Wide/Spreading

Buddleja Pink Delight

Butterfly Bush

Common Name: Butterfly BushLatin Name: Buddleja davidii 'Pink Delight'Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: July- SeptemberHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2.5m x 4mSpecial features: Delightful panicles of candy-floss pink flowers that have a sweet honey scent to them The Pink Delight butterfly bush is an extremely popular choice as it produces the most wonderful display of candy-floss pink flowers in summer. The tiny pink flowers are densely packed on to large flower spikes that appear at the end of arching stems. The leaves are slender and green in colour and they have paler undersides to them. As suggested with its common name, this bush is very popular with butterflies and it is also popular with bees who love to pollinate its flowers. This is one of the best choices for late summer fragrance and colour and it is well-suited to being planted in a border.

Eucalyptus Niphophila

Alpine Snow Gum Tree

Common Name: Alpine Snow GumLatin Name: Eucalyptus pauciflora 'Niphophila'Soil: Moist, well drained, fertile soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeHardiness: Frost hardy down to -15cHeight and spread in 20 years: 5.5m/3mSpecial features: Fast growing evergreen tree with attractive peeling bark.Eucalyptus pauciflora 'Niphophila' is a hardy, very fast growing, evergreen tree with green-blue waxy leaves and attractive peeling bark. Small creamy-white flowers appear in late spring and summer and the tree itself will give off a fragrant scent in hot conditions. This Alpine snow gum is ideal for any situation as responds very well to pruning so size can be kept down or be left to grow vigorously depending on your own preference.

Magnolia soulangeana

Magnolia Tree

Common Name: Magnolia TreeLatin Name: Magnolia x soulangeanaSoil: Moist, well-drained, acidic soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 4m/4mSpecial features: Stunning spring blossom. Large, showy flowers. Deciduous foliage. The Magnolia soulangeana is a favourite for garden enthusiasts up and down the UK. This is mainly due to its eye catching seasonal displays!

 Flourishing in well-drained, loamy soil and performing best in full sun or partial shade, it graces your garden with a magnificent array of pink, purple, or white blossoms in spring.Beyond its floral display, this tree offers large, showy flowers and a lush foliage that transitions through the seasons, painting the landscape with vibrant hues of green before adorning itself with the golden shades of autumn.With a commanding height of 4 metres and a generous spread of 4 metres over 20 years, this Magnolia Tree really is a sight to behold.Pick up a Magnolia soulangeana today and watch the impressive spring scenes unfold in your outdoor space.

Malus Butterball

Crab Apple Tree

Common Name: Crab Apple TreeLatin Name: Malus 'Butterball'Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/ White, pink flushed.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight and spread in 10 years: 4m x 3mSpecial features: Masses of flowers followed by bright yellow fruit. Malus 'Butterball' is a small crab apple tree with a wonderful spreading habit and almost becomes rounded when the tree is mature. The branches are a little pendulous, especially when weighted with fruits. In late spring, an abundance of pink-blushed white flowers open from pink buds- these are then replaced by the glowing autumn fruits. The 'Butterball' name can be explained when seeing the masses of rich golden-yellow fruits which appear in autumn. The fruits may have a pretty red flushing on the sunny side and they are great for attracting wildlife to your garden.

Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’

Japanese pachysandra

Common Name: Japanese pachysandra Latin Name: Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Carpet’ Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Summer/ WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 20cm/ 90cmSpecial features: A verdant, spreading plant that is perfect for ground cover If you want to add a year-round carpet of green to a bed then this pachysandra is an excellent choice. This mat-forming plant will give good, low-maintenance ground coverage as the rich green leaves form in loose rosettes and make a textured, verdant carpet. In summer you also get the added interest of white, tubular flowers that sit neatly amongst the foliage. This attractive plant has the added bonus of deterring weeds and it works particularly well when planted underneath the light shade of a tree or shrub.

