Plants for Wildlife

Trachelospermum jasminoides - 4Litre Deep

This is one of the ultimate garden classics. This classy evergreen climber has self-twining woody stems and rounded, glossy deep green leaves which develop attractive red tones when the weather turns cold or, interestingly, when grown in a shadier position. Pure white flowers appear throughout summer, filling the garden with a wonderfully sweet scent. A fantastic choice for walls, fences and pergolas, where it provides year-round structure and interest. Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 4 litre deep

Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ - 2Litre

An attractive clump-forming perennial with fragrant green-grey foliage and spikes of rich blue flowers emerging from purple buds. Flowering from late spring right through to autumn, it provides months of colour in the garden. Deeply loved by bees and other pollinators, this is a fantastic choice for sunny borders, containers and wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Flower colour: Blue Leaf colour: Green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Nepeta × faassenii 'Purrsian Blue'- 2Litre

This lovely compact Catmint has silver, highly fragrant foliage and bold lavender-blue flowers that continue flowering well into autumn. Beloved by bees and other pollinators, it is perfect for sunny borders, containers and wildlife-friendly planting schemes. Its neat habit makes it particularly useful where space is a little more limited than with larger varieties of Nepeta. Flower colour: Lavender blue Leaf colour: Silver Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Agastache ‘Summerlong Coral’ - 2litre

A compact, bushy perennial with bold coral-pink flowers featuring deeper-coloured throats, set against dark green foliage. If deadheaded regularly, it will continue to flower throughout the summer, providing months of colour in the garden. A favourite with bees and other pollinators, this is a fantastic choice for sunny borders, containers and wildlife-friendly gardens. Flower colour: Pink Leaf colour: Dark green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Spiraea japonica 'Double Play Doozie' - 7.5Litre

A fantastic shrub that truly flowers almost non-stop from spring right through to autumn. The deep red flowers are beautifully complemented by colourful green foliage with attractive red tones. This is one of the earliest shrubs to come into leaf on our nursery, often producing beautiful coppery new growth as early as the end of February. Leaf colour: Green with red tones Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Forever Gold’ - 2 Litre

A tall, bushy herbaceous perennial with incredible golden-yellow flowers and distinctive dark centres. This variety has a particularly long flowering period, providing colour from summer well into autumn, and becomes a real mecca for pollinating insects later in the season. Easy to grow and wonderfully cheerful, it is perfect for adding reliable late-season colour to borders and wildlife-friendly gardens. Flower colour: Yellow Leaf colour: Green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Clay, chalk, sand or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Veronica ‘Moody Blues Blue Pink’ - 2Litre

This is a lovely perennial, deeply beloved by pollinators, with long pale pink flower spikes from early summer right through to autumn. Easy to grow and wonderfully floriferous, it is a fantastic choice for adding long-lasting colour to borders, containers and wildlife-friendly gardens. Flower colour: Pink Leaf colour: Green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Mahonia japonica - 7.5Litre

Mahonias are fantastically tolerant plants, happily filling almost any space in the garden. Long sprays of attractive yellow buds are followed by bright yellow flowers throughout autumn and winter, providing valuable colour and nectar at a time when very little else is in flower. These are followed by glossy black berries, adding further interest and appeal. Mahonia's common name is Oregon Grape. This is because not only are the flowers edible (although I wouldn't bother, they're not the best bit), the black berries, which are funnily enough rather grape-shaped, can be made into a surprisingly good jam. I certainly wouldn't recommend eating them raw though. They are extremely sharp and really need plenty of sugar and cooking before they become enjoyable! Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Partial shade or full shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Scabiosa columbaria ‘Barocca’®

This Scabious is a lovely perennial with fresh green foliage and wonderfully rich chocolate-purple flowers that are so dark they appear almost black with tiny white dots above the flowers.  Flowering over a long period and adored by bees and butterflies, it is perfect for adding dramatic colour and contrast to sunny borders and containers. Flower colour: Chocolate-purple-black Leaf colour: Green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

