evergreen shrubs - A Selection

Thompson & Morgan Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’ produces conical, deep-blue flower heads that smother the foliage creating a stunning, hazy effect from May to June. A well-known variety of Californian Lilac, this variety has earned itself a coveted RHS AGM. The small, dark, evergreen leaves provide year round colour and interest in a sheltered position. Thompson & Morgan Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’ is a hardy, medium-sized shrub that is ideal for the back of mixed borders. This

Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin Christom' is a sturdy deciduous shrub that grows well in a variety of conditions. The flowers will later develop into very pretty blueberries, which birds love in the autumn. This variety is low-maintenance. However, it needs yearly trimming after flowering if you want it to be in a specific shape. Alternatively, it will grow normally without being clipped. The thick green foliage gradually forms a normally rounded shape, which becomes smothered in groups of tiny

This neat, bushy dwarf hybrid produces an early display of mauve coloured flowers from late March. The evergreen foliage of Rhododendron 'Blue Silver' is stiff, with an intriguing silvery sheen that reflects light beautifully.

Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus Repens (Californian Lilac) is perfect for the front of a border as it naturally forms a small mound that is evergreen and frost hardy. It is perfect for adding some structure and ground cover to cottage gardens and prefers a position in rich fertile soil in full sun.

A popular, easy to grow shrub which thrives in the English climate. Viburnum opulus ?Roseum? is a bushy, deciduous shrub with pretty leaves, shaped similarly to an Acer, and which turn shades of purple and red by the autumn.

Bright cherry red flowers are borne in abundance in May, covering the low, spreading branches of Rhododendron 'Nico'. This vibrant evergreen Azalea is slow growing and compact, demanding very little maintenance once established.

Rhododendron 'Johanna' will add a pop of colour to your borders! In May, the plant blooms with large carmine-red flowers against a backdrop of lustrous evergreen leaves. This beautiful little evergreen azalea is ideal for a patio planter, where it will provide year-round colour and structure. It may be planted in borders and rockeries in acidic soil and provides a charming accent to woodland gardens. It has also received an RHS AGM for its outstanding garden performance. Height and spread: 75cm

The dark green leaves of Rhododendron ponticum 'Variegatum' are edged with silvery margins. From late May, a profusion of mauve flowers are borne in large clusters.

Flowering both early and long, Camellia japonica 'Beauty Blush' makes a rewarding addition to the spring garden. With smaller leaves, flushed with red when young, it has a daintier appearance than other Camellias, underlined by a pretty display of pointed buds that are kissed with pink. As early as February, the buds open into immaculate single white flowers with yellow stamens that continue blooming through to May. The backdrop of evergreen foliage provides interest throughout the year.

Rhododendron 'Wombat' is a vibrant variety that blooms profusely in late May and early June. The brilliant pink flowers bloom above a thick canopy of vivid green foliage that gives them year-round colour and shape. The low-growing, evergreen Azalea is ideal for adding a splash of spring hue to acid borders. This RHS AGM variety looks fantastic creeping down shady banks and rockeries, or flowing over the edge of a patio planter. Height: 60cm (24). Spread: 100cm (39).

Elegant and eye-catching, Rhododendron 'Persil' is a deciduous shrub from the popular Azalea group. Clusters of snowy white, trumpet shaped blooms appear in May, each splashed with a bright golden flare.

Twice blooming, semi-evergreen shrub with an exuberant display of bicoloured, trumpet-shaped flowers with a coral-pink star framed by pure white margins in both spring and autumn.

Flowering slightly later than many of the dwarf hybrids, Rhododendron 'Robert Seleger' produces a fine display during May. The funnel-shaped flowers are an unusual shade of purple-pink that stands out well against the dark, evergreen foliage.

Double flowers in soft coral-pink, against lush, dark evergreen foliage from late winter to early spring.

Rhododendron 'Vuyk's Scarlet' is a well-known cultivar that has a vigorous growth pattern and has been granted a coveted RHS AGM. It's scarlet blooms in masses of crimson-red funnel-shaped flowers in early May. This azalea grows into a clean, dense shrub that is evergreen. Small, lustrous evergreen leaves cover the low, spreading branches, providing a year-round hue in acidic borders and pots. Height: 90 cm (36). Spread: 120 cm (48).