Philadelphus Aureaus

Mock orange

Common Name: Mock OrangeLatin Name: Philadelphus coronarius AureusSoil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April-July / pure whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2.5m / 1.5mSpecial features: Vibrant golden green foliage and fragrant summer flowers.The ‘Aureus’ is a fantastic shrub which really brightens up a mixed bed or border. The ovate leaves are bright yellow when young, later maturing to golden green. In summer, clusters of pretty white flowers cover the shrub and these have a strong and sweet fragrance. This is great for accent planting, particularly next to one of the darker ‘Mock Orange’ forms like the ‘Lemoinei’. The ‘Aureus’ will also tolerate urban pollution or salt-laden air.

Philadelphus Belle Étoile

Mock Orange

Common Name: Mock OrangeLatin Name: Philadelphus ‘Belle Étoile’Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Spring-summer/Pure whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 1.5m / 2.5mSpecial features: Highly scented single white flowers that appear over summer. This Mock Orange is a hardy little shrub that can tolerate salt-laden air and urban sites; it is the perfect choice for planting in a sunny border. The ovate, mid-green leaves are packed on to the gently arching branches and in summer the leaves are accompanied by pretty white flowers. The single flowers are highly fragrant and are popular with wildlife. This is a great little shrub which requires little up-keep.

Philadelphus Snowbelle

Mock Orange

Common Name: Mock OrangeLatin Name: Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: June to July / Pure whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 1.2m / 1.2mSpecial features: Highly scented single white flowers that appear throughout June and July.

Philadelphus Virginal

Mock Orange

Common Name: Mock OrangeLatin Name: Philadelphus ‘Virginal’Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: June to July / Pure whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 2.5m / 3mSpecial features: Highly scented single white flowers that appear throughout June and July. Philadelphus ‘Virginal’ is a medium-sized shrub that produces highly scented single white flowers that appear throughout June and July. This plant is a magnet for Bees and other insects and Philadelphus can also tolerate salt-laden air so it can be planted in coastal areas. 

Prunus Fragrant Cloud

Flowering Cherry Tree

Common Name: Flowering Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus 'Fragrant Cloud'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: Spring/Large clusters of white flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 8m x 6mSpecial features: Large, white, fragrant, semi-double flowers, which fade to pink with age. (Deciduous)Prunus 'Fragrant Cloud' has a strong spreading habit best suited medium to large gardens. This is a spectacular tree in the spring with large, white, semi double flowers that turn pinkish as they fade. The flowers are richly scented, a most unusual feature in a flowering cherry. The spring leaves are the perfect foil for the flowers as they emerge as a coppery colour, then fade to green, then finally an autumnal orange.

Prunus Tai Haku

Hill Cherry Tree

Common Name: Great White Cherry TreeLatin Name: Prunus serrulata 'Tai Haku'Soil: Tolerates most soil typesPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April/Large WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 7m x 8mSpecial features: Copper coloured young foliage.Prunus serrulata 'Tai Haku' is a large, robust cherry with clusters of long-stalked, single white flowers in mid-spring. The leaves open deep purple-bronze, becoming green in summer. The tree has a vigourus, spreading habit and is best suited to a medium sized garden. It makes a great garden specimen and is equally suited as a parkland tree.

Quercus bicolor

Swamp White Oak Tree

Common Name: Swamp White Oak Tree Latin Name: Quercus bicolor Soil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soil Position: Full sun or partial shade Flowering period/colour: May to June/Insignificant male and female flowers in separate trees Hardiness: Fully hardy Eventual height/spread: 12m/10m Special features: Dark green leaves with silvery-white undersides The ‘Quercus bicolor’ has wonderful foliage that is dark and glossy green on the top and silvey-white on the undersides. The leaves cover this majestic tree throughout spring and summer, before turning to shades of yellow and orange before falling. On mature trees, you will also get acorns in autumn. This tree will grow to be a real garden feature and it makes a great shade tree when mature, too.  

