Bamboo Phyllostachys Nigra
We have several Bamboos in the garden, some tend to be invasive and not entirely as ornamental in appearance as we may wish. 
One which grows very well in the Aberdeen area and will not disappoint is Phyllostachys Nigra.
This ornamental black stemmed evergreen bamboo makes an excellent specimen plant. The sturdy, yet arching stems turn a shiny ebony black in their third year and is generally non invasive. Don’t allow the plant to become too congested as this will ruin the effect, cut back the thin spindly stems to ground level and leave about 20/25 stems to develop fully.
The leaves on Nigra are a dark green, another good tip is to strip away the lower leaves thereby showing off the black stems to their full glory. This Bamboo does take a few years to reach its full glory, truly well worth the wait.
Position: Full sun/partial shade. Free draining light moist soil
Height: 250/300cm
Hardiness: Fully Hardy
Spiraea Arguta
Of all the Spiraes, (Arguta, also known as The Bridal Wreath) has to be the most spectacular of them all. 
The arching branches of this deciduous shrub are smothered in beautiful white flowers in May.
Fully hardy and untroubled by pests and disease. Place this one in a sunny position where the soil is free draining.
Pruning is essential otherwise your shrub will become lanky and flowering will be less profuse. Prune back stems which have flowered by about a third and if the stems are becoming too congested remove 25% of them by cutting hard back to the base. This procedure should be done immediately after flowering in late Spring/early Summer.
Position – Full sun in fertile moist well draining soil
Height – 6/7ft Can be kept much shorter with annual pruning
Hardiness – Fully hardy
