like a mini redwood trunk. Big plates of creamy-white flowers in early summer. Sun/sheltered site, not for very cold areas.

Lysimachia clethroides
Forms clumps with dense spikes of white flowers in summer, the tops distinctly nodding over. Wonderful orange and red autumn colour. Height 90cm. Any good soil in sun.

Lysimachia paridiformis var. stenophylla DJHC704
Rare. Olive green, speckled leaves crowded on low stems; bright yellow flowers in summer. 30cm. Shade.

Lysimachia yunnanensis
Spikes of good sized cream flowers on stems to 75cm. Sun or part shade.

Lythrum salicaria 'Blush'
A 'Purple Loosestrife' with unusual pale pink flowers in late summer. Height 90cm. Sun, not dry soil.

Lythrum salicaria 'Prichard?s Variety'
A Purple Loosestrife which can become very tall (to 2m). Light purple flowers in summer. Sun, not dry soil.

Macleaya 'Spetchley Ruby'
This form of the marvellous plume poppy has rather red flowers in the usual billowing heads in summer, followed by even stronger red seed heads. The magnificent figured, broad glaucous foliage has a red undertone too. To 2m at least. Will run at the root, but easily kept in check and worth the hassle.

Magnolia 'Albatross'
This is a hybrid seedling of M. cylindrica, raised at Trewithen, Cornwall, forming a vigorous, broadly upright small to medium sized tree, bearing large, cup shaped, virtually pure white flowers in spring, opening to 30cm across. These appear white, but have a faint pink blush at the base of the tepals.

Magnolia 'Butterflies'
Praised by the Americans as one of the finest yellows to date, but possibly a bit paler in the UK under our conditions. Still a lovely small tree bearing bright yellow flowers with fairly narrow tepals on the bare branches in early spring. Should be good on limey soils.

Magnolia campbellii 'Charles Raffill'
A fine selection of this species, in fact a cross between the typical pink form and the subsp. mollicomata, combining the attributes of each. Strong growth produces a medium to large tree festooned with cup and saucer flowers, pink-purple on the outside, paler within. Flowers later in the season than typical campbellii and is more reliable in colder regions.

Magnolia 'Charles Coates'
An unusual hybrid between M. sieboldii and M. tripetala raised at Kew, forming a small tree with strongly upright stems and broad-spreading branches. Flowers come in May and June after any frost has past and are broad saucers of creamy-white with distinctly red centres and slightly crumpled tepals. Leaves large and pale under. Best in acid soil in semi-shade.

Magnolia 'Elizabeth'
The first yellow flowered precocious hybrid to be produced. A superb, vigorous, upright, small to medium sized tree filling out over time. By no means a strong yellow colouring, more clotted cream than lemon, but very beautiful, seen over a 4 to 6 week period in April and May. Very lime-tolerant and hardy.

Magnolia 'Galaxy'
A vigorous, conical, small tree with prodigious flowering over a six week period from early to mid-April onwards. Flowers up to 12.5 cm long, deep reddish purple in bud opening to a rich pink-purple with a paler interior. Any reasonable soil.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Gallissonniére'
An old French selection of fairly upright, neat growth making a conical crown, especially if pruned. The deliciously scented creamy-white flowers are very large and produced throughout summer and early autumn, often starting at the end of May. Evergreen leaves are fairly slim and have a good reddish brown indumentum beneath. A hardy clone, best in full sun. Good in limy soils.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Goliath'
An old favourite in the UK, this form has broad foliage with an undulating edge, and globular, creamy-white, highly scented flowers up to 30cm across over a long period, from July to November. Hardy and tolerant of limy soil, best in full sun. Makes a small tree.

Magnolia grandiflora 'Russet'
The most prominent feature of this clone is the most lovely way the leaves show off their wonderfully warm russety brown undersides. They are held at a sharper angle making the feature more obvious than other cultivars, especially with evening sun, when the tree glows with a hue of orangey-brown. Typical broad, deliciously scented white flowers in summer

Magnolia grandiflora 'Victoria'
A particularly hardy form, known to have withstood -24 degrees C, notable for the bright red leaf bud scales in early summer. Deliciously scented, big, bowl-like creamy-white flowers throughout summer and early autumn. Makes a small evergreen tree, excellent on limy soils.

Magnolia 'Iolanthe'
One of the very fine Jury hybrids from New Zealand. Huge soft pink, thick textured flowers up to 25cm across borne in abundance in mid-March, even on plants just 5 years old. Another feature is the huge hairy flower buds. Eventually a broad spreading small tree, best on reasonably good soil.

Magnolia 'John Congreve'
A newly available hybrid from the magnificent Mount Congreve estate in SE Eire. A cross between M. sprengeri and M. sargentiana robusta, this fine tree was selected for its cyclamen-purple flowers that share more genes with the sprengeri parent and therefore flower later, helping to escape frosts, and also tip slightly outwards, showing their faces.

Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra'
A classic summer flowering Magnolia with a long succession of deliciously lemon scented flowers produced from April to June and then intermittently onwards, they are narrow and erect at first, deep vinous-purple, opening to reveal an almost white interior. One of the best species for small gardens, remaining compact. Any reasonable soil, but not chalk.

Magnolia macrophylla
One of the most magnificent of hardy flowering trees, not only for its vast white, purple-marked flowers, opening up to 45cm wide, but also for its gargantuan foliage. Each leaf, with a silver-white underside, can reach up to 60cm long in the UK, though bigger at home in the SE USA. Shelter from wind, good soil, and a sunny, warm spot suit this hardy tree well.

Magnolia 'Milky Way'
One of the excellent Jury Hybrids, this will form a medium sized tree, bearing a full compliment of its big, beautifully formed, cup-and-saucer shaped flowers at a young age in spring. They are white and have a slight pink flush at the base of the tepals when viewed from below. Best in good soil with added organic matter.

Magnolia obovata (syn. hypoleuca)
A vigorous and very attractive medium sized tree for good soil. Very, very strongly fragrant creamy flowers with crimson stamens borne in May/June over huge obovate leaves, followed by big red fruit clusters. A wonderful tree that should be in every tree collection and/or reasonably sized garden. The scent drifts on the breeze for quite some distance.

Magnolia officinalis var. biloba
Very rarely seen or offered, this Chinese species has large paddle shaped leaves up to 50cm long, glaucous beneath, distinctly bum-shaped with a deep notch at the apex. Flowers in early summer with parchment-white, red-centred fragrant saucers borne at the end of the shoots. Attractive red cones of seed an added bonus in autumn. Best in good rich soil.

Magnolia rostrata
An arresting, very rare species for a sheltered garden, where it will become a medium to large tree. Huge foliage to 50cm in length emerges chestnut-felted and turns through a unique shade of violet flushed copper-green. Flowers smallish, melon-scented and creamy-white in June, not half as exciting as the wonderful foliage. Not for cold areas.

Magnolia salicifolia Upright form
These are grafted from a tree growing at the Garden House in Devon, which has a very upright form. Possibly the same as Millais' var. fastigiata? The white flowers are typically scented and borne profusely in early spring, and the willow-like foliage is aniseed scented when crushed. This species will make a small to medium sized tree, and is suitable for sun or semi-shade on good soil.

Magnolia sieboldii
One of the summer flowering species, from egg shaped buds it produces fragrant, white, red centred, semi-pendulous, cup-shaped blooms on leafy branches intermittently from May to August. Flowers have a lemony fragrance and are borne from a young age on a slow growing eventually large shrub. A very fine species, best suited to a neutral to acid soil.

Magnolia sprengeri 'Westonbirt'
This is a brand new form of this lovely species, selected for its vigour and flowers. Quite unlike other forms, this seedling of the original Caerhays sprengeri 'Diva' has grown exceptionally fast at Westonbirt arboretum, making 25m in about 40yrs. The flowers are a deep, rich pink and of good size and form, and cover the tree in early spring. Any good soil.

Magnolia 'Star Wars'
A superb and exceptionally long flowering hybrid raised in New-Zealand in the 1970's. Makes a small to medium sized tree, flowering when only 4-5yrs old, deep pink in bud opening to pink with a white interior, about the same size as M. campbellii. Good, moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade.

Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'
This is an American raised selection of the widely grown Star Magnolia with larger flowers, pink-tinged in bud, opening pure white on the bare branches in early spring, slightly later in the season than other forms. A tough little shrubby tree, with profuse flowering from a very early age. Very lime tolerant.

Magnolia 'Todd Gresham'
An American hybrid with open cup-shaped, rich pinkish-violet flowers with a contrasting white interior borne on the bare branches in spring, followed by good crops of bright red seed pods in autumn. Should make a small to medium sized tree.

Magnolia tripetala
For those who want a huge leaf Magnolia but have given up with the sometimes tricky M. macrophylla, this is for you. An American species forming a small tree with huge papery leaves up to 50cm long and 25cm wide. Richly scented cream coloured flowers with slim tepals in summer, followed by ornamental bright red seed cones. Very hardy.

Magnolia virginiana
'Swamp Bay'. A large shrub or small tree for any ordinary soil, with partially evergreen leaves blue-white beneath. Fragrant, creamy-white, globular flowers open out to a smaller version of a M. grandiflora flower, produced from June to Sept. A smaller 'light weight', delicate counterpart to M. grandiflora. Very unusual in the UK.

Magnolia wilsonii
A large wide spreading shrub with saucer like, white, crimson centred flowers hung from the undersides of the branches in May/June, therefore escaping late frosts. Best in partial shade, and in a position where one can look up under the branches to the dangling blooms. One of the most lime tolerant of Magnolias.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel'
Similar in many ways to a stellata, this bushy little hybrid small tree or large shrub bears a multitude of lilac-pink flowers with multiple strap shaped tepals on the bare branches in early spring. Very lime tolerant and highly regarded.

Magnolia x loebneri 'Merril'
Similar to a white stellata but with slightly broader tepals to the strappy, fragrant, star like flowers, giving a more substantial look. Makes a large shrub or small tree eventually, but flowering from a very early age, in early spring, on the bare branches. Excellent on most soils, even chalk.

Magnolia x proctoriana
A large, very floriferous shrub, a hybrid of salicifolia and stellata, producing fragrant, pure white flowers of a more refined, poised nature than a stellata, usually with less tepals. Leaves emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed. Lime tolerant and hardy.

Magnolia x soulangeana 'Rustica Rubra'
Another fine selection of this common hybrid, similar to, and in fact a seedling of 'Lennei'. Large rich rosy-red goblets with pale interiors borne en masse on the bare branches in spring. A vigorous clone forming a spreading, shrubby small tree, good on most soils, even thin limey ones.

Magnolia x wieseneri
There can be few other plants perfectly hardy in these isles with flowers as incredibly fragrant as these. This makes a large shrub or small tree, producing its upward facing, saucer-shaped flowers in June and July. They are creamy-white with a central boss of deep-red stamens and smell like nothing else. A cut flower in a room becomes overpowering.

Mahonia confusa
A rarely seen but handsome, small erect, evergreen shrub introduced from China in 1980 by Roy Lancaster, with sea-green foliage, and upright racemes of pale yellow flowers in autumn, followed, if you're lucky, by bunches of bloomy, blue-black berries. Tolerant of sun or deep shade, on acid or alkaline soils.

Mahonia gracilipes
A handsome and fascinating species, introduced from China by Roy Lancaster in 1980. Forming a low evergreen shrub, the blue-green foliage is strikingly chalky white beneath, and the flowers are a most unusual purple-red with a creamy-white inner, held on wiry, branched stems. Fruits are bloomy blue-black, seen in winter. Best in a sheltered, semi-shaded position.

Mahonia gracilis
This handsome Mexican species is unaccountably rare here in the UK. Makes a small to medium sized evergreen shrub with racemes of fragrant yellow flowers in winter over showy pinnate foliage with bright red petioles and rachis. Try it in full sun and a sheltered position. Highly regarded in the USA by the few who grow it.

Mahonia sp. F&M 178
Collected at just over 2000m in Hidalgo State, Mexico, this species was a shrub to about 1.5m with leaves composed of broad glaucous leaflets, often curling under. White and yellow flowers were borne in terminal racemes in November. Try this in a sunny sheltered position, where it will be very drought tolerant. Should prove as tough as other Mexican species.

Mahonia sp. F&M 193
Collected at just over 2100m in Hidalgo State, Mexico, this species was a shrub to about 1.5m with bare narrow stems and leaves composed of broad glaucous leaflets, often curling under. White and yellow flowers were borne in terminal racemes in November, though possibly later here. Try this in a sunny sheltered position, where it will be very drought tolerant.

Mahonia x lindsayae 'Cantab'
An exceptional hybrid with superb parentage: M. japonica gives the hardiness and fragrance while the rare and tender M. siamensis offers huge drooping foliage with widely spaced leaflets. Winter flowering with racemes of large, soft yellow, sweetly scented flowers. Makes a wide medium sized shrub. Never available (why not?). It is now.

Malvastrum lateritium
Peachy mallow flowers throughout summer. A low spreading plant for sun. Ideal on a bank.

Manglietia insignis
This rare evergreen Magnolia relative has proved fairly hardy so far given shelter. Makes a small tree or large shrub with long leathery leaves, dark green but pale beneath, and erect, pink tinged creamy-white Magnolia like flowers in May. Happiest in rich soil with plenty of nutrients and iron.

Marshallia grandiflora
Purple-pink cornflower-like heads in summer. Height 40cm. Sun or light shade.

Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Plume Fern. Beautiful, symmetrical 'Shuttlecocks' of fresh, very light-green fronds in spring, opening out during summer. Spreads slowly underground to form a colony. Ht to 1m. Moist, even boggy soil in shade/semi-shade.

Matthiola fruticulosa 'Alba'
A perennial stock with deliciously fragrant white flowers in summer. Striking bluish leaves. To 75cm. Sun, drainage.

Meconopsis 'Lingholm'
This is what we generally used to call x sheldonii. A very fine and reliably perennial blue poppy, with stems up to about 1m. Moist, cool, humusy, preferably acid soil, not hot in summer

Meconopsis x sheldonii 'Branklyn'
A very fine, reliably perennial, big blue poppy. Rich blue flowers in May. Moist, humus-rich soil in part shade, unless you live in the cool, rainy North, where you can grow it in full sun. Height 90cm.