Quercus petrea

Sessile Oak Tree

Common Name: Sessile oak, durmast oakLatin Name: Quercus petraeaSoil: Deep, well drained. Acid, alkaline or neutral. Position: Full sun to part shade. Flowering period/colour: Spring, inconspicuous yellow catkins.Hardiness: Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20°C).Height and spread in 20-50 years: 12m/8mSpecial features: Statuesque specimen tree, very long lived. Attractive, lobed green leaves and acorns. Orange-brown autumn colour. Quercus petraea is a fine species of oak tree that is ideal as a specimen tree in large parks and gardens. Quercus petraea is known as the Sessile oak because the acorns are borne directly on the twigs (sessile means attached directly at the base), rather than on small stalks (peduncles) as in the pedunculate oak. The Sessile oak is very long lived, and after 300 or so years, can grow to as much as 40m tall with a trunk that is 3m in girth. It forms a broad, spreading crown and the leaves are dark green and lobed. The leaves fall in winter so that this species makes an ideal planting combination with winter and early spring flowering species like wood anemones, snowdrops, bluebells and crocuses. This species is monoecious, with separate male catkins and female flowers on the same tree. Quercus petraea is the national tree of Ireland and a fine example can be seen at Baronscourt Estate, Co Tyrone. This particular example of the tree is more than 24m tall with a circumference of more than 8m. It is well worth visiting the estate to fully appreciate the majesty of this fine tree species.

Quercus robur

English Oak Tree

Common Name: English Oak TreeLatin Name: Quercus roburSoil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: Spring/ Yellow-greenHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 15m/ 10mSpecial features: Majestic spreading canopy. Distinctive lobed leaves. Acorns in autumn. Wildlife habitat.The English Oak Tree (Quercus robur) is a quintessential piece in any British garden. Timeless and distinct, it stands tall with its spreading canopy and lobed leaves. Thriving in well-drained soil and adaptable to a wide range of conditions, the English Oak Tree is equally comfortable in full sun or partial shade. In spring, it graces your garden with inconspicuous yellow-green flowers, adding a pop of colour to your landscape.As the seasons progress, the English Oak Tree undergoes a transformation. In summer, its lush green foliage provides shade and shelter, creating a vibrant space for wildlife. The shade also acts as the perfect place to relax on hot summer’s days.

In autumn, the tree bears acorns, which not only add visual interest but also serve as a vital food source for local wildlife.With a projected height of 15 metres and a spread of 10 metres in 20 years, the English Oak Tree is a striking presence in any landscape. 

Whether planted as a standalone specimen to provide shade and shelter, or incorporated into a mixed planting project to enhance biodiversity, it will be a cherished and enduring feature of your garden for generations to come.

Get an English Oak Tree today and watch it transform the character of your garden.

Quercus rubra

Red Oak Tree

Common Name: Red OakLatin Name: Quercus rubraSoil: Any deep, well-drained, lime-free soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May to June/Insignificant male and female flowers in separate treesHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 15m/5mSpecial features: Large fast growing deciduous tree. Vivid autumn colourQuercus rubra is a quick-growing deciduous tree which has an open, spreading crown. Its majestic branches hold large lobed leaves which turn brilliant red in the autumn. The smooth greyish-brown or dark grey bark gives good winter interest, making this a great garden feature all year round.

Salix fragilis

Crack Willow Tree

Common Name: Crack WillowLatin Name: Salix fragilisSoil: Any deep, moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: April to May/Male catkins are densely flowered and uniformly yellowHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 15m/10mSpecial features: Leaves are long and narrow with small teeth along their edges.Salix fragilis is a robust tree that grows to between 10 and 15 m with a short, thick trunk and well spread branches which form a broad, rounded crown. The bark is grey and deeply fissured and the twigs mature to become rather lustrous. They are olive-brown and brittle at the point of attachment to the branch. They break off with a crack, hence the name.

