Mature evergreen trees

Mahonia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese mahonia, is a striking evergreen shrub appreciated for its ornamental value and adaptability. This robust plant, native to East Asia, is well-suited to the UK climate and can often be found gracing gardens and landscapes with its distinctive features.

Characterised by its bold, architectural form, Mahonia japonica typically reaches heights of 1.5 to 3 metres, with an upright, spreading habit. The shrub's foliage is a notable feature: its pinnate leaves are composed of up to 19 leaflets, each with a spiny, holly-like edge, lending the plant a somewhat dramatic appearance. These glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round interest, making it a valuable addition to any garden.

In late autumn to early winter, Mahonia japonica produces striking racemes of bright yellow flowers. These blooms, which can appear even in the coldest months, emit a sweet fragrance that can attract pollinators such as bees. The flower clusters are not only visually appealing but also provide a vital source of nectar during a time when few other plants are in bloom.

Following the flowering period, the shrub produces small, blue-black berries that resemble grapes. These berries are edible but are generally more popular with birds than with humans. They add a further layer of seasonal interest and can contribute to the biodiversity of a garden by attracting wildlife.

Mahonia japonica thrives in partial to full shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning—typically just to remove any dead or damaged growth. Its ability to tolerate a range of conditions, from drought to deep shade, makes it an excellent choice for challenging garden spots.

Overall, Mahonia japonica is a versatile and attractive shrub that offers year-round interest and is particularly valuable for its winter blooms and hardy nature. Its combination of striking foliage, fragrant flowers, and attractive berries make it a standout plant in any landscape.

Mahonia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese mahonia, is a striking evergreen shrub appreciated for its ornamental value and adaptability. This robust plant, native to East Asia, is well-suited to the UK climate and can often be found gracing gardens and landscapes with its distinctive features.

Characterised by its bold, architectural form, Mahonia japonica typically reaches heights of 1.5 to 3 metres, with an upright, spreading habit. The shrub's foliage is a notable feature: its pinnate leaves are composed of up to 19 leaflets, each with a spiny, holly-like edge, lending the plant a somewhat dramatic appearance. These glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round interest, making it a valuable addition to any garden.

In late autumn to early winter, Mahonia japonica produces striking racemes of bright yellow flowers. These blooms, which can appear even in the coldest months, emit a sweet fragrance that can attract pollinators such as bees. The flower clusters are not only visually appealing but also provide a vital source of nectar during a time when few other plants are in bloom.

Following the flowering period, the shrub produces small, blue-black berries that resemble grapes. These berries are edible but are generally more popular with birds than with humans. They add a further layer of seasonal interest and can contribute to the biodiversity of a garden by attracting wildlife.

Mahonia japonica thrives in partial to full shade and prefers well-drained soil. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal pruning—typically just to remove any dead or damaged growth. Its ability to tolerate a range of conditions, from drought to deep shade, makes it an excellent choice for challenging garden spots.

Overall, Mahonia japonica is a versatile and attractive shrub that offers year-round interest and is particularly valuable for its winter blooms and hardy nature. Its combination of striking foliage, fragrant flowers, and attractive berries make it a standout plant in any landscape.

Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina, commonly known as Tarentum myrtle or Sardinian myrtle, is a subspecies of the Myrtus communis plant native to the Mediterranean region, particularly found in Italy, Sardinia, and parts of Greece. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, this evergreen shrub is renowned for its aromatic foliage, petite white flowers, and small, dark purple berries.

Tarentum myrtle typically grows to a height of around 2 meters, forming dense, bushy foliage with glossy, lance-shaped leaves that exude a distinctive fragrance when crushed or brushed against. The leaves are arranged oppositely along the stems, providing an attractive, symmetrical appearance. In summer, the plant produces clusters of fragrant white flowers with prominent stamens, which attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

One of the most striking features of Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina is its small, round berries, which ripen in late summer to early autumn. These berries, known as myrtle berries, are initially green but turn deep purple-black when mature. They are edible and have a sweet, slightly tangy flavor, often used in culinary applications such as flavouring spirits, making jams, or infusing syrups.

In terms of cultivation, Myrtus communis subsp. tarentina thrives in well-drained soil and full sunlight, making it suitable for Mediterranean gardens and landscapes. It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage flowering and fruiting. Additionally, it is tolerant of drought once established, though regular watering during dry spells can promote healthier growth and berry production.

Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream Rubra' is a popular cultivar of the Nandina domestica species, commonly known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo. It is a compact, evergreen shrub that belongs to the Berberidaceae family. 'Gulf Stream Rubra' is highly regarded for its striking foliage, vibrant colors, and low-maintenance nature.

This cultivar exhibits a dense, mounding habit, typically reaching a height of 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 centimeters) and a spread of 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 centimeters). Its compact size makes it a versatile choice for both small and large gardens, as well as containers and borders.