Melanoselinum decipiens
Magnificent 2m trunk forming umbellifer from Madeira. White-purple flowers. Can be monocarpic. Sun, drainage, in a sheltered spot. Thought to be tender, but breezed through winter 05/06 here with not a mark on it.

Melianthus major
A stunning foliage plant with huge grey-blue serrated foliage like nothing else. Treated as herbaceous but can be a woody shrub in mild areas. Plant in a sunny corner against a wall and mulch in winter. Should make a plant 1m x 1m if cut back.

Melianthus major
One of the finest of all foliage plants. Stems can reach 2.5m high and bear striking darkest red flowers in mild areas, but the plant is most attractive if cut to the ground each winter by frost or secateurs, thereby producing a mound of fresh stems to about 1m, covered in wonderful bold grey-blue foliage. Like nothing else. Full sun in a sheltered corner.

Michelia doltsopa
This marvellous virtually evergreen, small to medium sized tree makes wonderful specimens in the South West, but a customer tells me he has a tree growing in woodland in the N. Welsh mountains! Deliciously and powerfully scented white flowers in spring emerge from rusty-ginger, hairy buds. Leaves are leathery, glossy green with a glaucous underside.

Michelia figo
A classic conservatory plant, filling your room with the most incredibly delicious scent over a long period in spring/summer. Only one of the small, purple edged, cream coloured flowers is needed to stop you in your tracks. Makes a bushy evergreen shrub. Can be grown outside in the mildest areas.

Michelia maudiae
An exciting new evergreen Magnolia relative from China with lovely grey-green leaves, paler beneath, and pure white, very fragrant flowers up to 15cm across in early spring. Proving hardy so far in the south. Best sited in a sheltered, fairly sunny, warm position. Likes heat, manure and iron. Known to have survived -14c in the USA, after good summer ripening.

Michelia yunnanensis
A relatively newly available species forming a medium to large evergreen shrub with small leaves brown on their undersides when young, and deliciously fruity scented creamy white flowers opening flat in spring from handsome velvety brown buds. Tough, easy and lime tolerant, this hardy species demands a prime position. Now properly Magnolia dianica.

Miscanthus sinensis 'China'
Bold clump-forming grass. Large upright plumes of flowers in summer. Height 150cm. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Cosmopolitan'
Bold clumps of vivid green/white variegated foliage. Height to 2m. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Flamingo'
Bold clump-forming grass. Pendulous panicles of pink flowers in summer. Height 150cm. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Giraffe'
Perhaps the finest Zebra Grass. Yellow striped leaves - bold clumps to 2m or more. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Malepartus'
Bold leafy clumps to 1.5m, deep red tinted plumes from midsummer. Autumn colour too. V. smart. Sun / pt shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Nippon'
Bold clump-forming grass. A slightly shorter cultivar around 120cm, with neat, upright red flower spikes. Sun/ pt shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Positano'
Bold clump forming grass to 1.5m. Arching foliage, shiny red flowers, and good autumn colour. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus'
Bold clumps of yellow striped foliage. Height 1.5m. Sun or part shade.

Miscanthus x giganteus
A very, very big grass, with an appearance not dissimilar to sugar cane. Huge clumps potentially up to 4m tall but more often about 3.5m. In use as a biomass fuel and fibre source. Sun or light shade and not too dry in summer. Can grow in running water. An arresting backdrop or statement plant.

Molinia caerulea 'Windspiel'
Airy panicles of purple-green flowers in summer on very upright stems to 1.8m high. Good autumn colour. Sun, part shade.

Monstruocalamus sichuanensis
What a name. This extremely obscure plant has fairly large deep green leaves. Height 2--4.5m. Used as hedging or as an ornamental specimen by the Chinese. Be one of the first to try it in the UK.

Moraea alticola
As the name suggests this is a high altitude Iris relative from the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa, where I have seen it growing en masse in grassland at 2500m with Kniphofia caulescens. A handsome species with large pale yellow flowers on stems to about 50cm, this enjoys moisture in summer but a drier winter.

Morus nigra
The Black Mulberry. A classic plant for your Old Rectory lawn, but failing that makes an excellent small tree for a small garden. Much faster growing than is supposed, looking older than it really is. Delicious, almost black-red fruit, the size of Loganberries are borne in late summer, and make marvellous jam. Easy on most soils. Tough and hardy.

Muehlenbeckia complexa
Well known to anyone who frequents Cornish gardens, this fascinating twining climber forms amazing tangled masses of tiny evergreen leaves on wiry stems up to 6m high. Usually only seen in mild areas, this can be grown successfully in a sheltered position over a wide area of the UK. A mulch over the root stock ensures survival in a bad winter.

Muhlenbergia mexicana
Grass with light, bristly flower spikes in late summer, and red-purple tinged foliage. 60cm. Sunny site.

Mukdenia rossii
Glossy green palmate leaves turn red in autumn. White saxifragaceous flowers in spring. Height 25cm. For a woodsy site in light shade.

Muscari 'Valerie Finnis'
Beautiful powder-blue grape hyacinth. An easy spreader in a more or less sunny, well drained position. Height 15cm.

Myosotidium hortensia
Chatham Island Forget-me-not. Wonderful deep-green, glossy, deeply veined Hosta like foliage and clusters of bright blue flowers in summer. Hardier than previously thought. For a cool sheltered position, never too dry, in well drained but humus rich soil.

Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina
A natural dwarf variant of the common myrtle, native of the Mediterranean region. In this form the dark glossy green leaves are narrow and tiny and densely set on the twigs. Very free flowering, the branches are smothered in pink tinged white flowers in autumn, followed by white berries. Makes a small shrub for a sunny sheltered position. Very tolerant of maritime exposure.

Narcissus cyclamineus
Well known miniature but often hard to obtain. Very slender, bright, strong yellow, nodding flowers with segments completely swept back behind the trumpet. Most distinctive. For acid soil. 20cm.

Nolina nelsonii
A Yucca like plant with long relatively narrow blue or blue-green, strictly rigid leaves forming a huge globe on top of a trunk up to about 3m or more. Huge cream flower heads. Tough and hardy in the Pacific North West of the USA, so should be easy here. The seeds for these were collected in Tamaulipas state in the rather small area in which they are endemic.

Nolina parviflora NJM 05.010
Looking a bit like a Cordyline australis, though more refined, this arborescent Mexican species can be found at over 3000m in the wild where it forms plants at least 3m high with branching or singular trunks. Tall narrow creamy white flower spikes rise well above the leaves when mature. Sun, drainage and shelter here in the UK. Seed collected Puebla State, 2400m.

Nothofagus antarctica
A picturesque little tree from the bottom end of S America, the branches and trunk often twisted making a fascinating and characterful specimen, like something from a Tolkien story. The small, rounded, glossy, dark green leaves are irregularly toothed and turn yellow in autumn. Hardy and easy in any ordinary soil.

Nothofagus dombeyi
One of my favourite of all large trees. This very elegant, small leaved evergreen comes from the temperate rainforests of S Chile where it grows into wonderful flat topped, almost Cedar like specimens. Here it is a fast growing tree with all parts quietly attractive, and simply beautiful as a whole. For any reasonable soil, probably not best in places like Essex.

Nyssa ogeche
The 'Ogeechee lime' is a very obscure species in the UK and possibly only suitable for mild areas, though there is little experience in cultivation. Hailing from S. Carolina, Georgia and Florida this species has remarkable red fruit that have been used as a substitute for limes. Try it in a warm position.

Nyssa sylvatica 'Autumn Cascades'
A new American selection of the 'Tupelo' with strongly weeping branches and superb red/orange autumn colour. For neutral to acid soil, coping well with fairly wet sites. One would presume it would end up smaller than the norm.

Ochagavia elegans
An extremely rare bromeliad, endemic of Robinson Crusoe Island, off the coast of Chile, where it grows amongst rocks over a wide altitudinal range. Rosettes of tough, narrow, green leaves, paler beneath, and spectacular, big clusters of red flowers in summer. Known to survive occasional mild frost, but safest under cool glass for most of us.

Oenothera fruticosa 'Erica Robin'
An small evening primrose with clear yellow flowers and red spring foliage. Height 40cm. Sun.

Oenothera organensis
Large, butter yellow, long stalked flowers all summer. Day flowering. Ht 75cm. Sun and drainage.

Olea europaea subsp. africana
The South African wild Olive. Closely related and very similar to the usual Mediterranean version, becoming a small picturesque evergreen tree with narrow leathery foliage, grey beneath. Try it against a hot, sunny, sheltered wall.

Oligostachyum oedogonatum
A new introduction from China. Tall, narrow culms with swollen nodes to a maximum height of 5m, though probably shorter here. Elegant long narrow leaves and purple tinged culm sheaths on an olive green to purple brown culm. A running species, though how vigorously I have yet to find out.

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram'
A low, slowly spreading plant with gentian-blue flowers in spring. Height 25cm. Sun or part-shade.

Omphalodes cappadocica 'Starry Eyes'
A low, gently spreading plant with striking blue striped white flowers in spring. Height 25cm. Sun or part shade.

Omphalodes verna
Bright blue flowers in spring. Good ground-cover but non invasive. Height 20cm. Part shade.

Omphalodes verna 'Alba'
Pure white flowers in spring. Good ground-cover but non invasive. Height 20cm. Part shade.

Onoclea sensibilis
An easy, hardy and very distinct fern from N America, spreading to form patches in moist ground. Fronds are bright-green and have a crenate edging to the pinnae. Easily kept under control in small gardens as the rhizomes are not deep.

Onoclea sensibilis copper
An easy, hardy and very distinct fern from N America, spreading to form patches in moist ground. In this rare form the fronds emerge red tinted and turn bright-green later, retaining colour in the stalk. Easily kept under control in small gardens as the rhizomes are not deep.

Onopordum acanthium
A giant silvery biennial making a particularly bold statement in the summer garden. In the first year a large rosette is formed, and in the second a huge stalk to 3m high arises braching into many heads topped by purple-pink thistle flowers. The whole plant is covered in silvery-white. Well drained soil in sun or semi-shade. Easy, self sows.

Ophiopogon caulescens HWJ 590
Collected at altitude in N. Vietnam, this species forms comparatively huge clumps with evergreen foliage to 60cm, with flower spikes to 75cm, white on black, followed by blue berries. Very vigorous, proving hardy so far.

Ophiopogon japonicus 'Compactus'
A very small evergreen perennial making mounds of grassy, dark-green leaves to a few cm tall. Short spikes of little lilac flowers in summer. Slowly forms patches.

Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens'
Striking ?everblack? grassy leaves. Small white flowers, black berries. Height 20cm. Sun or part shade. Like no other plant.

Orixa japonica
The main attraction of this elegant and very rarely seen aromatic medium sized shrub from the far east is the most unusual autumn colour of palest lemon to white, very effective with other stronger colours. A member of the Rue family, its leaves are highly aromatic.

Ornithogalum reverchonii
Elegant 50cm spikes of white flowers in early summer over lax foliage. Summer dormant. Sun, dry in summer. From Spain and Morocco.

Oryzopsis miliacea
A grass with beautiful, distinctive whorled heads of flowers in summer, lasting amazingly well into the depths of winter. The whole plant very fine and feathery. Height 1m. Sun or part shade.

Osmanthus yunnanensis
Like no other in the genus, this is a magnificent, large, evergreen shrub (or small tree given half a century), with impressive long, dark, olive-green leaves, either bristle edged or entire, emerging rich purple in spring. The numerous small clusters of ivory-white, sweetly fragrant flowers are produced as early as Feb/March and smell of vanilla/playdough.

Osmunda cinnamomea
The Cinnamon fern is a close relative of the Royal fern. Native of North America it is very hardy and extremely attractive due to its fertile fronds standing erect with cinnamon coloured tops amongst the shuttlecock of green sterile fronds. For a moist or wet position in sun or shade. Height 60-120cm.

Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'
Purple Royal Fern. A big upright imposing fern for a permanently moist or wet site, happy in full sun. In this form the impressive unfurling croziers are purple tinted in spring, turning matt-green in summer with purple stalks, then buttery-yellow in autumn. Can form short trunks given time. Ht 120cm.

Paeonia delavayi var. ludlowii
A fine foliage plant making a vigorous medium to large shrub with large, deeply dissected leaves on stout stems, and large golden yellow, saucer like flowers in May. Very hardy and easy in any free drained soil in sun. Known to self-sow into a Cotswold dry-stone wall near here.

Panicum virgatum 'Prairie Sky'
Wonderful blue foliage. Flowers on upright stems to 1m. Striking orange anthers, purple stigmas. Sunny position.

Panicum virgatum 'Rotstrahlbusch'
A grass with deep red tipped leaves; attractive panicles of flowers in late summer. Good autumn colour. Height 1.2m. Sun.

Papaver paucifoliatum
Oriental Poppy with large red flowers in summer. Height to 60 cm. Sun. Stands up well without staking.

Paris quadrifolia
Herb Paris. Our lovely rare native, found in ancient woodland, and perfectly suited to a semi-shaded spot in leafy soil in the garden. Very elegant green flowers on stems to 50cm, effective from May to Aug. Black berries follow.

Parthenocissus henryana
A great foliage plant and a commonly grown species. The deciduous leaves are made up of 3-5 leaflets, dark green or bronze with silvery-white veins. This colouration is strongest in half-shade. The leaves turn red in autumn, and after a hot summer dark blue fruits are formed. Hardy and easy in most soils.

Paulownia fortunei 'Fast Blue'
An upright, very strong growing selection with a consequently conical crown. The large heads of fabulously exotic big, fragrant, foxglove shaped flowers are lilac-blue with paler throats and are borne on the bare branches in spring before the huge leaves emerge. Tolerant of a wide range of soils. Plant it with a dark background or where viewed from above.

Paulownia tomentosa
The classic Foxglove tree from China. This exotic looking tree grows very fast, bearing huge foliage. The tall panicles of drooping, foxglove shaped, yellow throated lilac flowers on the bare stems in May are an amazing site to behold, especially if set against a dark background. Usually a small to medium size tree, or coppice it for vast foliage effects.

Peltoboykinia watanabei
Beautiful deep green peltate leaves. Spikes of delicate cream flowers in summer. Height 40cm. Cool, moist shade.

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Caudatum'
Fluffy, elongated flower spikes to 1m in summer, in this form white in colour. Deciduous. Sun, well drained soil.

