Maindee Unlimited: Greening Maindee Gateway Garden

“A statement plant with semi evergreen spiny rosettes that resemble agaves. Very hardy from our experience and towering flower spikes in summer make it a valuable drought tolerant statement plant with height.”

A handsome evergreen perennial forming a rosette of sharply toothed, sword-shaped leaves, with small, green thimble-like flower-heads on branched stems in late summer.

“Streetwise Trees such as Acer platanoides ‘Globosum’ developed by Hilliers, are for urban spaces providing colour and good for wildlife without growing too large.”

A small to medium-sized tree, up to 8m tall, with a dense, rounded crown. Lobed, green leaves turn yellow in autumn. Small clusters of yellowish-green spring flowers are followed by winged fruits.

“A superplant for pollution absorption and good in naturalistic schemes.”

Clusters of red-tinted white flowers in June, followed by bright orange-red autumn berries, and long, grey-green leaves. This splendid, semi-evergreen (or evergreen in milder, sheltered situations) cotoneaster is ideal for a shrub border with moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Erect in habit with spreading branches, its stems can be tied onto a support and grown as a wall shrub.

Allium siculum is an exquisite and unusual ornamental onion, that produces an umbrella of subtly coloured bell-shaped flowers, which hang from the tips of stiff, upright stems in May and June. This tall, exotic-looking, bulbous perennial looks wonderful in mixed borders or more naturalised planting schemes, where it will add height, structure and colour. 

A herbaceous perennial with bright green leaves that radiate from delicately branched stems. In early summer, masses of soft, fresh, bright green flowers appear and last for several months. This lovely, but variable plant will brighten a sunny herbaceous border or the partially shaded edges of a woodland garden.