Also called Sweet Cicely, Garden Myrrh, and Spanish Chervil, this uncommon and beautiful British native, has ornamental, much-divided, delicate, fern-like foliage and crowded umbels of small white flowers followed by extremely large, shiny-black, decorative seed-heads which are fluted and slightly curved. The whole plant has a pleasant odour of aniseed. Budding chefs can use it for flavouring stewed fruit such as plums, when it is said that it is possible to halve the amount of sugar required. Its crisp stalks make an excellent substitute for celery after light cooking and the leaves have been eaten either boiled like spinach, in soups, or fresh in salads, whilst the seeds are used as an aniseed flavouring. ... Learn More

This upright, evergreen, bushy shrub bears profuse fragrant white flowers followed by purple-black berries and is perfect for growing in a shaded warm area. The excellent, dense, evergreen foliage consists of small lanceolate leaves which are strongly scented when crushed. ... Learn More

Also known as the Chilean Guava, the fruits of Myrtus ugni have a uniquely delicious taste that is beyond compare, rather like a combination of strawberry, pineapple and apple. As a rule, the berries are the main reason for growing this plant, indeed, in Chile they are made into pies and jellies, whilst in the UK, it was apparently Queen Victoria’s favourite fruit, and growers in Cornwall attempted to grow them commercially, using her love of them as one of their selling points. In New Zealand it is being sold as the ‘NZ Cranberry’. It can grow up to 2 metres tall and the small shiny leaves, which have a spicy scent if crushed, can be clipped into an ornamental shrub, or as a hedge. Bees love their fragrant pale pink flowers too. Myrtus ugni is known by several common names, including Chilean guava, murta, murtilla and Tas Myrtus Berry. Once established the plants do not mind drought conditions. ... Learn More

This delightful evergreen shrub has an uncanny 'bamboo-like' form, with purplish leaves in spring and winter, and white flowers in large panicles, later followed by red berries. It is native to eastern Asia from the Himalayas to Japan and is the only member of the monotypic genus Nandina. ... Learn More

The "hoop-petticoat daffodil". This earliest and tiniest dwarf gem with golden conical cup-flowers, and narrow pointed petals, thrives on the hottest of rockeries and will do well and even self-seed in moist turf rather like cylamen do. ... Learn More

From the high meadows and woodland edges of central Spain come these wild classic daffodils with large bright yellow flowers, and which are very similar to Narcissus hispanicus, but have less flare in the corona. ... Learn More

This miniature species has flowers with broad petals arranged in sideways-facing clusters of chrome-yellow over thin grassy leaves. Its big attraction though is the overpoweringly strong scent. It prefers a sunny site with good drainage. ... Learn More

This is the dwarf form of the extremely hardy variety that grows wild in South Wales, and is described as having perfect proportions. With bright yellow flowers it is ideal for planting into rough grass or meadows where it will spread and self-seed when left undisturbed. The tidy appearance makes it equally good for beds and borders throughout the garden. ... Learn More

An aquatic flowering plant, with delicate white flowers blooming from May to July. A peppery salad herb crop popular in the UK, it can be easily grown in a container or pond, giving a regular harvest throughout the year, as long as the plant roots remain in water. Attractive to pollinators, especially hoverflies. ... Learn More

Cascades of white, pendulous, bell-shaped flowers, strikingly marked with purple and green, sit atop strong, tall stems in early summer. Later, intriguingly, the pollinated seedheads all point skywards, like little spaceships waiting to lift off! ... Learn More

Large, luscious, pink tipped waxy petals adorn the famous "Sacred Lotus", a magnificent aquatic perennial. Amazingly, unlike other water lilies, both the flowers and leaves are able to grow upwards above the water for a considerable height, on strong stiff stems, accentuating their amazing beauty! In addition, the sizeable peltate leaves have a remarkable water repellent characteristic that serves as a self-cleaning mechanism, the whole plant making an interesting and noteworthy addition to any pond. Although it has been long-considered a close relative of the Water Lily, a noticeable difference is the large and quite bizarre ice-cream cone shaped receptacle at the centre of the plant. The terminal buds of lotus roots in pools begin to bud when the temperature rises to above 13 degrees Celsius in early April. In mid- and late May, the leaves grow above the water. In early and mid-June, blooming starts. In late June and mid-August, they reach full bloom. In early September, the last flowering period starts. And so, finally, for the botanists amongst you, recent molecular research has surprisingly shown that its closest living relatives are the plane trees and members of the protea family (Proteaceae). Indeed, their isolated phylogenetic position indicates that both Nelumbo and Platanus may be living fossils (the only survivors of an ancient and formerly much more diverse group). So you are now able to grow a Dinosaur plant in your pond! These fresh, extremely rare seeds are very seldom offered. ... Learn More

A bright selection of the best colours available in this quick growing favourite. Billowing clouds of pink, mauve and blue flowers, many of them bi-coloured, appear all summer long. Dead-heading should produce flowers into latest autumn. ... Learn More

A selection from Nemesia speciosa, a new and delicate introduction from the African mountains. Compact mounds of bright green foliage are formed, liberally spangled with a long succession of confetti-like, purple-veined white flowers. ... Learn More

Exceedingly pretty white flowers with blue veined petals and a deep violet-blue spot at each petal tip. Very easy to grow and ideal for borders, edging or rock gardens. ... Learn More

Stunning purple to almost-black flowers with a frosted white edge and white undersides to petals. With a low-growing but spreading and trailing habit, Penny Black is perfect for ground cover and provides excellent contrast for containers and hanging baskets. ... Learn More