Top 40 Favourites

Now, to mark their anniversary, they will shortly be unveiling a garden at New Hopetoun, that contains 40 of their favourite plants.

These are sure-fire performers, ones that are guaranteed to put on a great show, year after year.

“Whittling down our list to just 40 has been incredibly tricky and then Lesley cheated by including six under the heading of ‘clematis,” says Dougal.

“And we didn’t have space on our list for any bulbs, despite the fact that these really are buried treasures in any garden.”

What the list does provide is a guide to some of the best and most beautiful plants for Scottish gardens. It includes trees and shrubs for year-round interest and winter colour. There are conifers for structure, climbers to clothe walls, low growers, tall grasses and flowers that provide not just beautiful blooms but also desirable foliage.

Grow any of them and your garden will flourish.

Trees

• Small and decorative trees can add year-round interest in the garden.
• Amelanchier canadensis - white flowers in spring, followed by small fruits and brilliant autumn colour.
• Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ - dark pink buds start opening in November and continue flowering intermittently until March.
• Sorbus ‘Joseph Rock’ - yellow autumn berries contrast vividly with fiery red foliage.

Large Shrubs

• The best of these add presence and drama.
• Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’  - this Japanese maple turns vivid shades of red in autumn.
• Buddleia ‘Lochinch’ - lavender flowers appear in summer and keep going until September.
• Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo’ - dark purple leaves and pink-tinted white flowers in June.
• Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ - scented pink and white flowers appear throughout winter.

Medium Shrubs

• These form the backbone of most gardens,
• Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ - airy plumes of flowers in summer are followed by coral-coloured autumn tints.
• Choisya ternate - Mexican orange blossom is renowned for its fragrance.
• Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Red Angel’ - burgundy-flushed foliage and purple-red blooms.
• Pieris japonica ‘Flaming Star’ - cream-edged leaves emerge fiery red in spring.
• Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ - slow-growing Mount Fuji cherry has white blossom in early spring.
• Rhododendron luteum -  yellow flowers and the best scent of all the azaleas.
• Viburnum tinus - evergreen foliage and small, white flowers from late winter until spring.

Small Shrubs

• Brilliant for adding heft to borders.
• Erica carnea - the best heather for winter colour.
• Eponymous fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ - vibrant green foliage.
• Hebe ‘Red Edge’ - blue-green leaves have a bright, contrasting rim.
• Lavandula angustifola ‘Vera - the hardiest of all lavenders.
• Pittosporum  tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ - wavy purple foliage and purple flowers.
• Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells - dwarf habit and pink flowers.
• Rosmarinus prostratus - prostrate rosemary that will tumble over walls.
• Salvia officinalis ‘Purparescens’ - purple sage is good looking and tasty.
• Thymus ‘Lemon Variagated’ - the brightest of thymes.

Hardy Perennials

• A stellar cast of star performers.
• Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ - heart-shaped leaves and a froth of blue flowers.
• Carex  oshimensis ‘Evergold’ - evergreen leaves with a yellow stripe.
• Geranium sanguineum var. striatum - pale pink flowers with dark pink veins.
• Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ - marbled foliage and deep red flowers in early spring.
• Heuchera ‘Marmalade’- leaves that are bronze on top and pink underneath.
• Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ - masses of violet flowers.
• Penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ - tall spires of lavender coloured flowers.
• Polystichum setiferum - handsome fern that’s sometimes evergreen.
• Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ - blue-flowered ground cover.

Conifers

• Form and function all year round.
• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’ - blue-green foliage turns fresh green in summer.
• Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan Sugi’ - slow-growing and very hardy.
• Pinus mugo ‘Mops’ -  low-growing mountain pine.
• Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ - upright conical shape.

Climbers

• Soften walls and fences with leaves and flowers.
• Ceanothus ‘Concha’ -best Californian lilac for a sunny wall.
• Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ - grey and cream markings lift common ivy.
• Lonicera x Americana - scented honeysuckle with pink flowers.
• Clematis alpina ‘Frances Rivis - delicate purple bells in late spring.
• Clematis macropetela ‘Markham’s Pink’ - candyfloss pink flowers followed by silvery seedheads.
• Clematis montana ‘Wilsonii’ - vigorous grower with a chocolate scent.
• Clematis ‘The President’ - large star-shaped flowers in early summer.
• Clematis viticella “Mmm Julia Correvon’ - perfect for a container.
• Clematis orientalis - scrambling climber with small yellow flowers.

New Hopetoun Gardens 40th anniversary garden will be on show from June.
Newton, Broxburn EH52 6QZ www.newhopetoungardens.co.uk.