COMPANION PLANTS

A member of the Gesneriaceae (African Violet family) native to south-central China where it grows on mossy cliffs and rock faces. This is an evergreen herbaceous perennial with a basal rosette of deeply rugose, toothed and felted leaves from which arises a very short stem with several very large, inflated “snapdragon-like” flowers of deep blue-purple. The flowers are quite large for the size of the plant, a real stunner! A striking plant for a container, terrarium or shaded rockery. Should be quite hardy, as it has been in the garden here at the RSBG (unprotected) for many years now.

One of the best hardy gesneriads, this species has a basal rosette of evergreen leaves like most of the other genera in this family. This species features leaves that are quite fleshy and glossy and extremely rugose in texture – a stunning foliage plant. The flowers (late summer) are in upright, open clusters and are bright yellow with a narrow mouth. Seems pretty hardy so far at the RSBG.

Large deciduous shrubs with deeply cut dark green pinnatifid leaves. The stunning flowers are white to pale pink with dark maroon blotches at the bases of the petals and can be up to six inches across. These flowers appear in mid-spring and the specimens in the RSBG are easily the most photographed plants in the garden while in bloom. This “tree peony” is easy in a well-drained sunny position. Native to northern China so tolerant of both heat and cold. These are grown from seed which was collected from our plants which originated from seed collected in the wild. Rarely offered choice species. Large plants this year. 

This is a trillium relative native over a wide range of Eurasia, from Europe in the west all the way to Siberia and Mongolia in the east. This herbaceous perennial is a woodland wildflower that slowly spreads via underground stems to form a small-scale groundcover. The leaves are in double pairs at the top of a short stem and the very unusual flower arises from the point where the leaves are all connected. In the autumn, each flower produces a single large blue berry which is also quite attractive. A rarely offered, beautiful and hardy wildflower that is easily grown in shade or under trees.

The Japanese Avocado is a stunning broad-leafed evergreen tree with very attractive, glossy foliage. The new growth is really beautiful, emerging bright reddish purple in the spring. Small but fragrant yellow-green flowers in clusters. Easily grown in shade or sun and quite tolerant of heat and humidity, growing well on the west coast as well as in the deep south. Native to eastern Asia and rarely offered for sale. Our first offering - you will love this plant!