Common Box is a vigorous, evergreen, bushy, upright shrub or small tree and in many ways, is very uninspiring, producing green leaves and insignificant flowers, yet it is a very popular, widespread plant. The reason that it is so popular is that it makes excellent hedges, especially dwarf ones, and is superb for creating topiary specimens.

As a free growing bush or tree, Buxus Sempervirens will not need pruning, but if used as a hedge or topiary shape, it will need trimming once or twice a year. The slowness and evenness of growth means that the shape of the plant is maintained for a long time without any maintenance.

Bare-rooted specimens can be planted out during the winter, as long as the weather is not too extreme. Container grown plants can be planted out at any time, but will need to be kept watered in hot weather. Once plants become established, there is no need for any extra watering. Box will grow well in sun or partial shade but can become drawn if there is too much shade.

As well as the main species, there are a large number of varieties. The main one of interest is Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’, which is a dwarf form that is ideal for creating low hedges, which is excellent for outlining paths or beds. A lot of the others are variations in leaf colour, including variegated and golden ones, which can be useful for winter interest. The wood from Box is extremely hard and is sought after for making artists’ tools and for wood engraving.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Common Box will grow in most types of soil, including chalky ones, but will do best where the soil has had plenty of well-rotted organic matter added. It is quite a hungry plant and will need regular, annual mulches of compost or organic material to keep it healthy and vigorous.

Size
Plants, if left unclipped, can eventually reach a height of 12ft (3.5m) and spread up to 10ft (3m).

Propagation
To increase the number of plants, take semi-ripe cuttings in the summer and root them in a propagator or cold frame.

Family: Buxaceae
Genus: Buxus

Occasionally, you are brought up in your stride by the sight of a breathtaking, but unknown plant. One unusual tree, which certainly has the power to do this, is Embothrium coccineum. Commonly known as the Chilean Flame Bush, it seems to be alight with orange-red, flame-coloured flowers when in bloom.

The flowers are clusters of long tubes, which makes them show up all the more. A tree covered with flowers can give the impression that the branches are writhing flames. The leaves are a leathery dark green, which offsets the red flowers very well.

There is a problem in that the tree is not totally hardy, so it does best in mild areas near the coast, where winters are less severe. However, it is still worth trying to grow in sheltered positions further inland.

The best time for planting an Embothrium Coccineum is in the spring to give it a chance to become established before having to face a winter. In areas of milder climate, it can be planted any time between autumn and spring.

Keep the tree watered until it has become established and never allow the soil around it to dry out completely. No training or pruning is necessary, apart from removing any damaged or dead branches.

Growing Requirements

Position
This is a tree for a sunny position, although it will appreciate the protection of other trees around it. Despite coming from the border between Chile and Argentina, it is not totally hardy and should be given a sheltered position. Plant in deep, loamy, not too rich, well-drained soil and avoid animal manure.

Size
The Chilean Flame Bush can grow to a height of 50ft (16m) and spread around 20ft (6m).

Propagation
Plants are usually raised from seed. Although the plants often sucker, they rarely transplant successfully.

Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Embothrium

Cornus kousa var. chinensis was introduced from China in 1907 and differs from typical Cornus kousa in its taller, more open habit, usually forming a small tree. Despite having long-lasting pretty flowers, good autumn colour, an ability to blend well with other plants and a comparatively small size, the Chinese dogwood is not seen too often, even though it is easy to find in garden centres and nurseries.

The flowers are the most intriguing feature of this tree. They are very small and would be inconspicuous if it were not for the four white bracts (leaf-like attachments) that surround them. Because they are bracts, and not petals, they remain in flower for a very long time. They start white, but become flushed with pink as they age.

The leaves are a bright, fresh green colour, which sets off the flowers well. In autumn, they turn a wonderful range of oranges and reds. This tree is quite hardy and should survive most winters easily. Apart from removing any dead or damaged, wood, no pruning is required.

Growing Requirements

Soil
Cornus kousa var. chinensis is best grown as a specimen tree. It will grow well in a fertile, humus-rich, soil, located in full sun or partial shade. It is not recommended for growing in poor, shallow, chalk soils. It prefers an acid to neutral soil but can be grown in slightly alkaline conditions.

Size
The Chinese dogwood can grow to a height of 20ft (6m) and spread to around 15ft (4.5m), though in the average garden, 12ft to 15ft (3.5m to 4.5m) is the more likely ultimate height.

Propagation
It propagates well from seed, which should be cold stratified when ripe and then sown the following spring. It can also be propagated by taking cuttings in the summer.

Family: Cornaceae
Genus: Cornus

The silver birch is a genuine, native deciduous tree of the British countryside. Sometimes known as “Lady of the Woods” due to its graceful appearance, it is not a long-lived tree as most specimens become diseased or die by the age of 70. In the wild, it is a pioneer species, and will take over open areas or newly disturbed ground.

