Escallonia laevis 'Gold Ellen'

Escallonias are a group of evergreen shrubs native to North and South America. While often grown as humble hedging plants, they make beautiful plants when allowed to grow freely, providing numerous clusters of honey-scented flowers, along with glossy, deep green foliage.

When not in flower, escallonias are useful for growing as a backdrop for other plants, for example at the back of a mixed border in full sun. Many escallonias aren't fully hardy, so they're ideally suited to coastal or sheltered gardens where they're less likely to be damaged by big dips in temperature.

Escallonia laevis 'Gold Ellen' is an evergreen cultivar with variegated foliage ranging from golden yellow to green. From mid- to late summer, it produces clusters of fragrant, fuchsia-coloured flowers that are visited by bees. For best results, grow Escallonia laevis 'Gold Ellen' in full sun in well-drained soil, away from cold, drying winds.