This pretty and rarely-seen high alpine plant makes small cushions of needle-shaped leaves with white, starry flowers on thin delicate stems. It thrives in the harshest of conditions often on almost bare rocky outcrops and serpentine soils, which harbour a distinct and unique flora rich in endemics. Minuartia laricifolia has two ecologically distinct subspecies with disjunct distributions. Subsp. laricifolia on siliceous rocks in the western Alps and eastern Pyrenees, and subsp. ophiolitica on serpentine in the northern Apennines. Few seeds collected. ... Learn More

M. jalapa is a bushy, tuberous perennial often grown as an annual, with fragrant flowers opening in the afternoon, in a wide range of colours, and sometimes bi-coloured. ... Learn More

These colourful, cheerful plants have the common name “Four O’Clock Plants” because the flowers open in late afternoon, and indeed they remain open until the following morning, and on cloudy days, they may not close at all! Curiously, flowers of different colours can sometimes be found simultaneously on the same plant. They are grown as annuals in colder countries but will in fact make perennials in warmer climes. ... Learn More

A delicate and lovely woodland or shade area plant. This distant relative of saxifrages has tiny, fringed brown and green flowers on delicate stems over rosettes of dark green kidney-shaped leaves. Will self-seed in shady spots. ... Learn More

The giant form of "Purple moor-grass" makes spectacular broad-leaved clumps, with very long stems holding huge, divided, purple heads in summer, aging to golden-brown in autumn. A superb specimen grown alone, long-lived, non-invasive and extremely hardy! ... Learn More

This rare and strikingly attractive, strongly aromatic plant, comes from the mountains of central and southern Europe and bears jaggedly cut, glossy green foliage, and creamy umbels turning lime green. In late spring it produces large numbers of yellowish-white, sweetly fragrant flowers, which in turn form large, intriguing heads of sizeable, twisted seeds.... And yes, what a brilliant name! ... Learn More

An exceptionally choice and rare dwarf plant with pink buds opening to deepest violet-blue flowers. Stems bear oblong-lance-shaped, linear leaves which are dark blue-green above and white beneath. One of the best-ever alpine house and show plants, this fabulous miniature semi-evergreen sub-shrub originates from the mountains of Yugoslavia, Albania and Greece. ... Learn More

This fast growing annual or biennial is very attractive to bees and butterflies. It is a clump forming plant putting out several thin stems from the centre, each adorned with multiple powder-puff flowers in shades of white, pink and purple arranged in whorls along its length. Resembling oregano in appearance, it is a stalwart of the herb garden but is equally at home dotted through the herbaceous border. When crushed, the leaves release a lemon-like scent. ... Learn More

Whorls of purple pollinator attracting flowers sit upon aromatic foliage. A perennial plant sometimes grown as an annual. Also known as Bee Balm which, as the name suggests, attract bees en masse. Easy to grow but we recommend a sunny position with good ventilation and airflow with moderate moisture. ... Learn More

Flowering freely the first year from seed, and indeed best grown as an annual, 'Lambada' bears long spires of white-spotted, deep pink flowers arranged generously in whorls. Pretty in a mixed bouquet of cut flowers and in wildflower gardens, it can also be used as a dried flower. ... Learn More

Clusters of cup-shaped magenta flowers open in summer, above compact rosettes of narrow, lance-shaped, hairy, gray-green leaves. This is an ideal subject for the rock garden or scree, and makes an excellent container plant for the patio, as this compact, mound-forming perennial is often grown as an annual! ... Learn More

This rare, hardy, exceedingly choice African mountain plant produces large, quite exquisite, iris-like flowers in a rich shade of cream with delicate markings and blotches whilst the few, thick, leathery leaves constantly discard bizarre brown web-like netting! ... Learn More

A valuable find from the South African mountains. Large, iris-like, bright yellow flowers held well above the thin strap-like leaves, but these are different from other moraeas as you will agreeably discover when you smell the overwhelming perfume! ... Learn More

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