Pennisetum macrourum
Long, whitish 'paint brush' flower spikes in late summer and autumn. Upright and clump forming. Height 1m. Warm, sunny position. A fine bold grass.

Penstemon digitalis 'Ruby Tuesday'
Rosettes of beetroot-red foliage, violet flowers to 75cm in summer. For best foliage colour grow in full sun.

Persicaria affinis 'Superba'
Blush-white flowers turning crimson. Ground covering. Sun or shade.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Inverleith'
Deep red flower spikes in summer. Height 30cm. Sun or part shade.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Rosea'
Erect spikes of pink flowers in summer. Clump forming. Height 80cm. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Persicaria amplexicaulis 'Taurus'
Erect spikes of dark red flowers in summer. Clump forming. Height 1.5m. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Persicaria bistorta 'Hohe Tatra'
Choice, compact, safe bistort! Clear pink flowers from spring. Height 30cm. Does not run. Sun or shade, not too dry.

Persicaria polymorpha
Clean white flowers in summer on a substantial perennial to 1.5m. Non running! Sun or part shade.

Persicaria virginiana 'Lance Corporal'
Olive-green and red tints in leaves and stems and a bold dark, red-brown V shape on each leaf. White flowers in summer. A safe clumper. 75cm. Sun or shade.

Peucedanum ostruthium 'Daphnis'
Striking variegated foliage, clump forming. Umbels of white flowers to 60cm. Rich soil in part shade.

Phellodendron amurense var. wilsonii
This is an extremely unusual wild collected Taiwanese variety of this wide spreading, small to medium sized tree, and will be similar to the other varieties. Handsome, pinnate leaves should turn clear yellow in autumn and older trees may develop corky bark. More info I cannot give you. Be one the first to try it in the UK.

Philadelphus delavayi f. melanocalyx
Much sought after, this form of this already superb species has dark-purple calyxes behind the pure white petals. The flowers are sweetly and heavily scented and are produced in dense racemes in June. Makes a large deciduous shrub for sun or semi-shade. Easy to please and beautiful with it.

Philadelphus maculatus 'Mexican Jewel'
A brand new form of this still very rare, small, hardy, deciduous shrub from the high mountains of Mexico. Intensely sweet, bubble-gum scented white flowers with red-purple centres borne in June. This superior clone was collected and named by Martyn Rix, that fine botanist and altogether nice chap from Devon. Sun and any well drained soil.

Philadelphus mexicanus 'Rose Syringa'
A very fine and very rare semi evergreen species deserving the shelter of a south wall or protected corner. Beautiful, deliciously fragrant, creamy white flowers with a purple central blotch borne on a medium sized bush in June. Used by Lemoine to create some of the famous hybrids known today, such as 'Belle Etoile', 'Bicolore' and 'Sybille'.

Philadelphus palmeri
From the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in NE Mexico and neighbouring Texas and Arizona, this very rare little evergreen 'Mock Orange' makes a small shrub with arching branches up to about 1m high, with sweetly scented white flowers in June. For sun or semi-shade in most soils.

Philadelphus purpurascens
A most desirable species of 'Mock Orange', rarely seen, forming a large shrub with arching branches, covered in clusters of sweetly scented white flowers with contrasting purple calyces in June. This is similar to P. delavayi var. melanocalyx but the calyces are more of a red-purple than any of the clones I have of the former. Easy and hardy.

Phillyrea angustifolia
A medium sized, compact evergreen shrub for a sunny site and drought tolerant with it. Slender dark green foliage and large amounts of small fragrant, cream flowers in clusters along the branches in May and June. Ideal for seaside gardens but hardy and easy inland. Related to the olive but hardier and giving a similar mediterranean feel.

Phillyrea angustifolia 'French Fries'
A new plant, released here. This is my own selected form of a Mark Fillan collection from Southern France with exceptionally narrow, very pretty foliage. A medium sized evergreen shrub with large amounts of small, fragrant, cream flowers in clusters along the branches in May and June. Very drought tolerant. It is, I believe, the true forma rosmarinifolia.

Phillyrea latifolia
A characterful small evergreen tree for Mediterranean effect. A rounded, dense, bushy tree or shrub, enhanced by the small, black-green, leathery foliage. The small white flowers in spring are borne profusely. Much used in period plantings. Hardy and drought tolerant.

Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'
Fragrant, true blue flowers in summer. Height 120cm. Best in shade as the flowers turn pink in too much sun or heat. Not too dry.

Phlox paniculata 'Tenor'
Glowing red flowers over dark tinted foliage in summer. Height 90cm. Sun or part shade. Not too dry.

Phormium 'Maori Queen'
In this hybrid New Zealand Flax the sword-like leaves are upright to about 1.2m, with drooping tips, and coloured a mixture of bronzy-green and soft red stripes: the red stripes most prominent on the edges. As ever, a superb, wind tolerant exotic for any soil. Hardy in all but the coldest areas.

Phormium 'Platt's Black'
A very dark leaf for a Phormium, being the very darkest black-red, and making a smaller more floppy plant than P. tenax for example, forming a clump to about 60cm high. Happy in most soils in a sunny position.

Phormium tenax 'Purpureum' (Very dark leaf)
These are the progeny of a very dark leaved Phormium that arrived in a diplomatic bag from New Zealand many years ago. Many of the seedlings are much darker than the parent, being a rich, deep, blackish-purple. Makes a luscious leafy specimen to about 1.8m high, with flower spikes at least a metre taller. Could get much bigger in wet conditions.

Phormium 'Thumbelina'
A dwarf New Zealand flax making a neat little plant only 40-60cm high. Deep red-bronze foliage with darker edges and rust-red flowers. Not an imposing plant, unlike most of its brothers and sisters. For most soils, in sun.

Photinia lasiogyna
An obscure evergreen species from China, proving hardy so far in cultivation. A fairly small member of the genus, reaching only about 2m, with white flowers in flattened heads, followed by vibrant red fruits in autumn. Foliage is deep-green and slim.

Photinia villosa
One of the finest plants we can grow for autumn colour, this Eastern Asian deciduous species forms a large shrub or small tree with a wide spreading crown. Clusters of Hawthorn-like flowers in May are followed by bright red egg shaped fruits which add to the end of season display. Leaves turn to a dazzling scarlet and gold in autumn. Not for thin chalk.

Phyllostachys aurea
A commonly grown but useful and attractive species. The name suggests a golden culm, but this is really a green bamboo with culms only turning soft yellow in full sun, however, it is rigidly upright, healthy, non invasive and never too tall, reaching about 4m high. The culms bear distinctive and attractive, congested, swollen nodes at their bases. For full sun.

Phyllostachys aurea 'Holochrysa'
A form of this excellent, reliable, tough, easy species with the culms a rich yellow, the colour most pronounced in good light, but still OK if shaded. An upright species reaching about 3m high, never usually running at the root in our climate. Culms have the usual congested nodes at their bases, typical of this species.

Phyllostachys aurea 'Koi'
In this unusual cultivar the soft yellow culms have alternate green markings (in the sulcus) up their full length. In a sunny position the intensity of the green is lost, so part shade is best. As per the species, this form is upright to about 3m, compact and hardy, with the usual congested nodes at the base of the culms.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Aureocaulis'
An excellent, very hardy bamboo for general garden use, providing a colourful and manageable specimen. Makes a tidy, loose clump of very upright culms with occasional, characteristic zigzag bases. These emerge pale yellow and turn to a rich golden yellow, temporarily reddening on the sunny side, and reach about 4m in height. Best in sun.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. alata
This is the straight green, wild form of the species with all-green culms and no yellow sulcus (groove). It is very hardy and vigorous, making a fine stand of very upright culms to about 4m, with narrow graceful foliage. A good doer, but one that might run a bit in warmer areas. This is of course easily controlled by doing a bit of gardening once a year. Rare.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Lama Temple'
This new bamboo has the most richly yellow coloured culms of any, even darker than P. bambusoides 'Holochrysa'. The current season?s growth glows virtually orange if exposed to sun, where it will blush with a hint of red. Pretty rich green foliage on a very upright plant, though it can run a bit if you let it (lucky you). Highly desirable, very rare, and very expensive.

Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis'
Widely available and deservedly so, this is a very colourful and hardy plant with a mass of strongly upright, golden-yellow culms that have an alternating green groove, and occasionally have a zigzag base. The culms temporarily blush red on the sunny side, and the foliage is rich green. Makes a loose clump, with occasional runners, to about 4.5m. Best in sun.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Castillonis Inversa'
An impressive, large growing bamboo with thick culms forming a loose clump up to about 5m high. This form has green culms with an alternating yellow groove and would provide a subtle contrast to yellow stemmed varieties. Though very hardy, it grows to perfection in full sun, on warm soil.

Phyllostachys bambusoides 'Holochrysa'
Almost the most richly yellow coloured bamboo, with culms maturing to deep golden yellow with sparse branching allowing the colour to be seen, and contrasting well with the deep green glossy foliage. Strong upright growth to a maximum of 5m and a loosely clump forming habit. Best in full sun, hardy and strikingly beautiful.

Phyllostachys bissetii
One of the finest Phyllostachys for withstanding the worst British winters. Very hardy, always remaining green and lush with masses of attractive deep green foliage on strong, thick green culms up to 5m high. Not as colourful as some others but strong growing, not too tall, and making an excellent screen or windbreak. For an open position.

Phyllostachys edulis
The fabled 'Moso' of the Orient. Potentially a huge growing hardy bamboo, with very, very thick culms, even in the UK, but not always so easy to please. Plant in very rich but open soil in a sunny warm position and water and feed well in spring/summer. Extremely beautiful leaves and branching habit, and delicious shoots. Worth every effort to grow. A favourite.

Phyllostachys nigra
'Black Bamboo'. Hardly needs an introduction, the unique and well known favourite, making a gracefully arching upright clump to about 3m high. Culms usually green in their first year, becoming jet black. Slow growing for a Phyllostachys and very tight and compact at the root. Loves sun, heat and rain. Perfectly hardy.

Phyllostachys nigra 'Boryana'
Much bigger than the normal 'Black Bamboo', this form develops into a huge upright specimen to about 6m, with thick green culms splashed with large dark brown blotches in their second year. Sounds strange but is in fact very attractive. Hardy and vigorous, making quite a clump in time. An excellent specimen plant. Best in full sun.

Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis
The big green brother of 'Black Bamboo'. A strong growing, tall bamboo with big, thick green culms and masses of small leaves, densely set, giving a particularly attractive appearance. Tightly clump forming in cool areas, but could form an impressive grove in hot places in the south. Up to 6m high and very hardy. Best in full sun.

Phyllostachys vivax 'Aureocaulis'
Me oh my I love this bamboo. Truly marvellous, and jaw droppingly impressive when one encounters a mature specimen, which doesn't take long from a small plant, as the huge thick culms seem to arise from nowhere. They are golden yellow with occasional green stripes, and the foliage is rich green, elegantly drooping and held high. Up to 6m. Wonderful.

Pileostegia viburnoides
A most lovely and highly neglected evergreen climber with dark green glossy foliage setting off the wonderful panicles of creamy-white flowers in late summer/autumn. Easy and floriferous, if a little slow growing, on virtually all soils in sun or shade. Can reach 6m on a suitable wall or tree trunk, but is easy to keep much smaller.

Pinus coulteri
The Big cone pine from California not only has superb blue-grey-green needles up to 30cm long, but also produces the heaviest cones of any pine. The huge woody, strikingly thorny cones weigh up to 2kg and are a feature in themselves, especially on the mantlepiece. Makes a bold specimen, usually attaining a medium tree size here with dense foliage.

Pinus patula
A gorgeous Mexican pine with the most beautiful drooping, fairly long bright-green needles, hanging from the branches in curtains. The bark is reddish brown and the branches wide spreading, though the tree is never very large in this country. So wonderful I've planted one in the nursery in a prominent position. Perfectly hardy, but not in very cold areas.

Pinus pinea
Stone or Umbrella Pine. Totally distinct and very ornamental small to medium sized pine from the Med forming a unique umbrella-like crown in time, evoking memories of Italian holidays. Make Pesto with its seeds if you can be bothered to extract them. Perfectly hardy throughout most of of the UK. Sun and well drained soil

Pinus roxburghii
Long Leaved Indian Pine. An extremely beautiful tree but sadly too tender for most gardens long-term, being suited to the SW or W coast. It makes a small tree in these isles, its most outstanding feature being the wonderful pendulous foliage, each needle being up to 35cm long. Cones to 20cm long. Closely related to P. canariensis. For full sun.

Pinus wallichiana
'Bhutan Pine' One of the most beautiful pines, making a fast growing large tree with very ornamental, drooping blue-green foliage up to 20cm long and huge long banana like, fragrant resin oozing cones in late summer. Retains its lower branches if given space.

Piptanthus tomentosus
A very rare close relative of P. nepalensis differing in the silky, silvery hairy leaves. A fairly fast growing evergreen shrub to about 3m high with clusters of large bright yellow pea flowers in May. Any ordinary soil in sun with a bit of shelter from cold winter winds.

Pittosporum bicolor - yellow flowered
This was found as an epiphyte on a tree fern imported from SE Australia or Tasmania and appears to be a rather unusual yellow flowered form of Pittosporum bicolor. Forms an erect shrub or small tree with narrow evergreen foliage, tomentose beneath and clusters of bell shaped yellow flowers in spring. Best in reasonable shelter and not for very cold areas.

Pittosporum ralphii
This slow growing medium sized evergreen shrub from New Zealand is surprisingly rare though proving hardy in many areas. Clusters of dark crimson flowers with yellow anthers are borne against simple matt green foliage in summer. Closely related to P. crassifolium.

Pittosporum ralphii 'Variegatum'
A surprisingly hardy medium sized, slow growing, evergreen shrub from New Zealand with grey-green leaves broadly margined with creamy-white. Clusters of dark crimson flowers with yellow anthers contrast with the foliage in summer. For any well drained soil in sun. Very rarely offered for sale.

Pittosporum tobira
Often thought to be tender, this medium sized evergreen shrub from the far East has grown perfectly with me for the last 12 yrs in a reasonably sheltered spot, where it has reached 1.8m x 1.8m. Dark green glossy foliage is obscured in summer by the highly fragrant, orange-blossom scented creamy white flowers, turning yellow as they age. Drought tolerant.

