Shrubs & Hedges

Abelia 'Kaleidoscope' is a compact, semi-evergreen shrub prized for its ever-changing foliage and long flowering season. New growth emerges in vibrant shades of yellow and lime green, developing warm orange and fiery red tones in autumn and winter.

From mid-summer into autumn, clusters of delicate, lightly fragrant white flowers appear, attracting bees and butterflies. Its neat, rounded habit makes it an excellent choice for borders, low hedging, containers, and mixed planting schemes.

Horticultural Note: Light pruning in early spring helps maintain a neat shape and encourages fresh, vibrant new growth.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Kaleidoscope Abelia
• Type: Semi-evergreen shrub
• Colour: White flowers with variegated yellow, green, orange and red foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.9m x S-1.2m
• Hardiness: Hardy in most Irish gardens; may benefit from shelter in colder areas
• Flowering Period: July - October
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Pot Size: 2 Litre

A compact, colourful deciduous shrub prized for its rich burgundy-red foliage that provides outstanding contrast throughout the growing season. 'Atropurpurea Nana' forms a naturally dense, rounded mound, making it ideal for low hedging, borders, rockeries, and container planting.

Small yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by bright red berries in autumn that add further seasonal interest and attract wildlife.

Horticultural Note: Best foliage colour develops in full sun. This low-maintenance shrub is drought tolerant once established and works particularly well as a colourful edging plant or in mixed shrub borders.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Dwarf Purple Japanese Barberry
• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Colour: Deep burgundy-red foliage, yellow flowers, red berries
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.6m x S-0.9m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: April to May
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Berberis 'Harlequin' is a striking deciduous shrub grown for its unique marbled foliage, where deep purple leaves are splashed and mottled with shades of pink, cream, and silver. The colourful leaves are complemented by vibrant red stems, creating an eye-catching display from spring through autumn.

Small yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by bright red berries that add seasonal interest and attract birds.

Horticultural Note: Like other barberries, 'Harlequin' has thorny stems, making it useful for security planting and wildlife-friendly hedging.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Harlequin Barberry
• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Colour: Purple foliage marbled with pink and cream, yellow flowers, red berries
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1.5m x S-1.5m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: April - May
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, mixed borders, wildlife gardens, low hedging, specimen planting
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Buddleja 'Little White' is a compact Butterfly Bush that produces masses of elegant white flower spikes from mid-summer into autumn. Its fragrant blooms attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators in abundance, making it a valuable addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

With a naturally tidy habit and excellent repeat flowering, this dwarf variety is ideal for smaller gardens, patio containers, and sunny borders where it provides months of colour without overwhelming the space.

Horticultural Note: Perfect for compact gardens, terrace planting, and mixed borders. The fragrant flower spikes are highly attractive to butterflies and bees, while its dwarf growth habit requires less pruning than traditional Buddleias.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Butterfly Bush
• Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
• Colour: Pure white flowers; grey-green foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1m x S-1m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: July to September
• Position: Full sun
• Pot Size: 5 Litre

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Repens', commonly known as Creeping California Lilac, is a low-growing evergreen shrub that produces a spectacular display of powder-blue flower clusters in late spring and early summer. Its glossy green foliage forms a dense, spreading carpet throughout the year, making it an excellent choice for banks, slopes, cascading over walls or filling the front of sunny borders.

This versatile shrub is easy to grow in a sunny, sheltered spot and becomes drought tolerant once established.

Horticultural Note: Lightly trim after flowering to maintain its shape. Avoid cutting back into old wood.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Creeping California Lilac
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Powder-blue flowers with glossy green foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.6m x S-3m
• Hardiness: Hardy in most Irish gardens; protect from severe frost and cold winds
• Flowering Period: May - June
• Position: Full sun, sheltered position
• Pot Size: 2 Litre

Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. repens, commonly known as Creeping California Lilac, is a beautiful low-growing evergreen shrub that produces masses of vibrant sky-blue flower clusters in late spring and early summer. Its glossy dark green foliage provides year-round structure, while the nectar-rich blooms are highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

This easy-care shrub thrives in a sunny, sheltered position and is ideal for adding a striking splash of blue to the garden.

Horticultural Note: Lightly trim after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense, healthy growth.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Creeping California Lilac
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Sky-blue flowers with glossy dark green foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.6m x S-3m
• Hardiness: Hardy in most Irish gardens; protect from severe frost and cold winds
• Flowering Period: May - June
• Position: Full sun, sheltered position
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Chamaerops humilis, commonly known as the European Fan Palm, is a compact, slow-growing evergreen palm that brings a touch of the Mediterranean to any garden. Its striking fan-shaped, blue-green leaves form dense clumps on multiple stems, creating a bold architectural feature all year round.

