Ten Top Shrubs for a colourful evergreen border

Libertia ixioides Goldfinger – looking for fantastic golden yellow cascading foliage? An elegant compact clumping plant with weeping foliage, this exciting plant with striking golden yellow central stripes, this is the plant for you. A profusion of white star shaped flowers are produced in clear clusters from mid-Spring followed by attractive large yellow berries in Autumn. Libertia Goldfinger really is a delightful plant and is ideal to provide year round interest in the perennial border or as a colourful low maintenance pot or container on the deck or patio.

Santolina Lemon Fizz – this plant is literally fizzing with colour. Ideal in all gardens, easy to grow and perfect to mix with other patio plants for Spring, Summer and into Autumn. This plant is guaranteed to bring any display to life, preferring full sun or partial shade in free draining soil. Height and spread 15cm x 30cm, Santolina Lemon Fizz, is fabulous for its striking colour in mixed planted shrubberies and containers.

Lophomyrtus x ralphii Multicolor – is an evergreen shrub grown for it s foliage. With small puckered leaves edged pale yellow with mature foliage tinged pinkish red. Reaching a height and spread of approx 1.5m in 5 years, best planted in a sheltered spot in sun or semi-shade with a moist well drained soil. Makes a terrific backdrop for more compact forms.

Hebe Purple Shamrock – this bushy evergreen Hebe is a great asset in any garden. The plant of Irish origin can grow up to 60cm, and in the Summer the leaves turn a wonderful bright gold and in the Winter and Spring the leaves turn purple or red. In early Summer the plant produces beautiful purple flowers. The Hebe Purple Shamrock is a reasonably hardy plant grower with a unique leaf motif. 

Pseudowintera colorata Marjorie Congreve - also known as the Pepper tree, with olive-yellow leaf colour edged and shaded shrimp pink. Pseudowintera is a small to medium size shrub reaching a height of approx 2m. Ideally grown in a sheltered spot in either full sun or partial shade, in moist but well drained soil with neutral to acidic conditions.

Pieris Japonica Katsura – a relative newcomer to the Pieris range and originating from Japan. It has striking, deep wine red growing tips. The plant produces clusters of pink flowers with red calyxes in early Spring. The plant reaches a height of approx 60cm and is perfect in the garden or on a patio or balcony. Plant in ericaceous soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Euonymus Japonica Extase – available in a range of attractive colours including mottled gold, mottled silver and green yellow edge, is an ideal plant for the garden, or in a container or balcony. Grow in direct sunlight or partial shade, the plant is ideal on its own or in a group and reaches a height of approx 30cm-50cm.

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Gajo’ – is a compact growing hardy evergreen shrub flowering from May with attractive white blossoms in open sprays that provide an excellent contrast with the dark green foliage. Thanks to its compact growth habit and healthy appearance, makes it a very popular choice as a solitary plant or a potted plant on terraces and balconies.

Pittosporum tenuifolium Tom Thumb – is an evergreen rounded dense shrub with pale green young foliage turning purple as it matures. Purplish cupped shaped flowers are borne in July. Growing to approx 1m high, ideally planted in a sheltered spot in sun or semi-shade, and in a moist but well drained soil.

Convolvulus cneorem - a striking silver foliage shrub which produces several white flowers throughout the summertime. Trim after flowering to retain compact shape.