Platanus mexicanus F&M 065
The mighty Mexican Plane which in its native land is, on the most part, associated with water courses. Forms a huge tree with an appearance similar to other species in the genus. Superb exfoliating bark and broad, well lobed foliage. Possibly only for mild gardens, though how many have tried it? Seed collected Veracruz, Mexico.

Pleione formosana
A beautiful easy little orchid with big shocking pink and white flowers with golden brown spotted throats in late winter before the leaves emerge. Overwinter dry-ish in a cold glasshouse or cool windowsill, place outside for the summer and keep moist. Clumps up very quickly to form potfuls. Height 10cm.

Polemonium 'Churchills'
Jacobs Ladder with deep to pale lilac flowers, April - June. Height 45cm. Sun or part shade.

Polemonium 'Elworthy Amethyst'
A Jacob's Ladder with purple-blue flowers in summer. Height 40cm. Prefers a sunny position.

Polemonium 'Glebe Cottage Lilac'
A Jacob's Ladder with many lilac flowers in summer on upright stems. Height to 90cm. Prefers sun.

Polemonium 'Hannah Billcliffe'
Large flowers open lilac, fading to pale pink: bicolor effect. Summer. Sun or part shade.

Polemonium 'Lambrook Mauve'
A clump forming Jacob's Ladder with abundant mauve flowers in summer. Height 30cm. Prefers sun.

Polemonium 'Northern Lights'
A compact Jacob's Ladder with deep blue flowers on upright stems. Height 30cm. Sun.

Polemonium 'Sonia's Bluebell'
A Jacob's Ladder distinguished by its exquisite harebell-blue flowers. Height 30cm. Sun and drainage.

Polianthes tuberosa 'The Pearl'
The Tuberose. Fragrant double white flowers in summer. Height 1m. Classic cut fl. For v. mild sunny border, or lift for winter storage.

Poliothyrsis sinensis
This is my kind of tree; obscure, beautiful in an understated way, and easy to grow. A small Chinese tree with simple, elegant foliage, red tinted when young, flowering in late summer. The small flowers in conical clusters are whitish in bud and open a wonderful soft creamy yellow. Hardy and suited to any reasonable soil. Enjoys sun and heat.

Polygonatum verticillatum
An unusual Solomon's Seal with little lilac-white bells in early summer, dangling from the arching stems, clad in very narrow foliage. This is a tall form. Height 1.5m. Reasonable soil in shade.

Polylepis australis - tall form
A fascinating plant from N. Argentina; a member of the Rose family, closely related to Acaena, and with similar pinnate, sea-green foliage, but grows into a large shrub or small tree eventually, with amazing, pale-brown, flaky-pastry bark. Some leaves turn yellow in autumn with the rest remaining for the winter. Seems perfectly hardy. This form is of tree size.

Polypodium cambricum 'Richard Kayse'
A lovely evergreen fern with deeply divided but neat, planar fronds. Height 25cm. Reasonable soil, best in some shade. Spreads gently. Easy, tough and beautiful. Scarce.

Polystichum acrostichoides
The 'Christmas fern' on account of its evergreen qualities in NE America where it originates. Evergreen fronds to 80cm arching out very distinctively on expansion. Humus rich soil in some shade and reasonable drainage. Very hardy

Polystichum polyblepharum
An impressive Japanese fern with very glossy, rich-green, divided fronds, beautiful when unfurling in the spring covered in golden bristles. Ht 60cm. Shade/semi-shade in humusy, well-drained soil.

Polystichum proliferum
Mother shield fern. A very handsome hardy Australian native forming plants 45-90cm high, and in time producing a massive rootstock. The dark green, lance shaped, bipinnate fronds will produce little bulbils at their extremities, making propagation easy.

Polystichum setiferum 'Acutilobum group'
A fine form of our native Soft shield fern. Fronds tough and leathery but appearing very delicate and feathery. Ht 80cm. Very easy in any well drained, fairly leafy soil in semi-shade or shade.

Polystichum setiferum 'Congestum'
A dwarf form of our native 'Soft shield fern' with the fronds composed of congested, overlapping pinnae. Makes a suitable subject for the front of a border or on a rock garden or similar. Height 15-25cm.

Polystichum setiferum 'Cristatopinnulum'
A very old form of our native Soft shield fern found in Dorset in 1878. The tough but feathery, heavily divided fronds have little fan shaped pinnules and reach up to 90cm high. Rarely offered.

Polystichum setiferum Divisilobum group
Easy, hardy, beautiful. A form of our native soft shield fern with perfectly neatly and evenly divided semi-evergreen fronds reaching 60cm or more. Well drained leafy soil in semi-shade.

Polystichum setiferum 'Grandiceps'
A compact form of our native Soft sheild fern with erect fronds about 40cm. Narrow and oblong, the fronds are gently crested at the ends of the pinnae and are topped by a heavily crested tip. Rarely available.

Polystichum setiferum 'Mrs Goffey'
A distinct, very rarely available and attractive form of our native Soft shield fern. The triangular to ovate fronds have extremely narrow pinnule segments densely set, giving a fairly plumose effect. Up to 45cm. Well drained leafy soil in semi-shade.

Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosomultilobum'
An amazing fern. Incredibly dense, extremely divided, soft feathery fronds, quite fabulous in spring as they unfurl. The fronds on mature specimens stack up on one another and head off in different directions, creating a wonderful specimen. Easy in any well drained, fairly good soil in shade/semi-shade.

Polystichum setiferum 'Plumosum-Bevis'
Until very recently this was a very expensive rarity. Now the wonders of micro-propagation have brought you these. One of the finest of all ferns, with incredibly elegant, dark-green, uniformly and perfectly divided fronds, ending in a drawn out, tapering tip, arching out from the crown. Ht up to 120cm. Easy in any well drained, good soil in semi-shade/shade.

Poncirus trifoliata
'Japanese Bitter Orange'. A remarkable, stout, slow growing, medium sized, hardy shrub closely related to Citrus, with armoured, green stems and beautiful, white, sweetly scented, orange blossom like flowers in spring. Fruit like little yellow oranges produced after hot summers, or if planted in a very warm spot. Sun, well drained soil.

Populus lasiocarpa
A very ornamental medium sized Chinese tree with huge leaves often up to 30cm long, with conspicuous red veins and leaf stalks. Nothing like the huge hybrid Poplars we are so used to seeing in our river valleys, these will form smaller, dome shaped trees. Plants could be coppiced to produce huge foliage. These are seed raised, unusually.

Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott'
Shocking-pink flowers in summer. Height 45cm. Sun or part shade.

Potentilla thurberi 'Monarch's Velvet'
Wine red flowers on upright stems to 50cm. Sunny position. 

Potentilla 'Volcan'
Dark maroon double flowers in summer. Height 45cm. Sun or part shade.

Primula Cowichan Garnet Group
An elite polyanthus, propagated vegetatively. Deep red-brown flowers with tiny yellow eye, reminding me of my mother?s velvet curtains. 20cm. Sun/pt shade. My own selection from seed raised plants.

Primula japonica 'Merve?s Red'
A candelabra primula. Deep pink flowers with a darker eye. Height 45cm. Sun and moisture.

Primula sieboldii alba
Pure white flowers, lovely pale green foliage. Height to 30cm. Gently spreads in a cool, rich soil.

Prostanthera cuneata
A dwarf, spreading, evergreen shrub with aromatic foliage, for well drained soil and a sunny site. The dark, glossy little leaves are obscured by the wealth of flowers, white, flushed lilac, with darker markings inside, borne in May. Hails from SE Australia and Tasmania but surprisingly hardy.

Prostanthera cuneata 'Kew form'
A form of the species with richer coloured flowers, being a stronger shade of lilac throughout, borne in May. Equally aromatic but smaller dark glossy green leaves on a more upright bushy evergreen shrub to about 1m high. Well drained soil in sun. Rare.

Prunus lusitanica ssp azorica
A superb, rarely encountered, surprisingly hardy evergreen large shrub or small tree from the Azores. Larger, thicker leaves than normal Portuguese Laurel, reddish when young, turning a brighter green with red petioles, and with the same pretty racemes of white flowers in June. Tolerant of most soils. A very pleasing foliage plant, demanding wider planting.

Pseudosasa japonica 'Akebonosuji'
A colourful variegated form of this commonly grown bamboo, with big leaves either striped with cream or shading from green at the base to cream at the tip. Reaches about 4m high and only starts to spread appreciably at the root after a few years in the ground and even then is perfectly controllable. Easy in a pot and very hardy.

Pterocarya x rehderiana 'Fernleaf'
Raised in a batch of seedlings by Geoff Locke, this is a truly exceptional form of Wingnut. The normally Ash like pinnate leaves are 3 times or more divided, to the point of looking like a plumose fern frond. Very long drooping catkins followed by winged fruit. Particularly free growing, making a large tree. Very tolerant and easy, but best in moist-ish soil.

Pterostyrax hispida
'Epaulette Tree'. A large shrub or small tree from the far east, hung in June/July with elegant, drooping panicles of fragrant white flowers, followed by large bunches of spindle shaped, hairy fruits, quite attractive in themselves. Succeeds in any good soil.

Purshia aff. mexicana F&M 92
Collected up on the flanks of the highest peak in Mexico, Pico de Orizaba at approx. 2500m. A little shrub of the rose family with pretty pinnately lobed foliage and peeling cinnamon bark, bearing similarities to Polylepis, and reaching about 1.5m. Flowers like an Acaena. For a sunny protected spot.

Puya sp. RCB RA-S2
A Bob Brown collection from 2250m alt. in the Central Sierras of Cordoba Province, Argentina. A broad leaved species with a pale green upper surface and pale grey-green lower, with small red teeth along the margins. Not a small species. Worth a try outside, especially in mild areas, in very well drained soil in full sun. Either that or in a cold greenhouse. Very handsome.

Quercus alba
The NE American 'White oak' makes a bold specimen in this country, though is unjustifiably rare. Forming a medium sized tree with impressive deeply lobed foliage, expanding with a hint of red on new growth, and then turning to wonderful, deep purple-crimson in autumn. The bark is strikingly rough and loosely ridged. Very hardy.

Quercus aliena
An unusual oak from Eastern Asia making a small to medium sized tree in this country with large, obovate, coarsely toothed leaves 15-20cm long, shiny dark green above and paler beneath with prominent parallel veins. Hardy.

Quercus candicans F&M 149
A handsome evergreen, medium to large species with large leaves, pale beneath. This has proved a great success in a South Devon garden. Collected Puebla State, Mexico. Growing with Ceanothus caeruleus, Garrya laurifolium etc.12/11/04.

Quercus candicans NJM 05.015
A handsome evergreen, medium to large species with large leaves, pale beneath. This has proved a great success in a South Devon garden. Collected Puebla State, Mexico. Growing with Ceanothus caeruleus, Garrya laurifolium etc. 2100m alt.

Quercus coccifera
'Kermes Oak'. One of the dwarf scrub oaks of the Mediterranean basin, looking more like a holly. A slow growing, drought resistant evergreen shrub, eventually reaching 2m or more in a sunny site. This is the host plant of the cochineal producing Kermes insect.

Quercus coccifera subsp. calliprinos
This form of the evergreen, holly like, Kermes oak from the Eastern Mediterranean differs from the norm principally by growing to tree size in the wild, rather than being shrubby. The leaves are just as spiny but are usually slightly larger. It is very rarely seen in cultivation, but should make a drought tolerant small tree with distinctive foliage. Collected: Crete.

Quercus glauca
An evergreen Oak with a very wide distribution, from the Himalaya to the Far East, but rarely seen over here. It forms a bushy large shrub or small tree with simple unlobed leaves, pointed at the tip, bronze when expanding, turning deep green and glossy above though glaucous beneath. Perfectly hardy.

Quercus pubescens
A fairly obscure, Southern European, deciduous oak, with the downy, grey-green foliage deeply dissected into narrow lobes. Easy and hardy in the UK, it is also very drought tolerant: I have seen them growing on rocky South facing hillsides on the Italian Riviera. Makes a small to medium sized tree.

Quercus rotundifolia NJM 03.009
This is my own collection of this very rarely seen oak from the mountains nr Ronda, Andalucia, S Spain. It forms a sturdy, domed, medium sized evergreen tree in the wild, the foliage being rounded and spiny and quite glaucous in most specimens. Very drought tolerant, and closely related to the Holm Oak, Q. ilex.

Quercus shumardii
Related to both Q. rubra and Q. coccinea, the 'Swamp red oak' from Central and Southern USA forms a small to medium sized tree here, with bold foliage deeply lobed and glossy-green. Autumn colours are red or golden-brown. One can expect larger sizes in the warmer parts of the UK.

Quercus sp. F&M 132
Roadside, 1km N of Chiconquiaco, Veracruz, Mexico. 1800m. Tall trees with narrow, toothed foliage. Moist warm temperate to sub tropical. 11/11/04

Quercus sp. F&M 217
Very dwarf shrub to 2m, usually 60cm on open rocky slopes with Agave montana, Pinus hartwegii etc. On track above Miquihuana, NE Mexico, 2600m. Moister at altitude above semi-desert. 16/11/04

Quercus sp. NJM 05.009
From 2600m alt. on the lower slopes of Volcan Popocatepetl, Puebla State, Mexico. Large, very leathery evergreen leaves with beige hairy undersides. Not a small species.

Quercus sp. NJM 05.013
From West of Teziutlan, Puebla State, Mexico at 2100m alt. Big, dark green, very leathery leaves with a yellow hairy underside.

Quercus sp. NJM 05.067
From 3000m alt. on La Peņa Nevada, Tamaulipas State, Mexico. A shrubby species to 3m, often smaller, brown indumentum on leaf underside. On track above Miquihuana growing with Pinus hartwegii, Nolina sp. And Agave montana etc. Moister at altitude above semi-desert.

Quercus sp. NJM 05.082
Seed collected 2500m in the Sierra de Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico. Large trees with narrow, unlobed, dark green leaves.

Quercus suber - from Andalucia
Cork Oak. A short stemmed, eventually spreading, evergreen tree with amazing, very pale beige, very, very, very thick, corky, rugged, fire proof bark: even young plants start to show this feature. Make your own bottle stoppers! Surprisingly hardy; one of the finest specimens in the British Isles has been growing near here for the last 150 or so years.

