Printable Catalogue

The blog does not show everything that is available. This is a more complete catalogue - usually updated in spring and autumn. 

Some things are available only as small plants - others have not flowered yet so I don't have a photo. 

Please feel free to enquire

variety	decription	price
Abelia sp. from Peter Catt	Given to me by the late great plant breeder and collector Peter Catt – this is a very special shrub, wild collected I believe, with very shiny and attractively textured leaves and vigorous growth. The flowers are a warm pinkish cream – almost white and with rich yellow markings inside and appear in large quantities all summer. This species seems to have an unusual low arching habit, so would be ideal for a bank or raised bed or perhaps a large pot. It's certainly choice enough to be worthy of a prominent place in a large pot on the patio. Fully hardy here. Probably the best new plant I grow.	£16
Abelia umbellata	An extremely rarely offered hardy species related to mosanensis and triflora. The flowers are jasmine-like rosy white tubes backed with maroon sepals and the leaves are relatively broad and dark green. I’ve not been growing it long enough to know what it does long term but it looks promising. Cuttings given to me by Peter Catt	£16
Adenophora triphylla	A tall slender form with white to palest mauve flowers and attractive narrow foliage. Extremely graceful. An adaptable and easy border or woodland perennial.	£8
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
Aesculus californica	This is a very large spreading shrub (or low spreading tree) and needs a lot of space - the flowers are fragrant, creamy or rosy white and held in solid ‘candles’. The foliage is neat and attractive, and the bark is chalky white (especially good in winter after the leaves fall). Given an open sunny well-drained site this will be one of the most magnificent woody plants we can grow. Hardly ever offered and I have no idea why it isn't better known. Young plants grown from conkers collected in California. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£45
Aechmea recurvata recurvata	Another near-hardy bromeliad – definitely hardy to a few degrees below zero, planted in a very free-drained bed as you would Fascicularia, or mounted on a branch or wall as an epiphyte. The small rosettes are green and produce dense stemless inflorescences of vivid pink and purple, surrounded by red tinted leaves.	£15
Aeschynanthus buxifolius	A small reputedly hardy epiphytic gesneriad from south-east Asia but certainly a good species for a cool or cold greenhouse. The foliage is neat glossy green, and the flowers are a rich scarlet. I’ve not tried it outside yet but might be good mounted on a tree fern trunk perhaps?	£10
Agave parryi	A relatively compact species not more than about 40cms across but with the same characteristic blue-grey foliage and black spines of the larger species. Also this is fairly much fully hardy over much of the UK and tolerates winter wet well - though still needing full sun and a well-drained soil to avoid rotting. An ideal Agave for people with small gardens who don't have the space for a huge beast that will impale you as soon as look at you.	Various sizes - please enquire
Akebia longeracemosa	An unusual and little-known climber – so far much less rampant than the more common species but with similar fresh green foliage. The dangling inflorescences are very odd, with a few larger maroon female flowers at the top and a string of small male flowers below.	£16
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
Alchornea davidii	A remarkable shrub, little known in the UK – it has very broad (up to 10ins across) and beautifully textured heart-shaped leaves on stout upright stems. Deciduous but the new growth is vivid sugar pink. The flowers are inconspicuous. Subtropical but hardy down here in Sussex - benefits from summer heat and plenty of moisture to do its best. A member of the euphorbiaceae but looks nothing like a Euphorbia – closer to Mallotus japonicus but with much bigger leaves.	£18
Allium insubricum	A gorgeous little garlic with quite large nodding pink bell flowers – almost like a tiny Dierama. Suitable for a sunny well-drained spot without too much competition.	£8
Allium macranthum	An Asiatic species with loose heads of large nodding rounded mauve flowers in summer. Easy in a moist well-drained soil in sun or part shade.	£8
Alstonia yunnanensis	A new species for UK gardeners as far as I know – a possibly hardy shrubby member of the apocynaceae from southern China reminiscent of oleander but with beautiful richly tinted long oval leaves and sprays of rosy-pink flowers in summer. My plants survived the freezing blast of December 2023 in pots in the unheated tunnel and can apparently handle -8C.	£16
Anemone canadensis	A simple understated species with perfectly formed white Anemone flowers on upright leafy stems up to about 40cms tall in early summer. This species runs underground which makes it a problem among small delicate plants, but it is an excellent ground cover among shrubs, being very shade tolerant. Not fussy about soil or aspect but not too hot and dry is probably right.	£8
Anemopsis californica	Not to be confused with Anemonopsis – this is a relative of Houttouynia with very striking flowers, somewhat reminiscent of a Magnolia (though actually made up of lots of small flowers, rather than one big one). A colonising plant for shallow water or wet mud and one of the few garden plants that should be happy in a salt marsh. Fully hardy, but grow as warm as possible in full sun for best results.	£8
Apios americana	An unusual herbaceous climber closely related to Wisteria. The dense clusters of pea flowers are an odd shade of terracotta and produced in summer. It grows from long strings of (apparently edible) tubers which wander about underground over some distance but not enough to become a weed. An easy and attractive hardy plant for any well drained soil in sun, best allowed to twine up through shrubs	£8
Aralia californica	One of the herbaceous species, and like many of those, makes an impressive clump of big compound leaves, topped by umbels of pale flowers late in the season. Unlike most others the foliage is fleshy and glossy. For moist soils, in sun or shade – the more sun, the more moisture it’ll require	£12
Aristolochia baetica	A small 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, but it isn’t very hardy. 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 californica	Little pinkish brown jugs about 1 ½ inches across are produced very profusely on the leafless stems in early spring. The leaves appear soon after and are soft green and heart-shaped. A vigorous but not overwhelming climber. Here it grows well in sun or shade and is completely hardy. Some early flowers may be frosted so a sheltered spot among shrubs is best. A brilliant plant – I love it.	£20
Aristolochia sempervirens small leaved form	A terrific miniature evergreen climber, perfect for decorating low shrubs like Brooms, Lavender and Cistus, as it does in its natural habitat. Aristolochia flowers are usually fairly cryptically coloured and more of a curio than a thing of beauty (though I like them a lot), but these are quite striking with a bright golden interior and a reddish-brown exterior. The foliage too is very good - small and glossy and evergreen. Suitable for sun or semi shade and very drought tolerant once established. Ultimately capable of reaching several feet in height but hardly rampant.	£15
Arthropodium milleflorum	A very pretty and understated plant found growing among the grasses and other herbs under Eucalypts over large parts of south-eastern Australia, where it is very adaptable. In the UK it will be less adaptable (shade in England is not like shade in New South Wales) but given a well-drained soil and sun or light shade it is quite hardy and the delicate mauve flowers on tall, slender arching stems (to 3ft high) give a fresh, light effect in the border.	£8
