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

Pyrgophyllum yunnanensis

 

Barely in cultivation – this rare hardy ginger is an easy and long-lived species in the garden, though slow to multiply. I’ve had it in the border here for 10 years. 

A distinctive leafy clump-forming plant with yellow flowers, to about 12 ins tall. I grow it among woodlanders but seems adaptable. 

sold out for now

Buddleja nivea yunnanensis

This is an absolutely enormous shrub growing to 10ft very quickly and demanding a big space. The leaves are also very big – up to 20-30cm pale grey above, pure white felted beneath and along the stems.

The flowers resemble davidii but the small purple orange eyed flowers are in hefty clusters up to about 30cms long and set in white fluff. All in all a dramatic and remarkable thing.

The down side is that the new shoots and buds have been severely damaged by late frosts so needs a sheltered situation or a mild garden. Easy and undemanding otherwise
sold out

Dipelta ventricosa

A gorgeous and very choice member of the Abelia group. 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.
£30

Specimen-sized plants – collection only.