Sorbus aucuparia

Mountain Ash Rowan Tree

Common Name: Mountain Ash, Quicken tree, RowanLatin Name: Sorbus aucupariaSoil: Moist but well-drainedPosition: Full sunFlowering period/colour: May to June/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 6m x 3mSpecial features: Attractive red berries in autumn. Sorbus aucuparia is a British native that boasts delightful spring flowers, luscious green leaves and a vivid autumnal show of colour from both foliage and fruit: this really is a tree with so much to offer. In spring, the luscious green foliage emerges and brings the tree to life: the leaves are made up of pinnate leaflets that are serrated at their edges and pointed at their tips. In late spring and early summer, clusters of delicate white flowers appear. The tiny, single, creamy-white flowers pop up all over the tree and are somewhat alluring to bees and insects as they radiate light and sweet scent. Autumn is by far the most exciting time for the delightful Aucuparia: it puts on a stunning show of colour before the leaves fall for winter. The feathery leaves turn to firey shades of deep red, burnt orange, which adds a real burst of colour to the garden as the dark nights draw in. At the same time, clusters of dazzling ruby-red berries adorn the branches and the juicy berries are irresistible to birds. The berries can disappear quickly, so if you want the fruit for rowan jelly, pick them as soon as they are ripe to avoid disappointment. Once mature, this Rowan forms a fairly open and somewhat broad-headed tree: it makes a great specimen but also works well in groups. The Aucuparia, which is widely found across Britain and parts of Europe, is a tree that is tolerant of a range of conditions. This native Rowan can thrive in a range of soil types, but it does require the soil to be moist yet well-drained. Plant this tree in a sunny spot in your garden to see it flourish. We would recommend planting it alongside the delightful Sorbus Eastern Promise as the rosy pink berries of the Eastern Promise sit beautifully against the glossy red berries of the Aucuparia.

Sorbus cashmiriana

Kashmir Rowan Tree

Common Name: Kashmir RowanLatin Name: Sorbus cashmirianaSoil: Tolerates all soilsPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: April to May/Soft pink -whiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 6m x 4mSpecial features: large persistent white fruits in autumn.Sorbus cashmiriana is a striking small tree with fine leaflets that give orange or yellow autumn colour. Pink-tinged white flowers in spring are followed by bunches of very large white berries in autumn which are retained well after the leaves have fallen. The tree has an open, spreading habit and a relatively small eventual size, it is the perfect choice for the smaller garden.

Sorbus scalaris

Mountain Ash Tree

Common Name: Mountain Ash TreeLatin Name: Sorbus scalarisSoil: Moist but well-drained (not chalky)Position: Full sunFlowering period/colour: May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyHeight/spread in 20 years: 5m x 4mSpecial features: Attractive clusters red of berries in Autumn.Small, graceful spreading tree with neat, glossy-green frond-like leaves that turn rich red and purple in the autumn. Heads of small white flowers in May later form large dense clusters of red autumn berries. Excellent for small gardens.

Tilia cordata

Small Leaved Lime Tree

Common Name: Small Leaved Lime TreeLatin Name: Tilia cordataSoil: Moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: July/Ivory flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 24m/10mSpecial features: A lovely native tree which supports a variety of wildlife.Tilia cordata is a spreading, native tree which grows to be majestically strong and large. Its reaching branches hold a mass of small, rounded, glossy, dark green leaves that are paler underneath. The leaves turn yellow come autumn. Flowers are borne in small bunches in summer; they are pale yellow in colour and have a beautifully sweet scent. Possible uses include woodland planting, parkland planting and planting for a windbreak.

Tilia cordata Greenspire

Small Leaved Lime Tree

Common Name: Small Leaved Lime TreeLatin Name: Tilia cordata 'Greenspire' Soil: Moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: June/ivory.Hardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 12m/ 6mSpecial features: A hardy tree that supports most soil types, locations and conditions. The 'Greenspire' is smaller than the classic Tillia cordata; the 'Greenspire' boasts more upright branches and a narrower crown, which makes is a better choice than other Tilias for a medium-sized garden. The leaves are of the classic heart-shape and they are a rich green on top, with paler undersides. The lightly-fragrant, ivory coloured flowers appear in June and these are popular with bees. This is a highly-tolerant tree and it well-suited to most soil types, locations and conditions. A great choice for urban sites and it is also an ideal avenue tree.

Tilia cordata Winter Orange

Small Leaved Lime Tree

Common Name: Winter Orange Lime TreeLatin Name: Tilia cordata 'Winter Orange'Soil: Moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: June/ivory.Hardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 14m/8mSpecial features: Glowing red buds and orange winter shoots. The 'Winter Orange' is aptly names as this Lime tree comes to life in winter when the leaves fall to reveal glowing orange shoots. The small red buds also add to the vibrancy of this tree in winter. In spring, deep green leaves appear and these are soon accompanied by clusters of fragrant ivory flowers in summer. The lightly-serrated, heart-shaped burst to life in autumn when they turn buttery yellow before falling. This tree is the perfect choice for year-round interest and it is suitable for planting in a range of sites and situations. A great all-rounder.

