Shrubs and sub-shrubs are the back bone of any garden.
They are essential for year round interest, structure and wildlife.
Many are evergreen, some offer up magnificent displays of flowers and later berries, interesting foliage and a range of shapes and sizes.
This page lists the shrubs and sub-shrubs that we grow here.
Aloysia triphylla
Aloysia triphylla ia a deciduous, half hardy shrub with mid green lance-shaped leaves and sprays of tiny white or pale pink flowers in summer. It is generally grown for its highly lemon scented leaves which are late to arrive. Winter protection is necessary for this plant as it isn’t frost hardy. This is a good shrub to grow in a large pot.
Grows well in any well drained soil and prefers a sheltered position.
Lemon verbenaTender shrubPink or white250 cm250 cmSummerFull sunBushy
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from soft wood cuttings.
Artemisia abrotanum AGM
Artemisia abrotanum is a drought resistant, hardy, sub-shrub with finely divided aromatic leaves and tiny insignificant flowers in summer. The beauty of this plant is in its silvery green leaves and the sweet scent it gives.
Grows well in any well drained soil.
Propagation method: seed, semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.
Buddleia davidii
Buddleia davidii is a beautiful, fast growing, hardy shrub. It is a large deciduous shrub with arching growth that produces masses of pale purple flowers, on this year’s growth, which attract clouds of butterflies in the summer. The leaves are lance shaped with a whitish underside.
This is an undemanding shrub but needs cutting hard back in spring to keep it under control.
Grows well in any well drained soil.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from hardwood cuttings in autumn and winter. Prune back last year’s growth to within 10 cm of old wood in spring.
Buddleia x weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’
Buddleia x weyeriana ‘Honeycomb’ is a deciduous, hardy shrub produces yellow, scented, globular flowers. It flowers on both old and new wood and sometimes dies back to the ground in winter. Fast growing and with pruning it can grow up to 2 meters in a typical growing season. it is another important wildlife plant attracting clouds of butterflies in summer.
Grows well in any well drained soil and it does not enjoy wet soil.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from hardwood cuttings in winter. Prune out one third of the old wood after flowering.
Campsis radicans
Campsis radicans is a fast growing, deciduous, climbing wall shrub. It has pinnate green leaves and large bright orange trumpet shaped flowers in clusters in late summer and autumn. Self clinging it it ideal for covering walls.
Grows well in any well drained soil and loves a little shelter if possible.
Propagation method: seed, layering, softwood cuttings or root cuttings. Prune back old stems that have flowered in late winter.
Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’
Caryopteris incana ‘Sunshine Blue’ is deciduous shrub with aromatic, bright yellow leaves that are metallic in appearance and clusters of small blue flowers. This plant is drought tolerant and looks great from spring through to late autumn.
Grows well in any moist but well drained soil and shelter in cold areas.
Bluebeard ‘Sunshine Blue’Hardy aromatic shrubBlue50 cm40 cmLate summer/autumnFull sunBushy
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from seed and softwood cuttings. Prune back to about 5cm above ground in spring.
Chaenomeles x superba ‘Crimson and Gold’
Chaenomeles x superba ‘Crimson and Gold’ is a thorny, deciduous, spreading shrub with glossy greeny red leaves. It is a tough and very hardy, spreading shrub that produces masses of scarlet red flowers with yellow anthers from late winter into spring, followed by heavy fragrant fruits. It tends to grow wider than it does tall and is ideal for training against a wall.
Grows well in any well drained soil.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved by semi-hardwood cuttings. Pruning is not necessary if a bush is required but cut back some of the old wood on wall-trained plants in summer.
Clematis alpina
Clematis alpina is a medium sized, deciduous shrub. Deeply divided leaves are followed shortly after by the flowers which have four hanging, tapered petals, The violet-blue petals hang over the cream center. A pretty, early flowering clematis suitable for wall side borders and pots.
Grows well in moist, well drained, alkali and neutral soils.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from seed, layering and hardwood cuttings. Prune lightly immediately after flowering
Clematis ‘Bleknity Aniol’ AGM
Clematis ‘Bleknity Aniol’ is a medium sized, deciduous shrub. Pale green, deeply divided leaves are followed by crinkle edged flowers to 10 cm across. A lovely delicate rosy blue with yellow stamens in the center make the flower very eye catching. Cut back hard to old wood in early spring . This is a later flowering clematis An ideal plant for pots.
Grows well in moisture retentive alkali or neutral soils.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved by layering and semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune back hard to within 15 cm of the previous year’s growth in early spring.
Clematis Jackmanii AGM
Clematis Jackmanii is an award winning, large flowering clematis. It is vigorous and free flowering and makes a stunning display against a wall or over arches and trellises in summer. Prune this clematis back to around 20 cm above ground in spring to encourage fresh new growth.
Grows well in any moist but well drained soil.
ropagation of this plant can be achieved from layering. Prune back hard to within 20 cm of the previous year’s growth in early spring.
