|
Name |
Notes and varieties |
category |
|
Abies koreana
Korean Fir
|
Conical conifer with darkish green leaves. Produces purple-blue cones
from an early age which are very decorative. A well shaped and proportioned
tree, to 30ft tall and 20ft wide. |
Tree |
|
Acer palmatum
Japanese maples
|
The archetypal Japanese tree,
usually bought as a small specimen 1-2ft tall. Not tolerant to being
exposed to cold, wind or full sun and best grown initially at least
in a container so you can move them about to find the best position.
They don't like chalky soils preferring it on the acid-side.
Numerous cultivars
available, one of the commonest (and cheapest) being "atropurpureum"
which needs positioning carefully as it can appear rather dark and dense.
The "dissectum" cultivars are very beautiful
with finely cut leaves. "Aureum" has plainer shaped
leaves but a lovely bright yellow colour. "Sango-kaku" (senkaki)
has bright coral-red winter shoots with yellow autumn leaves.
|
Small tree / shrub |
|
Aucuba japonica
Spotted or Cuban
laurel
|
Evergreen shrub, with glossy
leaves to 8" long spotted yellow. Plants are either male or female, females
have bright red berries in autumn. Tolerant of quite deep shade and indeed
requires some shade to be really happy. Will grow in difficult situations
and tolerant of dry soil. To about 10ft high and wide but easily controlled.
Frequently sold as three or four rooted cuttings in a pot, separate them
and you instantly have more plants!
|
Shrub |
|
Bamboos
|
Bamboos are evergreens and
not affected by any major pest or disease in this country. They are not
always able to cope with exposed windy conditions which often makes them
look a bit tatty and threadbare. they all prefer dampish conditions
and won't really withstand being baked by the sun with little moisture available.
Arundinaria nitida
(also known as Sinarundinaria nitida or Fargesia
nitida) - fountain bamboo, is a handsome one with dark purple-green
canes and dark green leaves, to 15ft high by 5ft wide.
Arundinaria
murieliae (Sinarundinaria
or Fargesia murieliae)
- umbrella bamboo is similar but more, well, umbrella-shaped. Yellow-green
canes at first turning yellow with age.
Phyllostachys nigra
- black bamboo is particularly striking with canes that start
green but then turn black in the second or third year 10-15ft high by 6ft
wide.
|
Shrub / perennial |
|
Betula
spp.
birches
|
The birches are admirable
trees for small gardens, some types can grow tall (eventually to 50ft or
more), but they tend not to spread very far and have an open canopy that
gives a dappled shade, a lovely effect. They need an open sunny situation.
The native silver birch
Betula pendula is a popular choice, but the bark is
rather rough and splits with dark patches forming with age, go for
named cultivars such as "Dalicarlica" / "Laciniata"
or "Tristis" if you can find them.
I prefer the Himalayan
birch, Betula utilis "jacquemontii" (usually sold
as Betula jacquemontii)
or the paper birch,
Betula papyrifera. Both have a smoother, brighter bark
than the native species and are fairly easy to find.
If you have more space,
birches can be planted as a triangular group of 3 about 3 feet apart.
You tend to get a similar canopy as if a single tree was on its own, but
3 times the trunks and bark which is the main feature.
|
Tree |
|
Choisya ternata
Mexican Orange Blossom
|
Glossy evergreen shrubs that
comes in two main types grown either for wonderfully fragrant white flowers
in summer (and often again in autumn) with green leaves, or for vibrant
yellow leaves in the variety "Sundance" which unfortunately
rarely flowers. "Aztec Pearl" is a flowering green variety
with leaves that are more delicately cut.
The flower scent is exceptional.
To about 6-8ft tall and wide. Best in sun.
|
Shrub |
|
Cordyline
Cabbage palm
|
These are not fully
hardy, but with our increasingly frequent and
increasingly mild winters, they survive year round more and more. Don't
push it too far in Cambridgeshire, plant them in sheltered areas away
from strong winds and with the protection of a wall if possible.
|
Shrub |
|
Cortaderia selloana
Pampas grass
|
It's had a bit of a bad press
has poor old pampas grass with its connotations of 70's housing estates.
Like some other plants though, it's earned its reputation unfairly, largely
as a result of being planted inappropriately. It is a big plant
6ft tall by about the same wide with flower panicles to 10ft.
Best planted at
the margins of a garden or at the back of a mixed
border unless you have great expanses of lawn.
|
Perennial |
|
Eucalyptus gunnii
Cider Gum
|
Actually a tree if left to
its own devices that will go to 50ft + if it's happy. However, don't be
too alarmed. What you do is you treat it as a coppice stool. Let
the plant get established for one or two years and then in Feb / March you
cut it down to about 4-6" above ground level. This encourages it to throw
out new shoots from just below the cut point. The plant will then provide
you with lots of very attractive glaucous blue/green juvenile foliage
that can grow up to 6ft from ground level in a season. It's also reputed
to keep midges and mosquitoes at bay, so plant it near the patio.
|
Tree / shrub |
|
Euphorbias
|
E. mellifera,
the honey spurge is one of the larger members of the
group and is well placed at the back of the border. It has vibrant apple-green
leaves and the flowers while not being particularly striking, have a
probably unique scent of honey. An excellent addition to any garden.
