Nick Maclaren writes

In article ,
"Bob Hobden" writes:
|
| The Monkey Puzzle Tree is a favourite of mine too,

Until this thread I thought I was the only urgler who liked them!

|there is an excellent one
| just near the Orangery at Kew but I'm not so sure one would be a good idea
| in a public park these days, some little darling might prick themselves.
| :-(

Oh, GOOD! For sheer viciousness, our native barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
takes a lot of beating. It has spectacular yellow flowers in spring,
and equally spectacular, edible red berries in autumn. Its leaves are
edible, too.

Leeds have been planting Araucaria by the score :-)
In amongst pampas grass which is probably more vicious.

| I'll put it to the Council though with most of your other suggestions.

Taxodium distichum is also good,

Swamp cypress? Got one of those I grew from seed - very pretty at this
age. Wish it would grow 'knees' but I don't think it will.

as is Abies koreana (though a bit
slow growing).

But with cones when very young :-)
--
Kay