Clematis montana var rubens ‘Tetrarose’ AGM
Clematis montana var rubens is large, deciduous, fast growing climber. It has dark green, bronze-tinted, divided leaves, red stems and masses of pink flowers in late spring. The flowers are about 7.5 cm across, pink with yellow stamens. A beautiful, showy plant which is ideal for covering walls and fences. It needs no routine pruning. If it needs to be tidied up prune back to healthy buds after flowering.
Grows well in most well drained, alkali or neutral soils.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved by layering or semi-hardwood cuttings. If necessary prune lightly immediately after flowering.
Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’
Clematis ‘Rouge Cardinal’ is a large flowering, vigorous, deciduous climbing plant. It has large, single, deep red, velvety flowers in summer. This clematis can be used to good effect just about anywhere in the garden.
Grows well in moist, well drained alkali or neutral soils.
ropagation of this plant can be achieved by layering or semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune lightly in spring.
Clematis ‘The Vagabond’
Clematis ‘The Vagabond’ is a large flowering, vigorous, deciduous plant. It has large, single, purple with deep pink striped.flowers in summer. This plant can also be used in garden borders, pots and containers or over a trellis.
Grows well in moist,well drained alkali or neutral soils.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved by layering and semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune back lightly in spring.
Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’
Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’ is a free-flowering, deciduous climber with mid green leaves and red flowers. This clematis is best grown through an evergreen shrub to hide the poorer leaves at the bottom of the plant as they tend to die off in summer. Prune back to around 20 cm above ground in spring to encourage new fresh growth.
Grows well in moist but well drained alkali and neutral soils.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from layering and semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune back hard in late spring.
Cornus sanguinea
Cornus sanguinea is a deciduous, suckering, upright shrub. It has mid green leaves, turning red in autumn, with red stems which give excellent winter colour to the garden. The flowers are in flat clusters in early summer followed by small black berries in autumn. This plant is very hardy, the wood very strong and used for hedging, stand alone shrubs and woodland planting. Pruning of this plant should be done after the flowers have finished and for the best stem colour a third of the plant should be pruned back to the ground in February. This plant is excellent for wildlife for its flowers and berries.
Grows well in any type of soil and likes to be moist.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from hardwood cuttings in autumn. Prune back hard in early spring for good autumn colour.
Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’
Cornus sanguineum ‘Winter Flame’ is a deciduous, medium-sized shrub. This plant is invaluable in the garden for winter colour when it’s bright red branches are it’s main attraction. Ideal for hedging and looks particularly good as part of a planting scheme against the lime green flowers of the Stinking hellebores.
Grows well in any soils and likes to be moist so is suited for ponds and boggy areas.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved from hardwood cuttings in autumn. Prune back hard in spring for good autumn colour.
Cotoneaster sternianus AGM
Cotoneaster sternianus is a large, award winning, hardy, semi-evergreen shrub. It has small grey green leaves , pale and downy on the underside, small pinky white flowers, followed by larger red berries. Ideal for use in hedges, flowers beds and borders and great for wildlife.
Grows well in any well drained soils and is drought tolerant.
Propagation method: seed and semi-ripe cuttings. No pruning necessary but unwanted or damaged branches can be removed in spring.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ AGM
Cotinus coggygria is a large, hardy, deciduous shrub with average growth rate. It has round purple leaves that turn to scarlet in the autumn sunshine and fluffy plumes of purple-pink flowers in summer. A great contrast plant and one that offers amazing autumn interest.
Grows well in any well drained soil.
Propagation of this plant can be achieved by semi-hardwood cuttings in autumn. Pruning is not necessary but damaged wood or unwanted branches can be removed in spring.
Cytisus praecox ‘Hollandia’
Cytisus praecox ‘Hollandia’ is a deciduous shrub with stunning, scented flowers in early summer. A very hardy and compact perennial with great appeal. Drought tolerant. and an excellent plant for bees and butterflies.
Grows well in any well drained soils.
ropagation of this plant can be achieved from hardwood cuttings. Cut back to about half of their stems after flowering being careful to never cut into old wood.
Sambucus nigra
Sambucus nigra is a large, deciduous bush or small tree with green leaves, which turn to yellow in autumn. It bears sprays of fragrant, creamy white flowers in early summer, followed by small, glossy black, edible berries. An attractive plant to wildlife it is well suited to growing in hedges, screens and wildlife gardens. Low maintenance and interest throughout the growing season.
Grows well in fertile, well drained soils and thrives in chalky soil.
Propagation method: seed, softwood or hardwood cuttings. Prune in spring, removing one third of old stems.
Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’
Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ is a hardy shrub or small tree. It has the most decorative, dark, almost black, finely cut leaves and umbels of tiny pink flowers, turning to black, glossy fruits. A stunning plant that looks great and is attractive to wildlife.
Grows well in any moist soils and will tolerate water-logged ground.
Propagation method: softwood or hardwood cuttings. Prune in spring, removing one third of old stems.
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ AGM
Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’ is an award winning, medium sized, deciduous shrub. It has stunning, dissected, golden leaves and tiny white flowers, which turn to red berries later in the season. Highly decorative and a useful plant for contrast against darker foliage plants. Low maintenance, this plant can be used for hedging and wildlife gardens.
Grows well in fertile, moist but well drained soils.