Phillyrea angustifolia - 30/35cm Ball -7.5Litre

We have grown the ever-popular Phillyrea balls for several years now as they are excellent evergreen plants that establish well in gardens and respond brilliantly to clipping as shrubby topiary. They are covered in wonderfully scented flowers from the leaf axils in spring and sometimes are followed by black berries which only add to their garden appeal. Whilst we grow these as balls, they can also be planted alongside one another and quickly grown into a smart evergreen hedge. Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand Pot size: 7.5 litre

Mahonia japonica Bealei Group - 7.5Litre

This Mahonia is a wonderfully tough and tolerant evergreen, thriving in those parts of the garden where many other shrubs struggle. Its bold, architectural foliage provides year-round structure, while sprays of attractive yellow buds open into fragrant yellow flowers throughout winter. The flowers are followed by glossy blue-black berries, adding further interest to the garden. Although edible once cooked, they're rather sharp when eaten fresh! An excellent choice for bringing colour, structure and valuable winter nectar to shady borders. Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Partial shade or full shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Veronica ‘Moody Blues Blue Sky’ - 2Litre

This is a lovely perennial, deeply beloved by pollinators, with long lavender-blue flowers from early summer right through to autumn. Easy to grow and long flowering, it is a fantastic addition to sunny borders and wildlife-friendly gardens. Flower colour: Lavender-blue Leaf colour: Green Type: Perennial Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 2 litre

SALE PRICE Cotoneaster ‘Cornubia' - 7.5Litre

A lovely arching semi-evergreen shrub with long, deeply veined green leaves. Large clusters of white flowers appear in summer, followed by standout bright red berries in autumn and winter. The berries provide valuable food for birds and bring welcome colour to the garden long after many other plants have finished their display. Leaf colour: Green Type: Semi-evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, chalk, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea' - 7.5Litre

This Cornus is a lovely border shrub with lush green leaves and clusters of white flowers throughout summer, providing valuable nectar for pollinating insects. The foliage turns vibrant shades of orange, red and purple in autumn before falling to reveal striking olive-yellow stems that brighten the garden throughout the winter months. An excellent choice for adding colour and interest across every season, particularly during the darker winter months. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Lady in Red’ - 7.5 Litre

Ninebarks are fantastic shrubs, bringing both colour and texture to the garden. Physocarpus 'Lady in Red' is an excellent example, with brilliant red foliage and clusters of soft pink flowers abundantly dotted above the leaves throughout the summer. Easy to grow and wonderfully hardy, it provides long-lasting interest and makes a striking addition to mixed borders and wildlife-friendly gardens. Leaf colour: Red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' - 7.5Litre

A large, vigorous shrub with attractive dark green leaves that turn brilliant shades of red in autumn. From late autumn through to early spring, clusters of beautifully fragrant pink flowers appear on the bare stems, bringing welcome colour and scent to the garden when very little else is in flower. Leaf colour: Green turning red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, chalk, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' (v) - 7.5Litre

This Cornus is a lovely shrub with soft pastel green leaves edged in pure white. In summer, it is covered in clusters of white flowers that are highly prized by pollinating insects. The leaves turn vibrant shades of pink, orange and red in autumn before falling to reveal colourful bright red stems, bringing welcome interest throughout the winter months. An excellent choice for adding year-round colour and texture to borders and mixed planting schemes. Leaf colour: Pastel green and white Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Elaeagnus x ebbingei Compacta - 7.5Litre

A good dense evergreen shrub with a naturally compact, mounded habit. Tough grey-green leaves with silvery undersides provide year-round interest, while highly scented white flowers appear in autumn and are much loved by pollinators. Easy to grow and remarkably tolerant, this is an excellent choice for hedging, screening and exposed gardens, especially seriously salty gardens on exposed seafronts.  Leaf colour: Grey-green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre  

Cornus alba ‘Miracle’ - 7.5 Litre

This Cornus is a lovely shrub with green leaves edged and splashed with bright pink variegation throughout the summer. In autumn, the foliage turns vibrant shades before falling to reveal the colourful red stems that provide interest throughout winter. A fantastic plant for year-round interest, bringing something different to the garden in every season. Leaf colour: Pink, green and red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Chimonanthus praecox - 7.5Litre

