Raraflora NurseriesCotinus, Photinia & Other Plant Varieties from Raraflora
Cotinus Coggygria – Smoke Bush
Cotinus are valuable garden plants and have a long season of interest. In summer myriads of tiny flowers are borne on long panicles giving a hazy effect to the plant; hence the common name of smoke bush. Continus make a wonderful feature in a mixed shrub bed and the foliage and flowers are excellent in floral arrangements. Will grow in most garden soils in sun or semi-shade. Cold, frost, wind and drought tolerant.
Rounded paddle shaped leaves of mid green becoming brilliant orange shades in autumn. Upright shrub which spreads with age. Many tiny mauve-like flowers on fine stems gives an attractive hazy effect.
Cotinus - Grace
A new purple leaved smoke bush grown for its beautiful wine-red young foliage and glowing orange, red and yellow autumn tones. A fine, white, powdery bloom covers the upper surface of the foliage, adding to the plants overall soft and smoky appearance. Grace is a hardy, vigorous and easy to grow variety and is best planted in full sun to maximise the rich colours. Autumn colour is best in cool areas. Grows to 3m in 10 years.
Cotinus - Velvet Cloak
Dark purple round leaves through spring/summer which change to rich red autumn colours. A large shrub to small bushy tree. Grows well in full sun and is tolerant of dry conditions once established. Grows to 2.5m in 10 years.
Cotinus - Royal Purple
Rich, wine-purple rounded leaves and fairly-floss like flowers summer to autumn. Grows in most sites preferring a cool, well drained soil. Grows to 2m in 10 years.
Cotinus - Golden Spirit
A unique and very ornamental form of the Smoke Bush. The brilliant yellow of its rounded leaves do not scorch in direct sunlight but in fact become more an iridescent yellow with the more sun it receives. Planted in shadier positions will induce more lime yellow colourings. In addition it has the usual plumes of smoke-like flowers normally associated with this shrub during summer as well as an autumn foliage display of coral, orange and red. Slow growing reaching its mature size after around 10 years. This medium sized shrub is highly prized for its decorative appeal.
Photinia - Red Robin
A wonderful hedging plant which is renowned for its bright red new growth. These turn a dark green as they mature. Red Robin Photinia grows vigorously and spread well right from the base, forming a dense hedge which can be pruned as lightly or aggressively as desired. It is very hardy.
Melia Azeradach - Jade's Snowflake
Melia Azeradach is also known as the White Cedar. A beautiful decidous tree which produces wonderfully green and cream leaves which make the tree appear to be covered in snow when viewed from a distance. Grows 5-8m tall and is drought tolerant. Produces bunches of yellow berries before leaves reappear in Spring and can sometimes produce the small mauve flowers which the Melia or White Cedar is known for. The berries are toxic to small children and some animals.
Ginkgo Biloba or Maidenhair Tree
Perhaps surprisingly these are truly a form of Conifer. The Ginkgo Biloba tree originates from China, where it grows into a huge tree with many specimens in Chinese gardens which are over 100 years old. Raraflora specialises in the small growing varieties which have the same chareristic and highly unusual fan shaped leaves. Our varieties are listed an described in the Conifers section of our Online shop. Simply follow the link from the Left Hand "Conifers" menu above.