Asclepias incarnata	There are lots of exciting species of Asclepias in the U.S.A. This is one of the most common and deserves to be more widely grown over here. The flowers, in contrasting pale and dark pink resemble those of a Hoya (to which it is related) and are worth a close look. Leafy, clump-forming herbaceous perennials with reddish stems to 2ft. Any soil, but heavy and damp soils in sun are especially favoured.	£12
Asclepias speciosa	A stunning perennial with soft silky white foliage and showy heads of intricate rosy flowers. This has a long history of cultivation in the UK and is fully hardy, so its rarity here is a mystery. In the wild it is found on both dry poor soils and moist marginal conditions so should be highly adaptable. It does however need plenty of sun. It's only disadvantage perhaps is that it runs about pretty freely underground, so best with other vigorous hardy perennials and low shrubs.	£16
Asparagus acutifolius	A sprawling prickly dark green subshrub suitable for a dry site in sun or semi shade. Small pale greenish flowers are produced in profusion in summer, and may be followed by red berries.	£10
Asterotrichon discolor	A very rarely offered Tasmanian malvaceae. This is an upright evergreen shrub with small pure white mallow flowers in winter. The foliage is attractive – narrow, serrated, dark green above, but covered in pure white scurf beneath, as are the stems producing a very nice contrast. Hardy in southern and western UK	£16
Balbisia gracilis	Aka Wendtia gracilis - known locally as the 'oreganillo amarillo'. This is a very special small shrub from Chile belonging to the ledocarpaceae, related to Melianthus and Francoa, but looking nothing like either of those plants – perhaps more like a small yellow-flowering Ribes or Potentilla. Small, delicate, finely cut glaucous leaves, and profuse small yellow flowers with prominent red stigma on wiry stems in summer. A nice thing for a sunny well-drained spot and should be hardy over much of the southern half or the UK. Thanks to Ann Cann for this very rare plant.	£15
Begonia josephi	One of many new hardy Begonias on the market now. This one is a relatively understated species - unusual for its symmetrical leaves and the petiole being attached to the middle, not the edge of the leaf. The leaves are olive green, to about 18cms long and jaggedly toothed. The flowers are pale pink, and small but plentiful. Hardy and tolerant here so far. Happiest on moist shady sites but, like many hardy Begonias, surprisingly resistant to drought. Dies down to small tubers in winter. Not to be confused with a very different species with larger mottled leaves and yellow flowers that is being sold under this name.	£10
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 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.	£15
Berberis triacanthophora Cally Rose	A distinctive species with reddish flowers on a low bushy shrub with narrow prickly leaves. Hardy evergreen, slow growing and compact. Very likeable.	£18
Boehmeria sieboldiana	Shiny fresh green attractively veined and serrated nettle leaves on an impressive bushy plant over 6ft tall. Whitish catkins. Moist woodland ideally but adaptable	£8
Buddleja curviflora	A very attractive and non-suckering relative of B.lindleyana with similar curved violet flowers but more attractive grey felted foliage. Hardy and adaptable.	£16
Buddleja lindleyana	A very striking species and not at all what you might expect a Buddleja to look like. The rich purple flowers are tubular and have a waxy bloom to them which gives a particularly richly coloured effect and are produced over a long period in summer.	£14
Buddleja loricata	A compact and hardy South African species with very striking narrow foliage - the undersides and stems being soft and white, contrasting with the deeply veined green upper surfaces. The flowers are small and white and often dismissed as uninteresting, but I like them for their dark brown eyes which has a striking effect. Full sun, good drainage and some shelter.	£22
Bupleurum longifolium Bronze	A very unusual umbellifer, the umbels of flowers being condensed into a head surrounded by coloured bracts - in this case the whole inflorescence and the leaves immediately below it being heavily tinted with a rich reddish brown, which contrasts gorgeously with the soft green oval leaves. A long-lived and easy perennial for a rich moist soil in sun. There is some confusion about the name - sometimes seen as angulosum or even perfoliatum (which it definitely isn’t) and also copper form - but this seems to be about right	£8
Callicarpa japonica	Mature seedlings but not flowered here yet. Purple berries will be the main attraction	£18
Callirhoe involucrata	I have absolutely no idea why everyone doesn’t grow this – maybe it’s just too colourful! Intense shocking pink mallow flowers are produced throughout the summer on long trailing leafy stems that can be made to decorate other plants that have finished for the year. The stems do not root so it is not invasive. It dies back to a compact rootstock in autumn. Totally hardy and long-lived.	£8
Calycanthus occidentalis	A lovely lush medium sized shrub from California with fresh green aromatic leaves and good sized deep pink flowers good enough to rival any of the popular Sinocalycanthus hybrids. Flowers periodically through the summer. Easy, hardy, and nowhere near well-known enough. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£30
Canna x ehemannii	This is a wonderful plant - I normally find Cannas a bit garish for my taste but this one has elegant and vivid cerise flowers in nodding sprays and on tall dark stems and broad lush green leaves, plus it's an enormous tropical looking banana-y thing to 10ft or more in full flower. Plus, it's been hardy here. All I've done is give it a thick pile of straw in winter. It dies down completely (the straw is held in place by the dead stems) but always reappears in May and is luxuriant and magnificent by August. A wonderful plant for anyone with a taste for the tropics.	£15
Caragana microphylla	A low growing version of the, to my mind anyway, grossly underrated Siberian pea tree – Caragana arborescens. This has fresh yellow pea flowers among fine small pinnate leaves. Excellent for any harsh exposed unpleasant situation where not much else will grow, but choice enough for a sunny well-drained border.	£10
Cardiocrinum cordatum ‘red flowers’	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 arum-like leaves. Then, one spring it’ll produce a 12in stem with several 6in long flowers. Mine have taken 6 years to flower  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
Caryopteris (Tripora) divaricata	A lush green upright bush, dying down completely in winter. The late flowering is the same but the flowers themselves are larger, rich blue, and much more interesting. Another purveyor of rare plants describes the flowers as merely ‘harmless’ which I think is rather a shame. They’re not huge or especially plentiful, but they are jolly pretty. Hardy and adaptable. Very different to the familiar grey twiggy subshrubs (C. x clandonensis and the like) and this is now classified under another name - Tripora.	£9
Chelone glabra linifolia	An upright form 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
Chionanthus retusus	The Asian fringe tree. Similar to the more familiar American species – with the same masses of narrow-petalled white flowers, but with smaller, more leathery rounded leaves, plus blue fruits in hot summers.	£25
Chrysogonum virginianum australe	A terrific small sunflower type making a compact clump of deep green leaves and bright golden flowers over a long period. Very adaptable to a variety of conditions. This is the southern form of the species and to my mind, definitely the nicer plant – more compact and better colours.	£6
