Shrubs

Question 1

Sarcococca confusa (sweet box)

Answer 1

Evergreen shrub

glossy, deep green leaves

Very sweetly scented flowers in winter followed by glossy black berries

Cottage / informal garden. Plant by house entrance to enjoy scent.

h 1.5-2.5m, s 1-1.5m

Sheltered, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained humus-rich soil in shade.

Question 2

Euonymus fortunei ‘Sunshine’

Answer 2

Evergreen

large green leaves with bright golden edges

Low maintenance, ground cover, steep banks

h 0.5-1m, s 0.5-1m

Full sun, well-drained soil

Question 3

Skimmia japonica

Answer 3

Evergreen

Dome-shaped with dark green, leathery leaves.

White flowers in spring followed by bright red berries 8mm across through autumn and winter

Low maintenance, hedging, flower borders and beds

1.5 - 2.5m x 1-1.5m

humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in partial or full shade

will grow best in neutral or acidic soils, but will also thrive in humus-rich alkaline soils; plant both male and female plants to get fruits

Question 4

Choisya ternata Sundance (‘Lich’)

Mexican orange [Sundance]

Answer 4

evergreen shrub of rounded habit

glossy bright yellow leaves and small clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring and early autumn

city garden, wall side border, mixed border

h 1.5-2.5m, s 1.5-2.5m

well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun

Question 5

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’

Answer 5

Evergreen

bushy dwarf shrub with narrow, silvery-grey leaves

small deep violet-purple flowers in dense, aromatic spikes 3-4cm in length

h 0.1-0.5m, s 0.1-0.5m

well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny position

Question 6

Camellia × williamsii ‘Debbie’

Answer 6

large, vigorous evergreen shrub of open growth,

peony-form double, rose-pink flowers to 12cm in width in spring

North-facing wall/border. Acid soil

h 2.5-4m, s 2.5-4m

Suitable for woodland and acidic soils.

Position in a site sheltered from cold, dry winds and early morning sun as buds and flowers may be damaged by cold winds and late frosts.

Part shade

Question 7

Mahonia japonica

Answer 7

evergreen shrub, winter flowering

large, spined, leathery pinnate leaves

small, fragrant light yellow flowers in spreading or drooping sprays from late autumn to early spring, followed by blue-black berries

architectural plant, wildlife garden, low maintenance

h 1-1.5m, s 1.5-2.5m

well-drained or moist but well-drained soil in shade or partial shade. Good for a woodland setting

Question 8

Cotinus ‘Smokey Joe’ (smoke tree)

Answer 8

Deciduous bushy shrub, autumn display

Rounded leaves are fresh green in spring and summer before turning shades of yellow, orange and red in autumn.

Small pinkish-purple flowers are borne in feathery plumes in summer

h 2m, s 2m

Architectural plant, low maintenance, use in flower borders and beds

any well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Question 9

Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’

Answer 9

Deciduous shrub, medium size

Suckering, forming a thicket of slender red stems

Leaves ovate, turning reddish in autumn; flowers small, cream, in flat heads; berries bluish-white

Winter garden, low maintenance, cottage/informal garden

h 2m, s 2m

Will grow in most soil conditions in sun or partial shade

Question 10

Magnolia stellata

Answer 10

Deciduous shrub

slow-growing, medium sized, broadly rounded habit

Flowers white, to 10cm in width, with up to 18 narrowly oblong, spreading white tepals, in early spring before leaves

h 2m, s 3m

moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil in full sun or part shade with shelter from cold winds.

Question 11

Potentilla fruticosa ‘King Cup’

Answer 11

Deciduous shrub, autumn interest

pinnate leaves with broad leaflets

bright golden-yellow flowers in summer and autumn

h 1-1.5m, s 0.5-1.0m

Coastal garden, city/courtyard garden

Easy to grow well in most soils but flowers fade more rapidly in full sun and last longer in moister soils

Question 12

Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Robert’

Answer 12

Deciduous shrub

good autumn colour and produces fragrant, coppery-orange blooms in typical clusters of thin shredded-looking petals on bare stems in late winter

h 2.5-4m, s 2.5-4m

Woodland garden, cottage/informal garden

Easy to grow in an acid to neutral, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade.

Question 13

Syringa x hyacinthiflora ‘Esther Staley’ (lilac)

Answer 13

Deciduous shrub

Large, bushy upright shrub with heart-shaped leaves

Broadly conical panicles of fragrant, single, lilac-pink flowers in mid-spring

City/courtyard garden, cottage garden, cut flowers

h 2.5-4m, s 2.5-4m

Full sun, well-drained, fertile, humus-rich alkaline to neutral soils.

Question 14

Buddleja davidii ‘Monum’

Answer 14

Deciduous shrub

compact shrub with lance-shaped leaves

fragrant, light purple flowers in dense cylindrical panicles in summer and autumn

Wildlife garden

h 2m, s 2m

fertile well drained soil in full sun

Pruning: pruned in February to March by cutting back all stems to within 5cm of the old wood in a ‘staghorn’ shape.

Question 15

Daphne bholua

Answer 15

Winter interest

evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub to 2m, usually erect, sparsely branched, but may be more bushy in cultivation.

Very fragrant flowers borne in terminal and axillary clusters from midwinter to early spring are white, flushed purplish-pink. Black ovoid fruits follow

h 1.5 - 2.5m, s 1.0 - 1.5m

moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained but not dry soil in sun or part shade.

Question 16

Ceanothus ‘Autumnal Blue’

Answer 16

Evergreen, autumn flowering

bushy, medium-sized evergreen shrub to 3m, with glossy dark green, 3-veined ovate leaves

compact oblong trusses of mid-blue flowers from late summer

h 2.5 - 4m, s 2.5 - 4m

well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun

Question 17

Name 5 lime-hating trees or shrubs

Answer 17

• Amelanchier lamarckii
• Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’
• Liquidamber styraciflua ‘Moonbeam’
• Arbutus unedo
• Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’
• Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’