Garden Designers & Landscape Gardeners
Garden Buildings in South & East England
Bamboo
BAMBOO
The information in this section has been endorsed by Paul Whittaker, proprietor of PW Plants in Norfolk, one of the top specialist bamboo nurseries in the UK, author of Taming The Dragon (Shown left) and regular lecturer for the Royal Horticulture Society. PW Plants will be holding a Bamboo enthusiasts open day at the nursery, (see right) read more about it on their website - hardybamboo.com, find a link to them on our resources page.
Fargesia robusta
A hardy upright bamboo. Thin culms and delicate leaves.
Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. Spectabilis.
Dense clump forming bamboo. Very hardy and adaptable, good for hedges.
Phyllostachys bambusoides 'All Gold' ('Holochrysa')
Amber gold culms and elegant clump forming habit.
Phyllostachys nigra
Jet black culms reaching 35mm thick and 8m tall in the uk.
Phyllostachys vivax f. Aureocaulis
The best bamboo in the world. Impossibly beautiful, huge, graceful and imposing!
Pleioblastus viridistriatus
The best colour co-ordinated variegated leaf of any plant, with multiple shades of green and yellow.
Psuedosasa japonica
One of the most common bamboo species that will grow in almost any conditions with a tropical look.
Semiarundinaria fastuosa
An invaluable bamboo, a collectors favourite. Growing naturally to look like classic Japanese bamboo.
Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Kew Beauty'
A Himalayan bamboo with tiny, fine leaves on slender arching stems - stunning.
X Hibanobambusa tranquilans 'Shiroshima'
The most attractive variegation of any bamboo with broad tropical looking leaves.
bulbs, herbaceous and perenial plants
BULBS, HERABACEOUS AND PERENIAL PLANTS
The information in this section has been endorsed by Elizabeth Browne proprietor of Urban Jungle nursery one of the UKs' leading specialist ginger, canna and exotic herbaceous nurseries. They have grown many rare and unusual plants in this category for many years and currently stock a large range of them. A link to their website can be found on our resources page.
Cardiocrinum giganteum
4m tall lily with loads of huge white scented flowers and big heart shaped leaves - epic, stunning, dramatic and..... well we are lost for words!
Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'
Huge bright green leaves up to 3.5m tall with dark red mid ribs and edges, a real show stopper.
Hedychium 'Tara'
Spikes of deep orange scented flowers and tropical looking foliage in late summer.
Hedychium gardnerianum
Spikes of golden and orange heavily scented flowers and tropical looking foliage in late summer.
Hosta 'Christmas Pageant'
Large ruffled leaves with a stunning white variegation in the spring and pale lilac flowers.
Hosta 'Francis Williams'
Large fleshy dark green leaves with pale green variegation around the edges and spikes of pale blue flowers.
Hosta 'Sum and Substance'
Huge pale green leaves with striking ribs and tall spikes of ivory white flowers
Kniphofia 'Alcazar'
Spikes of intense red flowers all summer.
Lobelia tupa
Stately, tall deep maroon spikes of velvety flowers in late summer.
Zantadeschia aethiopica
Large 'elephants ear' type leaves and white spathe type flowers.
Climbers hardy in the UK
CLIMBERS HARDY IN THE UK
Bignonia capreolata
A climber that looks too exotic to be hardy, but it is. Flowers with yellow trumpets with maroon throats.
Bomarea sp.
Delicate and richly coloured orange/red and yellow tubular flowers in large groups on twining stems. Mexican but hardy.
Campsis radicans 'Mme Galen'
Big, fleshy, trumpet-shaped deep red flowers and finely divided foliage.
Clematis armandii 'Apple Blossom'
Evergreen glossy leaves and masses of white scented flowers in early spring.
Clianthus puniceus
The lobster claw climber from NZ is one of the most exotic climbers hardy in the UK.
Holboellia coriacea
Thick glossy evergreen leaves on twining stems and waxy scented flowers flushed purple.
Climbers tropical and sub tropical
CLIMBERS - CONSERVATORY, TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL
Strongylodon macrobotrys
The jade vine a tropical climber only suitable for heated conservatories...but WOW, this is a surreal plant.
Thunbergia mysorensis
Outrageously elegant tassles of yellow and burgundy flowers for heated conservatories.
Ferns
FERNS
Adiantum venustum
The 'Hardy Maidenhair Fern', most delicate and graceful looking of all the hardy ferns.