Clematocissus striata	There are not that many evergreen climbers hardy in the UK, and this South American vine is decidedly borderline but worth considering for sheltered sites, especially in shady spots. It's a close relative of the Virginia Creepers and Boston Ivies (Parthenocissus sp) but with neat glossy leaves and far less rampageous and being evergreen of course, it does not colour up in the Autumn. In warmer climates it gets a lot bigger and makes pale flowers and black berries. It can also be grown as a house plant. Now Clematocissus	£18
Clematis fremontii	A unique non-climbing species from the Prairies. The plant makes a low cluster of stems clothed in simple elliptical leaves, topped in spring with nodding bell-shaped flowers of very unusual colouring. The buds start out a rich shiny woody colour then open to reveal a soft pale green interior. Ultimately, the petals curl back and the flower turns a soft rosy colour. Should be reasonably easy to grow in a well-drained sunny site.	£20
Clematis ianthina kuripoensis	A remarkable small climber with nodding rounded flowers that appear to have been fashioned out of brown or violet felt. Like most viorna, these are herbaceous, dying back in the winter, and don’t grow very big.	£25
Clematis songarica	A low straggling almost shrubby species producing lots of small white flowers in summer. Grows well in well-drained sunny sites. Small foliage. Fully hardy.	£20
Clematis tashiroi	An evergreen species with broad, dark green leaves splashed with silver. The flowers are relatively small but very striking with recurved deep plum purple ‘petals’ contrasting with white filaments. Very striking. A subtropical species needing shelter and moisture to thrive.	£25
Clerodendrum trichotomum fargesii	Masses of fragrant creamy flowers in summer followed by striking blue berries with contrasting wine-red calyces in autumn.  A deservedly popular hardy shrub or small tree of which there never seems to be enough available. Easy on almost any soil in sun. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£25
Codonopsis pilosula Tangshen	A vigorous climber with pale bells, delicately marked with purple inside	£8
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
Colocasia gaoligongensis	The Southeast Asian taros (Colocasia species) are very popular right now for subtropical plantings, with their huge tropical looking aroid leaves - often dark and beautifully textured. In this case the leaves are up to about 2ft across, a soft matt green and heavily marked black toward the centre. Yellow arum flowers appear in summer. Like many subtropicals (Canna, Dahlia etc), some of them are surviving the winters outdoors in the UK these days but very few are reliably hardy. This is where gaoligongensis comes in as it's reckoned to be the hardiest, and under good conditions (damp and warm in the summer) is a vigorous big exotic herbaceous perennial. It will grow in drier conditions but the leaves will be smaller and also thrives as a marginal in my shallow pond. Overall, remarkably easy - running around on stolons and potentially filling a large area. Grow it with other big vigorous perennials - nothing too small and delicate, in sun or part shade.	£15
Cornus sericea Kelsey dwarf	A low growing version of this well-known species making thickets of wiry red/maroon stems only about 50cms high. Very easy and adaptable in any moist soil and very useful for stabilising pond edges and ditches	£10
Crassula sarcocaulis	A neat little succulent shrub, like a tiny bonsai tree with narrow green leaves and heads of rich pink flowers in summer. Very tough – at least in the south and west of the UK, and especially if kept on the dry side in winter.	£8
Crassula sarcocaulis alba	Exactly the same as the common pink-flowered plant but with – you guessed it – white flowers	£8
Cytisus hirsutus	A small leafy shrub with relatively large fresh yellow flowers and pale green trifoliate leaves along slender arching branches. Suitable for a sunny well-drained site.	£12
Dactylicapnos scandens	A lightly-built but potentially quite large herbaceous climber with the typical light airy foliage of the family, strung with hundreds of golden yellow lockets in summer. Previously included in Dicentra. Sometimes described as short-lived, mine have been going for some years now, going from strength to strength without any special care. It dies back to the roots in autumn and sometimes during hot dry spells too but always comes back. Excellent for clothing spring flowering shrubs or scrambling through other climbers.	£8
Davidia involucrata	The famous handkerchief or dove tree. Seedlings from a garden in Lower Beeding, Sussex. These are 9 years old and should flower soon.	£20
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.	£8
Desmodium (Ototropis) callianthum	An appealing semi-climbing shrub producing rich mauve pink flowers on slim red stems through much of the summer. The foliage is also rather nice, being trifoliate (ie. clover leaf shape) subtly variegated in two shades of green. An easy going hardy shrub for any soil in sun.	£15
Deutzia crenata nakaiana	A popular creeping dwarf shrub with bell-shaped white flowers in late spring. Easy and hardy	£12
Deutzia hookeriana	I used to think Deutzias were a rather boring group of shrubs but the cognoscenti know different. It's a surprisingly varied genus and many of them are exquisite in flower. Hookeriana is one of the best with almost unbelievably finely-crafted sugar pink flowers in neat, rounded heads in late spring. The overall shape and foliage are also good. Like most Deutzia, and easy adaptable plant.	£16
Dianthus superbus	Much more informal and grassy than most pinks but with exquisite and quite large pale filigree flowers in late spring/early summer. The ragged and finely marked flowers are worth looking at closely and are heavily fragrant. A superb and rarely seen ‘old fashioned’ cottage garden plant, not at all garish or artificial looking. I have white and pink forms available.	£8
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 and 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.	£20
Dichroa (Hydrangea)  febrifuga	An attractive but tender evergreen woodland shrub with conspicuous heads of pink (or on lime-free soils, blue) star-shaped flowers followed by metallic vivid blue berries - overall very like Hydrangea macrophylla but without the sterile florets. Apparently most of the plants in cultivation are hybrids between the true Dichroa and Hydrangea macrophylla, but none of the Hydrangea's cold tolerance seems to have found its way into the progeny. Strictly speaking should probably be classified in Hydrangea. Usually regarded as tender, these plants were cut to the ground by frost in December 2023 but are growing away in time to flower in late summer/autumn. In colder sites a splendid plant for a cool greenhouse	£16
Dichroa (PAB from Guizhou) Long March	A remarkable recent introduction producing soft lilac flower in summer followed by vivid violet berries. A semi-evergreen, small shrub for sheltered woodland. Much hardier than other more familiar Dichroa species.	£16
Dipelta ventricosa	A gorgeous and very choice member of the Abelia group with flowers that are glossy pink outside and white with orange markings inside. A tall upright deciduous shrub, as easily grown on chalk as on acid soil, in sun or part shade. Beginning to flower in late winter, the main display is in mid to late spring. Attractive deciduous leaves and peeling papery bark. Fully hardy. Rare, I think, only because it's slow to propagate. This has lately, along with Abelia and Kolkwitzia, been transferred to Linnaea, for reasons I can explain if anyone’s interested. Specimen-sized plant – collection only.	£30
Dodecatheon austrofrigidum	Similar to D.dentatum, but with more substantial rosettes of leaves, and with pink flowers on taller stems. Although not the most spectacular, I’ve found this the easiest Dodecatheon to keep in ordinary woodsy garden conditions.	£6
Dodecatheon dentatum	Quite distinct from the well-known pink flowered species – this is a lower growing, more spreading species with white flowers. Best in moist leafy woodland situations.	£6