Rhamnus imeretina
A most unusual Buckthorn, very rarely seen, and certainly the most striking species, coming from the Caucasus where most plant types have their most outstanding, vigorous, healthy species. A medium sized to large shrub with very bold foliage on stout shoots, the leaves sometimes up to 35cm long and 10cm wide, bronze-purple in autumn. Not for a dry site.

Rheum kialense
Diminutive rhubarb relative. Pretty pink cylindrical flower spikes in early summer. Height 40cm. Sun.

Rodgersia 'Buckland Beauty'
Large conical heads of deep pink flowers, ageing red on red stems to 1.5m. Bold leaves. Moist soil, sun or part shade. Most excellent!

Rodgersia pinnata 'Superba'
Bold foliage, strongly red-tinted. Red-pink flowers from red stems. Fabulous. 90cm. Moist soil, sun or part shade.

Rodgersia podophylla 'Rotlaub'
Excellent, beautifully shaped, big palmate leaves, heavily bronzed when young. Creamy flowers on stems to 1.3m in summer. Moist soil, sun or part shade. Good autumn colour.

Rohdea japonica
A rare member of the Lily of the Valley family, grown for it's thick dark evergreen foliage, a bit like a hardy Sansevieria. Strange flowers produced at ground level. Good for dry shade.

Romneya coulteri var. trichocalyx
This Californian poppy never fails to impress with it's huge silken fried eggs hovering over bluey foliage on stems up to 2.5m high (usually half this). Flowering from Jul to Oct, it spreads at the root to form a colony. Not easy to propagate and sometimes not easy to establish, though tough once established. Full sun and well drained soil.

Romneya coulteri 'White Cloud'
An unusual form of Matilija poppy, producing extra large silky flowers, the size, shape and colour of a fried egg, but infinitely more beautiful. Flowering from Jul to Oct over bluey foliage on stems to 2.5m, spreading at the root to form a colony. Sometimes tricky to establish, so give it a warm spot in full sun in good open soil.

Rosa banksiae 'Lutea'
'Yellow Banksian Rose'. A famously wonderful small leaved evergreen climber with virtually no thorns, reaching up to 7.5m with suitable support. Bunches of small, double, warm-yellow, slightly scented rosette-like flowers are produced in May. Requires a warm sunny wall, garage or other building to be baked on to flower well.

Rosa 'Cooperi'
'Cooper's Burmese Rose'. A very beautiful large growing, semi-evergreen climber for a south wall, with large, single, pure white, slightly fragrant flowers with golden anthers in June, over wonderful healthy, glossy-green, bold foliage on reddened stems. Not for cold northern gardens. A very tasteful, 'quality' rose.

Roscoea auriculata
A fine species with a very long flowering period. Rich purple orchid-like flowers on leafy stems to about 40cm in late summer and autumn. Sun or part shade, not overly wet in winter.

Roscoea 'Beesiana' white
Very stout plant to 30cm. A hardy ginger relative with big, exotic, creamy flowers over a long summer season. Sun or part shade, not overly wet in winter.

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Early Purple'
Plum purple flowers on a 20cm plant. First variety to flower in late spring. Sun or part shade, not overly wet in winter.

Roscoea cautleyoides 'Kew Beauty' AGM
A hardy ginger relative. Lovely soft yellow flowers on a slender plant in summer. 30cm. Sun or part shade, not overly wet in winter.

Roscoea 'Monique'
White flowers variably marked purple on stout plant in summer. 30cm. Sun, not overly wet in winter.

Roscoea purpurea 'Brown Peacock'
Purple tinted foliage and purple flowers in summer. Robust to 40cm. Sun, not wet in winter.

Roscoea purpurea 'Purple Streaker'
Unusual orchid-like, white/purple flowers in June/July. Height 25cm. Humus rich soil in part shade, not overly wet in winter. A rare plant.

Roscoea purpurea tall form
Rich purple flowers on a 40cm plant in summer. Late into growth Sun or part shade, not overly wet in winter.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Argenteovariegatus'
This very rare Rosemary is the real thing, lost to cultivation in the UK for many years and rediscovered fairly recently in New Zealand. Silver and green variegated foliage is most effective, and in my opinion a lot nicer than the more common 'Aureus'. Sun and well drained soil.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'McConnell's Blue'
A dwarf, spreading form with short, dark green leaves and rich, deep blue flowers, often borne in winter. A fine cultivar with a distinct appearance. Full sun and well drained soil.

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Tuscan Blue'
A fine form with intensely azure blue flowers often produced in winter over broad leaves, on an upright bushy specimen to about 1m. Requires a sheltered sunny site on well drained soil. A superb form, though not for very cold areas.

Rubus calophyllus
A very rare new introduction from Bhutan, making a medium-sized evergreen, arching shrub. The deep-green glossy leaves are silvery beneath with very many parallel veins, and could be likened to an imaginary single leaved R. lineatus. Claret-red flowers in summer. Best with some shelter.

Rubus peltatus
A low growing zigzag stemmed species from Japan, with fairly large white flowers dangling from the shoots in May. This rarity has remarkable bluey-bloomed winter stems and suckers to form small patches. The leaves are fairly large, up to 25cm across and coarsely toothed. This grew in a shady spot at the Hillier arboretum when I first met it as a student.

Rubus phoenicolasius
The 'Wineberry' makes a delicious addition to the ornamental garden, for it indeed makes an attractive plant as well as bearing bunches of tasty, distinctively flavoured, bright orange red fruits in late summer. The reddish, bristly, arching stems can reach up to 3m, and the large trifoliolate leaves are white felted beneath. Easy and hardy in most positions.

Rubus thibetanus
Possibly the most ornamental of the white stemmed Rubus on account of the wonderful silvery hairy pinnate foliage with pale undersides and coarsely toothed leaflets. Slim arching stems reach up to about 1.8m high and look highly attractive in winter. Hardy and easy in most positions and great in summer and winter alike.

Rudbeckia maxima
A beautiful tall species with large, late, yellow flowers and fine blue-green foliage. Sunny site. 1.8m.

Ruscus aculeatus
'Butchers Broom'. These are seedlings from the rare hermaphrodite form 'Wheelers variety', apparently coming true from seed. A very tough, spiny-leaved, extremely shade and drought tolerant, bushy evergreen shrub, reaching about 1m. Berries resembling bright red cherries, often abundantly produced. Tolerant of both acid and alkaline soil.

Ruscus 'John Redmond'
A form of the Butchers Broom, possibly of hybrid origin, which sets copious amounts of bright red berries without need of a partner. Makes a spiny leaved evergreen shrub, to only 50cm high, for even the driest and most inhospitable shade, though will happily grow in more favourable spots. In fruit for a large portion of the year, including Christmas.

Salix aff. moupinensis from Vietnam
A new collection from Vietnam which is apparently this shrubby species but in this form more ornamental. The glossy green leaves are strikingly bright glaucous on the underside and have vivid red petioles, midribs and veins. Long catkins in spring on a medium to large shrub.

Salix hookeriana
The Coastal Willow of western N America. A large shrub or small tree with lovely soft grey foliage. Hardy and tolerant it is undeservedly rarely seen in gardens. Being a coastal plant in nature it would probably do very well in exposed situations near the sea here.

Salvia aurea 'Kirstenbosch'
Small grey shrub with lovely large rusty brown flowers in late summer with persistent brocalyces. 50cm. Very sheltered, mild, sunny site or pot in unheated greenhouse.

Salvia 'Christine Yeo'
Relatively hardy hybrid. Purple flowers in summer. Woody based. Height 30cm. Sun and good drainage.

Salvia concolor
Showy, long spikes of bright blue flowers in autumn. Distinctive blue petioles. Height 2m+. For shade. Borderline hardy.

Salvia confertiflora
A wonderful species, producing a long succession of small scarlet flowers on deep red spikes in late summer/autumn until the first frosts. Quite unlike other species. Take cuttings or dig up, pot up and overwinter your plants in a cool glasshouse, like I do, which is easy. Height 1.5m+.

Salvia forreri
Deep sky-blue flowers in summer to autumn. Running habit. Height 30cm. Seems hardy given sun and good drainage.

Salvia greggii 'Desert Blaze'
Red flowers over a long summer-autumn season. White edged leaves. Twiggy, to 1m or more. Fairly hardy, sun, well drained.

Salvia greggii 'Stormy Pink'
Excellent new variety with dusky pink flowers from dark calyces. To 1m. Sun and good drainage.

Salvia microphylla 'Newby Hall'
Scarlet flowers over a long season in summer to autumn. Height to 1m. Sun and drainage

Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos festival'
Lovely warm purplish pink flowers all summer. Twiggy, to 1m+. Fairly hardy, given a sunny, well-drained position.

Salvia 'Mulberry Wine'
Striking red-pink flowers and bracts in summer. Height 1m. Will survive some frost given good drainage.

Salvia patens 'Guanajuato'
An exceptional form with larger than normal dark blue flowers in summer and greater height to 1.2m. Sun and some shelter in well drained soil, mulched over in winter. Found in Central Mexico by Compton, d'Arcy and Rix.

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo'
A beautiful hardy herbaceous sage. Indigo blue flowers in summer. Height 60cm. Sun

Salvia 'Raspberry Royale'
Deep raspberry-pink flowers from dark calyces in summer-autumn. Twiggy, to 1m+ Fairly hardy, given sun and drainage.

Salvia uliginosa
Dazzling azure blue flowers in late summer and autumn on upright slender stems to 1.5m high. Warm, sunny position; moist soil.

Salvia x jamensis 'La Luna'
A bushy sage with spikes of palest yellow flowers in summer. Height to 60cm. Sun, drainage. Has proven tough and hardy so far. Flowers for months.

Sambucus nigra 'Laciniata'
Despite all the horrible new, gloomy as death, black-purple forms being forced on us, I still think this old cultivar is one of the finest of all elders. Beautiful, deeply dissected green foliage perfectly complements the deliciously scented plates of white flower. Of course, easy anywhere, on any soil, sun or shade. Responds superbly to a hard prune.

Sanguinaria canadensis
A lovely woodland plant with fleeting but very pretty pure white flowers in spring as the bold, grey-green lobed foliage emerges. Height 15cm. Prefers some shade and humus.

Sanguisorba hakusanensis
Clump former with long spikes of lilac-pink flowers on 1m stems in summer. Sun or pt shade; moist soil.

Sanguisorba menziesii
A Burnet with wine-red tassel flowers in summer. Attractive foliage. Height to 90 cm. Sun / part shade.

Sanguisorba 'Tanna'
Rounded maroon flower heads on 30cm stems. Forms a spreading clump. Sun or part shade, not too dry.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia 'Purpurea'
Bold clump former with long spikes of purple-pink flowers on 1.2m stems in summer. Sun or pt shade; moist soil.

Sanguisorba tenuifolia var. parviflora
Drooping white 'catkins' in summer. Very finely divided leaves. Height 1m Sun and moister soil.

Sarcococca confusa
A Christmas Box with taper pointed, elliptic, broad green leaves, and a multitude of tiny white flowers borne in the depths of winter, emitting the typically wonderful, sweet fragrance. Best planted where you can benefit from this scent drifting on the breeze, rather than having to venture to the bottom of the garden to catch a whiff. Very tolerant of poor soil and shade.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna
A dwarf evergreen shrub and one of the finest forms of Christmas Box, with long, narrow foliage on purple stems and pink tinged white flowers, small, but very sweetly scented and borne in profusion in the middle of winter. Best positioned near your front door where you'll get the full benefit. Very shade and lime tolerant.

Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis
A dwarf Christmas Box reaching only 60 cm high but spreading over the years to form patches of densely branched stems clothed in glossy dark, evergreen foliage. Typically sweetly fragrant flowers, small but produced en masse, are borne in the depths of winter. Easy in any ordinary soil, and tolerant of shade and poor soil.

Sarcococca orientalis
A species of Christmas Box introduced from E China by Roy Lancaster in 1980. Comparatively large, broad green leaves and pink tinged white flowers borne en masse in the middle of winter, producing a wonderful sweet fragrance, so best planted near a door or path. Makes an evergreen shrub to about 1m, for virtually any soil or position. Very shade tolerant.

Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'
A relatively new form of this hardy and tolerant, dwarf, evergreen shrub collected in 1980 by Roy Lancaster from W China. The leaves differ from the norm by being narrow with a long pointed tip, but the flowers are typically small, white, deliciously fragrant and borne en masse in the depths of winter. Very easy to please, in sun or shade, acid or alkaline soil.

Sarmienta repens
Related to both Mitraria and Asteranthera, this Chilean Gesneriad forms a semi-creeping shrublet with glossy, thick textured, rounded, 1cm foliage and a mass of bright scarlet, narrow waisted tubular flowers in June. For a sheltered, cool site in peaty soil. Often epiphytic in its native environs.

Sassafras albidum
A most unusual small to medium, conical, aromatic tree from eastern USA, with leaves variously lobed or entire, like a Mulberry, colouring well in autumn. Requires a lime-free soil. Seems to need the heat of the more southern half of Britain to grow well.

Sassafras tzumu
This fascinating tree from China is hardly ever offered in the UK. Closely related to S. albidum from NE America, with a broadly conical crown and deeply lobed leaves, rich red on new growth. Trunks remain bright green for quite a few years, giving a tropical effect. Should colour well in autumn. Lime-free soil. Seems easier to grow than albidum as a young plant.

Sauromatum venosum
Variously described as 'quite demonic', 'something from another planet', 'certainly the strangest of all bulbous plants' and '...a real weed of Satan', this is the Voodoo Lily from Africa and Asia. In late spring dark spikes emerge, opening into a foul smelling purple and leopard skin Aroid flower, followed by a very attractive compound leaf to about 60cm high.

Saxifraga fortunei 'Mount Nachi'
Red-brown foliage. White flowers in autumn. Height 20cm. Moist soil in shade.

Saxifraga fortunei 'Wada'
Big coppery, red backed leaves. Masses of white flowers in autumn. Height to 50cm. Shade, not too dry.

Saxifraga nipponica 'Pink Pagoda'
Lots of good pink flowers in late spring over light-green evergreen foliage. Height 15cm. For humusy shade.

Saxifraga stolonifera 'Cuscutiformis'
Attractive red, marked leaves. Spreads freely by spooky red runners. White flowers on 30cm stems. Mild, well drained site.