Tilia platyphyllos

Broad Leaved Lime Tree

Common Name: Broad Leaved LimeLatin Name: Tilia platyphyllosSoil: Moist but well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: July to August/White flowers.Hardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 30m+/15mSpecial features: Possibly the UK's tallest native tree.Handsome native tree with large pale to mid-green heart-shaped leaves. This tree has a spreading, bushy canopy which will become home to a whole host of wildlife. The yellow-white flowers, which are very attractive to bees, appear in June and July. As the tree ages, the dark grey bark becomes deeply fissured and marked which gives the tree a wonderful character. This lime tree is often used in parkland planting and it also makes a fantastic windbreak. Not suitable for dry sites, but can thrive on poorly drained soil. Possibly the tallest deciduous tree in Britain.

Viburnum Davidii

Viburnum

Common Name: ViburnumLatin Name: Viburnum davidiiSoil: Moderately fertile, moist, well drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 1.5m x 1.5mSpecial features: Metallic, turquoiseblue fruit.Flattened heads of tubular, white flowers in May, followed by metallic, turquoise-blue fruit, and distinctively veined, dark green leaves. This compact, evergreen shrub is an attractive groundcover plant for the front of a border in sun or partial shade. Forming a low, dome-like shape, it's an important visual 'anchor' for taller perennials and shrubs.

Viburnum Mariesii

Japanese Snowball Bush

Common Name: Japanese Snowball BushLatin Name: Viburnum plicatum 'Mariesii'Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May/WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 3m x 3.5mSpecial features: A superb shrub with a tabulate arrangement of branching.Wonderful, white, lacecap-like flowers on horizontally tiered branches in May and toothed, deeply veined, dark-green leaves, turning red-purple in autumn. This beautiful, deciduous shrub makes an excellent specimen plant for a sunny shrub or mixed border. Hardy and easy-to-grow, its distinctive, horizontal habit works particularly well in a Japanese-style garden.

Viburnum plicatum tom. Shasta

Viburnum

Common Name: Viburnum 'Shasta'Latin Name: Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Shasta'Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun or partial shadeFlowering period/colour: May-June/ WhiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 1.5m/3mSpecial features: Grows to have an attractive spreading habit with tiered shoots.The 'Shasta' is widely planted in the US for its attractive habit: the spreading branches are tiered when mature and the shrub grows to be twice as wide as it is high. It features large clusters of lacecap-like white flowers that appear in May-June. The serrated leaves are bright green in colour ad ovate in shape: they turn to a pretty plum purple colour in autumn. This is a great choice for planting in a bed or border and also works well as a specimen shrub due to its attractive formation.

Vinca major Variegata

Greater Periwinkle

Common Name: Greater Periwinkle Latin Name: Vinca major ‘Variegata’ Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ Violet blueHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.5m / 1.2mSpecial features: Perfect for groundcover on banks and slopes.This is a great choice for planting as groundcover as the creeping shoots reach outwards and will trail downwards over a wall or down a slope. This shrub features violet blue flowers that appear from April to September and add a healthy splash of colour to the plant. The evergreen leaves are dark green with creamy white variegation and these really stand out in a winter garden. Plant this shrub in a sunny position to get the optimum amount of flowers.

Vinca minor alba

Small White Periwinkle

Common Name: Small White PeriwinkleLatin Name: Vinca minor f. albaSoil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade and full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ Violet blueHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.4m/1.2mSpecial features: Pretty white flowers that are long-lasting from April to September. This periwinkle stands out from most periwinkle varieties as the flowers are not the usual purple, but are a soft white colour instead. The single, star-shaped leaves flower from April to September and the dark green leaves cover the shrub all year round. This is the perfect shrub for groundcover and the creeping shoots will naturally work their way over a wall for a cascading floral and foliage waterfall effect.