Epimedium grandiflorum nanum hybrid	Some of you may know that Epimedium grandiflorum nanum is an exquisite miniature form of this popular species where the new foliage is fresh green, less than an inch across, and broadly edged in maroon, and the milky white flowers, despite the tiny size of the plant, are normal size. The whole thing is only a couple of inches tall. Sadly it also has a reputation for being difficult to keep - I've had it and lost it twice. This is why I was so pleased when I came across this at Marchant's Hardy Plants a few years ago. Its a bit bigger than nanum - about 5ins high but more vigorous and easy to keep. In every other respect it seems identical. It is still slow to increase though so I'll only ever have a few small plants to sell.	£8
Ercilla volubilis	An unusual Chilean climber related to Phytolacca with small wavy matt evergreen leaves, and clusters of pink scented fluffy inflorescences in spring. Can be trained on a sunny wall or growing through a large shrub or as ground cover. Hardy and adaptable with a bit of shelter	£16
Euonymus clivicola rongchuensis	A very slender graceful evergreen Asian species related to cornutus with delicate brownish flowers giving way to strange narrow lobed fruits holding the usual orange seeds. Adaptable but especially suitable for dry woodlands. Very choice.	£18
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
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
Euphorbia myrsinites Red form	A striking form of this popular pale pangolin-looking trailing evergreen with distinct red tints both to the developing buds and the spent inflorescences. Requires full sun and good drainage but fully hardy. Possibly descendants of an old Washfield’s form.	£8
Fascicularia bicolor canuliculata	In the wild it tends toward the epiphytic or lithophytic, growing in rock crevices and in the forks of branches so a raised bed is the obvious place for it. If you have a gnarly old tree I'd definitely give it a go there too - wiring the roots in a fork in the trunk, covering them in moss and giving it some water while it gets established. Try it in the crown of an old Cordyline or on the fibrous trunk of a palm.	£8
Felicia rosulata	Previously known as Aster natalensis, these have proved easy to please in a sunny, well-drained spot, and although said to benefit from a dryish winter (coming from East Africa, this is to be expected) they have so far been better if not too parched. Completely unfazed by the last few winters' onslaught. An easy alpine and should be better known.	£6
Fuchsia hatschbachii	Closely related to F.magellanica but, to my mind at least, a much nicer plant with good quality narrow foliage, a graceful willowy habit and slender red flowers, giving a completely different effect. Reputedly about as hardy as magellanica – these came through the winter in their pots in the tunnel totally unscathed.	£8
Fuchsia magellanica Arauco	An absolutely exquisite, possibly naturally occurring, form of this popular shrub - always attracts attention with its finely crafted purple-white and pink flowers and neat dark green foliage. It can make a large shrub in time but, like most Fuchsias, responds well to pruning. This is less drought tolerant than other Fuchsia - not good in small containers and definitely most at home in cool moist conditions. nb. the variety Lady Bacon is very similar and they can be hard to tell apart, but seen together, Arauco is definitely the more refined plant with better colours, and smaller leaves and flowers. I grow both but I would always recommend Arauco. It just has that certain something that even people who don't generally go for Fuchsias can appreciate.	£10
Fuchsia regia Cherry	A bit of an enigma, this one. A wild-collected form with distinctive large red-veined glaucous leaves. The flowers are slender and dusky pink. Given to me by Miriam Jacobs. She told me "Many of us received one like mine at a SIG meeting but don’t have the name. Mine came with the number 41-42". She's calling it Cherry until we know more about it.	£14
Fuchsia aff. regia grey leaf	Grown from AGS exchange seed as regia - the overall effect (semi-climbing) and the elegant flowers are typical regia, but the leaves are narrower and often somewhat grey-tinted. Hardy and easy - ideal for adorning early-flowering shrubs that have finished for the summer.	£12
Geranium orientalitibeticum	A choice ground-covering species with rosy-pink flowers but the main thing is the leaves which are beautifully marbled with lime green. An easy well-behaved small border plant	£6
Gladiolus flanaganae	An absolutely astonishing hardy species from near vertical cliffs in the Drakensberg. The plant is only 10ins high but the outsized vivid red flowers are rich red and grow out sideways. Hard to explain – has to be seen.	£7
Helwingia himalaica	A peculiar evergreen woodland shrub which makes its flowers on the upper surfaces of the leaves (the flower stem is fused to the midrib). This on its own makes it a botanical curio, but it is also a pleasant and intriguing species with dark glossy leaves, maroon tinged when young, and an attractive upright habit. In good years, red berries will appear, also attached to the leaves. An excellent small to medium sized shrub, best in moist woodland. Hardy but better with shelter from too much sun and wind.	£15
Hemiboea strigosa	This pink-flowered species is being sold as subcapitata by a few nurseries but is obviously distinct, both in the flower colour and the thinner texture of the foliage. It seems just as easy to grow and may even be hardier, judging by the fact that the overwintering rosettes have remained evergreen.	£10
Heuchera Brownfinch	A change from the endless stream of bedding Heuchera that are so fashionable at the moment – this is very close in appearance to H.cylindrica which is usually available in a form known as Greenfinch. Brownfinch has the same cylindrical flower spikes, but of a rather nice rich red brown, on unusually tall stems. The foliage is attractively silver splashed. Rare in cultivation, but easily grown in sun or part shade. Keep an eye open for vine weevils, which love Heuchera roots.	£8
Hibiscus militaris	One of the southern US swamp mallows related to the spectacular coccineum and moscheutos, but requiring less summer heat to grow and flower outdoors. Suitable for pond margins and swampy conditions in full sun. Fully frost hardy. The flowers are white or palest pink, with a dark pink eye, and about 4ins across, on 4ft stems.	£12
Hovenia dulcis	The Raisin Tree - grown traditionally for the fruit which appears on sweet edible stems, this is nevertheless a very attractive small tree with broad heart-shaped leaves, reminiscent of Idesia.	£15
Hydrangea serrata Kiyosumi	A normal lacecap Hydrangea in many ways but with two unusual features - the sterile florets around the edge of the inflorescence are white, edged with pink (but tastefully so), and the new foliage is a rich maroon red. A striking small shrub (about 4ft high) for semi-shade on most soils as long as not too dry (including chalk. Hydrangeas are among those plants often believed to be lime-haters. This is not the case.)	£9
Impatiens arguta	The most impressive so far of the hardy species with elongate violet flowers all summer. Ideal for not too dry shady situations and thriving outside here through the last few winters, and even on my mum’s rather dry chalky soil.	£6
Impatiens flanaganae	An African species related to the better known I.tinctoria. Overall it is smaller and has deep flesh pink flowers. My experience of it here is that it is hardy and not difficult to grow but needs a rich moist soil to do well.	£10
Impatiens tinctoria	An old favourite from East Africa and surprisingly hardy given a good pile of straw over the tubers in winter to stop them freezing. Forms a thicket of tall juicy green stems clothed in quite large lush green leaves and topped from late summer until it freezes with heavily fragrant white flowers. The flowers have a very long spur behind, adapted to the long-tongued moths that pollinate them in the wild. Remarkably easy given plenty of moisture and, as I said, a good thick mulch in winter.	£10