Scabiosa caucasica 'Goldingensis'
Big blue pincushion flower heads in summer. Height to 50cm. Sunny position.

Scabiosa farinosa
Lavender scabious flowers in summer over a mound of very glossy dark-green, evergreen foliage. Height to 30cm. Sun.

Schefflera taiwaniana
A most desirable member of the Araliaceae from higher altitudes in Taiwan, forming a deliciously tropical looking large shrub with beautiful, digitate, evergreen foliage made up of slim dark, glossy green leaflets. The new, semi-expanded growth is covered in pale hairs. For a sheltered, not too hot position in sun or semi-shade. Known to take considerable frost.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Moonlight'
A naturally occurring geographical variant of the species with very effective silvery-green leaves, turning yellow in autumn. A fine, self clinging climber with large flattened, lacecap heads of creamy-white flowers, with large teardrop shaped bracts around the edges, borne in July. Slow to start but can reach 12m on a suitable wall, flowering best in sun.

Schizophragma hydrangeoides 'Roseum'
This beautiful form has a pink-flush to the big, teardrop shaped bracts that surround the creamy white, flattened, lacecap heads of flower, seen covering the plant in July. Will easily grow in shade on any suitable support, but flowers better on a sunny wall, where it could eventually reach 12m if you let it. Slow to start, so give it the extra love it deserves.

Schizostylis coccinea 'Ballyrogan Giant'
New form of Kaffir Lily with large pink flowers in autumn. Height to 45 cm. Sun not too dry.

Schizostylis coccinea 'Major'
A classic Kaffir Lily with spikes of good sized red flowers in autumn. Height 60cm. Sun, not too dry in summer.

Sedum 'Purple Emperor'
Red-pink flowers in summer over rich purple foliage. Height 45cm. Sun. Butterflies love it.

Sedum telephium 'Matrona'
Large heads of pink flowers in summer, and purple tinted foliage. Height 60cm. Sun. Butterflies love it.

Selinum wallichianum
Flat, white, cow parsley-like flower-heads in summer over gloriously finely cut leaves. The foliage a joy in itself. Height 120cm. Sun but not too dry.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa
A superb species for British gardens making impressive dense clumps, or even groves, of bolt upright, thick green culms in sun or shade. The older culms turn to purple after a while and reach 5m or more. Superb for screening or shelter belts and very hardy, performing well even in cold areas.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa 'Viridis'
Unlike the normal version, in this form the culms stay a dark glaucous green. The leaves are also a little smaller and of a richer green and the plant is said to grow even taller than the species, reaching up to 12m in very good conditions. Very stately bolt upright habit with a not overly spreading rhizome system. Ideal for windbreaks in larger gardens. Very hardy.

Semiarundinaria makinoi
A new and rare bamboo with green culms growing vertically and reaching only 2.5m, with plenty of fresh green foliage. Very hardy, and inclined to wander a bit, this could make a good screening bamboo for those who don't want their screen too high. Any wayward stems heading in the wrong direction are easily removed. Sun or semi-shade.

Semiarundinaria yashadake kimmei
Quite distinct and very ornamental, having masses of slim, yellow culms with green stripes contrasting with quite large glossy foliage. The upright culms only reach about 2.5m, very different from most other yellow stemmed bamboos, and can blush red in strong light. Very hardy and tolerant of both sun and shade, it will quickly form a good clump.

Senecio pulcher
Large, shocking magenta-purple daisies in late summer over a rosette of fleshy leaves. Height to 50cm. Warm, sunny position. A loony colour.

Senna alexandrina
This evergreen large shrub has narrow pointed leaflets and clusters of pale, soft-yellow flowers from summer to winter. Try it outside in a very warm sheltered site, where it will probably behave like an herbaceous plant, sending up strong stems from the base each year. The seeds are employed as a laxative. How useful.

Senna septemtrionalis
A large evergreen shrub for a very sheltered sunny corner, though is sometimes grown as a strong growing herbaceous plant that will rise from the ground each year to flower in September. Attractive pinnate foliage and clusters of rich warm-yellow flowers borne from summer to winter if in a conservatory.

Serratula seoanei
Saw-wort. Sprays of purple-pink knapweed flowers in late summer. Lovely foliage. Height 40cm. Sun.

Seseli hippomarathrum
An airy perennial producing cow parsley heads of pinky-grey flowers on stems to 1m from Jul to Oct, above glaucous, finely divided foliage to 45cm. Sun, semi shade.

Seseli montanum
Finely divided leaves; lots of small umbels of pink buds, opening white. 40cm. Sun. Short lived perennial. Save seed.

Silene dioica 'Inane'
Purple-leaved red campion with usual rich-pink flowers in summer. A male clone so doesn't seed around. Height 75cm. Sun or part shade.

Sisyrinchium striatum 'Aunt May'
Cream striped iris-like leaves. Straw-yellow flowers in summer. Evergreen. Height 60cm. Sun or pt shade.

Skimmia x confusa 'Kew Green'
An excellent and now widely used male cultivar. Simple, dark, evergreen, glossy foliage and conical heads of highly scented creamy-white flowers in June on a dense low mound to about 1m high, sometimes a bit higher. Happy in shade or sun on most soils.

Smilacina racemosa
Frothy heads of scented white flowers in summer followed by scarlet berries. A leafy, clump forming perennial to 1m. Easy in moist-ish leafy soil in part shade.

Smilacina racemosa 'Emily Moody'
A fine new form from the States, making a slightly larger plant with bigger heads of scented white flowers. Equally delicious fragrance and red fruit. Easy in moist-ish leafy soil in part shade.

Smilax aspera
A rare but long cultivated evergreen climber for a sheltered sunny wall where it will make a dense tangle of thorny, narrow, zigzag stems, covered in interesting and attractive heart shaped, grey blotched foliage. Pale green fragrant flowers are produced in racemes during late summer and are often followed by red fruit. Not for very cold areas.

Smilax sp. F&M 051
An evergreen spiny climber found in the foothills of Pico de Orizaba, Mexico at 2200m alt. Green/silver mottling on the foliage and dark brown hairy/spiny stems to 1m or more. Try it in a sheltered position in sun or semi-shade.

Soldanella villosa
Frilly violet-blue flowers in summer. Hairy rounded leaves. 20cm. For a moist but well drained acidic soil in shade.

Sollya heterophylla
Bluebell Creeper. Loveliest of lovelies, sells on site, but alas not hardy enough for most of us to grow outside, hailing, as it does, from SW Australia. A conservatory suits it admirably however, where it will produce a succession of beautiful little sky-blue, bell-shaped flowers throughout summer and autumn. Not too rampant, up to 2m or more.

Sophora davidii
A far too rarely seen deciduous shrub from SW China, reaching about 2m and assuming a gnarled characterful appearance in old age. Hardy and drought tolerant, the stems are mildly spiny, the leaves are very pretty, pinnate, with many tiny leaflets, and the blue and white pea flowers are borne in short racemes in June. For a sunny position.

Sophora 'Little Baby'
A smallish shrub from New Zealand of very distinct appearance, with narrow, wiry stems growing in a zigzag fashion, bearing pretty leaves with very tiny leaflets. Golden to orange-yellow pea flowers are produced in May. Best planted in full sun in well drained soil in a fairly sheltered spot, where it will slowly reach about 1.5m.

Sorbus caloneura
This hardy Chinese species is rarely seen in the UK. It is not flamboyant, but quietly appealing, though the new foliage in spring is a wonderful red. Creamy-white flowers in spring followed by small brown globular fruit. Makes a hardy large shrub or small tree for any reasonable soil. It is a member of the unusual Micromeles Section of Sorbus.

Sorbus hedlundii
A rare and handsome whitebeam from the Himalaya, one of the finest of its type. Makes a small to medium sized tree with attractive white-green young leaves, turning green with a bright white underside. Early growth has striking golden-bronze veins on leaf undersides. White flowers are followed by small brownish green fruit. Tough, hardy and easy.

Sorbus hemsleyi
A superb 'new' species being introduced to the UK in only 1992 from China. The foliage in many ways resembles our native Whitebeam but is narrower and curled, showing the bright white underside well. The new leaves are even whiter, having a layer of hairs on the upper side, and the autumn colour is a rich butter yellow. Makes a small to medium sized upright tree.

Sorbus megalocarpa
A very unusual Whitebeam relative from China, remarkable for its conspicuous cream flowers opening before the leaves in spring, and the fruit being the same size and colouring of small partridge eggs. New leaves emerge red in spring and often assume similar colouring in autumn. Makes a large shrub or small tree eventually, for any ordinary soil in sun or part shade.

Sorbus thibetica
A striking Himalayan whitebeam with bold foliage strikingly white on the underside, emerging bright white in spring eventually losing the covering on the top side. White flowers in spring followed by fat yellow-green, speckled fruit. Strong, healthy growth eventually making a medium sized tree, even on poor soils and harsh sites. Ex KW 20834.

Speirantha convallarioides
An unusual 'Lily of the Valley' relative from SE China, with scented starry white flowers nestling amongst the evergreen leaves, on stems to 30cm. Spreads gently to form a patch. Leafy soil in shade/semi-shade.

Spiranthes cernua odorata 'Chadd's Ford'
Orchid with lovely white, heavily scented flowers on stems to 45cm in autumn. Sun or semi-shade with good drainage.

Stachys thunbergii
Glossy dark-green leaves and terminal spikes of rich purple-red flowers in autumn. 45cm. Sun. Very uncommon.

Stachyurus praecox
A glorious site if grown well. Thousands of stiffly pendulous racemes of tiny, soft primrose-yellow cup shaped flowers adorn a mature plant in early spring; March or even earlier. Very young plants will also flower well. I think it's best to plant this medium sized shrub in a sunny site to promote strong flowering, though it is fairly shade tolerant. Easy and hardy.

Stachyurus salicifolius
A newly available, evergreen species from W China with graceful arching growth and, as its name suggests, long, very narrow, willow like leaves, bronze when expanding. Stiffly drooping racemes of pale yellow flowers in early spring. Makes a medium sized shrub. Any reasonable soil.

Stauntonia hexaphylla
A rather special evergreen climber from the Far East, best suited to a warm sheltered wall. There it will make a large specimen, potentially up to 10m, though of course it could be kept much smaller. The fragrant, lily-like flowers are white tinged violet and are seen in bunches in summer. Compound leathery leaves are composed of 3-7 stalked leaflets. Edible fruit.

Stewartia pteropetiolata
This is a recent collection of this otherwise fairly tender species from the Wuliang Shan, Yunnan, China, which appears to be somewhat hardier. The semi-evergreen leaves emerge red tinted in spring and turn dark glossy green. Flowers are up to 4cm across and resemble the Tea plant, Camellia sinensis, white with a yellow centre. Leaves once used to make tea.

Stipa gigantea
A magnificent species. Huge, but very airy heads of papery flowers turn straw coloured in summer and are held through to winter. Height 2m. Sun. Big but fairly transparent.

Stipa gigantea 'Gold Fontaene'
A giant form of the species. Enormous spikes of airy, straw coloured flowerheads last into winter. Height to 250cm. Sun. Quite magnificent.

Stipa sp. F&M 34
Collected at 3050m East of Mexico city, this handsome grass looks similar to S. tenuissima in many ways, though in the wild state it reached approx. 1.5m high in flower, and the flowering stems bear much wider leaves than the vegetative ones, which are very fine and hair-like. For well drained soil in sun.

Stokesia laevis
Blue cornflower heads in summer. Height 40cm. Sun, not too wet.

Stokesia laevis 'Mary Gregory'
Butter-yellow flowered Stokesia. Height 40cm. Sun, not too wet.

Strobilanthes flexicaulis
Lavender flowers prettily marked and curved in autumn. Wiry stems to 50cm. Best in some shade.

Styrax formosanus var. formosana
A very rare species from the mountains of Taiwan, closely related to S. japonica, but with the lovely pendant, white, bell-like flowers exquisitely scented, like Jasminum polyanthum. A real collector?s piece for good lime free soil. Seems perfectly hardy so far, and likely to make a small tree.

Styrax japonicus
A hardy and elegant small Japanese deciduous tree requiring lime free soil. Best planted where one can look up under the fan-like branches to admire the thousands of pendulous, white, yellow centred, bell like flowers dripping from their undersides in June.

Symphytum 'Rubrum'
A neat, well behaved clump with nodding, wine-red flowers in early summer. Height 30cm. Sun or pt shade.

Symplocos paniculata
An Asian shrub grown principally for its striking berries, this makes a large dense, deciduous shrub with panicles of fragrant white flowers in May and June. These are followed by a mass of small, brilliant ultramarine-blue fruits in autumn, that persist into winter after the leaves have fallen. More than one plant is recommended for a good fruit set. Hardy and easy.

Synthyris missurica
Spikes of blue, speedwell-like flowers in spring. A splendid vigorous form to 40cm. Part shade.

Syringa x laciniata
A lovely dwarf shrub with deeply dissected little leaves, reaching about 1m high. Small panicles of lilac flowers produced in May. Grown here since the 17th century. but rarely seen. Hardy and easy in any ordinary soil.

Taxodium distichum var. imbricatum
Formerly T. ascendens. Closely related to the Swamp Cypress but slower growing and forms a smaller tree with a narrowly conical or columnar habit. Immature foliage ferny, soon changing to distinctly adpressed, turning rich red-brown in autumn and lasting into winter. Bark red-brown. Can be grown in standing water, but fine in dry sites.

Taxodium mucronatum F&M 198
The wonderful Mexican Swamp Cypress which is such a fabulously charismatic tree in the wild where it forms a more weeping habit than its American cousin and trees of vast sizes can be found. Here in Britain it needs protection when young but attains hardiness as it grows. Kew has a 100yr old specimen. I would recommend a warm site in ordinary soil.

Tetracentron sinense
The 'Spur leaf' is a most distinct beast, rarely seen in the UK. Forming a small to medium sized tree with spreading branches and handsome heart shaped leaves with drawn out tips, red flushed on new growth. Elegant when strung with 15cm long yellowish, pendent catkins in summer. Branches develop little spurred growths over time. Easy and hardy on most soils.

Tetradium daniellii
A neglected but invaluable fast growing small to medium sized hardy tree from the far east. Corymbs of flowers borne in late summer/early autumn, creamy white, pungently scented and attractive to all manner of beneficial insects. Large pinnate leaves and smooth grey bark.

Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Rex'
This form of this mega-exotic looking gem has immensely impressive foliage, spectacularly massive with great claw like lobes. Grow it in a sheltered site where it should reach 4m. It will be fairly hardy there but will shoot again from the roots if cut back by cold, or secateurs. It will also sucker a fair bit when established but these are easily removed. Fabulous.

Teucrium fruticans 'Compactum'
A dwarf, neat, compact form of the Mediterranean 'Shrubby Germander'. Makes a small evergreen shrub for a sunny well drained spot against a wall. The stems and undersides of the leaves are covered in very fine white hairs giving the plant a greyish appearance and the flowers are pale blue in terminal racemes throughout summer.

Thalictrum cultratum
Fine, prettily dissected, glaucous foliage on plants to 90cm, with small flowers in greenish-white with long, purple, thread-like filaments ending in orange anthers, produced Jun-Aug. For good soil in semi-shade.

Thalictrum 'Elin'
The finest tall variety. Lilac and yellow flowers on stems which can reach 3m! Purple stems, steely leaves. Sun or part shade.

Thalictrum flavum 'Illuminator'
Spring foliage has a light yellow cast, turning green later. Finely cut leaves and yellow flowers in summer atop stems to 1m. Sun or part shade.

Thalictrum uchiyamae
Splendid, relatively new tall species. Light purple flowers in summer on upright stems to 1.8m over attractive divided foliage. Light shade or sun; not too dry.

Thamnocalamus aristatus
Sometimes regarded as a form of the Himalayan T. spathiflorus, this is a handsome, hardy clump former with lovely, elegant soft green foliage on slim, yellow-green culms to about 3-4m high. Though a fairly tolerant species, this will luxuriate in a sheltered position where it will make a magnificent tight clump.

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Kew Beauty'
A real gem and one of my favourite bamboos. Billowing masses of exquisite tiny leaves on upright culms that emerge with a blue-grey bloom and turn deep-red with good light. Very tightly clump forming with a height of about 4m. Best with some shade, especially in hot dry areas. Hardy to about -15c. Very beautiful and highly recommended by me.

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Lang Tang'
Another exquisite form of this wonderful species from the Himalaya. In this cultivar the foliage is very slim and tiny on upright culms that emerge blue-grey and turn green. The effect of a mature specimen is of a billowing mass of intricate greenery. Very tightly clump forming, reaching about 3.5m high, and best in semi-shade. Hardy to about -15c. A very special gem.

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Merlyn'
Of all the forms of this truly wonderful species, this is the quickest to mature. It is also the most vertical, and consequently reaches a height of 4 to 6m. Culms emerge from the compact base a lovely pale-blue and mature yellow-green. Leaves are typically tiny and elegant. Easy and hardy, though will enjoy some shade when young and becoming established.

Thamnocalamus spathiflorus subsp. nepalensis
Another truly lovely rarity, this Nepalese form of an already gorgeous species has slightly larger bright green leaves on a more upright plant. The branches bow under the weight of foliage creating a layered effect. New culms emerge with a pale bloom, partially obscured by pale cherry red sheaths, all from a tightly clump forming base. Up to about 6m. Hardy.

Thuja koraiensis
A distinctly handsome, shrubby species of 'Arbor-vitae' forming a dense conical bush or small tree with dark brown peeling bark and decurved branches, bearing large flattened sprays of green foliage with conspicuously white, beautifully patterned undersides. The foliage is wonderfully scented if crushed. Hardy and easy. Good lookin'; not just 'another conifer'.

Tiarella 'Elizabeth Oliver'
Beautiful red-marked leaves. Trailing habit. White flowers in spring. Height to 30cm. Moist soil in shade.

Tiarella 'Iron Butterfly'
Beautifully marked and divided leaves. Flowers in spring. Prefers some shade.

Tiarella 'Mint Chocolate'
Brilliantly contrasting pale green / chocolate leaves, edged pink in winter. Propagation for resale prohibited.

Tiarella wherryi 'Bronze Beauty'
Spikes of pale pink starry flowers in spring. Neat foliage turns bronze in autumn. Height 30cm. Damp shade.

Tibouchina organensis
A spectacular conservatory plant, happy outside for most of the year, but needs a frost free winter. Incredible large saucer shaped flowers of intense royal-purple over the velvety green leaves in late summer/autumn. Sun. Can be pruned hard in spring if getting out of hand.

Tilia ?Moltkei?
Very rarely seen, this hybrid lime is a beauty. The broad rounded foliage is grey underneath and clothes the arching, slightly pendent branches fully, giving a luscious healthy appearance. Vigorous growth, large clusters of fragrant flowers in late summer and simple unpretentious elegance. A medium to large tree, best suited to the bigger garden.

Tilia chenmoui
An extremely rare Chinese lime closely related to the true Tilia tuan, and now thought to be a geographical form of it. Recently introduced, this should make a small to medium sized tree in the UK, with exfoliating bark and very beautiful, comparatively slim foliage, softly silvery-grey tomentose above and below on new growth. Hardy and late frost resistant.

Tilia cordata 'Len Parvin'
A relatively new form of our native Small leaved lime discovered growing in the Wye Valley by the above named. The leaves are the smallest found so far for this species (but not obvious on young vigorous atypical growth) creating a delicate and beautiful effect. Typically lovely fragrant flowers in late summer. Easy, hardy, tolerant.

Tilia dasystyla subsp. caucasica
A rare lime from the Crimea with conspicuously toothed foliage and very prominent long, pale bracts attached to the inflorescence of scented cream flowers, which make quite a feature around flowering time in summer. Makes a strong growing, healthy medium sized tree in the UK.

Tilia henryana
A fascinating and unusual Chinese lime making a small tree, possibly bigger over a very long period. Very distinct foliage emerges softly hairy and carmine tinged, expanding to glossy green with conspicuous bristle like teeth. Autumn flowering.

Tilia heterophylla
A magnificent lime from the Eastern USA with big, bold foliage, and a close relative of T. americana. In this country it makes a medium sized tree, quite striking on account of its large, luxuriant, coarsely toothed leaves, variably grey-hairy beneath. Hardy, easy, though rarely seen in the UK.

Tilia japonica
Another of my all time favourite trees, eventually becoming a beautifully shaped specimen. This small to medium sized species from E Asia is closely related to our native Small leaved lime, but differs in its beautifully pointed leaf tips. Flowers are borne in such profusion as to almost cover the foliage in late summer. Not a big tree. Easy, hardy, tolerant.

Tilia kiusiana
This great rarity from Southern Japan is like no other Lime tree, and to be honest does not look like one, until you take a close inspection. Tiny pale-green leaves are typically shaped but miniature, being only 4--6cm long, on a slow growing shrub or eventual small tree. A fine old specimen grows near here at Westonbirt arboretum. Easy and hardy.

Tilia mandshurica
A most handsome lime from NE Asia with really luxuriant, vivid green foliage: large, heart-shaped, downy on expansion and greyish beneath. A specimen of this really stands out in Harry Hay's Tilia collection in Surrey. In this country it will make a small to medium sized tree.

Tilia maximowicziana
A superb Japanese species, though very rarely encountered, this is a medium to large tree at maturity with broad, dark-green, deeply veined foliage, hairy above and below, especially on expansion. The very heavily scented flowers cast their fragrance on the wind, travelling a fair distance in my experience. Exceptionally fine.

Tilia mexicana
An attractive hardy species collected in the early 1990s by Compton, D'Arcy and Rix in, wait for it, Mexico. This has settled in very well so far, and like most limes is proving to be an elegant beauty. Long drawn out foliage emerges with a deep red tinge and the branches are slightly pendent. Probably a medium sized tree eventually, as were plants we found in 06.

Tilia mongolica
Mongolian Lime. A fairly small leaved species, very distinct in having 3--5 lobed, highly serrated leaves, especially on young plants. This attractive feature is enhanced by excellent yellow autumn colour. Scented flowers in summer on a small compact tree with dense, red tinged twigs in winter. Easy and hardy.

Tilia oliveri
Such a beauty I named my first son after it; well not quite. A gorgeously elegant, semi-weeping Chinese species usually only medium sized, but can get larger if drawn up by other trees. This is an exceptional form with very fine, plain, apple-green leaves with pale silvery-grey undersides, naturally free of aphids. As easy to grow as any lime.

Tinantia pringlei
Bizarre Tradescantia relative - amazing purple/brown marked leaves. Purple flowers for much of the year. Sun, not too cold.

Toona sinensis
A striking, hardy, medium sized tree of fast growth and sub-tropical appearance. Large handsome, pinnate leaves, often bronze when young, and large drooping panicles of fragrant white flowers in late summer. Any ordinary soil.

Trachelospermum asiaticum
Related to periwinkle, this fine evergreen climber shows its similarity in the flowers which are 'windmill' shaped, though smaller, jasmine-like, sweetly scented, creamy-white with a buff-yellow eye, ageing to yellow, and produced in July and August over the dark glossy green foliage. Suited to a sunny wall, this forms a dense covering to about 6m high and wide.

Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Waterwheel'
A very narrow leaved form of this evergreen climber, named after that fine, sadly now deceased nursery. Very fragrant white flowers turning cream, 2.5cm across and 'windmill' shaped, borne in July and August on self clinging stems to 7m high, though not particularly fast growing. Warm sunny wall, or conservatory in very cold areas.

Trachycarpus fortunei
The Chusan palm from China is the hardiest and easiest palm to grow in the UK. Introduced over 150 yrs ago, this has proved itself to be extremely tough. Growing straight up on a single hairy trunk, it produces huge fan shaped leaves up to 1m across, with big weighty, soft-yellow flower clusters in early summer. Looks best if not exposed to too much strong wind.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus
Rare and very special hardy palm growable just about anywhere in the UK. In reality a form of T. fortunei with leaves smaller and more rigidly and elegantly held than it's bigger cousin, therefore much better in windy locations, and always looking fabulous. Grows on a single hairy trunk, and responds well to rich soil, though very tolerant. Takes -15c when older.

Tricyrtis formosana 'Dark Beauty'
Good, heavily dark-spotted Toad Lily. Height 80cm. Autumn flowering. Prefers some shade.

Tricyrtis hirta Washfield form
Toad Lily. In this form the dark spots are very distinct against pale petals. Height 1m+. Easy perennial for shade.

Tricyrtis ishiiana
Fleshy, intense yellow flowers on trailing stems in autumn. Height 30cm. Humus rich soil, shade, moist in summer.

Tricyrtis ohsumiensis
Large, waxy, upward facing primrose yellow flowers in autumn. Broad leaves. Height 15cm. Moist shade.

Tricyrtis 'Tojen'
Lovely pale violet, unspotted, upward facing flowers on arching stems in autumn. Height about 50cm. Prefers some shade.

Trillium kurabayashii
A highly prized plant, very slow to flower from seed, these are at or near flowering size. Wonderful red and green marbled foliage in spring followed by a striking, stiffly erect, deep red-purple (careful) flower in the centre of each trio of leaves. Shade and rich leafy soil.

Tritonia crocata 'Princess Beatrix'
Winter-growing corm. Lots of blazing orange, dark-blotched flowers in spring. 30cm. Dry in summer. Best for pot in cold glass.

Tritonia crocata 'Tangerine'
Winter growing clumping corm. Lots of light orange flowers in spring. 30cm. Dry in summer. Best for pot culture.

Tritonia disticha rubrolucens
Branching spikes of montbretia-like flowers in a lovely soft, warm pink in late summer. Height 1m. Sunny position.

Trollius 'Alabaster'
Globe Flower. Ivory white flowers in early summer. Height to 40cm. Sun or part shade.

Trollius stenopetalus
Large yellow flowers in midsummer over good divided foliage. Height 75cm. Sun or part shade in moister soil.

Tropaeolum ciliatum
This vigorous and very easily grown species from Chile was introduced by that great plantsman Harry Hay, and has proven hardy in his Surrey garden. Totally herbaceous, it will cover a 3m fence or wall in one season and produce an abundance of ochre-yellow flowers in summer. Best in moist but well drained soil in semi-shade. Mulch over in winter.

Tropaeolum polyphyllum
This desirable rarity from the scree beds of the Chilean Andes is grown as a trailing plant in a sunny raised bed in well drained, not too rich soil, where it will cover its lovely bright, blue-grey leaves in a profusion of yellow flowers in summer before going completely dormant. In these conditions it is very hardy.

Tropaeolum speciosum
Well known and much admired, this is the Flame flower that covers so many yew hedges in Scottish gardens. An herbaceous perennial climber reaching up to 3-4m in one season and bearing a multitude of scarlet flowers over pretty bright green foliage in late summer/early autumn. The roots need to be cool and just moist.

Tulbaghia 'Fairy Star'
A floriferous fine leaved hybrid. Lilac- pink flowers over a long spring/summer season. Height 25cm. Sun, warm spot or pot.

Tulbaghia 'John May's Special'
A giant T. violacea, with larger mauve flowers on 80cm stems. As hardy as they get, given sun and drainage.

Tulbaghia violacea pallida
White flowers to 50cm on a vigorous plant. A form of the hardiest species. Sunny position.

Tulbaghia violacea 'Silver Lace'
Striking variegated foliage, purple flowers in summer. Sun and some protection in prolonged cold spells.

Tweedia caerulea
A sub-shrubby climber from South East S. America with herbaceous stems to about 1m, bearing erect clusters of star-shaped flowers in summer; powder-blue tinged slightly green, turning sky-blue then lilac. A beautiful plant for the sunny conservatory, or outside in the mildest localities.

Ugni molinae
'Chilean Guava'. Previously known as Myrtus ugni, this little Myrtle inhabits woodland and scrub in S. Chile and is quite hardy here, forming an erect evergreen shrub to about 1.5m high, with tiny leathery leaves and very pretty, waxy, soft-pink bells followed by delicious mahogany-red fruit, tasting like sweets. In cold Northern areas needs wall protection.

Ulmus parvifolia
An elegant, medium-sized, graceful looking Elm with a rounded head of branches. The small, rich-green, glossy foliage is held fresh until the New Year. Suitable for virtually any soil or site, this species is very resistant to Dutch Elm Disease, though is rarely seen or offered for sale.