Vinca minor Argenteovariegata

Lesser Periwinkle Variegata

Common Name: Lesser periwinkle ‘Variegata’ Latin Name: Vinca minor ArgenteovariegataSoil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ VioletHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.1m/0.8mSpecial features: A creeping evergreen which has deep violet flowers from April to September.This is a truly wonderful little creeping plant which is great for colourful groundcover. The leaves are ovate in shape and grey-green in colour with creamy white margins and with this being an evergreen variety they hold all year round. This is one of the best shrubs for floral interest as the flowers start out in spring and last into autumn. The pretty flowers have 5 petals and are deep violet in colour; they add great interest when they are in flower.

Vinca minor Atropurpurea

Purple Lesser Periwinkle

Common Name: Purple lesser periwinkle Latin Name: Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’ Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ Violet blueHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.1m/1.2mSpecial features: An attractive creeping plant that is great for evergreen groundcover.This is a delightful little shrub which features ovate, dark green leaves and a pretty floral display. The flowers are long-lasting and show from April to September: they are deep purple in colour and are nestled between the healthy foliage. You can plant this periwinkle for groundcover and it will soon spread outwards towards or flow over a wall or over the edges of a basket.

Vinca minor Bowles Variety

Lesser Periwinkle La Grave

Common Name: Lesser periwinkle ‘La Grave’Latin Name: Vinca minor ‘Bowle’s Variety’Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ Violet blueHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.4m/0.8mSpecial features: A creeping evergreen which has violet blue flowers from April to September.This is a delightful variety of periwinkle which features delicate lavender blue flowers that have soft white centres. The flowers are long-lasting and will provide great interest throughout spring, summer and until the first frosts in autumn. With this being an evergreen variety the leaves will also give you year-round colour. This creeping shrub is great for groundcover and is particularly well-suited to the smaller garden.

Vinca minor Gertrude Jekyll

Lesser Periwinkle

Common Name: Lesser periwinkleLatin Name: Vinca minor ‘Gertrude Jekyll’Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/pure whiteHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.2m x 0.5mSpecial features: A creeping evergreen with pure white flowers which appear from April to September  This periwinkle features a luscious display of glossy green lance-shaped leaves that hold on this creeping plant all year round. From April to September pure white flowers appear and these look beautiful against the dark green foliage. The ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ is a creeping plant and so it will provide excellent groundcover in a border. You can plant this next to another Vinca, like the ‘Ralph Shugart, to get evergreen foliage and different coloured blossom during the growing season.

Vinca minor Illumination

Lesser Periwinkle

Common Name: Lesser Periwinkle Latin Name: Vinca minor 'Illumination' Soil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shade.Flowering period/colour: April to September/ VioletHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.4m/1mSpecial features: A vibrant evergreen shrub with long-lasting flowers.The ‘Illumination’ is aptly named as the glowing foliage is perfect for brightening up a bed in your garden. This creeping plant spreads outwards and covers the ground and as this is an evergreen shrub it adds a vibrant burst of colour all year round. The glowing golden green leaves are ovate with dark green variegated margins and these make the perfect colourful foil for the long-lasting flowers. From April to September the delicate deep violet-blue flowers are nestled amongst the leaves and the flowers are popular with pollinating insects. Due to the trailing habit of this shrub, you can use it in hanging baskets or to creep down a slope or over the edge of a wall.

Vinca minor Ralph Shugert

Lesser Periwinkle

Common Name: Lesser periwinkleLatin Name: Vinca minor Ralph ShugertSoil: Fertile, well-drained soilPosition: Full sun, partial shade, full shadeFlowering period/colour: April to September/VioletHardiness: Fully hardyEventual height/spread: 0.2m x 0.6mSpecial features: A creeping evergreen which has flowers from April to September This periwinkle is a wonderful choice for adding year round interest to a border as its evergreen leaves are deep green with attractive yellow margins. This creeping plant will provide groundcover and has the added feature of violet flowers which appear from April to September. This is a great choice for adding colour to your garden and it works well when planted alongside other creeping Vincas like the Gertrude Jekyll.