Indigofera kirilowii	A very lovely low-growing shub with fresh green foliage and clear pink flowers in summer. Easy and adaptable	£12
Iris albicans	The true Middle-Eastern species – a bearded Iris with clear white flowers, touched with lemon toward the centre. Grows and flowers freely in a sunny raised bed here under a Ceanothus.	£8
Iris fulva	A legendary Iris (is that too strong a word?) from the deep south of the USA with flowers as close to red as any. This species is cold hardy but does have a reputation for needing more heat than we typically get in the UK. Nevertheless these seedlings have proved quick to flower here and very vigorous. For shallow water in full sun, where the water warms up quickly in spring. Thoroughly recommended.	£8
Iris x fulvala	A very vigorous and adaptable but low-growing species that will thrive in ordinary soil or wetland situations in full sun. The large flowers are rich purple marked with a yellow toward the centre.	£8
Iris graminea	Related to sintenisii - another small European species with nicely shaped violet flowers among narrow grassy leaves. The flowers are plum-scented.	£6
Iris lactea	A finely built Spuria with narrow upright grey leaves and soft mauve or creamy white flowers. I have three forms here grown from SIGNA seed, all as yet unflowered. For open sunny conditions.	£7
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
Iris prismatica	A dellightful small American species, with very fine delicate mauve flowers, marked with darker lines. Best in moist conditions in sun or semi shade but will grow in ordinary soils if not too dry	£8
Jamesia americana compact form Larimer Co., CO, 8000ft,	A close relative of the Deutzias from western USA. The flowers are exactly like one of the nicer white Deutzias (not scabra) but the foliage is more like a Viburnum of the Wayfaring Tree fraternity (V.lantana). A pleasing small shrub for any ordinary soil, neither too wet nor too dry, in sun or semi shade. Unaccountably rare.	£12
Jasminum fruticans	A lovely small shrub with fresh yellow (unscented) flowers in summer and neat little pinnate leaves. Makes a twiggy bush not more than three feet high here. Easy in any sunny spot in the garden where it won't be overwhelmed by boisterous neighbours. I have no idea why this is not very popular indeed.	£8
Kniphofia brachystachya	A small species – only about 50cm tall, producing dense spikes of honey yellow/orange flowers from dark buds and which turn black when spent. Very striking. Came through the recent cold spells in their pots in the open without trouble.	£8
Koelreuteria paniculata	A deservedly popular medium sized deciduous tree with masses of egg-yolk yellow flowers in early summer, intense orange and maroon autumn colour and very ornamental coppery balloon-like fruits. An excellent exotic-looking shade tree that should be planted much more.	£18
Leucosceptrum stellipilum formosanum RWJ 9907	Mauve pink bottle-brushes and fresh pale green foliage. A lush leafy herbaceous perennial related to Elscholtzia, Agastache and Rostrinucula and with the same late flowering season. Possibly best in sheltered woodland to avoid hot sun and early frosts which can damage the display. Otherwise easy and adaptable.	£8
Lilium ledebourei	One of the carniolicum group, from the mountains of northern Iran. The flowers are of the turk’s-cap kind, white with yellow/green stripes and black speckles. This has proved remarkably easy to grow here – lily beetle permitting. I have a few pots of 2-year-old seedlings ready to go	£8
Lindelofia anchusoides	Rarely offered Cynoglossum-like plant with intense azure flowers over dense clumps of leaves. Hardy and easy in a sunny well-drained place	£8
Lobelia laxiflora angustifolia	A spreading perennial with fresh narrow foliage topped in summer with tubular orange and yellow flowers. Hardy here, this might suffer in a very cold year but otherwise a reliable border perennial. This has a reputation for running but I’ve not found it excessive.	£7
Lobelia siphilitica Blue form	A good blue form of this excellent North American species from Kevin Hughes. The flowers remind me of Penstemon and are a lovely clear colour without a touch of mauve. The foliage is fresh green. This is an upright fully hardy perennial happy in any moist soil in sun or part shade. Not at all weedy or coarse.	£6
Lonicera alberti	A very distinctive low-growing species with narrow grey-green leaves and tubular scented mauve-pink flowers. Likes a sunny, well-drained, open spot.	£16
Lonicera chaetocarpa	An unusual and distinctive shrub with rich green fuzzy foliage and large, pale, soft green calyces, holding pale yellow flowers within. The flowers are followed by pairs of orange fruits and the calyces turn to pale parchment. Hardy, slow-growing, characterful, and of modest size. Oddly appealing.	£16
Lonicera crassifolia	A lovely little evergreen creeping (not climbing) honeysuckle for ground cover or rockery with small shiny round leaves and clusters of creamy gold honeysuckle flowers, slightly tinted pink. Possibly too vigorous for a trough but hardly rampageous.	£12
Lonicera gracilipes	A relatively small pink-flowered winter flowering species from Japan. The leaves are rounded and somewhat glaucous. Hardy and adaptable.	£16
Lonicera hispidula	The Californian Pink Honeysuckle - ideal for drier, sunnier or shady conditions, where a lot of the more familiar types tend to get mildew. The foliage is rounded and somewhat fuzzy and, in the population from which these seeds were collected (thanks again Dennis), somewhat marked with irregular maroon-black splotches, especially when young and in winter. Some individuals have completely blackened foliage which I find rather striking, but I understand that not everyone will agree. The pink flowers are held in dense heads in summer.	£16
Lonicera myrtillus	A very different species with small, rounded leaves and rosy white urn-shaped flowers - almost like some sort of ericaceous shrub (hence the name). Compact and easily pleased	£16
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
Lunaria rediviva	A perennial relative of the popular annual honesty with pale blue flowers and oval seed pods. Very pretty and long-lived.	£8
Maclura pomifera	The Osage Orange tree. A north American member of the mulberry family producing large yellow (sadly inedible) wrinkly fruits. Collection only – too big to post	£23
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
Monocostus uniflorus	One of a very small number of houseplants I sell - because it's easy to grow but rare in cultivation. Costus are in a tropical family of ginger relatives with conspicuously spiralling stems with the leaves radiating outwards. Most are too large for the home but this is a compact clump-forming species from Africa up to about 12ins high, and it produces large ruffled lemon yellow flowers sporadically through the season. It needs medium light, normal room-temperatures (18-25C), with some humidity but is otherwise easy to grow. I grow it in a west-facing window among other plants and mist them regularly.	£18
Moraea huttonii	Stupendous tall Iris with beautifully crafted yellow ‘flags’ on rigid upright stems well above the narrow strappy green leaves (easily hidden among other perennials). For open sites on fertile moist soils ideally but very tough. Basically, they’ll grow anywhere Agapanthus or Kniphofia succeed.	£8
Notocactus (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
Omphalodes nitida	A very lovely, neat perennial forget-me-not relative with clear blue flowers in spring, and smart narrow foliage. Seeds about a little but not at all weedy or coarse. Likes a well-drained site in semi-shade.	£6