Blechnum chilense
A hardy, large, leathery-leaved evergreen fern from Chile.
cyrtomium caryotideum
Dwarf Holly fern from Japan, China and S. Pacific. Leaves have beautiful detailed fish scale patterns.
Dicksonia antarctica
Huge lacy fronds up to 2m long growing from a thick fibrous trunk
Dryopteris wallichiana
Tall stately fern from Bhutan. Dark 'scales' on the stems give a striking appearance
Ploystichum polyblepharum
One of the best Polystichium species with glossy semi evergreen leaves and rich brown stems.
Ground cover and small shrubs
GROUND COVER & SMALL SHRUBS
Eryngium bourgatii
Electric blue thistle type flowers and compact grey finely divided foliage.
Euphorbia rigida
Slender stems of silver leaves and yellow heads of flowers.
Grevillea 'Bronze Rambler'
An evergreen groundcover your neighbours will not have. Sawtooth shaped leaves and toothbrush shaped flowers.
Grevillea prostrata
Evergreen groundcover from Australia. Floriferous intricate flower and vigorous spreading growth.
Helleborus x Sternii
Bold and dark evergreen leaves with pale cream coloured flowers all flushed with pink/red.
Lampranthus varieties.
Carpets of intensely loud colour in red, yellow, purple and orange - sunglasses required!
Palms hardy and borderline hardy in the UK.
PALMS - HARDY AND BORDERLINE HARDY IN THE UK.
The information in this section is endorsed by Martin Gibbons - former director of the International Palm Society, proprietor of The Palm Centre in London, author of the Palm Identifier and the Pocket Guide To Palms And Cycads. See the Palm Centre's link on our resources page.
Arenga engleri
Large, arching, feather-shaped leaves from a bushy suckering plant making lush tropical effect.
Brahea armata
Silver/grey, fan-shaped leaves and massive flowering display.
Chamaerops humilis
Our native European fan palm. It can be seen growing wild on the hillsides in Spain.
Chamaerops humilis 'Vulcano'
An eruption of silver fan shaped leaves from a compact group of crowns.
Chamaerops humilis var 'Cerifera'
A silver leaved version of the 'European Fan Palm' from Morocco.
Jubea chilensis
Huge dark green feather shaped leaves, very slowly forming a thick trunk.
Pheonix canariensis
The Canary Island Date Palm - we can't imagine the Mediterranean without this stunning palm.
Pheonix dactylifera
Silver feather shaped leaves on a slender trunk, along with P. reclinata it is the archetypal desert plam.
Pheonix reclinata
A clump forming palm for the most sheltered courtyards only, truly Egyptian style.
Pheonix theophrastii
Dazzling silver feather shaped leaves with very sharp tips and orange spines.
Rhopalostylis Sapida
Stiff upright feather shaped leaves on a slender trunk with smooth tropical looking crown shaft.
Trachycarpus martianus
Slender trunk with fine rounded leaves, the most refined, exotic looking Trachycarpus?
Trachycarpus wagnerianus
The 'Dwarf' Chusan palm affectionately known as the 'Waggy' Just as hardy and more compact.
Palms sub tropical and tropical
PALMS - TROPICAL AND SUB TROPICAL
The information in this section is endorsed by Martin Gibbons - former director of the International Palm Society, proprietor of The Palm Centre in London, author of the Palm Identifier and the Pocket Guide To Palms And Cycads. See the Palm Centre's link on our resources page.
Acoelorraphe wrightii
A slender and graceful clump forming palm from Central America.
Arenga pinatta
One of the largest leaves of any palm - up to 7m long, known as the sugar palm for its sweet sap.
Bismarkia nobilis
Massive silver fan-shaped leaves, 3.5m wide and growing to be a large 60m tall tree - awesome!
Coccothrinax crinata
Looking like a mini yeti this palm has long shaggy fibres covering its trunk.
Coccothrinax macroglossa
A crown of blue/green fan shaped leaves and a trunk with possibly the most beautiful woven looking fibres of any palm.
Copernicia alba
A palm from Brazil with persistent leaf bases that make neat geometric pattern on its trunk.
Copernicia baileyana
An imposing, spectacular palm with thick, sturdy leaf stems yet fine and gracefuly 'pleated' leaves.
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis
An unmistakable palm from Madagascar with a swollen trunk and stout recurved leaves.
