A southern European plant which grows in pine woods, olive groves and heavily grazed land from south west Spain to Greece. Sometimes evergreen but summer dormant here these last few years. A.
This beautiful new variety with icy mauve flowers has the same growth habit and flower structure as the popular Aster ‘Ruby Buttons. Metre tall arching stems are covered with flowers through most of March and April.
A plant of mostly dry ground in the eastern parts of the USA, this species does well for us. Aster ‘Calliope’ was raised in the 1890s at the RHS gardens and is more elegant in flower than most Easter daisies.
‘Ruby Buttons’ is one of a new breed of Easter Daisy bred for the commercial cut flower trade as much as for the garden. 100cm tall stems clothed in glossy green, pointed leaves carry heads of full double ruby purple flowers in autumn.
The best white flowered Bergenia we know with good tough foliage and the old leaves colouring well in winter. The flower stems are held well above the leaves and have horizontal secondary stems which display the white flowers beautifully.
A newly imported dwarf growing variety, with quite narrow glossy evergreen leaves which turn rich plum during cold weather. The flower heads are large in relation to the foliage clumps and the flowers are bright coral pink.
‘Sea Heart’, a stunning new introduction, has strong textured heart shaped silver leaves with green edging and green veins. 50cm tall stems of blue for-get-me-not flowers are produced during late spring and early summer.
‘Silver Heart’ is a wonderful new introduction with silver heart shaped leaves lightly veined green. The leaves are strongly textured and stand heat and humidity well. Blue for-get-me-not flowers are produced on 50cm tall stems during late spring and early summer.
A really good foliage and flowering plant for shade. Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ has silver, heart shaped basal leaves which are hidden during spring and early summer by clouds of true blue for-get-me-not flowers held well above the foliage on thin wiry stems.
This superb new small growing violet-black flowered Buddleja is part of the venerable English company, Thompson and Morgan's cutting edge breeding program.
The clearest pink flowered of all the Buddlejas. Very large trusses over a long season and handsome grey leaves. One of our favourites and a mainstay in our double borders where we cut it down to 80cm each winter. 200cm x 180cm. Sun loving and drought tolerant.
These ‘Buzz’™ series are the first truly dwarf Buddlejas to be released on the Australian market. Suited to growing in pots as well as small gardens, it took ten years of dedicated and painstaking breeding work to develop these award winning plants.
I remember my late father being very taken by this when he visited Australia and planted lots of it in my brother’s Monbulk garden. A frost hardy, drought tolerant evergreen shrub which from early summer until late autumn turns itself into cumulus clouds of soft grey flowers.
In his superb book Guide To Plants Paul Bangay writes that this ornamental grass, which he has planted in his own garden, is "a stand-out plant that makes a huge statement when planted en masse...the first to flower and the last to finish".
An excellent garden or pot specimen plant with large 4-5cm long bell flowers. Best in light shade in hotter districts. Some extra irrigation in the summer preferred. 30 x 40cm.
This fine selection carries 2cm long, flared bell shaped flowers over evergreen mounds of small glossy green leaves. Good in sun or light shade. 20cm tall by 30cm across.
This is a really good trailing groundcover for a shady spot in the garden where for many spring and summer months it will cover itself with upward facing white eyed, lavender-blue flowers. Evergreen and very tough needing only the occasional watering when once established.
This distinctive variety of Japanese sedge has arching green leaves edged with white. It is a beautiful pot plant as well as making a dense groundcover. It will grow well in difficult courtyard and other small city gardens as long as it is watered during dry periods.
A distinctive Japanese sedge with arching green leaves. Carex oshimensis 'Evergreen' is beautiful in a pot as well as making a dense groundcover. It will grow in a difficult courtyard and small city garden if well irrigated.
Caryopteris are tough drought tolerant deciduous shrubs which, happily for us, flower for a long time during late summer and autumn. ‘Lisaura’ is the best of the gold leaf forms.
Widely grown as a tough and drought tolerant plant for full sun which we find is best where it gets no water at all or is forced to compete with tree roots. Takes shade where its light coloured foliage excels. 100cm x 120cm.
Considered the best of the C. x laxus selections by the world authority on the genus, Bob Page. Page writes that it was, "raised by Eric Sammons, [has] the best - vigorous, hardy, floriferous, rounded habit".