Opuntia scheeri	An excellent and choice hardy prickly pear with pads about 6-8ins across and forming a solid small shrub quite quickly. The fine evenly spaced yellowish areoles on a sea green background make for a very satisfying effect. Don’t however underestimate the tiny, barbed spines which get everywhere. Handle it with thick leather gloves and plant it well away from the path. The parent plant is in a front garden in Lancing, Sussex, in ordinary soil and gets no protection at all. I hear of other plants as far north as Lancashire also doing well fully exposed to the elements. Pale amber yellow flowers appear in spring.	£15
Ornithogalum reverchonii	A choice species from Spain and Morocco with pure white flowers and long grey leaves. More demanding than most European species – needing excellent drainage and some protection from the worst of the weather. Not at all weedy	£8
Osmanthus fragrans	An unremarkable looking evergreen shrub with the most heavenly scent – something like sweet apricots – fresh and light. The flowers though are small and white and not produced in great numbers but somehow manage to fill the entire greenhouse with perfume. The foliage looks a bit like a Citrus. Not very hardy outdoors here in Sussex but undamaged in my unreliably frost-free greenhouse. Rarely offered and much sought-after.	£18
Paeonia rockii seedlings	Parents have good single flowers and may be white or pink with dark blotches at the centre. Excellent foliage, as you’d expect	£32
Paeonia Cherry Pannacotta	This was given to me as a small bit of tuber about 30 years ago - I forget who from - and it has been with me ever since. I know nothing more about its origins but it's been a wonderful strong grower wherever I've had it, forming a dense, rounded clump. Unless someone can come up with a better suggestion I'm going to call it Cherry Pannacotta Many single rounded creamy flowers, edged in pink. The foliage is very glaucous grey green (a bit like mlokosewitschii - a possible parent - but the leaflets are narrower), and strongly tinted purple in spring. Does not set seeds. Substantial roots, probably big enough to flower, in 3l pots.	£25
Penthorum sedoides	An unusual N.American perennial, mostly seen as a marginal/aquatic but adaptable to other situations. Leafy stems to about 10ins high, with creamy flowers in late summer. The main attraction is when the plants turn vivid golds, oranges and reds in autumn.	£8
Persicaria filiformis	I’ve always been impressed with the fresh, almost luminous green lustre of the leaves of this species with the black chevron and coppery tints, reminiscent of the tropical Calatheas and Marantas. Red flowers are produced in slender tails in summer and early autumn. Not invasive but may seed about here and there. For moist conditions in sun or semi shade. For a long time this was sold as a form of the American species, P.virginiana, but apparently it’s Chinese.	£8
Persicaria filiformis Guizhou Bronze PAB 9127	A rather gorgeous form of the species with less conspicuous black markings but the leaves have a wonderful brassy tint and the whole plant is more luxuriant.	£8
Bistorta (Persicaria) tenuicaulis	A choice little woodlander – very unlike any of the other common species - slowly spreading to make a colony of stocky little plants with small silvery green leaves and in spring, short spikes of pure white flowers. For moist but well-drained woodsy soil in shade. Never even slightly weedy. In fact, keep an eye on it or it might get lost.	£6
Persicaria virginiana Compton's form	This American species is not that often offered, possibly because the flowers are quite small bright red filaments and appear in Autumn. A magnificent foliage plant though - as good as many of the tropical Calatheas and Marantas (prayer plants). The leaf surface has a real lustre - richly coloured and with an odd black chevron - I know not why.	£8
Philadelphus mexicanus Rose Syringa	A slender willowy species with narrow grey-green leaves and neat rounded scented white flowers, marked with purple toward the centre in late spring. Best with shelter but seems quite hardy here. Makes a broad mound of weeping stems.	£16
Phlomis 'angustifolia' Toob	A very striking Phlomis with the edges of the grey leaves turned up to reveal the white undersides, giving a very smart two-tone effect, especially in winter. The flowers are a clear bright yellow. This has proved hardy and easy in a sunny well-drained spot. Originally obtained as P.angustifolia, it seems this name is a synonym of P.fruticosa. It's not clear if it's a form of fruticosa or another species but it's a much nicer plant. Nick Macer gave it the varietal name 'Toob' because of the 'toobular' shape of the leaves.	£12
Photinia glomerata	This looks a lot like what Hilliers manual describes as ‘Formosan form’, and for a while I was offering it as P.prionophylla, but I am assured that this is the correct identification. It’s a very gorgeous shrub nevertheless - more rounded and compact than P.serratifolia, with broad rounded leaves (to about 3ins across) opening a rich mahogany in early spring, with a soft downy white covering. The flowers are the normal type. Easy and adaptable and tolerant of heavy and wet soils.	£18
Phyteuma nigrum	The Phyteumas are a funny-looking group in the Campanulaceae, with dense heads or spikes of small glossy curly tubular flowers instead of the usual open bell flowers more typical of the family. In this case the flowers are deep blackcurrant black in dense spikes on a 4-8 inch stem over a simple rosette of leaves. An easy and unusual European alpine suitable for any sunny well-drained spot.	£7
Piper aff. kadsura	The nearest we come to a hardy pepper plant. In all respects typical of the genus – a climber with nicely veined heart-shaped matt green leathery leaves to about 3ins across. I’ve not seen it flower but I assume they will be the normal pale tail-like inflorescences. Originally from Japan. Borderline hardy here at the nursery but we are rather exposed and dry. I’d try it in a milder, moister area, in woodland or a cool greenhouse. It went unscathed in my ‘frost-free’ greenhouse in December 2022 when many other supposedly hardier plants froze to death.	£15
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
Prunus prostrata	A tiny Mediterranean shrub with pink flowers and red fruits. Nicely gnarly and picturesque.	£12
Pycnanthemum muticum	Another North American that certainly deserves to be better known. Forms colonies of upright stems with fresh green rounded leaves ultimately developing an almost Euphorbia-like inflorescence of tiny white flowers subtended by silvery white bracts. At this stage the whole plant has a pale silvery sheen. Not invasive. Has a lovely fresh peppermint fragrance too and can be used in the same way. Any soil.	£8
Rabdosia longitubus	Despite the indecision over the name, a splendid, if understated perennial, with 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. (Aka Isodon longitubus or Plectranthus longitubus)	£8
Ranunculus calandrinioides	Ranunculus is an amazingly varied genus and I have a bit of a thing for them. This is one of the species found in the Western Mediterranean region with glaucous elliptical leaves, almost like a small Hosta, and gorgeous white flowers, slightly pink tinged. This species (from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco) is winter green and winter flowering and although cold hardy, is not generally recommended for outdoors. Word has it though that it will grow in dry shade, perhaps peeking out from under a myrtle or bay into the low winter sunlight. Perfectly easy in a pot in an unheated greenhouse, kept dry in summer but well-watered and fed when in growth.	£8
Ranunculus malessanus	A miniature species from Southern Spain with glossy dark green palmate leaves - tinted black when young, red stems, and substantial fresh yellow flowers. It has tuberous Ficaria-type roots but without any invasive tendencies. It appears in spring, flowers, and disappears again, and is therefore ideal for combining with other small Mediterranean bulbous and tuberous plants. An extremely neat and satisfying little buttercup for troughs and raised beds.	£6
