Suitable plants
Key:
* Evergreen
(W) Slightly tender and best grown against a wall
AGM Denotes plants which have received the Society's Award of Garden Merit
Trees
Spring flowering
Acacia dealbata AGM * (W) yellow flowers; height 15-30m (49-98ft), spread 6-10m (20-33¼ft)
Azara microphylla AGM * (W) yellow flowers; height 10m (33¼ft), spread 4m (13¼ft)
Crataegus monogyna white flowers; height 10m (33¼ft), spread 8m (26ft)
Drimys winteri AGM* ivory-white flowers; height 15m (50ft), spread 10m (33¼ft)
Magnolia salicifolia white flowers; height 10m (33¼ft), spread 6m (20ft)
Prunus padus white flowers; height 15m (49ft), spread 10m (33¼ft)
P. × yedoensis pale-pink flowers; height 15m (49ft), spread 10m (33¼ft)
Summer flowering
Tilia × euchlora yellowish-white flowers; height 20m (70ft), spread 15m (50ft)
T. tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ AGM pale-yellow flowers; height 30m (100ft), spread 20m (70ft)
T. platyphyllos ‘Rubra’ AGM yellowish-white flowers; height 30m (100ft), spread 20m (70ft)
Winter flowering
Acacia dealbata (mimosa) AGM * (W) yellow flowers; height 15-30m (50-100ft), spread 6-10m (20-30ft)
Large shrubs
Spring flowering
Azalea (See Rhododendron)
Buxus sempervirens * pale-green flowers; height and spread 5m (15ft) or more
Erica arborea * greyish-white flowers; height to 6m (20ft), spread 3m (10ft)
Magnolia denudata AGM white flowers; height and spread (10m (30ft)
Magnolia stellata white flowers; height 3m (10ft), spread 4m (12ft)
Magnolia × soulangiana deep rose-pink to white flowers; height and spread 6m (20ft)
Osmanthus × burkwoodii AGM * white flowers; height and spread 3m (10ft)
O. decorus * (syn. Phillyrea decora) white flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 5m (15ft)
O. delavayi AGM * white flowers; height 2-6m (6½-20ft), spread 4m (12ft) or more
Prunus mume pink or white flowers; height and spread 9m (28ft)
Rhododendron Loderi * and its cultivars: white or pink, flowers; height and spread 4m (12ft)
Viburnum × bodnantense rose-red to pinkish-white flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 2m (6½ft)
V. farreri (syn. V. fragrans) AGM pink or white flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
Summer flowering
Argyrocytisus battandieri (syn. Cytisus battandieri) yellow flowers; height and spread 5m (15ft)
Buddleja alternifolia AGM lilac flowers; height and spread 4m (12ft)
B. davidii white, pink, lavender or purple flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 5m (15ft)
Clerodendrum trichotomum white flowers; height and spread 5-6m (15-20ft)
Clethra alnifolia white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
Corylopsis spicata yellow flowers; height 2m (6½ft), spread 3m (10ft)
Elaeagnus angustifolia yellowish-white flowers; height and spread 6m (20ft)
E. umbellata silvery-scaled, yellow-white flowers; height and spread 5m (15ft)
Genista aetnensis AGM yellow flowers; height and spread 8m (25ft)
G. cinerea yellow flowers; height 3m (10ft), spread 4m (12ft)
G. tenera ‘Golden Shower’ AGM yellow flowers; height 3m (10ft), spread 5m (15ft)
Itea ilicifolia AGM * (W) greenish-white flowers; height 3-5m (10-15ft), spread 3m (10ft)
Magnolia grandiflora * (W) white flowers; height 6-18m, spread to 15m (50ft)
M. sieboldii white flowers; height 8m (25ft), spread 12m (40ft)
Philadelphus delavayi white flowers flushed purple; height 3m (10ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
P. ‘Virginal’ AGM double-white flowers; height 3m (10ft) or more, spread 2.5m (8ft)
Ptelea trifoliata greenish-white flowers; height 8m (25ft), spread 4m (12ft)
