Category: Perfumed
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Pittosporum tobira
I am not a fan of the usual plants sold in this Genus as most grow into decrepit old age and are used to cover fences and screen the neighbours in new houses that are to be sold post haste. I guess any plant can be ruined by overuse but I have to say ‘James
Stephen Ryan
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Aureomarginatus’
As the national collection holder of the Genus Osmanthus I thought it about time to feature at least one and the one I’ve chosen is the above as I have a half good picture of it. It is a hardy evergreen shrub to about 2metres with handsome gold variegated holly like leaves that would be
Stephen Ryan
Brachyglottis repanda
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
Stephen Ryan
Hamamelis intermedia ‘Pallida’
This amazing Genus of deciduous and mainly winter flowering shrubs are a joy in any sheltered garden in the cooler climates. I have a specimen of ‘Pallida’ in my nursery display garden that was planted in 1986 and it is now about 4metres tall and with its spreading horizontal branches at least 6metres across. I
Stephen Ryan
Skimmia x confusa
This Genus contains all evergreen shrubs of dense rounded habit that usually don’t grow more than about a metre tall by as wide in about 10 years. This supposed hybrid will rarely grow even half as tall. They all like constant shade as direct sun can bleach or even burn the leaves. They are all
Stephen Ryan
Tree Paeonia
What flower in the world is more breath taking than that of the tree peony. The size is amazing the texture exotic and the plant is loaded with history. If you want to grow them well a sunny spot without tree root competition is best (if you could grow good vegies you should be able
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
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
Montanoa leucantha var. arborescens
If you like plants that virtually erupt out of the ground then the Mexican tree daisies could be the plant for you! They grow in much the same way as tree Dahlias putting on metres of growth from ground level in a season so as to be as much as 4metres or more by flowering
Stephen Ryan
Osmanthus fortunei
This has to be one of the great perfumed shrubs and tough as they come. It flowers in the autumn and the tiny white blossoms perfume the surrounds with what I think is the scent of ripe apricots! The foliage is rich green and somewhat holly like in the plants youth but as it ages
Stephen Ryan