Wintersweet is a delightful shrub with a vigorous growth habit. Glossy mid-green leaves emerge in spring and provide attractive foliage throughout the summer months. Winter is when this plant truly shines. From December through to March, the bare stems are covered with small clusters of highly fragrant yellow flowers with a dark centre. The scent is truly remarkable and are often be noticed before the flowers themselves are spotted. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Chaenomeles × superba 'Jet Trail’ - 7.5Litre

This Japanese Quince is a delightful wall shrub that flowers profusely throughout late winter and early spring. The pure white flowers appear in abundance along the bare stems, bringing welcome colour to the garden when very little else is in flower. Whilst technically deciduous, it can occasionally retain some foliage in a sheltered location. The flowers are regularly followed by quince-like fruits, which are edible once cooked. An excellent choice for training against walls and fences, where its early flowers can be fully appreciated. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina

This Myrtle is a gorgeous evergreen shrub with glossy, pointed dark green leaves and pretty explosions of fragrant creamy white flowers covering the stems throughout summer. It is an excellent alternative to box, clipping beautifully into balls and other loose topiary shapes. Now I’ve done the basics, let me tell you why I LOVE this Myrtle so much. Myrtle has long been known as the herb of love, with its history stretching all the way back to the Ancient Greeks. Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a sprig of Myrtle before they married, and descendants of that original plant can still be seen growing at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight today. Even before I knew any of this, my mother cut an entire bush of Myrtle from her garden a few days before Mike and I got married. She strung it over the porch of our local church in an arch and was stunning on our wedding day. Luckily it was covered in flowers and smelt absolutely divine. I have a cutting of this in my garden and will pass this on to my children when they get married.  To add to this the berries are also edible! They aren’t the best raw, but they can be used a bit like sloe's to make liqueur, dried and paired with rosemary and garlic for roasted meats (a bit like you would juniper berries) or made in to jam! Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Magnolia figo ‘Stellar Ruby’ - 7.5 Litre

This magnolia is a good, hardy shrub with evergreen leaves. In late spring, heaps of open highly fragrant red-pink flowers appear all over the plant, followed by a delightful, if slightly lighter, second flush in late summer. While scrolling through social media a while ago, I came across an online garden centre (no, I'm not naming it!) advertising this amazing new magnolia that makes incredible evergreen flowering hedges. It was this one! They weren't wrong either – it really does make an excellent evergreen hedge and looks absolutely fantastic when in flower. Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Purpureus’ - 5Litre

This lovely Holly-Olive has rich dark green foliage, with striking red-black new growth that provides a wonderful contrast throughout the season. In late autumn and early winter, fragrant creamy-white flowers appear amongst the leaves, providing a valuable source of nectar for pollinators at a time when very little else is in flower. A tough and reliable evergreen shrub that brings year-round structure, colour and scent to the garden. Leaf colour: Green with red-black new growth Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 5 litre

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’ - 7.5 Litre

Ninebarks are fantastic shrubs, bringing both colour and texture to the garden. Physocarpus 'Diabolo' is an excellent example, with rich chocolate-purple foliage and clusters of white flowers, flushed with pink, abundantly dotted above the leaves in summer. Easy to grow and exceptionally hardy, it provides long-lasting colour throughout the season and makes a striking addition to mixed borders and wildlife-friendly gardens. Leaf colour: Chocolate red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Cornus alba ‘Nightfall’ - 7.5 Litre

This Cornus is a lovely shrub with dark green, almost black leaves throughout the summer. In Autumn the foliage turns vibrant shades before falling to reveal the colourful red stems that provide interest throughout winter. A fantastic plant for year-round interest, bringing something different to the garden in every season. Leaf colour: Black, green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Callicarpa bodinieri var. giraldii 'Profusion' - 7.5Litre

The Beautyberry is a wonderful shrub with lightly purple-tinted leaves in spring, turning green through summer before falling in autumn to reveal intense purple berries clustered along the stems. The berries hold well into winter, creating a truly eye-catching display and providing colour at a time when many other plants have finished for the year. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Euonymus alatus Compactus - 7.5Litre

