A Year-Round Botanical Delight: Explore Our Garden Centre's Entrance Walkway
Throughout the seasons, our entrance walkway to our Garden Centre and Cafe offers a breathtaking display that captivates our visitors year-round. A botanical masterpiece, the planting was curated with care by Andy, our dedicated Horticulture Manager, in the summer of 2023.
From the vivid hues of Agapanthus (African Lily) in summer to the striking red stems of Cornus elegantissima (Dogwood) and the purplish-red foliage of Nandina domestica (Heavenly Bamboo) in winter, each plant has been carefully chosen to create a serene and inviting atmosphere.
Designed to inspire and delight all who visit, many of you have inquired about the plants featured. Below, we’ve compiled a detailed list of these plants, with the opportunity to bring a touch of our garden’s charm into your own outdoor spaces with many available for purchase right here at our Garden Centre.
Tillia cordata ‘Green Globe’
Small Leafed Lime ‘Green Globe’
A medium to large-sized deciduous tree native to the UK and other parts of Europe. Ideal for larger gardens, Tilia cordata is excellent for supporting wildlife, offering nesting sites for birds, food for caterpillars, and fragrant summer flowers for bees. Green Globe is a dwarf variety of this reliable tree, characterised by its low, rounded growth habit. For optimal growth, plant in moist, well-drained soil with full sun or partial shade. Avoid windy, exposed sites when planting.
Agapanthus africanus
African Lily
Showcasing stunning globes of trumpet-shaped purple blue flowers from July to September. These blossoms stand on straight stems, rising above bold clumps of strap-like, mid-green leaves. Providing valuable late summer interest, African lilies thrive in sunny, well-drained borders or large patio pots. This plant is an excellent addition to gardens, flourishing in fertile, moist, and well-drained soil.
Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’
Himalayan Birch
A striking deciduous tree akin to the native silver birch, known for its compact size and whiter bark. It offers year-round beauty: bees are drawn to its long brown-yellow catkins in Spring, followed by a stunning display of yellow foliage in autumn. Its standout feature in winter is the brilliant white bark, peeling in scrolls that shimmer in sunlight. Growing swiftly, it can reach over 10m tall and 6m wide in just 15-20 years. For best results, plant in autumn while dormant, stake when young, and ensure adequate watering during dry spells for the initial years.
Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diabolo’
Common Ninebark
A deciduous shrub, the ninebark is renowned for its deep purple, three-lobed leaves and clusters of delicate flowers in summer. Its dainty, pink-tinted blooms stand beautifully against the backdrop of small, dark purple, maple-like leaves. This striking shrub is ideal for a border with moist but well-drained acidic soil. After flowering, it produces bright red berries in clusters. Ninebark is a hardy plant that thrives in various conditions, but for the most vivid leaf colour, it should be planted in full sun. As it matures, the bark begins to flake and peel in multiple layers, which is the origin of its common name, ‘ninebark.’
Cornus elegantissima
Red-barked Dogwood 'Elegantissima'
A deciduous shrub admired for its striking appearance. Its grey-green leaves, edged with white, add a touch of elegance, while its small, creamy-white flowers bloom in May and June. However, the true allure of this plant lies in its vibrant red stems, which are revealed once the leaves fall. Thriving in full sun, it can be hard pruned for a burst of winter colour or left unpruned to enjoy its lush foliage and vivid stems year-round.
Cornus alba ‘Kesselringii’
White Dogwood ‘Kesselringii’
A robust deciduous shrub, with small, creamy-white flowers that bloom from May to June, complemented by dark green leaves that transform into reddish-purple hues in autumn, revealing dark-maroon stems that darken to blackish-purple in winter.
Alchemilla mollis
Lady’s Mantle
Featuring charmingly scalloped, vibrant green leaves that elegantly capture water droplets. From June to September, it blooms with a delicate mist of tiny, chartreuse yellow flowers. This plant is stunning when planted in large groups, providing effective ground cover that suppresses weeds, or when used to edge pathways and borders. Known for its toughness and adaptability to various conditions, once established, it can withstand drought, making it an ideal choice for low-maintenance yet high-impact garden designs.
