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.
Sold out for now - please enquire

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
£15

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.

£15

Aristolochia sempervirens - small form

A form introduced originally I believe by Kevin Hughes, with very neat cordate, deeply veined dark green leaves and gold/brown flowers. Smaller overall than the Toulon form with a more compact habit. 

Ideal for scrambling among Mediterranean subshrubs. 

Fully hardy and easy here. 

£15

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. Incredibly slow to produce however, hence the price.

In production

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

Plectranthus, Isodon, Rabdosia and so forth

Despite the indecision over the names, a splendid, if understated group of hardy late flowering perennials - adaptable but at their best in moist semi shade.

Plectranthus excisus

A succession of violet labiate flowers in long slanting racemes in late summer and autumn. The foliage is unusual in shape with dark purple tints. 

Very adaptable and fully hardy here

£8

sold out for now

Rabdosia longitubus

Clear blue flowers over a long period from late summer onwards. The flowers really glow in the low autumn light like tiny gas flames. Any soil in sun or semi shade. Easy but may not emerge until May or June.

£8

Iris lazica

A deservedly popular winter-flowering species related to unguicularis but happiest in woodland conditions. 

Flowering sometimes as early as November but usually in February/March. Low-growing with violet flowers over broad fresh evergreen foliage.

£8

Digitalis obscura

A very distinct small, almost shrubby species from Spain with 8-10in spikes of brownish orange glossy flowers over narrow evergreen leaves. 

Quite charming and generally hardy in the southern portion of the UK, especially in drier areas but worthy of a special place in a sunny raised bed or container.

sold out for now

Cardiocrinum cordatum red flowered form

Actually I’d describe the flowers of this form as a deep chocolate brown, with paler edges. Otherwise typical of the species – the bulbs take a few years to get big enough to flower – during which time it produces rosettes of glossy arum-like leaves. Then, one spring it’ll produce a 12in stem with several 6in long flowers. 

Mine have taken 6 years to start flowering from seed. Some should flower next year while others have flowered and will be making several off-sets, ready to flower in a few years time. Best in moist woodland conditions but surprisingly tolerant of recent dry summers here.

£15

Talinum calycinum

A terrific little hardy succulent from the southern USA with vivid pink flowers on slender stems above neat tussocks of narrow green leaves. 

Needs full sun and dry soils. Dies down to the roots in winter when it should be kept on the dry side. Fully frost hardy.

£6

Viburnum obovatum

Almost never available in the UK, this is a very distinctive species from the south-eastern USA with tiny blunt rounded leaves on very fine stems. The new shoots are red/purple tinted and being semi-evergreen, it also colours up a bit in autumn. Pretty white flowers are produced in dense clusters in spring and the berries are blue/black. Can make a large shrub but easily controlled. 

Not entirely hardy in the UK so a sheltered site is recommended, not too dry.
£16

Setaria palmifolia

A large and dramatic grass with strikingly ribbed leaves and forming a tussock to about 2ft high and twice that across. The flowers are relatively modest millet-like sprays but the overall effect is very lush and exotic. 

Usually considered a tender species for subtropical bedding but I've had it for years in open borders both on heavy clay soil and the better drained soil at the nursery, mulched with straw in winter. It usually gets heavily bitten back in winter but there's always been plenty of root for it to come back strongly in spring.
£8

Notocactus (now Parodia) magnificus

I have a few babies of this magnificent cool-growing species ready to go in 3in pots. 
Mature plants are more or less spherical, up to 10ins across, sea green with dense bands of straw-coloured prickles along the ridges. Lemon-yellow flowers are produced regularly.

Not hardy, but doesn't need much heat - just frost free and dry in winter.

£6

Rubus acuminatus

Surely the most un-bramble-like bramble you've ever seen, and one of my absolute favourite shrubs of any kind. A small evergreen shrub that neither scrambles nor suckers. To me it looks a lot like Ribes laurifolium, but the nodding white flowers are typical Rubus.

Adaptable but best in woodland shade with shelter and moisture. Many thanks to Barry Clarke for letting me have cuttings of this one.
£18

Lonicera syringantha

A medium-sized shrubby species with heavily fragrant rosy pink trumpet-shaped flowers in spring. The foliage is neat and grey-green. Easy and adaptable – one of the best fragrant shrubs.

£16

Delphinium tricorne

An unaccountably rarely seen small tuberous spring-flowering American woodland species up to about 12ins high but often much shorter, with relatively large purple flowers. 

An excellent and easy addition to a spring woodland collection with Erythroniums, Trilliums etc. Here they're in a raised bed in full sun but not dry, where they do very well.

£8