When it comes to autumn colour, you just don't get much better than Euonymus alatus. This more compact form has attractive green foliage throughout spring and summer before transforming into an unbelievable display of vivid pinks and reds in autumn. Innocuous yellow flowers are followed by unusually shaped pink seed capsules, adding even more seasonal interest and perfectly complementing the spectacular autumn foliage. An outstanding shrub for bringing vibrant autumn colour to borders and specimen planting. Leaf colour: Green, turning pink and red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun Soil type: Sand, chalk, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Berberis thunbergii f. 'Atropurpurea Nana' - 7.5Litre

This Berberis, much like most Berberis, is a fantastically thorny plant. As beautiful as it is, it is definitely one to approach with care and preferably while wearing gauntlets! I like to plant them in places I don't particularly want people to access. Blog post on traditional house defence plants to follow... A vigorous shrub with arching branches carrying rich red foliage, occasionally mottled with green when young before deepening to plum-red as the season progresses. The flowers are an unassuming yellow in spring, followed by bright red berries in autumn. Note from Hannah: Berberis berries, known as barberries, are extremely popular in Middle Eastern and North African cooking. Whilst this is a particularly spiky variety, the berries are surprisingly easy to collect as they hang beneath the branches. In fact, my small children help me pick ours every year (their little hands are particularly good at avoiding the thorns!) and absolutely love them, finding them far more flavoursome than raisins. Leaf colour: Red Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay, chalk or loam Pot size: 10 litre  

Cedrus libani - 7.5Litre

The Cedar of Lebanon is a very special tree, renowned for its broad crown, tiered branching and wonderfully architectural shape. This small plant will eventually develop into a magnificent arching tree, reaching up to 35 metres in height over time, it becomes more impressive with every passing year and can easily outlive the person who plants it. Leaf colour: Silver-green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Sequoiadendron giganteum - 7.5Litre

This is a very large and extremely long-lived tree. The Giant Redwood is one of the world's most impressive trees, known to reach over 90 metres in height. As a young tree, it has a dense conical shape, gradually developing into the magnificent towering specimen for which it is famous. Leaf colour: Green Type: Evergreen Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice’ - 10Litre

The Sweet Pepper Bush is an attractive upright shrub with slightly ribbed green leaves. Throughout summer, long spikes of fragrant deep pink flowers are held above the foliage, becoming a real mecca for pollinating insects, especially butterflies. Easy to grow and full of late-season interest, it is an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, mixed borders and anywhere you can enjoy its sweet fragrance. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 10 litre

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Petticoat’ - 7.5Litre

The Enkianthus is a delightful plant with bold red stems and fresh green leaves. Pretty clusters of slightly green-tinted white bell-shaped flowers appear early in the year and are much loved by pollinators. While the flowers are charming, the vibrant autumn colour is often the real highlight, with the foliage turning brilliant shades of orange and red before falling. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre  

Clethra alnifolia 'Pink Spires’ - 7.5Litre

The Sweet Pepper Bush is an attractive upright shrub with slightly ribbed green leaves. Throughout summer, long spikes of soft pink flowers are held above the foliage, becoming a real mecca for pollinating insects, especially butterflies. Easy to grow and wonderfully fragrant, it is an excellent choice for wildlife gardens, mixed borders and anywhere you can enjoy its sweet summer scent. Leaf colour: Green Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre

Physocarpus opulifolius 'Raspberry Lemonade' - 7.5Litre

Ninebarks are fantastic shrubs, bringing both colour and texture to the garden. 'Raspberry Lemonade' is a particularly eye-catching variety with vibrant lime-yellow foliage that really shines in a sunny position. Throughout summer, clusters of delicate white flowers emerge from striking raspberry-pink buds, creating a beautiful contrast against the bright foliage. Easy to grow and wonderfully colourful, this is an excellent shrub for adding season-long interest to borders and mixed planting schemes. Leaf colour: Lime-green to yellow Type: Deciduous Aspect: Full sun or partial shade Soil type: Sand, clay or loam Pot size: 7.5 litre