Ranunculus platanifolius	A very easy and adaptable, and frankly just very lovely white flowering buttercup. Fresh and easy, and did I say lovely? Suitable for any retentive soil in sun or semi shade. Not even slightly invasive.	£6
Rhamnus imeretina	A remarkable large-leaved species with fresh green, nicely corrugated foliage on thick twigs. Pale yellow flowers appear in spring. A broad, lush shrub of a special quality. Ok here on my rather dry soil but the leaves don’t get as big as they would on moist soils with more shelter.	£21
Ribes aureum gracillimum	The western counterpart of the popular (but rather coarse) R.odoratum, with much the same bright yellow, fragrant flowers. However, this species is smaller, and in all respects more attractively put together. The buds are often tinged red. Should also be another good hardy species for drier, sunnier sites but probably more adaptable than cereum.	£12
Ribes cereum	An attractive Californian species with profuse palest rosy white flowers in spring among small shiny leaves on a compact gnarly shrub. An ideal species for Mediterranean style gardens growing among other sun-loving drought-tolerant species.	£20
Ribes laurifolium Amy Doncaster	Another winter flowering shrub and one of my favourites. Nothing like the blackcurrants to which it is related, this is a low, gnarly, rather picturesque evergreen, producing dangling trails of pale greenish yellow flowers from red bracts in earliest spring. Easy-going but probably best with some shade from deciduous trees and shrubs. Grow Cyclamen and Scillas through it. This is a male form – recognisable by its more rounded open flowers and more rounded inflorescences	£15
Ribes laurifolium female	In the female form the flowers are individually less wide-open but are subtended by more conspicuous bracts, and form very attractive, dense clusters. In no way inferior to the male. Black berries are occasionally produced	£15
Ribes malvaceum	Not the most brightly coloured Ribes but certainly one of the earliest flowering - in full flower here through frost and snow in January. Pastel pink flowers in dangling clusters among soft green foliage any time from autumn to spring in its native California, where it is important for nectar for birds and insects. Completely hardy here. Suitable for sun or shade, especially among evergreens.	£16
Ribes nevadense	A compact species with dense oval heads of rich pink flowers. A very nice species that should be better known.	£18
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.	£12
Rubus acuminatus	An evergreen species with leathery laurel-like foliage and very finely formed bell-shaped white flowers. The Rubus equivalent of Ribes laurifolium. An arching shrub - not at all invasive and completely hardy here. Best in moist semi shade but quite adaptable. A remarkable plant. Thanks very much to Barry Clarke for this one.	£16
Rubus formosensis	This species has deeply felted olive-green three-lobed leaves about 5ins across with very pale undersides. Arching and creeping. From Barry Clarke.	£16
Rubus iranaeus	A lovely creeping/semi climbing species with broad fresh green reniform leaves. Not too vigorous here but best given space to move about.	£16
Rubus Rushbrook Red Leaf	Deeply textured and felted palmate leaves start out quite distinctly red and turn rich green. This one is somewhere between a sprawling ground cover and a climber and is one of those that might need a certain amount of space and/or cutting back. Another of Barry Clarke’s babies.	£12
Ruellia strepens	There are a number of hardy Ruellia from the eastern USA – all with showy mauve flowers on bushy plants. This one seems particularly good with rich violet funnel-shaped flower and fresh green foliage. Seems very adaptable (unfazed by December 2023) and easy to grow. Should be much better known.	£8
Sagittaria graminea	A small aquatic with linear submerged leaves but without the arrow-head shaped emergent leaves of some other Sagittaria. The 3-petalled white flowers appear on short stems above the water in summer. Hardy and suitable for shallow ponds. Spreads in muddy soil by runners.	£6
Salix gracilistyla melanostachys	A wacky willow for you, this time grown for its bituminous black catkins in early spring which sprout pale yellow anthers and have red highlights. Potentially a large shrub but responds well to quite hard pruning immediately after flowering. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£28
Salix gracilistyla Mt.Aso	Maybe the idea of a pink flowered willow sounds a bit kitsch but I promise you this one carries it off very tastefully indeed. This is a naturally occurring form of gracilistyla (not chaenomeloides as was originally thought) and can be quite a substantial shrub in time, very much like its relative the black willow (melanostachys) but with greyish twigs and leaves. An easy and adaptable willow in any retentive soil in sun or part shade	£21
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	£21
Salix subopposita	A low-growing but vigorous shrub grown for the masses of yellow tinged catkins in early spring. An excellent ground-cover for heavy and sodden soils	£10
Sanguisorba applanata	Not flowered here yet for some reason but an excellent foliage plant, reminiscent of a low spreading Melianthus or a giant Acaena. The flowers should be white bottle brushes, but are not the main reason for growing this plant. Suitable for any moist fertile soil in sun.	£6
Salvia chamaedryoides	An absolutely gorgeous little Salvia from Texas and thereabouts, sprouting spikes of intense indigo violet over low ash-white bushes. It will, like so many species from this area, need the driest sunniest site you've got but is fairly cold tolerant and can eventually make quite a sizeable patch.	£8
Salvia pachyphylla	A sub-shrub from the south-western USA with very pale foliage and heads of violet flowers emerging from red tinted bracts on slender stems in summer. Needs a hot sunny spot very well drained soil, ideally dry in summer, and with protection from winter wet.	£8
Scopolia carniolica	Glossy dark maroon bells, pale inside, appear with the young foliage in early spring. A woodlander.	£12
Flueggea suffruticosa (Securinega ramiflora)	More of a curio really than a thing of great beauty perhaps - this is a broad, eventually weeping deciduous shrub with small, rounded leaves and clusters of small yellow flowers along the wiry stems. Extremely hardy and adaptable.	£10
Senna hebecarpa	Big exotic looking herbaceous relatives of the tropical Sennas – these American species occur as far north as the Great Lakes so should be very hardy indeed. The foliage is wonderfully luxuriant and the yellow flowers, while individually small, give a good show in the latter part of the summer. For moist rich soils in full sun.	£10
Silene asterias	A lovely little Bulgarian species unlike any of the other Silene in cultivation that I'm aware of. This has tiny flowers massed into thrift-like heads well above the rosettes of fresh green leaves. An easy and adaptable species suitable for any moisture retentive soil but is particularly useful for wet sites where something smaller is required.	£7
Silene zawadskii	If you have ever admired the fresh white blooms of the white campion but wished it wasn't quite so weedy this might be the answer. This 'alpine' version is very neat and adaptable with the pure white flowers held on slender stems over smart glossy green rosettes. A very nice contrast. Any well-drained soil in sun.	£6
Silphium simpsonii	A smaller species with simple green leaves and golden flowers	£8
Sinningia tubiflora	A South American Gesneriaceae making rosettes of soft grey leaves and tall slender stems of intensely fragrant tubular milky white flowers. Dies down to a tuber in winter. These will survive sub zero temperatures if kept dry	£8
Spiraea densiflora splendens	The Spiraeas are a another group that is unfairly ignored due to a few nondescript but all too common representatives, but S.splendens is a neat little shrub with small rounded pale sea green leaves and vivid pink flowers. Very pretty indeed, and easy too, given sun and free drainage. Thanks to Dennis Carvalho once again, for the seed.	£9
