Euonymus nanus turkestanicus

A creeping evergreen species, quite different to the others with small narrow dark green leaves along wide-spreading stems. The leaves turn rich red brown shades in winter.

The flowers, though small, are plentiful and well worth looking out for. Small red spindle berries may follow.

Excellent in dry shade but very adaptable.
£12

Alloberberis (Mahonia) nevinii

 

Most of the Mahonias we grow in the UK are forest dwellers, preferring moist shady conditions, but there are quite a number of species from the drier parts of the USA - now known as Alloberberis - that are rarely seen but well worth having - especially if your garden is well-drained and without much shade.

I have plants on the nursery of A.nevinii collected from cultivated plants in California by Dennis Carvalho. The foliage has a marvellous colour and form - the pale veined coppery red new growth turning to sea green, and has an unusual thin scratchy texture. The flowers are a fresh soft yellow and are followed by red fruits.

Ultimately they will make quite a dense shrub eventually up to 4 or 5 feet high. Fully hardy and very drought tolerant.

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Calycanthus occidentalis

A lovely lush medium sized shrub from California with fresh green aromatic leaves and good sized rich pink flowers over a long period.

I have no real idea why, with the popularity of C.sinensis and its hybrids, this one isn't a lot better known

Easy and hardy in the garden.
Specimen size plants - £30 - collection only