Michael reveals his pick of the plants perfect for filling a space with colour and interest
Let’s face it, shrubs used to have a bad rep. They were seen as uninspiring, you might even say a bit boring. They were purchased to ‘fill a gap’, and intended to be almost invisible, only intended to bulk out the border.
Well, all that has changed with modern breeding, and shrubs have had what we might call a ‘glow up’! Not only is there myriad brightly coloured foliage, but there’s also cracking autumn colour, winter interest… the list goes on.
These are not just glossy on the outside either, they are also super hardworking, creating the ideal backdrop to your dream garden.
You might have seen a few shrubs in bright purple pots in your garden centre recently too. They’re from the leading plant brand First Editions®, who are about to take Europe by storm with a whole host of shrub introductions.
And, of course, I am bringing you that news here first.. Enjoy!
First Editions® Hydrangea macrophylla Eclipse®
Black-leaved plants do exist, just look at this!
Eclipse® is the hydrangea everyone’s been talking about at all the top trade shows during 2024. It is a truly dark-leaf mophead hydrangea, holding that colour right through the seasons, and even in warmer weather- when most other foliage would turn green.
But, as if that wasn’t enough, the flowerheads, oh wow! Either cranberry or amethyst-coloured, depending on your soil (remember, alkaline gives a pink tone, while acid gives a blue tone) – they are simply divine!
First Editions® Vitex Queen Bee ® Chastetree
If you haven’t heard of Vitex agnus-castus, you will soon, as this is a real plant with a future.
Plants can simultaneously cope with hot, cold and dry conditions, which means Queen Bee® Chastetree is perfectly tailored to our changeable English weather.
With the look of a buddleia, it fills borders fast and bursts into denim-blue blooms that pollinators love. Reaching a height and width of 1.8m (6ft), it’s a striking, low-maintenance choice for modern gardens.
Fragrant, beautiful, and buzzing with life, ‘Queen Bee’ is ready to rule your landscape.
First Editions® Diervilla Cool Splash®
Shady corners aren’t just for shades of green, you can also switch on the lights with this glorious bush honeysuckle.
Cool Splash® is a type of Diervilla sessilifolia, a family of shrubs which are relatively new to gardens. But, I’m so glad they discovered them, as they grow well in any soil and flower profusely, with nectar-rich flowers for the bees.
A mounding, what I call ‘self-shaping’ plant, which reaches around 60cm (2ft) tall, it might also look rather dashing in a patio container – give it a go!
First Editions® Hydrangea paniculata Little Hottie®
Little Hottie® may be petite, but she’s sure packed with presence.
Standing at only 90cm (3ft) tall, she shows off those creamy-white blooms, which remarkably don’t burn in the summer sun. As autumn arrives, her flowerheads shift through a carnival of pinks and rustic reds.
Perfect for borders, beds or containers, she’s sun-loving, low-maintenance, and effortlessly elegant, a true garden gem ready to steal the spotlight while taking up a fraction of the space of usual hydrangeas.
First Editions® Cephalanthus Fiber Optics
Now here’s something completely different!
Introducing Fiber Optics – a truly unique variety of cephalanthus. Check out those Sputnik-like flowerheads that are quite unlike anything else.
Butterflies love the nectar-filled flowers. A somewhat freeform shrub with an elegant habit, it’s ideal for planting into areas prone to occasional flooding as it enjoys a moist soil.
Find out more: www.firsteditionsplants.eu
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