Category: Collector Plants
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Sambucus nigra ‘Linearis’
If you hanker after a cut leafed Japanese maple but can’t have one due to climatic constraints then perhaps this is the plant for you. It is a hardy deciduous shrub to 1.5metres tall and wide with foliage so fine that from a distance it looks like green smoke! and it has clusters of tiny
Stephen Ryan
Mitraria coccinea
Something less like the ubiquitous African Violet would seem almost impossible but this South American trailing evergreen shrub is in fact in the same family. It will trail across the ground, grow up anything it is tried to or make an interesting hanging basket subject if you are into such things (I find they dry
Stephen Ryan
Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’
I have a love hate relationship with Lilacs I love the flowers but in general hate the bush. They are one week wonders and scruffy for most of the time. Sorry if I have offended anyone! What I would like is to have friends with lots of well established bushes that would kindly give me
Stephen Ryan
Ruscus hypoglossum
This has to be the ultimate plant for dry shade, in fact it will grow in the driest and darkest shade you can find so anywhere that almost no other plant will survive will be ideal for this one! It is in fact an evergreen perennial to about 1metre tall that acts more like a
Stephen Ryan
Magnolia macrophylla
When big is definitely better this Magnolia must be the record holder in lots of different ways. It can grow to 20metres tall with soft green paddle like leaves to 90cms. long and huge white flowers stained with purple and strongly scented. It can take some years to bloom but it is definitely worth it
Stephen Ryan
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Golden Sun’
I love Liquidambars for all sorts of reasons. They are tough and have not only done remarkably well through the long years of drought but also came up with flying colours (quite literally!) after the very wet summer we had a couple of years back when Cherries and Smoke bushes drowned. They will colour in
Stephen Ryan
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
This stunning large tree from Japan and China is rarely seen or planted in Australia and I guess that it would be all but impossible to grow in most districts due to heat but anyone who lives in the cooler hill station parts of Australia should consider getting one (or several for a copse or
Stephen Ryan
Picea abies ‘Reflexa’
If you are looking for something a bit different for your garden then perhaps this vegetable version of “Cousin It” from the Adams Family could be just the ticket! It is a weeping form of Norway Spruce and will trail along the ground or spill over a bank unless trained up a stake. It can
Stephen Ryan
Otatea acuminata
This has to be one of the worlds most beautiful bamboos, at least in my humble opinion! and what a good doer it is. It is a clumping species although the clump can get quite wide and the arching stems can grow to 3metres long or more. the leaves are very fine and the whole
Stephen Ryan
Acis autumnalis
They can’t get much daintier than the autumn snowflake! Once included in Leucojum this tiny bulb will suddenly erupt out of the ground as the days shorten and if in large enough clumps will be quite telling in a rock garden or ornamental pot. A small clump will soon become a good sized one and
Stephen Ryan