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’
A robust herbaceous perennial that grows up to 1.6 metres tall when in bloom. Its pleated, mid-green leaves form a striking backdrop to arching stems adorned with fiery red and yellow blossoms that pierce through its spiky foliage, appearing from mid to late summer. Renowned for its impactful and reliable flowering, thriving even in shaded or dry conditions. Its flowers also make excellent cuttings, allowing you to bring their vivid beauty indoors effortlessly.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
From early summer through early autumn, this plant produces saucer-shaped flowers measuring 5cm across, in a striking violet-blue shade with purple veining and a white centre. A robust perennial that forms a vigorous spread up to 60cm in height. Its compact, lobed leaves are adorned with intricate patterns of marbling and flecks, in a vibrant mid-green hue. Its spreading growth habit provides rapid ground coverage and a long flowering period. ‘Rozanne’ was shortlisted for the prestigious Chelsea Plant of the Centenary award for the period 1993-2002, winning the public vote.
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’
Chinese Silver Grass ‘Flamingo’
Miscanthus ‘Flamingo,’ also known as Chinese Silver Grass ‘Flamingo,’ is a deciduous grass celebrated for its graceful appearance. Its arching, strap-like green leaves, adorned with prominent white midribs, reach up to 2cm in width and transition to a golden orange hue come autumn. In late summer, airy pink plumes emerge, gradually maturing to a silvery tone by autumn’s arrival. This impressive ornamental grass has earned the prestigious RHS Award of Garden Merit for its outstanding qualities. Thriving in full sun, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Flamingo’ is a standout choice for gardens seeking a plant that delivers both beauty and resilience.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
This perennial variety features upright spikes of violet-purple flowers that bloom throughout the summer, held above slender, textured, grey-green leaves. Rising from a dense mound of aromatic foliage, the plant develops purple-black stems in early summer, adorned with vibrant violet-blue blooms. It serves as a dynamic and enduring addition to garden borders, especially when paired with deep plum, pink, and smoky purple hues. While it can thrive in partial shade, it performs best in full sun and is remarkably drought-tolerant once it has settled in.
Prunus cerasifera ‘Nigra’
A medium-sized deciduous tree prized for its ornamental value. It has a rounded crown and distinctive dark purplish-black branches and twigs. The leaves start red, turn brownish-purple in summer, and end with red and orange colours in autumn. In March, it blooms with pale pink flowers from deep pink buds on bare branches, attracting bees with pollen and nectar. Occasionally, it bears small edible red cherry plums, mostly enjoyed by the birds.
Pyracantha coccinea ‘Orange Charmer’, ‘Red Column’ and ‘Soleil d’Or’ Firethorn ‘Orange Charmer’ and ‘Red Column’
A versatile shrub prized for its year-round appeal. It features dark green leaves and spiny branches that support dense clusters of small white flowers in late spring, followed by an array of bright red, yellow, or orange berries in autumn and winter. These hardy shrubs thrive in diverse conditions, from shaded areas to exposed positions, making them perfect for dense, intruder-resistant hedges or trained against walls to highlight their colourful berries.
Nandina domestica ‘Obsessed’
A striking cultivar of the traditional Nandina, commonly known as heavenly bamboo. This plant is celebrated for its vibrant foliage that transitions from lush green to fiery red, particularly in the fall and winter months, adding a dynamic splash of colour. ‘Obsessed’ is a compact, evergreen shrub that grows to about 2-3 feet in height, making it perfect for small spaces or container gardening. Its delicate, feathery leaves are complemented by clusters of small, white flowers in the summer, which give way to bright red berries in the Autumn. Hardy and low-maintenance, it is a versatile choice for enhancing garden aesthetics year-round.
Explore our Garden Centre
With over 40 years’ experience of growing and selling plants, a visit to Priory Farm Garden Centre is the perfect choice for any gardener.