Name	Notes and varieties	category
Abies koreana Korean Fir	Conical conifer with darkish green leaves. Produces purple-blue cones from an early age which are very decorative. A well shaped and proportioned tree, to 30ft tall and 20ft wide.	Tree
Acer palmatum Japanese maples	The archetypal Japanese tree, usually bought as a small specimen 1-2ft tall. Not tolerant to being exposed to cold, wind or full sun and best grown initially at least in a container so you can move them about to find the best position. They don't like chalky soils preferring it on the acid-side.  Numerous cultivars available, one of the commonest (and cheapest) being "atropurpureum" which needs positioning carefully as it can appear rather dark and dense. The "dissectum" cultivars are very beautiful with finely cut leaves. "Aureum" has plainer shaped leaves but a lovely bright yellow color. "Sango-kaku" (senkaki) has bright coral-red winter shoots with yellow autumn leaves.	Small tree / shrub
Aucuba japonica Spotted or Cuban laurel	Evergreen shrub, with glossy leaves to 8" long spotted yellow. Plants are either male or female, females have bright red berries in autumn. Tolerant of quite deep shade and indeed requires some shade to be really happy. Will grow in difficult situations and tolerant of dry soil. To about 10ft high and wide but easily controlled. Frequently sold as three or four rooted cuttings in a pot, separate them and you instantly have more plants!	Shrub
Bamboos	Bamboos are evergreens and not affected by any major pest or disease in this country. They are not always able to cope with exposed windy conditions which often makes them look a bit tatty and threadbare. they all prefer dampish conditions and won't really withstand being baked by the sun with little moisture available. Arundinaria nitida (also known as Sinarundinaria nitida or Fargesia nitida) - fountain bamboo, is a handsome one with dark purple-green canes and dark green leaves, to 15ft high by 5ft wide. Arundinaria murieliae (Sinarundinaria or Fargesia murieliae) - umbrella bamboo is similar but more, well, umbrella-shaped. Yellow-green canes at first turning yellow with age. Phyllostachys nigra - black bamboo is particularly striking with canes that start green but then turn black in the second or third year 10-15ft high by 6ft wide.	Shrub / perennial
Betula  spp.  birches	The birches are admirable trees for small gardens, some types can grow tall (eventually to 50ft or more), but they tend not to spread very far and have an open canopy that gives a dappled shade, a lovely effect. They need an open sunny situation. The native silver birch Betula pendula is a popular choice, but the bark is rather rough and splits with dark patches forming with age, go for  named cultivars such as "Dalicarlica" / "Laciniata" or "Tristis" if you can find them. I prefer the Himalayan birch, Betula utilis "jacquemontii" (usually sold as Betula jacquemontii)   or the paper birch, Betula papyrifera. Both have a smoother, brighter bark than the native species and are fairly easy to find. If you have more space, birches can be planted as a triangular group of 3 about 3 feet apart. You tend to get a similar canopy as if a single tree was on its own, but 3 times the trunks and bark which is the main feature.	Tree
Choisya ternata Mexican Orange Blossom	Glossy evergreen shrubs that comes in two main types grown either for wonderfully fragrant white flowers in summer (and often again in autumn) with green leaves, or for vibrant yellow leaves in the variety "Sundance" which unfortunately rarely flowers. "Aztec Pearl" is a flowering green variety with leaves that are more delicately cut.  The flower scent is exceptional. To about 6-8ft tall and wide. Best in sun.	Shrub
Cordyline Cabbage palm	These are not fully hardy, but with our increasingly frequent and increasingly mild winters, they survive year round more and more. Don't push it too far in Cambridgeshire, plant them in sheltered areas away from strong winds and with the protection of a wall if possible.	Shrub
Cortaderia selloana  Pampas grass	It's had a bit of a bad press has poor old pampas grass with its connotations of 70's housing estates. Like some other plants though, it's earned its reputation unfairly, largely as a result  of being planted inappropriately. It is a big plant 6ft tall by about the same wide with flower panicles to 10ft. Best planted at the margins of a garden or at the back of a mixed border unless you have great expanses of lawn.	Perennial
Eucalyptus gunnii Cider Gum	Actually a tree if left to its own devices that will go to 50ft + if it's happy. However, don't be too alarmed. What you do is you treat it as a coppice stool. Let the plant get established for one or two years and then in Feb / March you cut it down to about 4-6" above ground level. This encourages it to throw out new shoots from just below the cut point. The plant will then provide you with lots of very attractive glaucous blue/green juvenile foliage that can grow up to 6ft from ground level in a season. It's also reputed to keep midges and mosquitoes at bay, so plant it near the patio.	Tree / shrub