Pyracantha * white flowers in early summer; height and spread 3m (10ft)
Rhododendron auriculatum * white flowers; height 10m (30ft), spread 5m (15ft)
Rosa many have fragrant flowers
Spartium junceum AGM yellow flowers; height and spread 3m (10ft)
Syringa vulgaris (lilac) white, pink or purple, single or double flowers; height and spread 7m (22ft)
Autumn flowering
Clethra alnifolia white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
Elaeagnus × ebbingei AGM * silvery-scaled, creamy-white flowers; height and spread 4m (12ft)
Magnolia grandiflora * (W) white flowers; height 6-18m, spread 15m (50ft)
Osmanthus heterophyllus * (syn. O. aquifolium) white flowers; height and spread 5m (15ft)
Winter flowering
Chimonanthus praecox yellow flowers with purplish-centres; height 4m (12ft), spread 3m (10ft)
Daphne bholua * white, flushed purple-pink flowers; height 2-4m (6½-12ft), spread 1.5m (5ft)
Hamamelis mollis (witch hazel) yellow flowers; height and spread 4m (12ft)
Viburnum × bodnantense flowers from rich, rose-red to pinkish-white; height 3m (10ft) spread 2m (6½ft)
V. farreri (syn. V. fragrans) AGM pink or white flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
Medium shrubs
Spring flowering
Choisya ternata AGM * white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca AGM (W) yellow flowers; height and spread 80cm (32in)
Cytisus × praecox cream or yellow flowers; height 1.2m (4ft), spread 1.5m (5ft)
Elaeagnus commutata white flowers; height 4m (12ft), spread 2m (6½ft)
Lonicera fragrantissima creamy-white flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 3m (10ft)
L. × purpusii creamy-white flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
L. standishii creamy-white flowers; height and spread 2m (6½ft)
Mahonia japonica AGM * yellow flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 3m (10ft)
Rhododendron luteum yellow flowers; height and spread 4m (12ft)
Viburnum × burkwoodii * white flowers from pink buds; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
V. × carlcephalum AGM white flowers from pink buds; height and spread 3m (10ft)
V. carlesii pink white flowers from pink buds; height and spread 2m (6½ft)
Summer flowering
Citrus trifoliata (syn. Poncirus trifoliata) (Japanese bitter orange) white flowers; height and spread 5m (15ft)
Clerodendrum bungei AGM pink flowers; height and spread 2m (6½ft) or more
Clethra tomentosa white flowers; height and spread 1-2m (3¼-6½ft)
Deutzia × elegantissima rose-pink flowers; height 1.2m (4ft), spread 1.5m (5ft)
Elaeagnus commutata white flowers; height 4m (12ft), spread 2m (6½ft)
Escallonia ‘Donard Gem’ * pink flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
Olearia × haastii * white flowers with yellow centres; height 2m (6½ft), spread 3m (10ft)
O. macrodonta AGM * white flowers; height 6m (20ft), spread 5m (15ft)
Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ AGM white flowers with pale purple centres; height 1.2m (4ft), spread 2.5m (8ft)
P. ‘Beauclerk’ AGM white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
P. coronarius (mock orange) white flowers; height 3m (10ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
P. microphyllus white flowers; height and spread 1m (3¼ft)
Rhododendron viscosum AGM pinkish white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
(also many of the Knaphill, Exbury, Ghent and Occidentale Hybrid azaleas)
Romneya coulteri AGM white flowers, height 1-2.5m (3¼-8ft), spread indefinite
Rosa a large genus; many having fragrant flowers.