Spiraea hayatana	A pleasing medium-sized species with strongly red tinged new growth and heads of white flowers, tinged pink at the centre in June. Like most Spiraea it is easy and hardy.	£12
Strobilanthes angustifrons	A deciduous shrub almost unknown in cultivation it seems. The flowers are of a rich glossy purple with a pale creamy throat. Very distinct. Flowers freely at the same time as other hardy Strobilanthes, in autumn. Largely untried but it's proved fully hardy here on the nursery and there has been a good-sized specimen in the walled garden at Wakehurst for some time now. Should be much better known.	£16
Strobilanthes lactea	A beautiful species with silver-white bands either side of the midrib of each leaf – these really shine out in shady conditions. I’ve not seen the flowers yet and this species is largely untested for hardiness in the UK but is categorised as z8 in the USA so should be fine with a bit of shelter over most of the southern and western regions. Like other Strobilanthes this is going to be an excellent addition to the woodland garden especially for late summer and autumn.	£12
Strobilanthes nutans	A really nice change from the better known upright purple flowered species – this one trails over the ground and is seen at its best in a shady raised bed (or a hanging basket? Why not?) with it’s pure white, hop-like inflorescences dangling over the side. Hardy so far here and unusually classy. Many thanks to Mike Clifford for this.	£8
Strobilanthes penstemonoides dalhausieana	An impressive robust bushy perennial making plenty of fresh violet flowers from late summer until frost. One of the very best late flowering hardy perennials for a wide range of situations, including dry shade.	£12
Strobilanthes sp. large leaf sp. (Yunnan col. Jacky Pousse)	A stonking great species with fabulous big leaves up to 8ins long, beautifully veined, and tinted purple on the reverse. Hardly tried outside in the UK so far and I’ve not seen the flowers but promises to be an amazing addition to a sheltered woodland garden. Thanks again to Mike Clifford. According to Alan Gregg this is S.mastersii.	£16
Syringa tomentella yunnanensis	Attractive large, ribbed foliage and sprays of tubular pink flowers in spring. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£25
Talbotia elegans	A bit of an obscurity this one - this is a member of the southern hemisphere family, the velloziaceae, and is probably the hardiest of them. They are particularly known for being among those plants that look dead during the dry season but miraculously revive when the rains come. (Sometimes included in the genus Xerophyta, meaning 'dry plant'.) This is a dense, tussock-forming plant with rather fibrous leaves – green above, purple under. Pretty white flowers appear on fine hair-like stems in summer. Probably best in an unheated greenhouse, but I've tried it outside with a canopy to keep it dry in winter, and although the leaves look dead they revive in spring, so don’t cut them off unless they get really tatty. For well-drained soil in sun.	£12
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
Tinantia pringlei	Completely hardy through the last few winters here in Sussex, and in fact inclined to turn up in unexpected places around the garden.	£6
Titanotrichum oldhamii	Classic gesneriaceae - sturdy basal rosette of fleshy crinkly leaves and stems of foxglove like flowers emerging from the centre. The flowers are a very striking bright yellow, deep red inside, and the leaves are purple on the reverse. Not well tried outdoors in the UK, but the main problem overwintering temperate gesneriads usually is not the cold so much as keeping them dry in winter, This doesn't seem to be a problem in this case. Titanotrichum is best in a moist woodsy soil, and it is imperative that it does not dry out in summer, or else the flower buds will turn to tiny tubers (gemmae). A solid and vigorous woodland perennial as long as it has enough water	£10
Tradescantia ohiensis	A tall vigorous species with big clear blue flowers over a long period in summer. Extremely adaptable	£7
Trillium ludovicianum aka freemannii	I have a few pieces to spare of this very rarely offered plant. There's some confusion about the name but either way it's a lovely species. I've found it easy to grow in a leafy shady spot and unfazed by summer drought. Roots lifted in autumn or winter.	Prices on request
Ugni molinae PAB1347	This is the plant originally circulated as U.candollei (which is another species) – it’s a taller and more open than the more common forms and is perhaps less hardy. Provide shelter and/or grow among other shrubs. Very choice. Thanks to Gary Firth for this.	£15
Viburnum cylindricum	An evergreen species grown for the unusual greyish cast to the foliage and panicles of creamy flowers in summer. Bloomy black fruits. A rare large shrub – excellent on chalk.	£20
Viburnum obovatum	Almost never available in the UK, this is a very distinct species from the SE 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. Small creamy white flowers are produced in dense clusters in spring and the berries are blue/black. Can make a large shrub but easily controlled. Completely hardy here.	£16
Weigela coraeensis	A rarely seen Weigela whose flowers open white and turn through dusky pink to wine red. It sounds like it could be garish but isn't. Extremely easy and adaptable, the only problem might be that it is a very vigorous species. The leaves are lush fresh green and up to 5ins long. Luckily it responds well to hard pruning immediately after flowering. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£30
Weigela middendorfiana	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-sized plants – collection only.	£30
Weigela sp. TCM 12-852	An unknown species from Tom Mitchell. Early flowering with unusually broad fresh green leaves and large rounded masses of soft rosy flowers from red buds. Rather choice. I like it a lot	£22
Wulfenia baldaccii	A lovely and understated alpine with rosettes of broad, fresh green leaves and one-sided spikes of rich violet flowers. Best in a sunny spot – not too dry	£6
Wyethia angustifolia	Narrow Leaf Mule’s Ears. In this species the leaves are plain green and about 2ins wide. The flowers are golden yellow on short leafless stems just above the foliage. Easy and hardy here so far.	£8
X Chitalpa tashkentensis	A hybrid between Catalpa and Chilopsis. Most of us know what a Catalpa looks like, but Chilopsis is less familiar - it's a willowy looking shrub (known locally in the south-western USA as Desert Willow) with masses of pink Catalpa type flowers in summer among narrow leaves and is very lovely. Unfortunately Chilopsis does not grow well in the UK, probably because of the unpredictable damp climate. The hybrid though (created in the botanical gardens in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hence the name) is an excellent and adaptable substitute, making a large shrub or small tree, flowering freely in late summer. Any well-drained soil in sun. Specimen-sized plants – collection only.	£30
Zanthoxylum simulans	A pepper tree of medium-sized with the usual spiky stems, pinnate foliage and reddish fruits. I can’t comment on their edibility. The whole plant is aromatic. Hardy and easy to grow	£14
Zingiber mioga Crûg's Zing BSWJ4379	An excellent form of this hardy ginger which produces orchid like blossoms directly from the ground in spring and then the standard upright leafy stems afterwards. Crûg's Zing differs from other mioga commonly in cultivation in that the flowers are pink instead of creamy yellow. This is a genuinely hardy species (or at least, as hardy as any of the Hedychiums or Roscoeas) needing nothing more than perhaps a bit of mulch to stop the roots freezing. It does not need a dry winter. The new shoots can be harvested as a vegetable.	£12