Home Grown Blog

Considered one of the most attractive ornamental fruiting shrubs, Callicarpa bodinieri is a hardy, medium-sized (up to 2.5m high), deciduous shrub that is often referred to as Bodinier's beautyberry. It is native to West and Central China, mainly around the provinces of Szechwan, Hupeh and Shensi, but it was named after Émile-Marie Bodinier, a French missionary and botanist who was stationed in Peking during the 19th century. Broken into its individual Greek words, Callicarpa means beautiful (kalli) fruit (karpos).

Mahonia x media ‘Winter Sun’ is a UK-hardy, evergreen shrub with glossy holly-like leaves and bright yellow bell-shaped flowers that appear between November and March. It is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a shrub with year-round ornamental value, particularly when placed towards the back of a mixed border, where its ​prickly spines may help to deter unwanted intruders. Its spherical dark violet berries ripen in the Summer and attract a variety of songbirds, including robins and sparrows.

Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is a species of dogwood native to most of Europe and western Asia, where it thrives in damp woodland edges and hedgerows. It is a deciduous broadleaf shrub with small, creamy-white flowers that bloom in May and June. It is typically grown for the brilliant, flame-coloured bark of its stems, which is bright orange-yellow at the base and red at the tips.  Dogwood looks particularly stunning when planted with evergreen shrubs and among spring flowers, as they loose their leaves in winter which exposes the attractive stems.

Viburnum are versatile, easy-to-grow shrubs native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Sometimes referred to as cranberry bush, viburnum are often used as ornamental fixtures in home gardens. There are over 150 species of viburnum . They can be deciduous or evergreen, with some varieties reaching up to 6 metres in height. The name viburnum comes from the Latin ‘viere’, which means to weave or braid. This refers to traditional woven baskets made using the plant's long, straight branches. Since prehistoric times, viburnum branches have also been used for making arrow shafts. In 1991, ancient arrows fashioned from v iburnum wood were found in the Ötztal Alps by two German tourists… along with a 5,000 year old Bronze Age ice mummy! Viburnum x bodnantense

Climbing Hydrangea ( Hydrangea petiolaris ) is a hardy, low-maintenance, climbing vine plant ideal for north or east-facing walls and other shady areas of the garden. It is deciduous, which means it loses its leaves in the winter after its dark green foliage gradually turns an attractive yellow in the autumn.