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 …
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 …
Persicaria virginiana var. filiformis ‘Painters Palette’ Read More »
Once included in Senecio this soft wooded shrub will quickly grow to 3 metres or so and with its huge round furry leaves make a tropical statement in any garden. In winter it produces large panicles of tiny yellow daisies to add to the fun. It will grow well in sun or shade and although …
This Genus has something for everyone and this Asian evergreen shrub is a bit of an unsung hero of the group. It has narrow evergreen leaves on an elegant open framed shrub to 3or 4 metres. Don’t then use it to screen your weird behaviour from the neighbours! The panicles of tiny flowers are produced …
This blackberry relative from Asia must have one of the most beautiful leaves imaginable! The five leaflets are all pleated in a texturally stunning way and even this doesn’t prepare you for the silvery reverse. It is a suckering evergreen shrub to 2.5metres tall that likes a moist soil and some shade from the hottest …
This hardy small upright evergreen Chilean tree is a must in the garden with its light upright habit, its tiny gross green leaves and its incredible perfume. I have several around my garden as they make great quick screening plants that don’t grow too wide and I get to appreciate the scent from all over …
I have a great love of this evergreen shrub from New Zealand for several reasons. Firstly it is a first rate foliage plant with huge soft green leaves with a felty white reverse. secondly it is fairly cold tolerant but looks tropical, Thirdly it grows well in semi-shade and is comparatively drought tolerant and lastly …
This has to be about the strangest but none the less useful and pretty species in the Genus. It produces its pale green bells with purple stamens in the midst of winter and they are nectar rich bird feeders, so this alone should get you planting. Afterwards it has huge flufly seed heads in spring …
The New Zealand Pepper Bush is rarely grown in Australia but should be seen more. It has lovely heart shaped glossy green leaves on a dense bush to 3m tall and although the flowers aren’t particularly showy the green bullet shaped flower heads are interesting and add to the overall effect. the fact that it …
This has to be one of the best large shrubs for autumn colour with its large leaves that can be entire with a heart shape, have one lobe looking like a mitten or a lobe on both sides. So it is a great conversation piece as well as a great plant. It comes from Asia …