Author: Stephen Ryan
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Gingko biloba ‘Saratoga’
We all know about the Maiden Hair tree, the Wollemi Pine of its time. Known only from fossils in coal and found throughout the world imagine the amazement when the real thing was found in China. What is often not known is that the Gingko is a conifer relative even though it hardly looks like
Stephen Ryan
Colletia paradoxa
If there was ever a plant that should be planted under the bedroom window this is it. I would certainly stop anyone from escaping that way! It is a large shrub with almost no foliage but with green winged and seriously spiny branches which have given it the names of Anchor Plant and Crucifix Plant.
Stephen Ryan
Tulbaghia cominsii
This group of hardy perennials is well known for the mauve flowered species T. violacea commonly called society garlic even though its oniony flavour is perhaps marginally useful in cooking. The plant however is a good thing in the garden. Perhaps even less useful in the kitchen because of its tiny stature but none the
Stephen Ryan
x Mahoberberis aquisargentii
We can never have enough tough shade tolerant shrubs that can also take it dry and with this in mind I imported this bizarre cross between Mahonia aquifolia and Berberis sargentii in 2003, so I thought it about time I promoted it! It will grow to about 1.5metres each way with stems erupting from ground
Stephen Ryan
Narcissus ‘Angel’s Breath’
Spring might be a fair way away but don’t forget that if you want to enjoy spring you need to have the bulbs in! This tiny Narcissus triandrus hybrid bred by Rod Barwick in Tasmania has to be one of my best sellers each spring so you will probably miss out if you wait till
Stephen Ryan
Viburnum henryi
The Genus Viburnum is a remarkable one with a huge diversity of uses and features. In fact you could have a whole garden made up of nothing but and it would be interesting and exciting, with evergreen and deciduous, some with scent,some with berries, some with autumn colour, some with tiered branches or round ground
Stephen Ryan
Watsonia aletroides
This has to be the most elegant species I have grown in this Genus of hard to kill South African corms. It shows no sign of weediness with me and yet will grow in any well drained sunny site. It grows to about 30cms. tall with tubular coral flowers with a paler tip in late
Stephen Ryan
Rubus rugosus
There are blackberries and there are blackberries! I spend a lot of time destroying the weedy ones and almost no time tending this handsome beastie. It has long arching canes so needs a fence or other support to tie it back to and the oldest canes need removing every couple of years otherwise it couldn’t
Stephen Ryan
Tropaeolum ciliatum
I love herbaceous perennial climbers as I can grow them over other plants getting double value for the one spot. By their very nature they can only get so big in one growing season and then will die back again. This South American species grows throughout the summer flowering as it goes well into the
Stephen Ryan
Malus tschonoskii
God knows how one should pronounce the species name of this fabulous Japanese Crab Apple but don’t let that put you off buying one! It is an upright, even slender tree that would make it a good alternative to those hackneyed upright Pear trees that everyone and their dog seems to be planting! And it
Stephen Ryan