Latania loddigessii
The Blue Latan Palm with a dense crown of stiff, striking silver/blue leaves.
Oncosperma tigillarium
Tropical palm growing in clumps with impossibly thin trunks and elegant leaves.
Rhopalostylis baueri
A slightly lusher and more exotic looking version of the shaving brush palm.
Roystonea regia
Massive grey trunks to 25m tall and huge dark glossy green feather shaped leaves.
Thrinax morrisii
Fan shaped leaves thet look almost to big and lush for the size of this palm, large mid green with grey undersides - striking.
Verschaffeltia splendida
Splendid is a part of this tropical palm's name and for a good reason, it is one of the most beautiful palms.
Wodyetia bifurcata
A palm with glossy green plumose leaves looking like a crown full of fox tails gracefully arching.
Shrubs hardy in the UK
SHRUBS
Acacia verticillata Riveraine form
An extremely floriferous shrub with intense pale yellow catkin like flowers.
Available at Trevena Cross Nurseries
Aesculus pavia 'Astrosanguinea'
A dwarf tree with brilliantly coloured young leaves and flowers.
Aesculus x mutabilis 'Penduliflora'
Mid green Horse Chestnut shaped leaves with pink and yellow flowers.
Clerodendrum Bungei
An upright bush with big showy, scented cerise pink flowers.
Daphniphyllum macropodum
A handsome evergreen shrub with dark glossy green leaves.
Euphorbia martinii
A small shrub with puple flushed leaves and green flowers with red 'eyes'.
Euphorbia mellifera
'Honey Spurge'. A rounded plant with large honey scented flowers.
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Galaxy'
Huge flowers in a range of colours looking totally tropical.
Hydrangea aspera
Large lacecap flowers lilac/purple in the centre with white ray florets and large velvety leaves.
Leucodendron 'Safari Sunset'
A stunning evergreen shrub. Its' foliage is used in flower arrangments.
Available from Trevena Cross Nurseries
Lomatia ferruginea
Shapely, classy looking shrub with finely cut fern like leaves and elegant shape.
Melianthus major
Large elegant silver grey leaves and spikes of burgundy flowers.
Schefflera impressa
Tropical exotic looking hardy plants with hand shaped leaves.
Spikey plants
SPIKEY PLANTS
Agave americana
Silver/green thick, succulent leaves with fearsome spines and an epic flower spike.
Agave americana 'Marginata'
Imposing and fearsomely sharp leaves are sweetened with striking creamy yellow edges.
Aloe striatula
An Aloe vera relative that is quite hardy and vigorous, producing masses of spikes of flowers.
Cordyline australis
Soft crowns of sword shaped leaves that quickly grow trunks and make architectural tree like plants, heavily scented flowers too.
Cordyline indivisa
Broad grey sword shaped leaves with central orange/red stripe and other yellow orange stripes all over - gorgeous.
Phormium cookianum
Soft arching clumps of evergreen creamy variegated leaves and spikes of exotic orange flowers.
Phormium tenax
Clumps of architectural, upright sword shaped leaves in colours from green to purple.
Phormium williamsii
Possibly the most stunning of all variegated plants with strong architectural form.
Yucca queretaroensis
A rare yucca that has the finest leaves of all. Bringing a softer feel to spikey plants.
Trees hardy in the UK
TREES - HARDY IN THE UK
Abizia julibrissin
A small tree with wide spreading crown, delicate feather like leaves and exotic pin cushion style flowers.
Acacia baileyana 'Purpurea'
Small tree with the finest, tiniest silver leaflets flushed with purple, masses of yellow flowers.
Acer palmatum 'Beni Otake'
Purple Japanese Maple, making a small tree with elegant fine shape. I.D uncertain on this tree - please suggest if you have any ideas
Arbutus x 'Andrachnoides'
A medium-sized evergreen tree that has everything: attractive bark, flower, berry, and architectural form.
Clerodendrum trichotomum
A small tree with scented flowers, showy seeds and architectural shape.
Eucalyptus species
Trees of all sizes and for all conditions, bringing unique and highly ornamental qualities to any garden.
Paulownia tomentosa
Huge trusses of BLUE flowers, huge leaves can be grown as a tree or shrub.
Robinia x hillieri
Small tree with delicate dark green feathery foliage with large sprays of pink flowers.
Sophora microphyla
A small tree with dark evergreen leaves and rich golden bell shaped flowers in early spring.