Propagation method: softwood or hardwood cuttings. Prune in spring, removing one third of old stems.
Santolina chaemaecyparissus
Santolina chamaecyparissus is a small evergreen, bushy shrub with aromatic, silvery-green, finely divided leaves and stems bearing yellow button flowers in summer. A good plant to use for small hedging.
Grows well in gritty or sandy, well drained soils.
Propagation method: seed, heal cuttings. Trim after flowering and every 2 or 3 years cut hard back in mid-spring.
Spiraea arguta AGM
Spirea arguta is an award winning, deciduous, perennial shrub. It has soft green leaves and neat, clusters of tiny, white flowers on arching branches. This is one of the largest varieties and looks great as a stand alone shrub, hedging or back of borders. This plant can be pruned back hard and often flowers again later in the year.
Grows well in moist soils with good drainage.
Propagation method: softwood cuttings. Remove old and weak stems after flowering.
Spiraea japonica
Spiraea japonica is an attractive, deciduous shrub with bushy habit. The leaves are particularly attractive in spring and autumn and it offers clusters of tiny pink flowers in summer. A lovely plant to add to the cottage garden and looks particularly good in mixed borders.
Grows well in moist soils with good drainage.
Propagation method: softwood cuttings and division. Prune back to around 10 cm above ground in spring.
Symphoricarpos albus
Symphoricarpos albus is a small but hardy deciduous shrub with dark blue-green oval leaves and clusters tiny pink flowers in summer. The flowers are followed by clusters of conspicuous white berries in the autumn. A fast growing and interesting hedging plant.
Grow well in moist, well drained soils.
Propagation method: seed, hardwood cuttings and division. Cut out one third of old stems in spring.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Andenken an Ludwig Spath’ AGM
Syringa vulgaris ‘Andenken an Ludwig Spath’ is an award winning, medium sized, hardy, deciduous shrub. It has large, dark to mid-green leaves and bears the scented wine coloured flowers at the ends of the branches in May. Often grown for its ornamental use, it also has medicinal benefits and parts of it are edible. A good hedging plant or a stand alone plant.
Grows well in neutral to alkaline soils that are well drained.
Propagation method: seed, softwood or hardwood cuttings, layering. Prune out weak branches after flowering.
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Esther Staley’ AGM
Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Esther Staley’ is an award winning, medium sized, hardy, deciduous shrub. It has large, dark to mid-green leaves and bears the scented pale pink flowers at the ends of the branches in April. A good hedging plant or a stand alone plant.
Grows well in neutral to alkaline soils with good drainage.
Propagation method: softwood or hardwood cuttings. Prune out weak, non flowering stems after flowering.
Syringa vulgaris ‘Madame Lemoine’ AGM
Syringa vulgaris ‘Madame Lemoine’ is an award winning, medium sized, deciduous shrub. It has mid-green leaves and bears the scented pure white flowers on dense, upright heads. A good hedging plant or a stand alone specimen.
Grows well in fertile, moist soils with good drainage.
Propagation method: softwood or hardwood cuttings. Cut out non productive stems after flowering.
Vinca major
Vinca major is an evergreen, trailing vine with glossy green leaves and simple violet-purple flowers throughout the year. Grown for its ornamental value and often used as a ground cover.
Grows well in most soils.
Propagation method: division, rooted vines. Prune back shoots in spring.
Vinca major variegata
Vinca major variegata is an evergreen sub-shrub. An attractive ground cover and has green leaves with cream margins, offering its purple flowers from spring into autumn. A good contrast foliage plant and looks great grown on banks, informal gardens and borders.
Grows well in most soils.
Propagation method: division, semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune back shoots in spring.
Vinca minor ‘atropurpurea’
Vinca minor ‘atropurpurea’ is a mat forming, evergreen shrub with trailing habit. Wide-spreading it has dark green, glossy leaves and produces these reddish-purple flowers from spring through to autumn. A vigorous grower so placing it in the garden needs thought.
Grows well in most soils.
Propagation method: division, semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune back shoots in spring.
Vinca minor
Vinca minor is a trailing, evergreen, sub-shrub with dark green glossy leaves and simple violet-purple flowers. The lesser periwinkle has smaller leaves and flowers than the greater periwinkle. Ideal ground cover.
Grows well in most soils.
Propagation method: division. Prune out shoots in spring.
Vitex agnus-castus
Vitex agnus-castus is a deciduous, scented shrub with attractive mid green foliage and spikes of lavender-like flowers in summer. A fast growing shrub, well suited to the cottage garden and wildlife garden. Good for late summer interest..
Grows well in soils with good drainage in a sheltered position.
Propagation method: semi-hardwood cuttings. Prune in late winter or early spring, when dormant, to keep in check.
Wisteria sinensis is a large, deciduous, climbing shrub. It has drooping racemes of fragrant, lilac flowers before the leaves arrive. The leaves are pinnate, dark green and grow on twisting stems. A very showy plant and a joy to see in flower in spring. Can be grown up through trees or over strong pergolas.
Grows well in moist, fertile soils with good drainage.
Propagation method: softwood or hardwood cuttings, layering and grafting. Cut back current year’s side growth to about 18 cm in mid summer.