It has been the wettest beginning to any year we can remember. Yet we know this is only temporary and before too long drier weather will resume. What is now wet and inundated, we hope will result in a prolific and bountiful Spring. Below is a selection of plants just added to our website. Keep an eye out for new and exciting plants (in our opinion) to be released over the coming months.

Happy Winter gardening:)

Rob and Jo

Salvia semiatrata

A very attractive Salvia which flowers at a time when the hues of Autumn are at their peak. The resulting contrast of the velvet and mauve purple flowers with burnt pink and plum calyx against the yellows and oranges of Autumn is a very pleasing sight. Leaves are a bright green with a velvety appearance yet a pebbly texture. Handles heat and dry as well as cold and light frost. Native to the Sierra Madre Del Sur mountain range in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Prefers well drained soils and best pruned to keep a good form. Tolerant of part shade but prefers full sun.  1.5m x 1m.

Berberis thunbergii 'Silver Beauty'

A plant that veils itself in Spring foliage that is akin to a silver cloak. It is in fact white and green variegated foliage that can at a distance appear to be silver. Extremely tough. 1m x 60cm. Makes a wonderful 'impenetrable' hedge due to small thorns on the plant stems. The glorious Autumn foliage contains every colour of a sunset. Deciduous. 

Pychnostachys urticifolia

Native to Sub Saharan Africa including Madagascar. Striking electric blue cone shaped  flowers are borne in Autumn to a height of 1.5m x 1m wide. The leaves are toothed, mid green and highly aromatic when crushed. Needs protection from frost. Quick growing and very rewarding. Stems of blue coneflower can be used as a cut flower. Best cut back in January for an even flowering. Not good for very frosty areas. 1.5 x 1.2m

Phlomis fruticosa

Bright golden yellow flowers appear in whorls spiking above the main foliage in mid Spring to Summer. Jerusalem Sage as it is commonly called is tough - drought tolerant, heat tolerant, frost tolerant, rabbit resistant and handles poorer soils. It also has no serious pest or disease problems. It is an evergreen shrub that is native through from Turkey to Italy. 1m x 1m.  

Salvia nemorosa 'Carradonna'

Salvia nemorosa is native to a wide area of Central Europe and Western Asia. There are numerous cultivars, of which 'Caradonna' is in our opinion the most impressive. Extremely popular, 'Caradonna' provides a rich display of deep violet blue flower spikes on unusually dark stems through Spring and early Summer, and if cut back sends up a repeat flowering in Autumn. An outstanding variety, which performs well in our high heat conditions. 60 x 60cm. 

Punica granatum 'Mini Magic'

A true compact Pomegranate. Flowers heavily with bright orange flowers during Spring - Summer. The smallest of the Pomegranates we have grown at 30cm x 30cm. Fits in nicely anywhere whether it be a courtyard, balcony or garden. Makes a great pot specimen. Small fruits that look like they come from another planet. Tough, hardy and deciduous. 

Sambucus 'Black Beauty'

Winner of the prestigious 'Award of Garden Merit' from the RHS. Tough and adaptable. Sambucus 'Black Beauty' is a large shrub or small tree to 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide (can be maintained as a small shrub). Its deeply dissected deep purple inky black leaves make a wonderful contrast to surrounding foliage when grown as a feature plant. The flowers are pinkish purple, umbel in form and lemon scented berries are edible and have been made into jam, cordial and wine. 

Nerium oleander 'Sofia'

At 1.5m high and wide, this compact form of Nerium enables it to be used more extensively in the landscape. The bright green glossy foliage and peachy cream flowers are striking. Heat and low water tolerant. Neriums are not normally a plant we would offer but this one has real appeal. We have to mention like all Neriums, the foliage is harmful if eaten.