16 KEY PLANTS
1 Matteuccia struthiopteris This early fern produces upright funnels of delicate, spring-green fronds from creeping rhizomes. A good coloniser for the woodland garden and associates nicely with woodruff. It can scorch in summer if it becomes too dry. 1m. AGM*. RHS H5, USDA 3a-7b†.
2 Prunus ‘Fugenzo’ A beautiful Japanese cherry introduced into the UK around 1910 by plant hunter Ernest Wilson. It has long, thread-like pedicels that carry plump, pale-pink blossoms below the new bronzy foliage. 10m. AGM. RHS H6. 3 Juniperus recurva var. coxii Collected in Aranuchal Pradesh by Michael Wickenden from a ridgeline we scaled in 2007. It has pendent, string-like stems covered in sharp, scaly foliage held on (typically) multi-stemmed trees. It makes a wonderful weeping conifer. 25m. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b.
4 Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Fastigiata’ A selection of the Atlas cedar with a much slimmer habit than the type. It is quite slow-growing and can be pruned to keep it in proportion to the size of the garden. 15m. RHS H6, USDA 6a-9b.
5 Pinus bhutanica The Bhutan pine has long, pendent, glaucous needles held in bunches of five on ascending branches. The overall habit is very elegant, like a verdant Afghan hound. Prefers a sheltered site on good soil. 25m. RHS H5. 6 Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’ Makes a dense shrub or small tree with masses of pretty, variegated, evergreen foliage. It can be clipped into shapes or a hedge. Inconspicuous, purple flowers are produced in the spring, and are sweetly scented. 4m. AGM. RHS H4.
7 Olea europaea Makes a small, evergreen tree with glaucous foliage and deeply fissured bark. It has a twiggy habit and should be pruned or clipped in the spring. Best on light soils and a sunny, sheltered location. 3-4m. RHS H4, USDA 8a-10b. 8 Erica lusitanica The Portugal heath makes a tall, growing heather with masses of small, white, bell flowers in spring. It has soft-textured foliage and an upright habit. Best on free-draining acidic soils, but will tolerate some alkalinity. 2.5m. AGM. RHS H4.
9 Nemophila menziesii ‘Total Eclipse’ A sprightly, hardy annual with staring, black flowers edged in white. Where seedlings survive the winter it is quick to flower in the spring. Once grown, it will self-seed reliably on sharp soils or gravel. 20cm. RHS H5.
10 Galium odoratum The native sweet woodruff is an exquisite, early flowering perennial. It carpets the ground with little ruffs of foliage held in tiered candelabras and topped off with sprays of miniature, white flowers.
20cm. RHS H7, USDA 4a-8b.
11 Rodgersia pinnata ‘Cally Salmon’ A selection from Cally Gardens in Scotland, chosen for its notable, salmon-pink flowers. The new growth is a delicious shade of bronze. This species is much more drought-tolerant than the widely grown
R. podophylla. Ideally grown on moist, rich soils. 1m. RHS H6.
12 Tulipa ‘Black Hero’ One of the best of the dark tulips, and quite perennial in the garden at Malverleys. Makes spherical, double blooms on long, strong stems, and looks lovely associated with pale flowers or foliage background. 40cm. RHS H6. 13 Tulipa ‘Gavota’ A triumph-type tulip that is strong-growing and has rain-resistant petals. It is a particularly striking, medieval, maroon and cream-yellow colour combination. We interplant it between perennials in the autumn and winter. 50cm. AGM. RHS H6.
14 Tulipa ‘Don Quichotte’ With shocking, magenta-pink flowers, this is an excellent tulip for contrasting with cooler colours. We combine them with autumnsown Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’ or forget-me-nots. 55cm. AGM. RHS H6. 15 Astilboides tabularis Makes a dramatic specimen with huge, disc-like leaves when given good soil and warm, moist summers. The leaf stems are attached in the middle of the leaf. It can scorch in dry soil. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 5a-7b. 16 Tulipa ‘World’s Favourite’ A brilliantly coloured tulip with very nicely proportioned, cup-shaped flowers presented on stout stems. It has a slight scent and looks lovely combined with the lush spring growth of perennials in a mixed border. 40cm. AGM. RHS H6.