Grass and Bamboo
The more invasive varieties of bamboo can make you very unpopular with your neighbours so we tend to concentrate on the clump forming types such as Phyllostachys and Fargesia. Our range of grasses includes Acorus for moist soils, varieties of Carex, large flowered Miscanthus and Stipa varieties and colourful Ophiopogon and Ucinia.
Hedging
We have potted hedging plant such as holly, privet, laurels and conifers all year round, but also supply bare root hedging whips from autumn to early spring. This includes many native species, like hawthorn, hazel, hornbeam, beech and dog rose, and is a very cost effective way to plant a hedge.
Herbs
Most of our herbs are also grown locally, including angelica, lavender, mint, parsley and verbena, with larger pots of lavender, rosemary and thyme also available.
Perennials
From early spring to early summer we have a large display of hardy perennials in smaller pots, enabling you to plant in larger clumps or drifts. We sell Delphiniums, Hollyhocks, Asters, Campanulas, Geraniums, Phlox, Verbenas and many more. During earlier summer the perennials really come in to their own, larger pots of these versatile plants become available, including a good range of Peonies (the Plant Managers favourite). We also have a good choice of shade loving perennials, such as Hostas, Heucheras, Ferns, Astrantias and Toad Lilies.
Roses
According to popular belief, older rose varieties are disease prone and do not repeat flower. This is not always true, our large display of old fashioned roses include many that have extremely healthy foliage, and those that flower longer than modern hybrids, with the added benefit of superior scent. We display them according to type: damask, gallica, china, hybrid musk, alba, bourbon, wild, hybrid perpetual and moss for your information only. To pick your favourite during the summer months, simply follow your nose! There are also modern hybrid teas and floribundas, climbers and patio roses, many of which are now bred for fragrance.
Shrubs
At Oakington Garden Centre we have a good selection of hardy garden shrubs all the year round. There are plenty of familiar favourites such as Buddleia, Fuchsias, Hebes and Philadelphus, as well as some that are more unusual such as Kalmias and Dipelta. Our shrub beds are organised into those that are deciduous and those that are evergreen, with small displays of drought tolerant plants, shade tolerant plants, and those that are suitable for ground cover.
Soft Fruit
From autumn to late spring we have a good range of currants, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, gooseberries, grape vines and many others, most are grown in Cambridgeshire. We also have strawberry plants all year round.
Trees
Our large range of trees includes birches, flowering cherries, maples, crab apples and rowans. Among them they have many attractive qualities, colourful bark, stunning autumn leaf shades, fruit to attract birds or masses of flowers. We have more unusual trees such as Paulownia and Koelreuteria, also multi-stemmed specimens of silver birch and birch bark cherry. There is a display of trees that are especially good for small gardens, due to their smaller size or narrower habit. We also have a section of native species for those of you with a wilder garden. A good range of Japanese maples can be found in our shade area.