Plant Guide

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Topiary

liquidambar-styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gumball'

Cultivar of Liquidambar styraciflua, growing into a dense, multi-stemmed shrub, but is usually grafted on a .6-1.8 m long standard, forming a small 'lollipop' tree with a dense, rounded canopy. Mid green, maple-like leaves to about 12 cm long. Leaves persist for a long time and turn shades of yellow, orange, red and burgundy before falling in winter. Inconspicuous greenish flowers in spring. On the species itself these flowers develop into spiny, spherical, green fruit during autumn. 

Prefers a sunny position, but tolerates partial shade. Suitable for a wide range of soil types, including sand and clay soils. Performs best in well-draining soil, but tolerates wet conditions. Usually forms a ball-shaped canopy with little or no pruning, but can be pruned in winter. Frost-hardy (zones 5-11).

Gorgeous focal point tree for small spaces. Makes a good container specimen for your patio. Lush spring and summer foliage, and lovely autumn colours.

photinia-fraseri-red-robin

Photinia x fraseri 'Red Robin'

Evergreen shrub with vibrant red young growth. Photinia x fraseri is a hybrid between Photinia glabra and Photinia serratifolia. The cultivar 'Red Robin' was developed in New Zealand, and is widely used as a colourful hedge. Glossy, elliptic to obovate leaves to 10 cm long, bright red when young, turning dark green on maturity. Panicles of small, creamy white flowers during spring.

Best foliage colour in full sun, but is also suitable for a partially shaded position. Grows in any fertile, neutral or acid, well-draining soil. Reasonably wind tolerant.  Not recommended for very exposed sites, coastal gardens or wet, waterlogged soils. Frost hardy once established, but needs protection from harsh frosts when young. A light prune during the growing season promotes the production of young leaves and thus prolongs the intense foliage colour display. Tolerates hard pruning. May be affected by fireblight, a bacterial disease that causes the leaves to wilt and turns the branches black as if the plant is scorched by fire. Remove affected plants to prevent spreading the disease to other susceptible plants.

Spectacular hedging plant with brilliant red young foliage. Can be grown as a small standard tree, filler or specimen shrub.

podocarpus-totara-aurea

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea'

golden totara

Golden-leafed cultivar of Podocarpus totara, a New Zealand native conifer. Pyramidal to columnar growth habit. The needle-like leaves are linear, sessile, 1-3 cm long, 2-4 mm wide. Leaf colour varies somewhat during the year from light green in spring, changing to yellow in summer, and deepening to golden yellow in winter.

Plant in full sun for best foliage colour. Prefers well-draining soil. Tolerates dry conditions once established. Responds well to trimming and is suitable for hedging purposes. Tends to have a bushy habit with foliage from ground level, but can be trained to grow as a specimen tree from an early age by selecting one shoot to become the central leader and gradually removing the side shoots. Make sure to stake the tree when planting in an exposed position. Suitable for coastal gardens.Tolerates moderate frosts, and is hardy throughout New Zealand.

Smaller and slower growing than the species itself, Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' can be accomodated in garden settings for many years. Forms a nice dense hedge.

teucrium-fruticans

Teucrium fruticans

shrubby germander, bush germander

Evergreen shrub with grey-green foliage, pale lilac-blue flowers, and a somwhat angular branching pattern. Native to Spain, Portugal, Italy and north Africa. Stems and undersides of leaves are covered with tiny white hairs giving the plant a silvery-grey overall appearance. Leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, 2-3 cm long. The pale lilac-blue flowers are two-lipped, and 2.5 cm long.

Prefers a sunny position in well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils, dry conditions, and moderate frosts. Suitable for coastal plantings. Prune to keep compact or to create a specific shape.

Mainly grown for its attractive silvery colour. If you are particularly interested in a good display of flowers then the cultivar 'Azureum' with a much stronger colour contrast between flowers and foliage is a better choice. This cultivar combines well with other blue-flowering shrubs. The flowers of Teucrium fruticans itself fit in better with purple colour schemes.

teucrium-fruticans-azureum

Teucrium fruticans 'Azureum'

Evergreen shrub with grey-green foliage and blue flowers. Stems and undersides of leaves are covered with dense white hairs, giving the plant a silvery grey overall appearance. Leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, 2-3 cm long. Azure blue, two-lipped flowers, 2.5 cm long, mainly during summer. Teucrium fruticans (shrubby germander, bush germander) itself is native to Spain, Portugal, Italy and North Africa, and has pale lilac flowers.

Prefers a sunny position in well-drained soil. Tolerates poor soils, dry conditions and medium frosts. Suitable for coastal plantings. 

Mainly grown for its attractive silvery colour, which forms a beautiful contrast with the deep blue flowers. Can be pruned to any shape. A regular prune is a good idea since otherwise growth is somewhat lax, and its young foliage looks better than the older leaves.

 

viburnum-tinus-eve-price

Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'

Bushy evergreen shrub with dark red branches and leathery oval, dark green leaves to 10 cm long and 4 cm wide. Flattened clusters to about 8 cm wide of dark pink and white buds open to small, 0.7 cm across, lightly fragrant, white and pink flowers, mainly during winter and spring. Flowers are followed by dark metallic blue berries.

Prefers a position in full sun or partial shade, but copes with full shade. Happy in most well-draining soils. If required, carry out pruning in spring after flowering so that new buds have time to develop before the next flowering season. If growing conditions are not ideal, Viburnum 'Eve Price' can become susceptible to pests and diseases, such as aphids, scale, and fungal spots. Thrips can do serious damage by feeding on the leaves, causing them to develop a dull, silvery sheen (and eventually drop off).