Syringa pubescens subsp. microphylla ‘Superba’ AGM rose-pink flowers; height and spread to 6m (20ft)
Autumn flowering
Choisya ternata AGM * white flowers; height and spread 2.5m (8ft)
Clerodendrum bungei AGM pink flowers; height and spread 2m (6½ft) or more
Mahonia × media ‘Charity’ yellow flowers; height 5m (15ft) spread 4m (12ft)
Winter flowering
Lonicera fragrantissima creamy-white flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 3m (10ft)
L. × purpusii creamy-white flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
L. standishii creamy-white flowers; height and spread 2m (6ft)
Mahonia japonica AGM * yellow flowers; height 2m (6½ft) spread 3m (10ft)
M. × media ‘Charity’ yellow flowers; height 5m (15ft) spread 4m (12ft)
Small shrubs
Spring flowering
Daphne blagayana * creamy-white flowers; height 40cm (16in) spread 1m (39in)
D. × burkwoodii pale-purplish pink flowers; height and spread 1-1.5m (3¼-5ft)
D. cneorum * deep rose-pink to white flowers; height 15cm (6in), spread 2m (6½ft)
D. mezereum pink to purplish-pink flowers; height 1.2m (4ft), spread 1m (3¼ft)
Erica × darleyensis * white to rose-pink flowers; height 60cm (2ft), spread to 75cm (30in)
E. erigena (syn. E. mediterranea) * deep lilac-pink flowers; height to 2.5m (8ft), spread 1m (3¼ft)
Skimmia japonica ‘Fragrans’ AGM * (and other male-flowered forms). White flowers; height and spread 1m (3¼ft)
Summer flowering
Philadelphus ‘Sybille’ AGM white flowers with pale-purple centres; height 1.2m, spread 2m (6½ft)
Rosa many have fragrant flowers
Winter flowering
Erica × darleyensis * white to rose-pink flowers; height 60cm (2ft), spread to 75cm (30in)
E. erigena (syn. E. mediterranea) * deep lilac-pink flowers; height to 2.5m (8ft), spread 1m (3¼ft)
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis * white flowers; height 1.5m (5ft), spread 2m (6½ft)
S. ruscifolia var. chinensis * creamy-white flowers; height and spread 1m (3¼ft)
S. confusa AGM * white flowers; height 2m (6ft), spread 1m (3¼ft)
Climbers and wall shrubs
Spring flowering
Clematis armandii * (W) white flowers; height and spread 8m (26ft)
C. ‘Elizabeth’ AGM pink flowers; height to 14m (46ft), spread to 3m (10ft)
Holboellia coriacea mauve male flowers, purple-tinged, greenish-white female flowers height to 7m (22ft), spread to 3m (10ft)
H. latifolia purple female flowers, greenish-white male flowers; height to 5m (15ft), spread to 2.5m (8ft)
Wisteria floribunda mauve, pink or white flowers; height 9m (28ft) or more, spread 4m (12ft)
W. sinensis mauve, pink or white flowers; height 9m (28ft) or more, spread 4m (12ft)
Summer flowering
Cestrum parqui AGM greenish-yellow flowers; height and spread 2m (6½ft)
Clematis rehderiana AGM pale-yellow flowers; height to 7m (22ft) spread to 3m (10ft)
Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris white flowers; height 15m (50ft), spread 8m (26ft)
Jasminum officinale white flowers; height 12m (40ft), spread 5m (15ft)
Lonicera × americana AGM purple-flushed, yellow flowers; height to 8m (26ft) spread 2m (6½ft)
L. japonica * white, aging to yellow flowers; height 10m, (32ft) spread 2.5m (8ft)
L. periclymenum white to yellow, deep-pink flushed flowers; height 7m (22ft), spread 2.5m (8ft)
Trachelospermum jasminoides AGM * (W) white flowers; height 9m (28ft), spread 3m (10ft)
Autumn flowering
Cestrum parqui AGM greenish-yellow flowers; height and spread 2m (6½ft)
