This is a very lovely dark leafed elder with leaves that seem almost black. It's very striking. Plant i fertile, moist and well-drained soil in full sun. It has pink flowers and is hardy. H&S about 10'.

Bright, golden-yellow pinnate leaves with small heads of creamy flowers followed by shiny red berries. The flowers which appears in spring, are scented. H&S 13' Grows in most soils and positions but will do best in a sheltered place in moderately fertile moist and well-drained soil. Hardy 2 litre pot.

This is one of those ‘stop you in your tracks’ plants. It has tiny white flowers on shiny, dark evergreen leaves and the perfume those flowers produce in winter is absolutely fantastic. It must be one of the best plants for scent that there is and to have that in winter is a big plus. Fully hardy, it likes humus rich, moist well drained soil and is very shade tolerant. Plant near a door or window. Put a sprig of it in the hall and perfume the house!

Dark green slender pointed evergreen leaves, attractive red stems and off-white flowers sometimes followed by black berries. The scent from the rather insignificant flowers is very strong and sweet and has to be experienced to be believed.

A dwarf Japanese bamboo with large, dark green very attractive leaves. It grows to about 4' tall and its spread is about 3'. Its vigorous evergreen habit make it a good low screen or ground cover. Plant in sun partial shade in moist soil. Hardy.

This is a very good container plant once it's established. It has a lot of yellow culms with green stripes and a curious 'belly' shape to them. In cold winters the young canes turn a wonderful red if planted in bright sun. It spreads if planted out so surround the roots with a non-perishable barrier that will restrict spread. Plant in humus-rich, moist well-drained soil. Hardy. H. can reach 14' with a spread of 10'. 2 litre pot

An evergreen shrub which is fully hardy, this has soft silvery leaves which mature to dark green. It has masses of bright yellow flowers and is a favourite with flower arrangers. Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. £5.50 2l pot

This quite rare shrub has waxy white flowers with a yellow centre. Its leaves are large and glossy though they can vary quite considerably in size. It's very, very important that this deciduous shrub is grown in a warm garden and sheltered from cold winds. It's moderately hardy but cold wind and late frost is the enemy to young plants in spring. So plant it in a warm, sunny spot where other trees and shrubs can give it a bit of protection, in moist, well-drained soil. However, avoid planting it near things that attract aphids and protect from slugs. It will take dappled shade, too.

A small tree with very attractive white flowers, which was planted here 60 years ago by Hyams, hence the query over its name. Whichever Staphylea it should be properly called, it is a most lovely tree and it's half hardy. Lime green coloured leaves in early spring followed by pendulous white flowers in May/June. Fragrant. Half hardy. This is a most unusual plant. £12.50 3l. pot

A lovely pink flowering variety, highly fragrant with an arching habit. Most soil types, moist but well-drained. Full sun. Hardy. H&S 12'

Highly scented dwarf lilac with pink/red single flowered blooms in spring. Sometimes flowers again in autumn. Grows to around 4'. Likes full sun and a humus rich, well-drained soil. Prune to shape after flowering. Hardy. 2l pot

Masses of large fragrant dark purple flowers every spring. H&S 18' Tolerant of alkaline soil so is often recommended for new build gardens still struggling with builders' rubble! Dead head after flowering and mulch in autumn with good organic matter or well-rotted compost.

Strongly fragrant pale purple-pink flowers in spring and summer. H&S 14' 2 litre pot

A beautiful very fragrant white lilac with double flowers in May & June with heart-shaped, fresh green leaves. Plant in full sun in a fertile humus-rich, well drained soil. Fully hardy. 2 litre pot

Lovely single wine red flowers, beautifully scented. H.13'

Best known as the Chusan palm, this handsome tree is hardy in the south west of England and is a strong architectural statement in the garden. Sold approx. 1' tall. 2l pot

This unusual shrub is evergreen and is sometimes called the Chilean guava. The strawberry-flavoured berries, which are edible, can be made into jam. It is long flowering with small, hanging, pink or sometimes white, flowers followed later in the year by the reddish-purple berries. It's said that the fruit was a favourite with Queen Victoria. 2l pot Hardy.

One of the best shrubs for scent, this deliciously perfumed shrub flowers in April and May and is fully hardy. Plant in full sun or partial shade in fairly fertile, moist, well-drained soil. H&S 8'. 2 litre pot

This beautiful shrub has fragrant pink-tinged white flowers in spring & leaves which turn purply red in autumn. It also produces blackish fruits. It's known as fragrant snowball and has a H&S of 8'. Likes most soils which are moist but well drained, part shade, full shade & full sun. 2 litre pot. Hardy.

Sweet scented pink flowers open from red buds in April to May. There's a purple hint to the leaves. Grows in any soil in sun or shade and is a deservedly popular early flowering shrub. 3litre pots

This is a compact form of the guelder rose which has bright yellow young maple-like foliage, turning to lime green as it ages. White, mob-cap type flowers in spring/summer followed by red berries in autumn. Plant in dappled shade in fertile, well-drained soil. H 6' S 3' Hardy

A very beautiful shrub which grows to about 12'. This has horizontally spreading branches which arrange themselves in natural tiers with white flower heads arranged in two parallel rows along the upperside of the spreading branches. Full sun or partial shade. Hardy. 2l pot

An unusual and very lovely aromatic shrub with palmate leaves, this has spires of lilac coloured flowers in summer, starting in July. Known as the Chaste Plant, it is widely sold as a herbal remedy and it's said that monks chewed the berries to suppress libido but we're not promoting it for anything other than its very attractive appearance! It's variously reported to grow slowly and to be a quick off the mark 'doer', which rapidly turns into a small tree, so.........! It's hardy to -5 at least and in our opinion has to be a most attractive addition to any garden as it's also attractive to butterflies. Needs moist but well drained soil, sun and shelter from cold winds. 2l pot (not available until March)

Goodness knows why this isn't grown more widely because it flowers for around two months every spring/summer with us. Its flowers age from cream to pink to red, giving various colours of flowers at any one time and grows to about 8' H&S. It deserves a place in any garden that has space for it. Sun or a little shade in most soils. Keep moist but well drained, salt and pollution tolerant. If pruning, do it immediately after flowering. 3l pot

A small deciduous shrub with purple tinged leaves and clusters of pink flowers in spring and summer. This is a very attractive plant with lovely foliage and flowers and is a good size for many gardens. H 4' S 3'

This plant has the wow factor and what's more, it's ideal for smaller spaces. Deciduous, it has clusters of flowers during May and June and sometimes a further flush of flowers in autumn. The very dark, black-purple foliage is a fantastic foil for the brightly coloured flowers. H&S 2'. 2 litre pot.

This very beautiful shrub has variegated green and white foliage and light pink flowers in summer. Plant in a sunny or part shaded position in moist well drained fertile soil for preference but it does well almost anywhere. Once it's established, prune after flowering and mulch occasionally. H&S 8'. Hardy. 2 litre pot.

This is a very pretty little shrub growing to just over 4' height & spread. It needs a sunny, well-drained spot and while we wouldn't describe it as bone hardy, it will take -6C or thereabouts for short periods. It also looks pretty grown in a container when it can then be moved into a greenhouse for winter in colder areas. It's known as Australian Rosemary but it is NOT edible. 2l pot