Collinsonia canadensis

An impressive and little-grown lamiaceae from North America - tall, with broad lush leaves - almost indistinguishable from some good forms of Hydrangea arborescens. The amber-yellow flowers top them off nicely in late summer/autumn. 

Good in dry shade and chalky soils and flowering when little else is. A fully hardy and easy-going woodlander that should be much more widely grown.
£10

Lithodora hispidula versicolor

A dense sub-shrub from the eastern Mediterranean, with dark green foliage and tubular flowers that change from pale pink to sky blue in spring. 

Has suffered not at all in the recent freeze, unlike many things, and grows happily in dry chalky soils in full sun here at the nursery. Highly recommended, and unavailable elsewhere.

£8

Drynaria sinica

An Asiatic polypody-like fern with nicely textured pinnate fronds up to about 10ins long, on creeping rhizomes. The new growth is coppery-pink.

Unlike most Drynaria this is a hardy species - suitable for woodland gardens, and it does much better than I would have expected in dry shade. In humid circumstances it can be encouraged to grow as an epiphyte on wood or rocks.
£10

Adiantum venustum

The hardy maidenhair fern. A real classic - every garden should have it. Genuinely hardy and remarkably happy in dry shade, gradually spreading to form extensive colonies.

An exquisite foil for any collection of choice woodlanders.
£10

Aristolochias

Aristolochia baetica

A climber from southern Spain and Portugal that can be seen there twining about among the shrubs with its grey heart shaped leaves and maroon pitcher-shaped flowers. It’s one of the more vigorous and obvious of the Mediterranean species and worth trying in a sheltered sunny well-drained site. 

I recommend planting it under a smallish shrub like a Cistus or broom and letting it grow forward among the branches. Even if it gets frosted the roots will usually regenerate well
£10

Aristolochia sempervirens from Toulon

A very special form of this species from the South of France with relatively large, lush foliage (up to about 3ins long), a more vigorous climbing habit and very refined, richly coloured flowers. Hardy.

Very nice indeed.
£10

Dichorisandra pendula

I don't normally do houseplants but I'm making an exception for this lovely species from Brazil, which is still rare in the trade but easy to grow with ordinary home temperatures, moderate to bright light and the compost kept evenly moist. Humidity doesn't seem to be an issue.

It has an exceptionally elegant graceful habit - somewhat like a willowy ginger, and produces lavender blue flowers all summer. Like most commelinaceae (Tradescantia etc) the individual flowers only last a day but are produced continuously throughout the growing season. The foliage is deep glossy green.

A lovely thing - every home should have one.

Sold out for now. Please enquire

Persicaria filiformis Guizhou Bronze PAB 9127

A rather gorgeous form of the species with less conspicuous black markings than normal filiformis but the leaves have a wonderful rich brassy tint and the whole plant is more luxuriant. 

Adaptable but best in moist rich soils in semi shade.
£8