Aucuba japonica 'Crotonifolia'
Japanese spotted laurel
- Position: full sun to full shade
- Soil: any garden soil (except waterlogged soils)
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: April and May
- Hardiness: fully hardy
This resilient evergreen shrub has become popular because it will thrive in inhospitable, shady areas of the garden where little else will grow. It copes well with dry shade, urban pollution and salt-laden air, and is easy to look after. The leaves are large and splashed with pale yellow, and it has insignificant, small clusters of red-purple flowers in April and May. It will light up a shady corner of the garden, or make an excellent dense hedge for an urban or coastal site. - Garden care: To promote bushy growth cut back straggly branches in spring. Apply a generous 5-7cm (2-3in) mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around the base of the plant after pruning.
Helleborus × hybridus Harvington Smokey Blues
Lenten rose hellebore
Unusual, dark purple flowers with a deep blue sheen
Fatsia japonica
Japanese aralia
A handsome, evergreen shrub
Choisya ternata
Mexican orange blossom
Wonderfully scented white flowers
Japanese
Make the most of over 3000 years of gardening tradition by creating an oriental-style garden. Originally designed as a place for intellectual contemplation and meditation, they are an ideal sanctuary from...
Read full articleApril pruning of trees, shrubs and
climbers
Many shrubs, trees and climbers are showing signs of growth and so it is an ideal time to check them over for winter damage. If you feel they need a little care and attention, here are a few notes to...
Read full articleFebruary pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
The garden is at its most dormant right now, so it’s a good time to catch up on any pruning missed or forgotten since the autumn. If the weather isn’t favourable, you can leave it for a week or two,...
Read full articleJanuary pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
My gardening resolution this year is to keep on top of my pruning and that means getting out into the garden with my secateurs every month. The garden is at its most dormant right now, so it’s a good time...
Read full articleDecember pruning of trees, shrubs and climbers
My gardening resolution this year is to keep on top of my pruning and that means getting out into the garden with my secateurs every month. The garden is at its most dormant right now, so it’s a good time...
Read full article