The late Alan Bloom raised many good garden plants in his nursery in the east of England over the last sixty years of the 20th century. Agapanthus ‘Isis’ is one of them. Read more about Agapanthus campanulatus ‘Isis’
MOST POPULAR In his fine book “Guide To Plants” Paul Bangay writes that “I use this in all my gardens as it is such a long-flowering plant and has a very distinct and unusual flower colour”. Read more about Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’
This super frost hardy aloe relative from Southern Africa makes a shrub some 150cm tall by as much wide shrub. The striated stems are well clothed with narrow dark green succulent leaves. Read more about Aloiampelos striatula
This most graceful ornamental grass was given the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society for very good reasons. Thin arching evergreen leaves turn copper, gold and orange during autumn and winter. Read more about Anemanthele lessoniana
This Japanese windflower is more compact than older varieties producing its semi-double, rose pink flowers, on strong 50-60cm tall stems from late summer until late autumn. Good in large pots as well as in a protected area in the garden. Read more about Anemone x hybrida ‘Falling in Love Sweetly’
Aster ‘Lady in Black’ was raised by Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf. It is a dramatic plant with black leaves clothing stiff upright 80cm tall stiff stems. Read more about Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’
This noble plant has been cultivated in western gardens for at least 200 years and was a feature of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello garden. It will produce strong stems some 150cm tall carrying 10cm across lemon yellow flower heads. Read more about Centaurea macrocephala
This is the only perpetual flowering Chrysanthemum I’ve ever grown. From spring until early winter and beyond this plant produces a continual display of small bronze-red flowers. I grew it in pots at the front door last season but it is just as happy in the garden. Read more about Chrysanthemum ‘Buninyong Bronze’
Cotoneaster dammeri is one of the best of all evergreen ground covers. It makes a mat of small dark green leathery leaves and its prostrate stems root where they touch the soil. Its flowers are fragrant and during autumn and winter the bright red berries are showy. Read more about Cotoneaster dammeri
Plants which thrive in dry shade are few and far between. Cotyledon ‘Silver Shadow’ with its intensely silver white succulent leaves lightens an otherwise gloomy corner between and under two cypresses in the dry garden. 50cm x 60cm. Read more about Cotyledon orbiculata ‘Silver Shadow’
This is one of the best forms of Italian Pencil Pine. It is very narrow in growth and very fast growing. Plants in our new Mediterranean garden have grown 2.5 metres tall in three years and they are already making a strong architectural statement. Read more about Cupressus sempervirens ‘Glauca’
This superb tree Dalia, raised in New Zealand by Dr. Keith Hammett, has all the virtues. The beautiful lilac pink flowers, which deepen towards the golden central boss, sway above 200cm tall stems clothed with elegant foliage. Read more about Dahlia ‘Timothy Hammett’
Native to Japan and China Deutzia scabra makes a 2 metre tall shrub clothed in handsome foliage. ‘Candidissima’, grown in western gardens since the 1869s carries large clusters of honey scented double white flowers on arching branches during late spring and early summer. Read more about Deutzia scabra ‘Candidissima’
From a base of handsome, bright green, heart shaped leaves beautifully formed lemon yellow daisies are carried on 30-40cm tall stems during spring and early summer. Easy to grow if given shelter from hot north winds and a little light shade. Read more about Doronicum orientale ‘Little Leo’
There are few shrubs which brighten the late winter landscape better than Forsythias. F. ‘Lynwood Gold’ covers all its branches with very large deep canary yellow flowers. A tough shrub wanting a sunny position and needing very little supplementary water. Read more about Forsythia ‘Lynwood Gold’
Hellebores are easy to grow requiring minimal maintenance. Trim flowering stems back to ground level late spring and top dress with good compost at least every other year when grown in the garden. Read more about Helleborus x hybridus ‘Sophies Delight’
Hellebores are easy to grow requiring minimal maintenance. Trim flowering stems back to ground level late spring and top dress with good compost at least every other year when grown in the garden. ‘Tutu’ has beautifully elegant, ruffled centres with pale pink, flecked petals. Read more about Helleborus x hybridus ‘Tutu’
Day lilies which repeat flower are always useful plants. Dark red purple almost black flowers are produced, from late spring here until quite late in the autumn. I divide and replant dwarf day lilies every 3 or 4 years. Read more about Hemerocallis fulva ‘Black Stockings’
Classically variegated foliage with vivid green margins and decorative gold centres. Hostas are vigorous in growth when grown in the shade and if well watered will make a 40cm tall by 60cm wide clumps. Ideal for pots. Read more about Hosta ‘Beach Boy’
A compact variegated Hosta that forms an attractive dense mound of smooth heart shaped blue-green leaves, splashed with bright yellow centre lines. Bell-shaped lavender blooms in late summer.
30-60cm x 60-90cm Read more about Hosta ‘Catherine’
A wonderful blue hosta that holds its strong leaf colour all season. Bell-shaped pale lilac flowers are followed by seed heads that attract birds in late season. Partial to full shade.
50-60cm x 40-50 cm Read more about Hosta ‘Halcyon’
Brilliant red flowers age to salmon-orange on this new dwarf Red Hot Poker. The evergreen tussock of dark green glossy leaves produce 50cm tall flower stems from late spring until mid-autumn if spent stems are removed. Read more about Kniphofia ‘Poco Sunset’
This most beautiful of all the feather grasses is a hybrid between Miscanthus sinensis and M. transmorrisonensis. From early in the new year until winter arching feathers on slightly arching leafy stems gives ‘Fallingwater’ elegance, movement and form. Read more about Miscanthus ‘Fallingwater’
Our most admired grass last year when its golden tassels were lit by the low morning sun. It makes good arching clumps of dark green leaves during spring, summer and autumn. Read more about Miscanthus nepalensis
This superb dwarf growing Miscanthus will carry dozens of bronze-pink feathery plumes over arching leaves, green with a silver mid-rib. The flowers age to silver and the foliage changes to orange, gold and burgundy during autumn. Read more about Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’
