JAPANESE MAPLE – ACER

POSITION – Partial shade

SIZE –4-10ft (1.2 x 4m)

STRENGTHS – Architectural plant

WEAKNESSES – doesn’t like wind and boggy ground

USES – Pots, Rockeries and gardens

GARDEN CENTRE RATING – 9/10

COTONEASTER

POSITION – Any

SIZE – 3” – 12ft (2cm to 5m)

STRENGTHS – tough as ‘old boots’

WEAKNESSES – None

USES – Screening, ground-cover

GARDEN CENTRE RATING – 9/10

VIRGINIA CREEPER – PARTHENOCISSUS

POSITION – Anywhere it can climb

SIZE – to the roof

STRENGTHS – self clinging to surfaces

WEAKNESSES – bare in the winter

USES – covering ugly walls

GARDEN CENTRE RATING – 7/10

PHORMIUM (NEW ZEALAND FLAX)

POSITION – Sun or partial shade

SIZE – average of 4ft (120cm)

STRENGTHS – tough evergreen

WEAKNESSES – not keen on really wet winters

USES – Architectural

GARDEN CENTRE RATING – 8/10