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

In the wild this European native is found in damp woodland on chalk, although in cultivation it seems willing to grow almost anywhere, and in fact generally chooses the places where it feels most at home by self-seeding! It bears fragrant, purplish flowers in late spring and early summer which are followed by decorative mother-of-pearl coloured seed pods, but unlike on the annual forms, these are elliptical in shape, and taper to a point. ... 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

An eye-catching and fast growing annual Lupin variety. The upright stems carry lovely fragrant flowers that change from sky blue to golden yellow. Excellent in borders or as a long lasting cut flower. Sow in March and April to flower in July. Best grown in small groups for maximum effect. ... Learn More

Tall spires of tightly packed flowers rise above clumps of palmate foliage in a magical array of colours. This wonderful mix of the ever popular 'Russell Hybrids' is ideal for adding height and structure to the back of perennial borders and woodland edges. A distinctive hardy perennial that remains a cottage garden favourite. ... Learn More

A superior hybrid variety of the popular cottage garden plant, this Lupin produces tall spires of tightly packed golden-yellow flowers rising above beautiful green clumps of palmate foliage. Lupins are very hardy plants, surviving extreme temperatures withstanding frost to at least minus 25°C (-13°F). Extremely attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, they create a strong impression in borders, ideal for adding colour, height and structure. ... Learn More

The intense brick-red colour of this robust variety makes a real statement when planted in drifts, or dotted among other perennials to bring height and structure to summer borders and cottage garden planting schemes. The tall spires of tightly packed flowers rise above beautiful green clumps of palmate foliage. The flowers open from the bottom up making for a longer blooming period. ... Learn More

There is little to rival a mass planting of lupins glowing with colour in May and June. The tightly packed spikes of pink and white pea-shaped flowers are produced above a shapely mound of deeply fingered, mid-green leaves. These are excellent plants for any garden. Amongst the showiest of hardy, herbaceous perennials, they provide the border with strong shape and colour just when spring flowers are fading. Reliable and easy to grow. ... Learn More

'The Governor' features stunning ultramarine blue blooms each with a white flag. Tall spires of tightly packed flowers rise above beautiful green clumps of palmate foliage in May and June. The flowers open from the bottom up making for a longer blooming period. Lupins are very hardy plants, surviving extreme temperatures to at least -25°C (-13°F). Extremely attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, they create a strong impression in borders, ideal for adding colour, height and structure. ... Learn More

This is one of the most attractive hardy grasses, barely yet discovered by gardeners. Being an inhabitant of alpine meadows, it produces its striking heads of almost pure white flowers in early spring, when most other grasses are barely sprouting, all above compact trusses of attractive hairy stems. ... Learn More

A delicate clump-forming rush with small dark brown heads. Another dwarf plant ideal for a wet spot in the garden or around the edges of a pond. ... Learn More