One of the hardiest palms available, it is well suited to Irish gardens, thriving in sunny borders, coastal locations, and large patio containers.

Horticultural Note: Remove old or damaged leaves as needed to maintain its attractive appearance, and protect young plants during periods of prolonged severe frost.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: European Fan Palm
• Type: Evergreen palm
• Colour: Blue-green fan-shaped foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-3m x S-3m
• Hardiness: Hardy in most Irish gardens with shelter from severe frost
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, borders, patio containers, coastal and Mediterranean-style gardens
• Pot Size: 14cm

Choisya ternata 'Goldfingers' is a striking evergreen shrub with elegant, finger-like golden-yellow foliage that provides outstanding year-round colour. The bright leaves emerge vivid yellow before softening slightly as they mature, creating a beautiful contrast with its fragrant clusters of star-shaped white flowers in late spring.

Compact, easy to grow and naturally tidy, it is ideal for brightening borders, patios and containers, especially where its colourful foliage can be appreciated throughout the year.

Horticultural Note: Plant in full sun for the brightest foliage colour. Lightly prune after flowering to maintain its compact shape and encourage fresh new growth.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Mexican Orange Blossom
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: White flowers with golden-yellow foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1.2m x S-1.2m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: April - May, with a lighter repeat in August - September
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Pot Size: 1.5 Litre

Choisya ternata 'White Dazzler' is a compact, evergreen shrub that offers year-round structure with its narrow, aromatic dark green foliage and masses of fragrant white star-shaped flowers.

Flowering heavily in late spring and often producing a lighter second flush in late summer, it brings brightness and perfume to borders, patios, and smaller gardens. Its naturally rounded habit and tidy growth make it an excellent choice for low hedging, containers, or mixed shrub borders.

Horticultural Note: Lightly trim after the main flush of blooms to maintain a neat shape and encourage repeat flowering later in the season.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Mexican Orange Blossom 'White Dazzler'
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: White flowers with glossy dark green foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1.5m x S-1.5m
• Hardiness: Hardy in most Irish gardens; best in a sheltered position away from cold winds
• Flowering Period: April - June, with a second flush in August - September
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Pot Size: 1.5 Litre

Coprosma 'Eclipse' is a striking evergreen shrub grown primarily for its dramatic foliage. Glossy, deep chocolate-purple leaves are edged with vivid hot pink, creating a bold splash of colour throughout the year.

Its naturally compact habit makes it perfect for containers, mixed borders, coastal gardens, and contemporary planting schemes where year-round interest is desired.

Horticultural Note: The vibrant pink edging becomes most intense in bright light, making 'Eclipse' particularly eye-catching during autumn and winter. Its glossy leaves reflect sunlight beautifully, earning Coprosma its common name of Mirror Plant.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Mirror Plant
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Dark purple foliage with bright pink margins
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1.2m x S-1.2m
• Hardiness: Hardy in sheltered locations, protect from severe frost
• Season of Interest: Year-round
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Pot Size: 5 Litre

Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea', commonly known as Golden-Twig Dogwood, is a deciduous shrub grown primarily for its brilliant yellow-green stems, which create a striking display throughout the winter months. Clusters of small creamy-white flowers appear in late spring and early summer, followed by white berries that attract birds.

Fresh green foliage covers the shrub through spring and summer before turning golden-yellow in autumn, adding interest across every season.

Horticultural Note:

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Golden-Twig Dogwood
• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Colour: Yellow autumn colour and bright yellow-green winter stems
• Max. Height & Spread: H-3m x S-3m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: May - June
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Pot Size: 2.3 Litre

Cotoneaster 'Coral Beauty' is a compact, evergreen shrub valued for its glossy green foliage, masses of white spring flowers, and spectacular display of bright coral-red berries in autumn and winter.

The flowers are rich in nectar, attracting bees and other pollinators, while the berries provide an important food source for birds. Its spreading, arching habit makes it ideal for ground cover, banks, walls, or cascading over raised beds.

Horticultural Note: Little pruning is required, although stems can be lightly trimmed after flowering or in late winter to maintain shape.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Coral Beauty Cotoneaster
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: White flowers, glossy green foliage and coral-red berries
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.75m x S-2m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Position: Full sun or partial shade
• Pot Size: 2 Litre

Deutzia 'Mont Rose' is a charming deciduous shrub that produces a profusion of soft pink, star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. The blooms are carried in large clusters along gracefully arching branches, creating a delicate, cloud-like effect that brightens borders and cottage gardens.