One of the most distinctive features of 'Gulf Stream Rubra' is its foliage. The leaves are pinnate, divided into multiple leaflets, and emerge as a vibrant fiery red color. As the leaves mature, they gradually transition to green while retaining stunning red highlights. This color progression creates a visually dynamic display throughout the year.

In addition to its foliage, 'Gulf Stream Rubra' produces clusters of small, white flowers in late spring or early summer. While individually small, these flowers collectively form delicate, lacy panicles that add an elegant touch to the plant. Following the flowering period, the plant develops abundant clusters of bright red berries. These berries persist throughout the fall and winter months, providing a pop of color and attracting birds to the garden.

'Gulf Stream Rubra' is a resilient and adaptable plant, thriving in a wide range of growing conditions. It is known for its tolerance to heat, drought, and various soil types. However, it prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil and partial to full sun exposure for optimal growth and color development.

One of the notable advantages of this cultivar is its low-maintenance nature. Once established, 'Gulf Stream Rubra' requires minimal care, making it an excellent choice for busy gardeners or those new to gardening. It is relatively pest and disease resistant and typically does not require pruning unless for shaping or size control.

Overall, Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream Rubra' is a stunning and adaptable shrub that brings year-round interest to landscapes and gardens. Its compact size, fiery red foliage, delicate flowers, and red berries make it a popular choice for adding vibrant color and texture to various garden settings.

The Nandina Brightlight, also known as Nandina domestica 'Brightlight,' is a captivating and ornamental shrub that graces gardens and landscapes with its unique beauty. Native to eastern Asia, this plant has become a popular choice for garden enthusiasts in the United Kingdom due to its striking appearance and low-maintenance nature.

Nandina Brightlight is a compact evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height of around 90-120 centimeters (3-4 feet) and a similar spread. It is renowned for its vibrant, eye-catching foliage that changes colour throughout the seasons. In spring and summer, the leaves emerge with a fresh, lime green hue, creating a refreshing contrast with other plants in the garden. As autumn approaches, the foliage transitions to shades of brilliant red and fiery orange, adding a burst of warm colors to the landscape. This dramatic colour change makes it a fantastic choice for adding interest and beauty to your garden year-round.

One of the key features of Nandina Brightlight is its resilience and adaptability. It can thrive in a variety of soil types and is quite tolerant of different light conditions, although it typically prefers partial to full sun. This adaptability makes it an excellent choice for gardens across the UK with varying soil and climate conditions.

Nandina Brightlight is also relatively low-maintenance, requiring little more than regular watering during dry spells and occasional pruning to maintain its shape. Its elegant, bamboo-like stems add a structural element to the garden, making it an ideal choice for both traditional and modern landscapes.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Nandina Brightlight is also known for its wildlife-friendly qualities, attracting birds with its bright berries in the autumn months.

Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’, commonly known as dwarf heavenly bamboo, is a popular ornamental shrub admired for its striking foliage and compact size. Despite its common name, it is not related to bamboo but is a member of the barberry family (Berberidaceae). Native to East Asia, this cultivar is renowned for its vibrant, ever-changing foliage colours that enhance garden aesthetics throughout the year.

‘Firepower’ is a compact, evergreen shrub that typically reaches a height and spread of about 60-90 cm. Its bushy, mounding growth habit makes it ideal for small gardens, containers, or as a border plant. The foliage is the star of the show, starting off with lime-green young leaves in spring, which gradually turn to darker green in summer. As temperatures drop in autumn and winter, the leaves transform into fiery shades of red, orange, and burgundy, providing a vivid splash of colour in colder months.

Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ is relatively low-maintenance and thrives in full sun to partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of soil types, including sandy or clay soils. Once established, it is drought-tolerant, though regular watering will encourage more vibrant foliage. Pruning is rarely necessary, as its natural shape is neat and compact, but it can be trimmed in late winter or early spring if required.

This versatile shrub works well in a variety of garden settings. It can be used as an accent plant, in mass plantings, or to provide year-round interest in borders and beds. Its ability to provide colour during the winter months makes it particularly valuable in temperate climates where winter gardens can often lack vibrancy.

Nandina domestica, or Heavenly Bamboo, is small, compact, dense, evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub with a wonderful, colourful, bamboo-like, lance-shaped, lacy foliage – in shades of red in spring, green in summer, and again red in autumn. The clusters of small, star-shaped, white flowers may bloom in summer and are sometimes followed by bright, red berries. Nandina domestica is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but prefers fertile, hummus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. It thrives in full sun with some afternoon shade. Once established, it is resistant to drought. It can tolerate frost, but may need some protection from harsh winds. In very cold climates, it may lose some leaves or die to the ground. Generally, pest-free and disease-free. Low maintenance plant. It is considered to be invasive. Heavenly Bamboo is stunning when planted in groups or masses. Perfect for shrub borders, foundations, informal hedges and screens, as a groundcover or edger. Suitable for growing in containers.