Euphorbias	E. mellifera, the honey spurge is one of the larger members of the group and is well placed at the back of the border. It has vibrant apple-green leaves and the flowers while not being particularly striking, have a probably unique scent of honey. An excellent addition to any garden. To 8ft tall and wide. Best in sun tolerates some shade, not fond of exposure so molly coddle it a bit if you can. Euphorbia myrsinites Completely different habit to E. mellifera above. A prostrate creeping plant with blue-green leaves, yellow "flowers" in spring. 4" tall and spreads to about 18", a succulent so needs reasonable drainage, goes well with spiky plants or against gravel / rocks etc. Euphorbia wulfenii (often available in one of several named varieties). Bluish green leaves to about 4ft tall. Particularly bright green-yellow "flower" heads in spring. Well known and deservedly so. Reputed to emit a coffee scent.	Perennial
Fatsia japonica Castor oil plant	A large plant with large bright glossy leaves up to 36" long in mature specimens. Chiefly a foliage plant, but also produces long lasting white flowers as a bonus which are followed by masses of black berries. Fits into many different styles of garden, but best in formal or jungly / tropical types. Grows in sun and also in quite deep shade. To 12ft by 12ft but not for ages.	Shrub
Gunnera manicata Giant rhubarb	The leaves are enormous, up to 6ft across borne on prickly stalks to 8ft long. It is really a bog plant and needs moist conditions, if you think you might be able to accommodate its requirements and size, then little else will get the same WOW! effect. To 8ft tall and 10-12ft across.	Perennial
Hedera canariensis Canary island ivy  "Gloire de Marengo"	Large shiny variegated leaves with a jungly feel. Not as hardy as most Ivies you see (which are often as tough as old boots), so benefits from some shelter. Grow as a climber up a wall or use as ground cover, pretty vigorous in both situations. To 12ft.	Climber
Ilex spp. Hollies	An incredibly useful group, usually of tough and tolerant plants. Strictly speaking most are trees, though they grow slowly enough and are easily enough trimmed to be regarded as shrubs if you want them to be. Useful for their evergreen foliage and winter color provided by berries and / or variegated leaves. Slow growing and usually only available as smaller specimens as they don't take too kindly to being moved. Will tolerate shade, especially the darker-leaved forms, variegated types require sun to bring colors out to the optimum. Hollies are usually either male or female and only the females have the berries, but they need a male to achieve this! Ilex aquifolium "Silver Queen" - variegated green / cream, male. I. aquifolium "Mme. Briot" variegated green / yellow, female, red berries. I. aquifolium " J.C. van tol" - self-fertile female, abundant red berries, dark green smooth margined leaves. One of my favourites I. aquifolium "ferox argentea", hedgehog holly - variegated cream / green, male with spikes all over the surface of the leaf, a bit more fussy about soil than the others, doesn't like it too heavy or wet.	Tree / shrub
Juniperus scopulurum "skyrocket"	A narrowly upright conifer with a blue-grey tinge to the foliage best brought out when planted in full sun.  Use effectively in pairs either side of a path or entrance, or use as punctuation marks in planting schemes.	Tree
Mahonia spp.	Evergreen shrubs with shiny dark green holly-like leaves and large sprays of highly scented yellow flowers in the winter months. Make sure you plant it near a path or doorway otherwise you may never be tempted to venture out and appreciate the scent. M. aquifolium - Oregon grape is the toughest and will withstand quite deep shade ("Apollo" is the best variety). Others though are more delicate and less shade tolerant such as, M. x media "Charity" and M. bealei, plant one of these if conditions allow.	Shrub
Phormium tenax New Zealand Flax	Great evergreen fans of sword-shaped leaves up to 10ft long in green, purple or many variegated varieties. These plants will grow large! up to 10-12ft across. Flower spikes up to 12ft tall in the "weird and striking" rather than "pretty" category. The ordinary green one is the best, and Phormiums actually prefer clay! Best in full sun, though do tolerate some shade.	Shrub /
Rhus typhina "laciniata" Stags Horn Sumarch	A striking shrub or small tree that earns its common name due to the shape of the branches in the winter. Handsome pinnate leaves up to 18" long that give very good autumn colors. Tends to sucker quite a lot, but a small price to pay for such a handsome plant, it also means that you get some extra plants for free to give to friends. To about 15ft tall and wide.	Shrub / small tree
Tamarix	Graceful shrub to small tree, wispy frothy pink flowers produced in summer. Height and spread to 15ft. Withstands a surprising degree of soil wetness, but don't bother if the planting hole fills with water as you're digging it.	Shrub / small tree
Viburnum tinus	Bushy dense evergreen shrub eventually to about 10ft tall and wide. Fragrant white flowers borne over a long period through winter and spring, followed by blue/black berries. Tolerates a fair amount of shade and can be hard pruned. "Eve Price" is a reliably performing cultivar	Shrub
Vitis coignetiae Crimson glory vine	Large bright green heavily textured leaves up to 12" across whose autumn colors earn it its common name.  A vigorous and large plant that will grow to 50ft if given space in a mature tree, alternatively grow it up and over a pergola to give summer shade and autumn fireworks.	Climber