It has papery-white bark, which darkens and cracks as the tree ages, which leaves it prone to attack by the birch polypore fungus Piptoporus betulinus. The leaves of the silver birch are small, toothed and roughly diamond-shaped. Betula Pendula bears male catkins in early spring that can be as long as 4in (10cm) and their pollen is released in clouds during April. The emerald green leaves emerge shortly after and turn a golden colour before falling in the autumn.

Silver birch is ideal where only dappled shade is required as it has an open habit, allowing a range of plants to be grown underneath it – ferns look rather attractive in this position. The twigs can be bound together to make traditional brooms called besoms and are reputedly flown by witches!

Growing Requirements

Soil
The silver birch tolerates a wide range of habitats, but grows best on dry sandy soils and does well in higher altitudes than most other broadleaved species.

Size
Betula Pendula is relatively fast growing and it can reach a height of 82ft (25m) with a spread of around 32ft (10m) at maturity which it will reach in about 40 years.

Propagation
Plants are normally grown from seed although they can be grown from cuttings. The seeds are brown and yellow flake-like and are wind dispersed.

Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Betula

The Leyland Cypress tree is an accidental Victorian hybrid of the Nootka Cypress and the Monterey Cypress, first discovered and grown by C.J. Leyland in England, and is a very fast growing evergreen conifer. It makes a splendid dense hedge or an equally fine specimen tree and are among the most widely used hedge plants throughout the world.

The growth rate of Leylandii can be as much as 2.5-3ft (75-90cm) a year and if grown as a hedge or windbreak, it will need to be regularly clipped to keep it relatively low and narrow. To grow as a 6ft (1.8m) hedge, the planting distance should be about 2ft (60cm) apart. A rough guide for growing taller hedges would be to plant about a quarter of the proposed height apart.

Leylandii hedges are grown as either the common green variety or the golden Leylandii Castlewellan Gold. The golden variety grows slightly slower than the green one but will bush out more as it grows upwards so will still form a dense evergreen hedge quickly.

A scientific study to find the tree that was most effective at absorbing air pollution discovered that it was the Leylandii. It can absorb several times as much dust, smoke, and carbon dioxide as the average oak!

Growing Requirements

Soil
Leylandii will grow in most soil types, even in quite poor soils, as long as the soil is well-drained but it will not tolerate chalky soils. Grow in full sun or partial shade.

Size
If left untrimmed a Leylandii will ultimately reach 100ft (35m) and spread about 32ft (10m) by the time it is mature (10-20 years).

Pruning
The hedge will need to be trimmed a minimum of twice a year to keep it in shape. Make the last cut in either late summer or early autumn and wear gloves whilst cutting the hedge as the leaves can cause skin irritation.

Genus: Cupressaceae
Family: Cupressus

Ornamental garden plants can be broken down into several different groups. Some of the groups overlap, for example, most trees and shrubs will also fall into the perennial group.

Trees
Trees are usually the largest and most prominent plants in a garden and form the backdrop that will influence the selection of other plants. Trees are perennial, usually having a single woody stem, and may be evergreen or deciduous. They are found in most parts of the world and so there is a huge variety of ornamental trees and plenty of choice for most types of garden.

Shrubs
Shrubs are woody-stemmed perennial plants, usually free-branching from the base rather than the single stem of a tree. As with trees, shrubs can be deciduous or evergreen, but they have a breathtaking variety of ornamental features such as shape, growing habits, striking flowers, eye-catching fruit and beautiful foliage.

Climbers
Climbing plants use other plants, rocks or man-made structures for support. These valuable deciduous or evergreen plants can be used to cover-up wall or fences or to provide ornamental screening. Some will have a self-clinging or twining habit whilst others will require ties or some sort of additional support.

Perennials
Perennials are plants that live for two years or longer and they will flower once they are mature. The term is most commonly used to describe garden plants that die back each year after flowering and seeding, issuing new growth in the spring. They can be grown in herbaceous borders, as specimen plants or in containers.

Rock Plants
Rock plants are a mixture of shrubs, bulbs and hardy perennials originating from mountainous regions. They grow on or among rocks and are suitable for a rock gardens. Rock plants are adapted to growing in thin, well-drained soil and at altitude. They can survive temperature extremes but not excessive wet conditions. Alpines are included in this group.

Annuals and Biennials
An annual plant is, as the name suggests, one with a lifespan of within one year. A biennial will normally only sport foliage in its first year, going on to flower, set seed and die the following year. These plants are free-flowering and are easy to grow from seed. They can be used as bedding plants, grown in containers or hanging baskets, or used amongst shrubs and perennials.

Bulbous Plants
Bulbous plants, more commonly know as bulbs, are grown chiefly for their beautiful flowers. They originate from all parts of the world and this group also covers plants with tubers, corms and rhizomes. Bulbs usually have a long dormant period that is often spent underground. Some bulbs can provide an early splash of colour in spring, some thrive in borders whilst others make great container plants.