With a fair resemblance to Moraea huttonii, large, iris-like, bright yellow flowers are held well above the thin strap-like leaves, but once again these are different from other moraeas as you will agreeably discover when you smell the sweet perfume! A valuable find from the South African mountains. Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

Some moraeas can be a challenge to grow, but not this dazzling one. A very drought tolerant species, this is long-blooming, vigorous, and gets bigger and stronger every year here in a well-drained corner of our African garden, bearing large, deep blue to violet, iris-like flowers with yellow nectar guides, on strong stems. It is equally happy whether in a pot or in a rockery. ... Learn More

From the mountains of South Africa comes this exotic, spectacular but hardy iris relative. Only one whippy strap-like leaf appears,but the strong erect stem produces a long succession of large, brilliant yellow, orchid-like flowers throughout early summer. Challenge your friends to name it. ... Learn More

In late spring flowers of matt yellow-brown are suffused with blue and purple, the falls having a yellow spotted basal patch. One of the most versatile plants around, this African native can tolerate virtually any soil conditions from drought to moist soil and requires little maintenance. From the South-western Cape, it usually bears more than two leaves, the spiky foliage adding perfect texture and interest to formal settings and blooms are produced over a long season through the spring and summer. ... Learn More

A rare, exquisite, and long-lived Nepalese plant. A stout rosette of thistle-like foliage (but no relation) pushes up strong stems from which radiate leafy branchlets producing exotic, almost orchid-like, flared white flowers, which turn to bright pink inside after pollination. It will repeat flower from early summer until the frost, especially if dead-headed. A superb, hardy and valuable plant. ... Learn More

This fast-growing, drought-resistant tree, native to the southern foothills of the Himalayas in north western India is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical areas. Hanging clusters of fragrant, orchid-like flowers later become hanging fruits which are three-sided brown capsules holding dark brown, globular seeds which have three whitish, papery wings and are dispersed by wind and water and are sometimes eaten like peas or roasted like nuts. The whitish-grey bark is surrounded by thick cork, and in cultivation the trunk is often cut back annually to 1–2 metres and allowed to regrow, an ... Learn More

Muhlenbergia capillaris, commonly known as pink muhly grass, is a warm-season, clump-forming grass species that adds a touch of elegance to landscapes. Muhlenbergia capillaris has a tufted, clump-forming growth habit. The grass typically forms dense, fountain-like mounds of slender foliage. The foliage consists of narrow, linear leaves that are typically green but can take on a reddish or bronze tint, especially in the autumn. The most distinctive feature of pink muhly grass is its airy and feathery pink to purplish-pink inflorescences. The flowering plumes are borne on arching stems and creat ... Learn More

Individual plants grow to between 3-7 m high, but can reach up to 12 m, with leaves around 3 m in length and 90 cm in width. As the leaves are coloured red on their underside with shoots growing from a creeping, elongated, underground rhizome. The plants thrive best in shade or filtered sun, as intense direct sun can damage the leaves. Unusually, this wild banana has pink fruits and in its native south-east Asia, they are an important wild food source for Asian elephants .This species is increasingly under threat in the wild commercial agriculture is now clearing much of the irreplaceable ... Learn More

This quick growing banana from the Himalayas has a grey stem, with new leaves being tinged red on the underside, darkening to green as they grow further. Flowering in July with beautiful red flowers, the edible fruits are then produced in October of the same year. ... Learn More

A most attractive dwarf banana with red-midribbed shiny green leaves. Strikingly bright pink, red and orange flowers finally produce bright pink fruits. A superb specimen for a garden in hot countries or a large pot elsewhere. ... Learn More

The stubby clusters of flowers of this lovely plant are purple, blue (with a white fringe), or white, and it is hardy, easy to grow, and has long-lasting blooms, and no garden should be without them. They have their common name because their clusters of small, bell-shaped, deep-blue flowers resemble clusters of upside-down grapes. An additional benefit is that all Muscari have a strong fragrance, so the more you plant, the more fragrance you get ... Learn More

A lovely variety with pale, powder-blue flowers with white rims flowering from March to April. Although this variety is reputed to be sterile, we received this seed with this name attached.... ... Learn More

The fragrant, long-lasting, pastel-blue flowers of the grape hyacinth ‘Ocean Magic’ contrast beautifully with other spring bulbs such as small daffodils and species tulips. Flowers arise in mid-spring on erect, leafless, ankle-high stems whilst the clumps of grass-like leaves appear in autumn and persist throughout winter and most of spring. ... Learn More

This popular species blooms early, in March in some areas, with turquoise blue frilled bells with indigo stripes on noticeably tubby flowers. They self-sow freely, providing more flowers to enjoy the following year, grape hyacinths being hardy, easy to grow, and having long-lasting blooms. ... Learn More

This is the original, and very well-known and loved "Grape Hyacinth". In a rock garden it is short and not too leafy with deep blue flowers tipped with white at their open ends. It will gently self-seed when happy, but makes a welcome splash of blue in spring when little else is around. Absolutely bone hardy, it originally came from woodlands throughout eastern Europe and the Balkans. ... Learn More