Ungnadia speciosa NJM 05.054
A large shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves and bright pink, almost Bauhinia-like flowers appearing in spring, followed by Horse chestnut-like fruit and yellow fall colour. This collection from Tamaulipas State, NE Mexico at 1200m. Plants from Mexico are more robust than their Texan counterparts. Try this in a hot, sheltered spot. Very drought tolerant.

Uvularia grandiflora var. pallida
Delicate pale yellow hanging bells on stems to 50cm (usually less). Moist, well drained soil in shade.

Uvularia perfoliata
Like a dainty Solomon's Seal, with v pale yellow flowers in spring. Height 40cm. Humus rich soil in shade.

Vaccinium padifolium
'Madeiran Whortleberry'. A large growing semi-evergreen species from the high peaks of Madeira, though surprisingly hardy. Forms a fast growing medium sized shrub in the UK with an erect habit and bunches of bell-shaped greenish flowers with a pale brown eye in June, followed by purplish-blue berries. The leaves take on lovely red tints in cold weather.

Vancouveria chrysantha
An Epimedium relative from the Western USA, with soft yellow flowers on wiry stems in early summer over attractively red-tinted, lobed foliage. Height 30cm. Leafy soil in semi-shade.

Vancouveria hexandra
An Epimedium relative with white flowers on wiry stems in spring over bright-green, attractively lobed foliage. Height 30cm. Humus rich soil in some shade.

Verbascum 'Phoenix'
Rich red-brown petals, violet stamens. Height 1m. One of the 'Riverside' varieties. Sun, good drainage.

Veronica dabneyi
Creeping stems with glossy evergreen leaves. Spikes of pink flowers in summer. 10cm. Lovely groundcover for sunny bank.

Viburnum atrocyaneum Hird 113
An unusual Himalayan, hardy evergreen species of dense bushy habit, deserving of wider attention, making a medium to large shrub. Very pretty small glossy foliage, copper tinted when young. Bunches of small steely blue fruit lasting into winter. Any reasonable soil in sun/semi-shade. These are from wild collected seed.

Viburnum awabuki
A large, noble evergreen shrub for a reasonably sheltered position, bearing strikingly glossy, rich green, leathery leaves. Older leaves turn bright red before falling. Large conical heads of fragrant white flowers in late summer followed by red fruits turning black. Often erroneously called V. odoratissimum.

Viburnum cassinoides
A neglected hardy, medium sized deciduous shrub from the NE USA with a number of fine features. New foliage emerges rich bronze, turning dark green. Flowers are creamy-white and borne in flattened heads, followed by red fruits that turn to metallic blue. Lastly the autumn colour is a superb crimson or scarlet. For most soils apart from thin chalk.

Viburnum chingii
A very rarely encountered Chinese species reaching a medium to large size with slim foliage, red on expansion, and clusters of softest pink/white flowers covering the branches in spring followed by deep blood red fruit. Any ordinary soil.

Viburnum cylindricum BSWJ 7239
A collection from the high mountains of N. Thailand, with leaves larger and brighter green than usual, big flat heads of tubular white flowers from Jul-Sept, followed by black, egg-shaped fruit. An arresting species when well grown in a sheltered position, though this collection is only suitable for mild areas.

Viburnum erubescens var. gracilipes
A medium sized shrub with dark, glossy, slim, evergreen foliage and paniculate, pendent clusters of white flowers borne in summer. This is the hardier variety of the species, also having longer flower clusters and more free fruiting; red turning black. Any ordinary soil.

Viburnum furcatum
A mighty fine species from Japan and Taiwan, making a large, deciduous, hardy shrub. White lacecaps cover the branches in May, followed by red fruits, turning black. The broad, potentially large, conspicuously veined foliage turns to brilliant scarlet and reddish-purple over a long period in late summer and autumn. An aristocrat for moist woodland or similar.

Viburnum nudum 'Pink Beauty'
Very rarely seen, this fine deciduous shrub from the eastern USA deserves wider planting. Dark, glossy green leaves look like they should be evergreen, but colour deep-red in autumn. Long stalked clusters of creamy-white flowers borne in June, followed by pink fruit, turning blue-black. Thrives in most soils in sun or semi-shade. Ht about 2m.

Viburnum opulus 'Compactum'
This is the very useful smaller growing and freer fruiting form of the Guelder Rose, one of our most colourful native shrubs, making a dense bush to about 1.5m. Masses of flattened white lacecap flowers in June or July, followed by large quantities of translucent red berries which last well into winter, and add to the autumn show of red leaves. Any soil, wet or dry.

Viburnum x globosum 'Jermyns Globe'
A tough small to medium sized evergreen shrub of dense, rounded habit, with flat topped clusters of small white flowers in spring (and other times of year), followed by bluish black berries. Sun or semi shade. A hybrid between the common V. davidii and the obscure V. calvum.

Viburnum x hillieri 'Winton'
A lovely, medium size, semi-evergreen shrub with dangling panicles of sweetly scented white flowers borne profusely in June, followed by red fruit turning black. The narrowly oval leaves are copper tinted when young, and suffused bronze-red in winter. Easy in most soils and positions.

Vitex agnus-castus 'Silver Spire'
A white flowered form of the 'Chaste Tree', a splendid late summer/autumn flowering medium-sized deciduous shrub, covering itself in a mass of fragrant flower. The aromatic leaves consist of 5-7 narrow leaflets and are attractive in themselves. Generally grown against a warm wall, but not particularly tender given full sun and well drained soil.

Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia
'Chaste Tree'. This very long cultivated medium-sized deciduous shrub is strangely not often encountered. It has lovely aromatic foliage and produces erect racemes of fragrant violet-blue flowers en-masse at the end of the shoots in Sept and Oct when most other things are long over. This is a good hardy form with broader leaflets. Sun, well drained soil.

Vitis amurensis
Not often seen, this wild grape vine from N China makes a vigorous, large, deciduous climber with fairly bold foliage, 3 to 5 lobed, and black fruit. New shoots are reddish, and the green leaves turn to superb shades of crimson and purple in autumn. Very hardy.

Vitis 'Brant'
A vigorous and popular vine, fruiting well in our climate, up to 10m with suitable support, though of course annual pruning can keep it much smaller. The cylindrical bunches of fruit are borne in abundance, sweet and aromatic, purple-black with a pruinose covering when ripe. The boldly lobed leaves turn to purple and crimson with green and yellow veins in autumn.

Vitis coignetiae
This has to be one of the most strikingly bold climbing foliage plants. Wonderful, dinner plate sized, textured leaves cover the strong growing stems in summer, turning to shades of scarlet and crimson in autumn. Can reach to the top of tall trees or cover outhouses or walls. The best autumn colour is achieved in poor soils.

Vitis flexuosa var. parviflora
A very scarce, but totally hardy and easy relative of the grape making a vigorous deciduous climber with pretty, small, thin textured, glossy, almost metallic green, shield shaped leaves with a finely toothed margin. A very pleasant foliage backdrop reminding one of the related but tender Cissus.

Vitis vinifera 'Spetchley Red'
A selection of the common grape made at Spetchley Park, Worcs., for its superb bright red autumn colour. Typical vigorous growth and handsome foliage, suitable for covering all manner of things. Hardy. Best in sun though happy in semi -shade.

Wachendorfia thyrsiflora
Fat spikes of orange flowers in summer on tall stems to 180cm over a clump of attractive pleated leaves. Vivid orange roots! This South African requires sun & warmth, though survived a cold-ish winter in the middle of high altitude Cumbria unprotected!

Watsonia borbonica ardernei
White flowers in summer. Height to 120cm. Sunny, sheltered position and good soil. Not too cold.

Watsonia borbonica borbonica
Sugar-pink flowers in summer. Height to 120cm. Sunny, sheltered position, and good soil. Not too cold.

Watsonia meriania var. bulbillifera
A vigorous form of the species with comparatively large flowers on spikes to about 1.5m. Flower colour is usually bright orange-red. A winter-rainfall species of thin rocky soils in the wild, so give it a well drained site in full sun and shelter. After flowering cormlets are produced in the leaf and stem axils, affording easy propagation.

Watsonia 'Stanford Scarlet'
A well proven hybrid here in the UK. Scarlet flowers with blue stamens in summer. Height to 1.5m. Sun, not too dry. A good do-er.

Weigela middendorffiana
A truly tasteful Weigela of compact growth, with beautiful soft-yellow, bell shaped blooms with dark orange markings on the lower lobes, seen in April/May. It enjoys a sheltered and semi-shaded site. Not my favourite plants, but this one is a beauty.

Wisteria brachybotrys 'Shiro-kapitan'
Previously sold as W. venusta, this is a vigorous climber bearing short-ish racemes of strongly fragrant, very large white flowers, the largest in the genus. Foliage and shoots covered in silky hairs, especially when young when they are conspicuous. Best in a sunny position in well drained soil, and trained to form a strong framework of flowering spurs.

Wisteria brachybotrys 'Showa-beni'
Apparently the pinkest Wisteria so far, this Japanese selection will produce short racemes of very large, fragrant pea-flowers in spring. Foliage silky hairy, especially when young. Strong growing, this is best trained on a sunny wall and pruned hard to form a framework of flowering spurs over time. For a well drained soil, but not particularly fussy otherwise.

Wisteria 'Caroline'
An early flowering form producing its 20cm long, 'bunch of grapes' like clusters of highly scented violet pea-flowers on the bare wood in spring. Best trained on a sunny wall and pruned hard in winter to from a rigid framework, and again lightly in summer to encourage strong flowering. Any reasonable, well drained soil. Grafted plant = early flowering.

Wisteria floribunda 'Alba'
Racemes of white pea flowers up to 60cm long hang in curtains from a well trained specimen of this Japanese Wisteria. Very vigorous growth should be trained into a framework of branches on a wall or pergola, and then hard pruned every year to produce good flowering spurs. Either that or send it up a tree and let nature take it's course.

Wisteria floribunda 'Multijuga'
A clone of this Japanese species selected for its very long racemes, up to 1m or more, so best suited to pergolas or dangling from bridges etc. Fragrant flowers are lilac, tinged blue-purple. Best hard pruned to achieve a good branch framework. Best in a sunny site in most ordinary soils. Grafted plant = early flowering.

Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'
A form of the Japanese Wisteria with long, tapered racemes of pale-pink, scented flowers as the leaves expand in May. Like any Wisteria, should be lightly pruned in summer and hard pruned in winter to 3 buds, forming over time a framework of flowering branch spurs. Suitable for covering arches, walls, bridges, pergolas or even full sized trees if you let it.

Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'
One of the finest forms of the classic Chinese Wisteria. This was selected for its abundant heads of highly fragrant, blue-violet, drooping racemes borne on the bare branches in Spring. This will flower from a very young age as it is a grafted clone. Prune lightly in summer and then hard in winter to form a framework of branches.

Woodwardia fimbriata
The 'Giant Chain fern' from NW America is potentially one of the biggest evergreen ferns we can grow in the UK. Rare until very recently, this elegant giant can send it's bright, fairly matt-green fronds up to 2m high. For a sheltered, shady position in humus rich soil. I've witnessed the beauty of this fern in the Santa Lucia Moutains of California.

Xanthorhiza simplicissima
'Yellow Root'. An attractive dwarf, gently suckering shrub usually reaching about 70cm, with a thicket of erect stems bearing delicate pinnate foliage. Loose drooping panicles of tiny, deep purple flowers in March, and bronzy-purple autumn colour. Best in moist, even clay soil.

Ypsilandra thibetica
Heloniopsis-relative. Stocky rosettes and lovely white flowers in spring. Height 10cm. Moist, humus rich soil in shade.

Yucca whipplei
Known in the USA as 'Our Lords Candle', which sums up the huge inflorescence quite nicely. A fine foliage plant, with pale blue-green, narrow foliage radiating out from the centre, the flower spike needs a few years to appear, but when it does it is a sight for sore eyes. Thousands of scented white flowers, edged purple, on a huge scape up to 4m high.

Yushania anceps 'Pitt White'
These are divisions, not seedlings, from the famous giant form that re-grew after flowering. It reached a staggering 9m at 'Pitt White', near Lyme Regis, Dorset, but will be a little smaller in less favourable climes. The tall culms bear plumes of smaller, rich-green, narrow foliage, and have a tendency to wander a bit, though this is easily controlled. Tough.

Yushania chungii
A very hardy, newly available, low-ish growing species from mountainous areas of S China, reaching about 2.5m only, with lovely pale-green-glaucous culms and contrasting hairy sheaths. The foliage is slim and attractive like most Yushania and the new shoots dark and bristly. Mildly spreading habit easily controlled. Very tolerant of differing soils and exposure.

Yushania ferax
This rarity from China is fairly new to cultivation. The leaves are dark glossy-green, elongated and narrow, up to 15cm long and only 9mm wide. It will probably get to about 3m high. This was introduced as a Fargesia.

Yushania sp. Yunnan 5
A new species of this ornamental genus, but with a twist, this one is a bit of a climber, using its recurved branches, distinctly red-tinted at their bases, to hook over tree limbs etc. Give it a position on the sunny side of a tree and allow to scramble up. Not quite as pretty as others in the genus, but I can't think of another hardy climbing bamboo. Totally unique.

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Green Goddess'
An Arum lily with the flowers mainly green with white throats, creating quite a different effect to the norm. A great cut flower. Up to 1m or more. Easy in sun, wet or dry.

Zanthoxylum oxyphyllum
A very vigorous and unusual, deciduous, Himalayan shrub with sometimes scandant stems, closely related to the 'Sichuan Pepper'. Heavily armed shoots and pinnate leaves act as a backdrop for clusters of none too visible lilac flowers. Give this one the space it deserves, and test your gardening friends with an ident'.

Zauschneria californica 'Olbrich Silver'
Bright orange-scarlet tubular flowers over a long period in late summer. Very silver-grey leaves and a bushy, creeping habit. For a well drained site in full sun. Heat and drought tolerant. Height 40cm.

Zingiber mioga
Yes, a hardy edible ginger! Japanese folk eat the fresh young shoots and even the flowers, though you'll probably want to leave them for their exotic effect in the garden. This woodlander sends stems of luscious foliage to 60cm and in autumn small, orchid-like, pale yellow flowers are seen at ground level. For good humusy soil in semi-shade.

Zizia aptera
One of the best yellow flowered umbellifers. Late spring. 60cm. For the sunny border. American.