Home » Articles posted by stephenryan

Author Archives: stephenryan

Vitis coignetiae
Posted on December 6, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Climbing plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, shade tolerant
The Chinese Glory Vine has huge heavily viewed leaves that turn glorious colours in autumn and is a first rate climber to cover pergolas and fences. it gives an exuberant almost tropical meets the Mediterranean! Can grow to 20 metres long and do it fairly fast in a well drained but not too dry aspect. […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
ampelopsis aconitifolia
Posted on December 1, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, berries, Climbing plants, Collector Plants, Foliage plants
A Chinese deciduous climber in the grapevine family that makes an ideal plant to grow on an obelisk or post as it isn’t too vigorous. It is grown principally for its lovely leaves that turn yellow in autumn although its clusters of multicoloured berries are lovely in autumn. any sunny to semi shaded aspect with […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Clethra fargesii
Posted on November 17, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, beautiful bark, Collector Plants, Deciduous, Good for cutting, scented, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest
This large Chinese shrub can reach 4metres each way and if you have the right aspect and enough space it certainly pays its way! Its white lily of the valley style flowers are produced in midsummer and are beautifully fragrant with a musky scent. the dead flowers hang like copper bangles and the autumn foliage […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’
Posted on October 27, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Collector Plants, Deciduous, Good for cutting
This pink flowered version of the Asian dogwood will slowly grow into a small deciduous tree to 4metres or so with flat tiers of branches on top of which sit the soft pink starry flowers in early summer. the Asian species don’t get the nasty Anthrachnose disease that attracts the North American forms and so […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Pittosporum tobira
Posted on August 22, 2018 by stephenryan in drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, perfumed, shade tolerant, Shrubs
I am not a fan of the usual plants sold in this Genus as most grow into decrepit old age and are used to cover fences and screen the neighbours in new houses that are to be sold post haste. I guess any plant can be ruined by overuse but I have to say ‘James […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Rubus cockburnianus
Posted on July 28, 2018 by stephenryan in beautiful bark, Collector Plants, Deciduous, Shrubs, winter interest
It is not every nursery owner that would recommend a Blackberry to their clients, but I am not every nursery owner! The Ghost Bramble is a thicket making arching shrub with grey green leaves and small white flowers which really comes into its own in winter when the plant is bare and its white coated […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Puya mirabilis
Posted on July 18, 2018 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials, winter interest
The Genus comes from Central and southern America and is in the pineapple family but unlike many of the Genera Puya is a cool to cold climate group and so are ideal in gardens in southern Australia. most are frighteningly spiny often with recurved spikes that will let you in but not let you out! […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Oxalis flava
Posted on July 6, 2018 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, winter interest
This complex species conglomerate consists of various coloured flower forms as well as different leaf types that are often so different from each other that it seems hard to reconcile them all as a single species when so many Galanthus as an example look so similar and yet are given species status. Be that as it may […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Dendriopoterium menendezii
Posted on April 4, 2018 by stephenryan in beautiful bark, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, self seeds, Shrubs, winter interest
This mouthful of a name belongs to a very hardy evergreen shrub from the Canary Islands that grows to a couple of metres tall and wide. It has an open framework of branches with coppery bark and it produces spikes of tiny pink flowers with green sepals in spring. It is however for its attractive […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...
Ampelopsis aconitifolia
Posted on March 26, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, berries, Climbing plants, Collector Plants, Deciduous, drought tolerant, Foliage plants
This rarely used deciduous vine from China is one of my favourite foliage climbers with its deeply cut bright green leaves it always makes a statement. It flowers are tiny and of no consequence but the tiny orange berries are pretty. The leaves turn yellow before shedding. I grow it on a metal tripod that […]
No Comments. Continue Reading...