Clematis rehderiana AGM pale-yellow flowers; height to 7m (22ft) spread to 3m (10ft)
Herbaceous perennials
Spring flowering
Convallaria majalis AGM white flowers; height 23cm (9in) spread 30cm (1ft)
Primula auricula deep yellow flowers; height 20cm (8in), spread 25cm (10in)
P. veris AGM deep yellow flowers; height and spread 25cm (10in)
Viola odorata (sweet violet) white or mauve flowers; height 20cm (8in) spread 30cm (1ft)
Summer flowering
Clematis tubulosa ‘Wyevale’ AGM blue flowers; height 75cm (2½ft), spread 130cms (4½ft)
C. recta white flowers; height 1-2m (3¼-6½ft), spread 75cm (30in)
Dianthus (particularly border carnations and pinks) all colours except blue
Galium odorata white flowers; height 45cm (18in) spread indefinite
Hemerocallis dumortieri orange-yellow flowers; height 50cm (20in), spread 45cm (18in)
H. lilioasphodelus lemon-yellow flowers; height and spread 1m (3¼ft)
Hosta ‘Honeybells’ lavender-blue tinged white flowers; height 75cm (30in), spread 1.2m (4ft)
H. plantaginea ‘Grandiflora’ AGM white flowers; height 60cm (2ft) spread 1m (3¼ft)
Paeonia officinalis deep-red or rose-pink flowers; height and spread 60-70cm (2ft-28in)
P. lactiflora white to pale pink flowers; height and spread 50-70cm (20-28in)
Phlox paniculata white, pale or dark lilac flowers; height 1.2m (4ft), spread 60cm-1m (2ft-39in)
Primula florindae AGM sulphur-yellow flowers; height to 1.2m (4ft) spread 90cm (3¼ft)
Annuals and biennials
Spring flowering
Amberboa moschata white, yellow, or pink flowers; height 60cm (2ft), spread 23cm (9in)
Erysimum cheiri yellow-orange flowers; height 25-80cm (10-32in) spread 30-40cm (1ft-16in)
Summer flowering
Amberboa moschata white, yellow, or pink flowers; height 60cm (2ft), spread 23cm (9in)
Lathyrus odoratus wine-red and purple flowers; height 2m (6½ft), spread 30-45cm (1ft-18in)
Lobularia maritima white to pale-purple flowers; height 5-30cm (2-1ft), spread 20-30cm (8in-1ft)
Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis pink, mauve or purple flowers; height 30-35cm (1ft-14in), spread 23cm (9in)
Nicotiana affinis white flowers; height 1.5m (5ft) spread 30cm (1ft)
N. sylvestris AGM white flowers; height to 1.5m (5ft), spread 60cm (2ft)
Oenothera biennis yellow flowers; height 1-1.5m (3-5ft), spread to 60cm (2ft)
Reseda odorata white to reddish-green flowers; height 30-60cm (1-2ft), spread to 23cm (9in)
Autumn flowering
Oenothera biennis yellow flowers; height 1-1.5m (3-5ft), spread to 60cm (2ft)
Winter flowering
Iris unguicularis (syn. I. stylosa) AGM lavender blue and yellow flowers; height 30cm (1ft), spread 45cm (18in)
Viola odorata (sweet violet) white or mauve flowers; height 20cm (8in) spread 30cm (1ft)
Bulbs and corms
Spring flowering
Gladiolus tristis creamy-white, green-tinged flowers; height 45cm-1m (18-39in), spread 5cm (2in)
Hyacinthus orientalis cultivars, pink, red, yellow, white, or blue flowers; height 20-30cm (8in-1ft), spread 8cm (3in)
Iris reticulata and cultivars pale to deep violet-blue or reddish purple with yellow markings; height 10-15cm (4-6in), spread 2.5-5cm (1-2in)
Narcissus jonquilla yellow flowers; height 30cm (1ft)
N. poeticus white flowers with red-rimmed yellow cups; height 20-50cm (8-20in)
N. tazetta Group white and yellow flowers; height 15-50cm (6-20in)
Tulipa (many cultivars are scented)
Summer flowering
Crinum × powellii (W) pale to mid pink flowers; height 1.5m (5ft), spread 30cm (1ft)
Freesia (prepared corms, planted outdoors for summer flowering) whi
