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

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.
sold out for now

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

Various Irises

Iris barbatula

An exquisite alpine species with neat flowers at the base of narrow upright leaves. The flowers are a rich violet with a white zone toward the centre and a smart orange line along the middle. Very easy to grow here, and perhaps unusually for a Chinese mountain plant, untroubled by the relatively dry conditions or indeed by molluscs.

£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 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

Iris unguicularis Peloponnese Snow

A deservedly popular form - still in short supply. Smaller than normal unguicularis, the flowers are pure white touched with blue toward the centre. Perfect for dry sunny sites sheltered from the rain

sold out

Iris sintenisii

A rarely seen Eastern European species with finely crafted inky violet and white flowers among tussocks of narrow grey upright leaves. Easy and adaptable in sun.

sold out

Iris graminea

Related to sintenisii - another small European species with nicely shaped violet flowers among narrow grassy leaves. The flowers are plum-scented.

£6