Full sun to light shade. Evergreen shrub up to about 12' tall. Leaves silvery/green at first, then dark green with a broad, central yellow blotch. Fully hardy. Good hedging plant in seaside areas. The small flowers are very highly perfumed. 2l pot

This really beautiful plant grows to about 14' and has long silvery leaves with tiny, highly scented flowers in summer. Grow in sun or a little shade in well-drained soil. This is a bit of a chic plant!
2l pot

Beloved by bees, Escallonias make good hedging or specimen plants and can be clipped to the desired height and shape after flowering. They tolerate most soils and like to be moist but well-drained in full sun or partial shade. Often seen in coastal gardens. 2l pot

Moderately fast growing to approx 3' tall x 5' spread. Good for a splash of colour and loved by flower arrangers. Happy in full sun. It cheers up a wintery garden. 2l pot

This handsome Mexican shrub likes to be in full sun. It's frost hardy and grows to around 4' here with cream flowers in Summer and Autumn, flowering over a long period. It is absolutely covered in bees and butterflies to whom it is obviously the equivalent of a 3* Michelin restaurant. Highly recommended to those who want to encourage wildlife.

This must be one of the best value shrubs there is. It needs no attention other than watering and the occasional feed and it flowers 8 or 9 months in the year. Looks good in containers or the border. It 'stops' itself, sending out new flowers at each axil and here has taken frosts down to -4 for short periods. (available spring 09) 2l

This has the same yellow daisy like flowers as its cousin but the leaves are an elegant grey-green and finely cut. Both are very handsome plants for the border or in urns either side of a gate, making a low, informal hedge, or edging a path. 2l pot

Frost tender shrub which is evergreen. Its deeply cut waxy leaves give an exotic look and it's a good architectural plant. It has white, ivy-type flowers in autumn and will grow in shady places or some sun but dislikes cold wind and frosts. Cover with horticultural fleece.
2l pot

This New Zealand Fuchsia, Kotukutuku, has purpleish flowers and produces a most unusual blue pollen. The berries are edible and taste good added to fruit salad. At maturity (10 to 20 years) it's said to reach about 40 feet but ours hasn't read the books and has stopped around 8 feet! In all but the coldest gardens, it's hardy but likes a sheltered spot and here, in normal years, it flowers in January. The bark is interesting growing red and papery and then peeling to hang in ribbons from the branches. This is one for the plantsman. 1 litre pot.

Enchantingly tiny, miniature flowers in masses matched by equally tiny leaves. In sheltered gardens makes a delightful informal hedge but won't take much frost. In our garden if cut down by frost, it comes back the next year.

A low-growing dwarf shrub with very glossy, dark green leaves and single, highly scented white flowers. The first flush of flowers appears in early summer but it continues to flower sporadically throughout the season. It needs a frost-free spot in partial shade, or can be brought indoors for the winter. It needs neutral to acid soil that is moist but free draining. 2l pot

A good hedging plant in mild coastal areas. Will go to -12C but doesn't like cold winds. Handsome, glossy evergreen leaves. It likes to be in well drained good soil and full sun. Trim back in late spring if necessary. 2l pot

Also known as Witchhazel, the spidery yellow flowers of this beautifully fragrant shrub cheer up any winter garden from December to February. Thrives in sun or shade but does like shelter from cold winds. Hardy. 2l pot.

An early flowering, compact variety, Annabelle produces enormous spherical flower heads, 12 inches across, in abundance, beginning in June. It's one of the most beautiful of the Hydrangeas and deserves a place in any garden. H&S 5'x5'. 2l pot

Pink/blue mophead incurving florets incurve, very attractive. Don't allow to dry out and plant in a shady spot with partial sun. 2l pot

This is a medium sized shrub which makes a neat rather rounded bush. It is grown mainly for its distinctive foliage which give rise to the name. The leaves carry four colours - pale and dark green, cream and a clear white shade. The lacecaps are either light blue or light pink. 2l. pot 7.50 2l pot

A graceful, large, shrub with arching branches bearing panicles of cream flowers. 2l pot

A lovely creamy flowered Hydrangea with a deeply lobed leaf rather like an oak leaf. The leaves have wonderful autumnal tints. Plant in full sun or partial shade - it's not very fussy as to soil type. Young plants do need shelter from winter cold and chilly winds.
H&S 6'. Hardy. 2l pot.