Category Archives: shade tolerant

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  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. […]

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  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 […]

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  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 […]

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  Mahonia gracilipes

  Posted on February 19, 2018 by stephenryan in berries, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest

  This is definitely the exception to the rule when it comes to this Genus. It is summer flowering instead of autumn winter as with most others, and isn’t yellow! An extremely slow growing evergreen shrub from China that was described in 1887 but only got to Australia via me in 1998 or there about. This […]

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  Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Aureomarginatus’

  Posted on January 30, 2018 by stephenryan in drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, perfumed, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest

  As the national collection holder of the Genus Osmanthus I thought it about time to feature at least one and the one I’ve chosen is the above as I have a half good picture of it. It is a hardy evergreen shrub to about 2metres with handsome gold variegated holly like leaves that would be […]

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  Euonymus fortunei ‘Colorata’

  Posted on January 24, 2018 by stephenryan in autumn colour, berries, Climbing plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good for cutting, Ground cover, shade tolerant, Shrubs, winter interest

  This has to be one of the most indestructible plants I grow so could be something everyone should plant except it would then be as common as muck which it is in Europe and America! It can be grown as a lax shrubby ground cover , trailed over a large bank or espaliered along a […]

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  Parthenocissus henryana

  Posted on December 11, 2017 by stephenryan in autumn colour, Climbing plants, Deciduous, drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, shade tolerant

  The Chinese silver vein creeper has to be one of the most useful climbers I grow for all of the following reasons. It will grow well in sun or shade and is about the only autumn colouring plant I know that will turn stunning shades in either. The leaves in shade will however have the […]

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  Helwingia chinensis

  Posted on November 26, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, drought tolerant, evergreen, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, shade tolerant, Shrubs, Woodlanders

  this plant isn’t going to set the world on fire but I think it is an interesting and worthy addition to the garden for the following reasons. Most importantly I imported it!!!! But seriously it is an interesting evergreen shrub to 2 to 3metres with handsome evergreen leaves on a shrub with a tiered branch […]

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  Sanguinaria canadensis

  Posted on September 8, 2017 by stephenryan in Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Perennials, shade tolerant, Woodlanders

  The Canadian Blood Root is a stunning if ephemeral woodlander from “you guessed it” as well as the USA. The single poppy flowers last only a few days but what a joy they are. The green scalloped leaves are charming and will keep you entertained for months afterward and as it doesn’t take up all […]

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  Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis ‘Painters Palette’

  Posted on September 2, 2017 by stephenryan in Bog plants, Foliage plants, Good Pot Plant, Perennials, self seeds, shade tolerant

  This isn’t a plant for the timid gardener so I obviously love it! In the non variegated form it is a North American native and worth growing for its green leaves with a red-brown chevron about half way. It also produces spikes of tiny white flowers from deep pink buds at the end of the […]

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