To 8ft tall and wide. Best in sun tolerates some shade, not fond
of exposure so molly coddle it a bit if you can.
Euphorbia myrsinites
Completely different habit to E. mellifera above. A prostrate
creeping plant with blue-green leaves, yellow "flowers" in spring. 4"
tall and spreads to about 18", a succulent so needs reasonable drainage,
goes well with spiky plants or against gravel / rocks etc.
Euphorbia wulfenii
(often available in one of several named varieties). Bluish
green leaves to about 4ft tall. Particularly bright green-yellow "flower"
heads in spring. Well known and deservedly so. Reputed to emit a coffee
scent.
|
Perennial |
|
Fatsia japonica
Castor oil plant
|
A large plant with
large bright glossy leaves up to 36" long in mature
specimens. Chiefly a foliage plant, but also produces long lasting
white flowers as a bonus which are followed by masses of black berries.
Fits into many different styles of garden, but best in formal or jungly
/ tropical types. Grows in sun and also in quite deep shade. To 12ft
by 12ft but not for ages.
|
Shrub |
|
Gunnera manicata
Giant rhubarb
|
The leaves are enormous,
up to 6ft across borne on prickly stalks to 8ft long. It is really a
bog plant and needs moist conditions, if you think you might be able
to accommodate its requirements and size, then little else will get the
same WOW! effect. To 8ft tall and 10-12ft across.
|
Perennial |
|
Hedera canariensis
Canary island ivy "Gloire de Marengo"
|
Large shiny variegated
leaves with a jungly feel. Not as hardy as most
Ivies you see (which are often as tough as old boots), so benefits from
some shelter. Grow as a climber up a wall or use as ground cover,
pretty vigorous in both situations. To 12ft.
|
Climber |
|
Ilex spp.
Hollies
|
An incredibly useful
group, usually of tough and tolerant plants. Strictly
speaking most are trees, though they grow slowly enough and are easily enough
trimmed to be regarded as shrubs if you want them to be.
Useful for their
evergreen foliage and winter colour provided by berries and / or variegated
leaves. Slow growing and usually only available
as smaller specimens as they don't take too kindly to being moved. Will
tolerate shade, especially the darker-leaved forms, variegated types require
sun to bring colours out to the optimum. Hollies are usually either
male or female and only the females have the berries, but they need
a male to achieve this!
Ilex aquifolium
"Silver Queen"
- variegated green / cream, male.
I. aquifolium "Mme. Briot" variegated green / yellow, female,
red berries. I. aquifolium " J.C. van tol" - self-fertile
female, abundant red berries, dark green smooth margined leaves. One of
my favourites I. aquifolium "ferox argentea", hedgehog
holly - variegated cream / green, male with spikes all over the surface
of the leaf, a bit more fussy about soil than the others, doesn't like it
too heavy or wet.
|
Tree / shrub |
|
Juniperus scopulurum
"skyrocket"
|
A narrowly upright
conifer with a blue-grey tinge to the foliage
best brought out when planted in full sun.
Use effectively
in pairs either side of a path or entrance, or
use as punctuation marks in planting schemes.
|
Tree |
|
Mahonia spp.
|
Evergreen shrubs
with shiny dark green holly-like leaves and large sprays of highly scented
yellow flowers in the winter months. Make sure
you plant it near a path or doorway otherwise you may never be tempted to
venture out and appreciate the scent. M. aquifolium - Oregon
grape is the toughest and will withstand quite deep shade ("Apollo"
is the best variety). Others though are more delicate and less shade tolerant
such as, M. x media "Charity" and M. bealei,
plant one of these if conditions allow.
|
Shrub |
|
Phormium tenax
New Zealand Flax
|
Great evergreen fans of sword-shaped
leaves up to 10ft long in green, purple or many variegated varieties. These
plants will grow large! up to 10-12ft across. Flower spikes up to 12ft tall
in the "weird and striking" rather than "pretty" category. The ordinary
green one is the best, and Phormiums actually prefer clay!
Best in full sun, though do tolerate some shade.
|
Shrub / |
|
Rhus typhina "laciniata"
Stags Horn Sumarch
|
A striking shrub
or small tree that earns its common name due to
the shape of the branches in the winter. Handsome pinnate leaves up to 18"
long that give very good autumn colours. Tends to sucker quite a lot, but
a small price to pay for such a handsome plant, it also means that you get
some extra plants for free to give to friends. To about 15ft tall and wide.
|
Shrub
/ small tree |
|
Tamarix
|
Graceful shrub to small tree, wispy
frothy pink flowers produced in summer. Height and spread to 15ft. Withstands
a surprising degree of soil wetness, but don't bother if the planting hole
fills with water as you're digging it.
|
Shrub / small tree |
|
Viburnum tinus
|
Bushy dense evergreen
shrub eventually to about 10ft tall and wide. Fragrant white flowers borne
over a long period through winter and spring,
followed by blue/black berries. Tolerates a fair amount of shade and can
be hard pruned. "Eve Price" is a reliably performing cultivar
|
Shrub |
|
Vitis coignetiae
Crimson glory vine
|
Large bright green heavily
textured leaves up to 12" across whose autumn colours earn it its common
name. A vigorous and large plant that will grow to 50ft if given
space in a mature tree, alternatively grow it up and over a pergola
to give summer shade and autumn fireworks.
|
Climber |