Easy to grow and highly reliable, this classic shrub provides weeks of colour and attracts pollinators to the garden.

Horticultural Note: Removing a few older stems each year encourages fresh growth and ensures a strong display of blossoms the following season.

Characteristics:

• Type: Deciduous flowering shrub
• Colour: Soft pink flowers with deeper pink centres
• Max. Height & Spread: H-2m x S-2m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: May - June
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, cottage gardens, mixed borders, informal hedging, wildlife gardens
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Elaeagnus 'Compacta' is a dense, evergreen shrub prized for its attractive silvery-green foliage, excellent year-round structure, and exceptional toughness. A more compact form of the popular Elaeagnus x ebbingei, it forms a neat, bushy plant that works beautifully as a low-maintenance hedge, screening plant, or specimen shrub.

In autumn, small creamy-white flowers appear, releasing a surprisingly sweet fragrance, followed by ornamental fruits in spring.

Horticultural Note: Regular trimming can be carried out in spring or early summer to maintain a formal shape if desired.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Compact Oleaster
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Silvery-green foliage with creamy-white flowers
• Max. Height & Spread: H-3m x S-3m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: September - November
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, hedging, screening, coastal gardens, wildlife gardens, mixed borders
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Euonymus alatus 'Compactus', commonly known as Compact Winged Spindle or Burning Bush, is a compact deciduous shrub renowned for its spectacular autumn display. Throughout spring and summer, it forms a neat mound of fresh green foliage before transforming into a brilliant scarlet-red blaze in autumn, creating one of the season's most eye-catching garden features.

Ideal as a specimen plant, in mixed borders, or as part of an autumn planting scheme, this low maintenance shrub offers outstanding seasonal interest and a tidy, compact habit suitable for smaller gardens.

Horticultural Note: Mulch annually to help retain moisture and improve soil health.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Compact Winged Spindle, Burning Bush
• Type: Deciduous shrub
• Colour: Green foliage turning brilliant scarlet-red in autumn; greenish-yellow flowers; red fruits with orange seeds
• Supplied Height: 30-40cm
• Max. Height & Spread: H-2m x S-2m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: May - June
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, borders, woodland gardens, specimen planting
• Pot Size: 3.5 LItre

One of the most popular evergreen shrubs for year round colour, Euonymus 'Emerald and Gold' combines rich green foliage with brilliant golden yellow margins. The bright variegation brings light to borders and containers throughout the year, while colder weather often intensifies the foliage with attractive pink and bronze tints.

Tough, adaptable and easy to grow, it is an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners looking for reliable evergreen interest.

Horticultural Note: Thrives in most soil types, including coastal and urban gardens. Can be lightly clipped to maintain a neat shape and is excellent for ground cover, edging and low maintenance planting schemes.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Wintercreeper
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Green foliage with golden yellow margins, often flushed pink in winter
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.9m x S-1.5m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Season of Interest: Year round foliage interest
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Pot Size: 2 Litre

Euonymus fortunei 'Harlequin' is a compact, evergreen shrub valued for its striking variegated foliage. Fresh green leaves are beautifully splashed and edged with creamy white, with new growth emerging almost entirely white before maturing into an attractive marbled pattern.

Its low-growing, spreading habit makes it perfect for brightening borders, rockeries, patio containers, or cascading over walls, providing year-round interest with very little maintenance.

Horticultural Note: Remove any plain green shoots if they appear to preserve the attractive variegated foliage. Once established, it is tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions and requires very little care.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Harlequin Spindle
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Green and creamy white variegated foliage
• Max. Height & Spread: H-0.6m x S-0.9m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Position: Full sun to partial shade, borders, containers, rockeries, ground cover, banks and slopes
• Pot Size: 3 Litre

Bright, bold and full of year round interest, Euonymus japonicus 'Extravaganza' is a striking evergreen shrub prized for its dramatic foliage. New growth emerges a brilliant creamy white, creating a luminous display against the glossy dark green mature leaves below. This constant contrast gives the plant a fresh, vibrant appearance throughout the seasons.

A superb foliage plant for adding light and contrast to planting schemes, especially in shaded corners where its pale new growth can really stand out.

Horticultural Note: Thrives in most well drained garden soils and responds well to clipping. The brightest foliage colour is usually achieved in a position with good light while avoiding prolonged drought.

Characteristics:

• Common Name: Japanese Spindle
• Type: Evergreen shrub
• Colour: Dark green foliage with creamy white new growth
• Max. Height & Spread: H-1.5m x S-1.2m
• Hardiness: Fully hardy
• Flowering Period: Insignificant flowers in late spring to early summer
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Pot Size: 15cm