Spires of clear blue, snapdragon-like flowers open in succession on strong stems bearing thick, crinkly leaves. These lovely flowers will grow equally well in dry or wet conditions and are very hardy and soundly perennial. it is a most desirable plant for woodland gardens especially since it blooms bright blue in late summer. The unfortunate species name, siphilitica, is based on the fact that it was a supposed cure for syphilis. ... Learn More

Another giant rosette plant which is stunningly similar to the puyas of the high Andes, and also to the giant echiums that evolved separately, on the Canary Islands, demonstrating convergent/parallel evolution. It forms a large rosette of narrow, hairy leaves that eventually produces a giant inflorescence of creamy white flowers, up to 3 m tall, protected by masses of long, silvery hairy bracts and pollinated by birds. Lobelia telekii is native to the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa and inhabits dry, rocky slopes between an astonishing 3500 and 5000 m elevation on Mount Elgon, the Ab ... Learn More

An incredible giant, hardy Lobelia from Chile. From a large rosette of thick leathery felted leaves arise thick stems carrying tropical orchid-like deepest carmine flowers. A valuable late season display from July until the autumn frosts. ... Learn More

Rare and unique, this palm-like giant Lobelia forms a large rosette of purplish-green, large, narrow, hairy leaves, and a tall sizeable woody trunk. Eventually a giant flower spike arises protected by masses of long, silvery hairy bracts, and finally countless deep blue flowers open. Similar in stature to a giant Echium, it can grow up to 6 metres in total. Rare even in the wild, where it is pollinated by birds, it lives in the high-elevation bogs of the alpine zone, between 3700 and 4300 m (12100 and 14100 ft) and is native to the high Rwenzori Mountains of tropical Eastern Africa from Ugand ... Learn More

Sometimes grown as an annual this tough almost alpine like plant forms tight domes of foliage topped with dense balls of delicate, deep amethyst, purple flowers. But it's best feature is the strong honey scented perfume given off by its flowers, which on mass will travel quite a distance in late afternoon. Grows well on the edge of raised beds, rockeries or in patio containers. ... Learn More

Sometimes grown as an annual this tough almost alpine like plant forms tight domes of foliage topped with dense balls of delicate, snow white flowers. But it's best feature is the strong honey scented perfume given off by its flowers, which on mass will travel quite a distance in late afternoon. Grows well on the edge of raised beds, rockeries or in patio containers. ... Learn More

This new, fabulous, previously unknown scabious relative, collected high in the Taurus mountains of Turkey, may be the rarest plant we have ever sold. A dome of leathery leaves produces a summer-long succession of almost stemless, blue scabious flowers. The small proportion of solid, fertile seeds are very frugally produced and are collected individually. ... Learn More

Dark, blood-red flowers are followed by large numbers of cherry-red berries which are sprinkled liberally over the entire plant giving a pleasing effect. Cultivated since the 16th Century, this attractive deciduous shrub has dark green, shining leaves, and is found in the wild in woods and stony places in the mountains of Europe. Normally a medium-sized shrub, it can be easily clipped to maintain its dwarf stature, under 3ft if required, making it a good hedging plant. ... Learn More

Completely new to us is this quick-growing, freely branching plant producing whorls of fascinating carmine flowers from spring until October, above small glossy leaves. The flowers bear a remarkable resemblance to the head of a giraffe rudely putting out his tongue! ... Learn More

The luffa sponge, also known as loofah, vegetable sponge or running okra is a quick-growing climbing plant producing fascinating fruits. Normally these rather resemble long, ridged cucumbers, slightly fatter at one end, and growing to 30 to 40 centimetres long, but we offer the rarer smooth-skinned variety. Whilst the young fruits are edible, the mature ones can be boiled or dried to remove the flesh, revealing the intricate network of tough fibres that make it so useful in the bath! Grown up fences or trellis in a warm sheltered site or in a greenhouse they fruit in around 16 weeks from plan ... Learn More

Almost too well known to need describing, this bright pink-flowered plant happily self-seeds if allowed, giving its reliable display of dried papery seed-heads every year. ... Learn More

Probably the most outstanding form of this deservedly popular, old favourite, the edges of the leaves are beautifully edged in cream, the fragrant purple spring flowers being followed by rounded "silver spoon" seed-pods which will self-seed and naturalise when happy. ... Learn More

This lovely form has fragrant, pure white flower spikes which appear in early summer. If pruned back after flowering, tree lupins will last for many years and they may with care be made into impressive, single-trunked standards. ... Learn More

From a low dome of tiny, silky, silvery blue-green "lupin" leaves, arise short, stumpy spikes of gorgeous blue and white flowers. This little gem looks exotic and tender, but is completely frost-hardy, and if pot grown, and starved, can win many a prize! In the USA its habitats include coastal sage scrub, chaparral, northern coastal scrub, dry foothill woodland, and yellow pine forest. One of the only plants that absolutely thrives on drought! Very few viable seeds have been collected ... Learn More

Grow some fabulous lupin plants in colours few people have seen before! Occasionally, in our trial grounds, self-sown plants appear between beds of the very best lupins such as Russell-types, and even occasionally between hybrid tree and prostrate lupins. Our head gardener has selected the very best of these and the results, predictably, give fabulous plants of all colours, and sizes. Sometimes even low or weeping forms may occur! ... Learn More