Category: Collector Plants
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Convallaria majalis var. rosea
Lily of the valley is one of those iconic flowers that we all seem to have a soft spot for. It is not always easy to make it happy but a site with good light but no direct sun shine in a moisture retentive soil heavily laced with compost and leaf mould is a good
Stephen Ryan
Symphoricarpos albus
The Snow berry from North America is a tough as guts deciduous shrub to about a metre and a half with rounded leaves and clusters of stunning white berries in late summer and autumn. It does tend to sucker fairly strongly so allow it room or be prepared to extract those that wander too far.
Stephen Ryan
Rubus lineatus
This has to be one of the best foliage plants that I grow. It is a Raspberry (or Blackberries) relative which makes suckering clumps of bamboo like stems up to 3metres tall. Its compound palmate leaves are beautifully pleated with a silvery reverse and evergreen. It likes moist semi-shade and can make large colonies if
Stephen Ryan
Sambucus nigra canadensis ‘Maxima’
Apparently the name of this plant at least for now. I brought it in to Australia without the nigra bit in its name. What ever you call it it is a great hardy suckering deciduous shrub to 3metres with heads of tiny white scented flowers in late spring and early summer that can be over
Stephen Ryan
Actinidia kolomikta
There are some plants out there that will always attract attention and this has to be one! It is a member of the same Genus as those furry little Kiwi fruit that have become indispensable on a pavlova. But it is for its amazing variegated leaves that you grow this plant. The variegation rarely presents
Stephen Ryan
Disporum uniflorum
This elegant woodland plant from Asia is a favourite of mine. It makes neat clumps of stems to 60cms. tall with fresh green foliage and pendant yellow bells in high spring. It likes classic woodland conditions with overhead deciduous shade and a soil rich in humus and if these requirements are met all should be
Stephen Ryan
Exochorda giraldii
One of the highlights of spring has to be the Pearl Bush (Exochorda) with its pearl like flower buds opening to a mass of pure white blossom. It is a hardy deciduous shrub to 3 or 4 metres that is cold hardy and sun tolerant and will in fact grow well in almost any sunny
Stephen Ryan
Chaenomeles ‘Peach Melba’
The flowering Quinces or as they are often known “Japonicas” are a group of extremely hardy more or less deciduous shrubs with late winter flowers that are elegant as free standing shrubs or fantastic as hedges. The flowers in a vase can make you look like an expert flower arranger! Any aspect that isn’t soggy
Stephen Ryan
Ferula linkii
This amazing perennial comes from the Canary Islands and is one of the tallest of the Genus that in flower can reach 3 to 4metres tall. Its foliage comes up in winter and looks like Fennel on steroides and in fact they are commonly called Giant Fennel and where the botanical name comes from. The
Stephen Ryan
Ribes speciosum
Flowering Currants are usually hardy shrubs and perhaps a little old fashioned in the eyes of some although the Honeyeaters seem to still love them. The above species from California is however something quite different with its spiny arching stems and pendant scarlet tubular flowers in late winter and early spring. It is drought tolerant
Stephen Ryan