South Aspect Plant List
You can find details below on some of the key specimens that can be found in our South Aspect garden. Click on each name for more information.
 | A vibrant evergreen shrub, admired for its bright red, brush-like flower spikes that resemble a bottlebrush—blooming mainly in spring and summer. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves release a citrus scent when crushed, giving the species its name. Typically growing 6 to 12 feet tall and wide, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, showing good tolerance to drought, heat, and light frost once established. | |
| Aeonium 'Velour' |  | An upright, evergreen, succulent perennial with branching stems adorned with showy rosettes of glossy, fleshy, dark chocolate to purple leaves. They contrast beautifully with the bright green heart. Attractive when not blooming, this specimen is particularly striking when it produce bright golden racemes of small, star-shaped flowers in late spring or summer. |
| Yucca gigantea 'Emilia' |  | A large, upright, succulent shrub featuring attractive rosettes of sword-shaped, flexible leaves with pale green and distinguished by its broad cream-coloured stripes. While the other variations of the Yucca gigantea can grow up to 6 metres in height, the "Emilia" cultivar is generally smaller and more compact, making it a good choice for sunlight gardens and even indoor pots as a strong focal point for a room. |
| Aloe vera |
| A succulent plant known for its thick, fleshy leaves containing a clear, mucilaginous gel. The gel is widely used for its soothing, healing, and rejuvenating properties, often applied topically for skin conditions, burns, and wound healing. The plant also produces yellow, tube-like flowers that cluster on a stem. |
| Uncina rubra - 'Red Hook Sedge' |  | A compact ornamental grass, prized for its striking reddish-bronze, arching foliage that adds vibrant colour and texture to gardens year-round. Growing up to 18 inches tall, it forms tidy clumps and thrives in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-draining soil. Though its flowers are inconspicuous, its unique hooked seed heads give the plant its name. Ideal for borders, containers, or contrast in mixed plantings, Uncinia rubra is a low-maintenance choice that brings a bold accent to landscape designs. |
| Sempervivum |  | Sometimes know as houseleeks or hens-and-chicks, these low-growing plants are known for their fleshy, geometric leaves that come in a range of colours from green to deep red, often with a powdery or velvety texture. Drought-tolerant and easy to grow, Sempervivum thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, making it ideal for rock gardens, containers, and green roofs. While each rosette dies after flowering—a tall, starry bloom stalk—the surrounding offsets quickly take over, continuing the plant’s life cycle with minimal care. |
| Astelia chathamica - 'Silver Spear' |  | A striking evergreen perennial, prized for its bold, sword-like leaves in shimmering silver-green tones. It prefers partial shade to full sun in cooler climates and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. Tolerant of coastal conditions and light frost, Astelia chathamica is an excellent choice for modern landscapes, where its metallic foliage provides year-round interest with minimal upkeep. |
| Phormium 'Red Sensation' |  | A striking cultivar o known for its bold, upright leaves in deep shades of burgundy, bronze, and red. With its dramatic, sword-like foliage reaching up to 4–6 feet tall, this evergreen perennial thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil, showing excellent tolerance to wind, coastal conditions, and drought once established. |
Other featured plants
- Eucalyptus pulverulenta 'Baby Blue'
- Brachyglottis
- Calocephalus
- Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Black Mondo Grass'
- Saxifraga
- Senecio candicans 'Angel Wings'
- Phormium 'Golden Ray'
- Carex siderosticha 'Shiro'
- Phoenix robelenii
- Yucca elephantipes 'Jewel'
- Artemisia abrotanum
- Rhodanthemum 'Moondance'
- Cytisus 'White Lion'
- Phlox subulata 'Kimono Pink'
