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.
Specimen size plants - £30 - collection only

Silene regia

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

Hardy and long-lived
sold out for now

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

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