Star Anise, Great Asian spices, Star Anise. Truly one of the great Asian spices , used extensively in Asian cooking. Illicium verum is a medium evergreen tree , native to northeast Vietnam and southwest China. I had a great trip too Northern Vietnam in the early 1980s and saw wild trees , which I imported at the time ... As I’ve grown other Illicium shrubs I was surprised to see Star Anise “Illicium Verum as a 6-7 metre tree. A spice commonly referred to as ; star anise, staranise, star anise seed, Chinese star anise, or badiam.StarAnise resembles anise in flavor and is harvested from the star-shaped pericarp of the fruit of Illicium verum , just before ripening. Star anise oil is highly fragrant and used in the following ; cooking, perfumes , soaps, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skin creams.Most of the world's star anise production is used for extraction of shikimic acid.The northern border of Vietnam & China was largely cleared due to the subsequent war between the two countries after the Vietnam war and in the 1980s it was strange to see large tracts of clear grassy fields.We have plants available for the first time & highly recommend for lovers of cooking and chefs. Nth East Vietnam & Sth West China.

Can be made into a Standard shape and its leaf is widely used as a culinary herb. Its a great tree that can be used in small or large gardens, responds well to pruning

A less common, narrow-leaved form of the Bay tree. Offers great ornamental value and often a hardier performance. Grows well in semi-shade and full sun and has average dry tolerance. Use for informal gardens and culinary purposes. 

Origin: Europe

 Various common names, some of which are (Osage orange, hedge apple, horse apple, bois d'arc, bodark or bodock) Deciduous tree or shrub. Belongs to the Mulberry family, and is dioecious, producing male and female flowers on different plants. Will reach heights of 8 - 15 meters.

Specimens of Magnolia salicifolia are quite variable in habit, and appear to be tolerant of a wide range of soils and exposures. This magnolia is common in the cool-temperate forests of Japan, particularly mountain ridges facing the Sea of Japan. Wide, scented flowers emerge in early spring before the leaves. The leaves and bark are fragrant when crushed. It takes 20-50 years for the maximum height of 12 m to be reached.

Origin: Japan

(Oregon Grape) Bushy evergreen shrub to 1.5m. Attractive shiny pinnate foliage often with red tints in winter. Yellow flowers in dense terminal racemes in Spring. Excellent Hedge in shade or sun. Tolerant of wide range of pH but not alkaline. Produces purpleish-black fruits which are tart in taste. Sometimes used to make jelly, and Oregon Grape juice is fermented to make wine.

Origin: Western North America

 (Crab Apple) Autumn Colour Pictured.

 (Sweet Olive) Large shrub with finely toothed leaves. Flowers deliciously perfumed in Summer-Autumn, smelling of apricots. Used in perfuming tea. Young shoots often burn in heavy frost.

A small tree or shrub bearing clusters of creamy orange blossoms. Great fragrance which is typically released at night. Large dark green leaves. Makes a great backdrop for other smaller plants. 

Origin: China

 Chinese pistachio. A hardy, large shrub, often a sizable tree in its native range, with elegant, glossy green, pinnate leaves, assuming gorgeous colours in autumn. Flowers unisexual, in dense terminal clusters; fruits, which seldom apear in cultivation, are small, red-dish at first then blue.