Category: Foliage plants
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Dahlia excelsa
This is a rarer tree Dahlia that I find in many ways better suited to my garden and climate that the common D. imperialis. For a start it is usually slightly smaller topping out at about 3.5 metres tall with smaller and more interesting leaves. The flowers are a richer mauve and with a flatter
Stephen Ryan
Viburnum sargentii ‘Onondaga’
How could I ever live without Viburnums and this one has to be close to the top of the list of must have forms. I well remember seeing it for the first time at the Chelsea Flower Show in full bloom and it blew me away. But why is it so good? Its lace cape
Stephen Ryan
Eryngium pandanifolia
The Genus of Sea Hollies contains a fair few that seem to have little visually in common with Holly and this one from South America proves the point. It is an evergreen perennial with long strappy leaves to 1.5metres long with fine sharp spines along the edges so that dead leaf removal needs to be
Stephen Ryan
Viburnum setigerum
This Genus has almost everything! Some are scented some and deciduous,some are evergreen,some have huge flower clusters, some have great berries. In fact if you ever wanted to collect a Genus without it dominating your garden then this could be it! My selected species is a rarely seen one from China and its assets are
Stephen Ryan
Euphorbia cyparissias ‘Fens Ruby’
This huge Genus has innumerable garden worthy species and one could open a nursery specialising in them! This stunning little thug I imported from Beth Chatto’s garden in England some years back and never get tied of it. It loves a sunny aspect and will sucker all over the place making it a great choice
Stephen Ryan
Stachyurus salicifolia
This plant has to be elegance personified so obviously you need one! I grew it some years ago from imported seed having never seen it but I was already in love with the Genus as I already stock S. praecox, S. himalaicus, and S.yunnanensis. This plant grows to about 2metres with long arching stems clothed with evergreen
Stephen Ryan
Canna compacta
There is something softer and more subtle about the species Cannas compared to the vast majority of Hybrid ones. Not that I necessarily want subtle when I want a Canna! This one if you except it as a species (some authorities don’t) grows to about a metre tall and has classic green leaves over topped
Stephen Ryan
Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’
This is a stunning perennial to about 1metre each way that will get to full size in the one growing season. The main point is the foliage which is a dark plum colour with silvery V shaped patterns on each leaf. It does flower and these are an added bonus in the autumn as these
Stephen Ryan
Desfontainia spinosa
I love the flora from South America and having had the chance to visit Peru, Argentina and Chile over the years has only stimulated this interest. I have however been growing this evergreen shrub for about 35 years and never loose interest in it. The leaves could easily be mistaken for those of a holly
Stephen Ryan
Aucuba chinensis
I love plants with bold gutsy foliage particularly if they grow well in the shade and this evergreen shrub which obviously hails from China certainly does. It will grow to about 3metres tall and has glossy heavily veined leaves that can get to about 30cms. long and that at least for the time being is
Stephen Ryan