Chelone glabra linifolia

An upright perennial with narrow leaves and slightly green-tinged white flowers – very fresh and elegant in the autumn border. 

Any retentive soil in sun or part shade. 
£8

Berberis calliantha

The spiny edged foliage is glossy green above and white underneath and the flowers are lemon yellow – nothing unusual about any of that - except that the leaves and flowers are bigger than any similar species – the leaves up to 2ins long and the flowers an inch across, and all this on a low compact shrub not more than 3ft tall. At the same time this is as hardy and adaptable as any of the more familiar types. 

Many people dismiss Berberis as just a lot of dull scruffy spikey shrubs, too often planted around carparks (and full of litter) but there are quite a few good, interesting species for the more discerning gardener – and calliantha is one.  
£16

Weigela middendorffiana

An interesting alternative to the commoner Weigelas in cultivation, having soft yellow flowers in early summer developing orange markings inside. 

More compact than the others too at about 6ft x 6ft and may be pruned quite hard after flowering. Any situation except very dry, very wet or very shady.
£16

Silene regia

An amazing tall upright N.American species with big, intense red flowers over a long period. 

Hardy and long-lived
£8

Schisandra grandiflora

A strong deciduous woody climber grown for its nodding creamy Gardenia-scented flowers up to an inch across. 

Easy in woodland conditions.
£16

Saruma henryi

A peculiar relative of the Asarums in that it has more conventional yellow flowers in spring. The emerging foliage is soft suede and dark tinged and a feature in its own right. 

The mature foliage reminds me a bit of Brunnera. An adaptable woodland or border plant.
£8

Salix magnifica

Originally mistaken (out of flower) for a Magnolia - this species has broad lustrous oval hairless leaves and thick stems - completely different to what we normally think of as a willow.

This is the female form and the catkins are long and slender. A remarkable shrub for a retentive soil.
£16

Rostrinucula dependens

My sources tell me this might actually be R. sinensis, but either way, this is definitely turning out to be one of my favourite plants. The arching habit, elegant 6in blackish sea green foliage and pale bloomy stems and leaf undersides are a feature all summer. 

Exquisitely sculpted 3-4 inch pearly white 'catkins' sprout mauve/pink filaments in Autumn. The whole thing has a most unusual pale/dark effect - restrained but very classy and unlike anything else. To 4ft tall. Easy in any sunny well-drained site.
£8

Two Primulas

Primula veris x elatior  

A neat small Primula with short stems, tight foliage, and the yellow flowers have relatively narrow petals in umbels on short stems. 

Easy and floriferous. From Kevin Hughes.
£6

Primula Lady Greer

A really very cute old cultivar with neat rounded leaves and umbels of pale yellow flowers. 

Gradually makes a colony but hasn't seeded about. Easy and long-lived in moist shade.
£6

Persicaria chinense ovalifolium Indian Summer

A lush green perennial mainly grown for its tight bright pink inflorescences and autumn colour. To about 3ft high. 

Something of a spreader but not madly so – the thick rhizomes run around just under the surface. Any soil that doesn’t dry out too much, in sun or shade.
£8

Alangium platanifolium

Another collector's item perhaps. This rare small deciduous tree or large shrub is grown both for its striking foliage (something between a plane tree and a tulip tree) and the flowers, which are individually quite small but numerous and very nicely made. They have been described as resembling little white martagon lilies. 

Hardy but growing and flowering best in a warm spot on any decent soil. 
£20

Xanthoceras sorbifolium

A rare and highly sought-after small tree or medium sized shrub from Central Asia. As the name implies it has pinnate (Sorbus-like) leaves and in spring it produces handsome clusters of good sized white flowers, turning pink with age. Easy and hardy in a sunny well-drained spot and an excellent choice for poor chalky soils.
£16

Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis

A striking tall perennial in the pea family with attractive pinnate leaves and dense heads of violet flowers in summer – like mauve clover heads. The main effect though is in autumn and winter when the russet red stems and bristly seed heads stand over 6ft tall. 

Completely weather-proof - an excellent feature in the winter border. Very hardy and adaptable.

£8

Euphorbia corollata

A white flowered Euphorbia - who knew? In this case fairly normal looking bushy spurge plants produce increasingly wide branching sprays of small pure white flowers in summer – more like a Gypsophila or a Linum perhaps. 

This species originates in Eastern North America so should be completely cold hardy. So far it has been easy and vigorous in a sunny spot. Not invasive.
£8

Aristolochia fimbriata

A South American subtropical species making short trailing stems (not climbing) with smart rounded pale veined leaves and good size brown, yellow-veined pitcher flowers. Dies down to a tuber in winter and survives well here if kept dry. 

Needs very well-drained soils in full sun – the same conditions as for hardy cacti for example.
£8

Metaplexis japonica

Similar to Watakaka (or Dregea) sinensis with similar foliage and flowers, but in this case with pinkish mauve flowers. A hardy herbaceous climber, flowering periodically through the summer. 
£8

Klasea bulgarica

 
A wonderful tall Centaurea-type plant growing to well over head height with glossy serrated leaves and clear white flower heads. 

Fabulous among low-growing plants in full sun on any well-drained soil.
£9