This rare, showy perennial species of Phacelia, endemic to western North America, grows mainly at subalpine to alpine elevations in forest openings, or above the treeline among rocks and sand. The showy, deep blue-mauve sprays of flowers have prominent anthers, which add to its appeal, but the foliage is quite extravagant being composed of tufts of deeply cut, grey silky foliage. A magnificent plant for a dry rockery or to win a prize as a potted alpine specimen! ... Learn More

With strong heads of golden yellow flowers amidst thick, evergreen, sage-like, silver-grey leaves, this compact, low growing, sun loving, frost hardy, drought tolerant, seaside friendly shrub will flourish in any well drained soil, whether sandy or chalky and especially in a sheltered spot in full sun. ... Learn More

Although it looks tender, this Syrian plant is actually bone-hardy, stout stems bearing tiered whorls of hooded, butter yellow flowers in summer, above rough heart-shaped basal leaves. A valuable and easy plant that thrives in poor dry soil. ... Learn More

Phlox drummondii, commonly known as Drummond's phlox, presents a delightful mix with its vibrant and varied display. This warm-season annual, native to North America, boasts a captivating blend of features that add a touch of charm to gardens. Drummond's phlox, in its mix of colors, reveals a compact and bushy growth habit. The plants form low mounds, creating a pleasing carpet of color. The foliage of Phlox drummondii is typically slender and lance-shaped, providing a backdrop to the dazzling floral display. The green leaves serve as an elegant foil to the vivid blooms presented as a kaleidos ... Learn More

An easy to grow summer bedding plant, its spreading habit makes it perfect for filling gaps at the front of a border or as part of a summer container display. Slightly taller than some varieties (so perfect for cut flowers) with outstanding weather tolerance and the added bonus of a lovely fragrance. For best results, grow in full sun and keep well-watered ... Learn More

This attractive palm is very widely planted as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions of the world, especially in areas with Mediterranean climates, and also in areas with a mild oceanic climate. It is easily recognized through its crown of leaves and trunk characteristics and it is common to see Canary Island date palms pruned and trimmed to enhance their appearance. When neatly pruned, the bottom of the crown, also sometimes called the nut, appears to have a pineapple shape. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ... Learn More

Known as the 'translucent dates' or 'Dates of light' these are cultivars grown especially in Algeria and Tunisia. They grow in large trusses, are slightly smaller than Medjool dates and have a characteristic soft touch, a translucent blonde color and a soft caramel-like taste, these three characteristics distinguishing them from all other dates. ... Learn More

These seeds have been collected from the queen of all dates, the famous, luscious, and very expensive Medjool. These large, soft, sweet fruits will only fruit in the ground in hotter countries, although the smaller specimens make attractive potted plants for a warm courtyard or conservatory. All true edible date palm trees are desert plants, originally from the Middle East, and where they are native they prefer to get 20 to 40 inches of rain per year in the winter, with summers preferably being hot and dry with low humidity. These seeds have been cleaned and stratified and are ready to plant ... Learn More

Impressive masses of yellow flowers are borne in large inflorescences in summer, and most of the species later bear heavy clusters of edible dates. Large, floppy, pinnately compound, evergreen leaves grow above clustering and leaning trunks, with pretty leaf scars making crowded rings, although in younger palms, the stem is covered with leaf bases and matted fibers until they finally fall away. Phoenix is the palm genus par excellence, and as a rule they are native to tropical and subtropical areas where they do best in full sun and do well even in dry and infertile soils. ... Learn More

An easy-to-care-for plant with an attractive trunk bearing the remains of old leaf stems, and also displaying very narrow arching leaflets compared to other palms. It is perfect for anywhere where space is an issue as it never exceeds 3 m. or so, and consequently it also does well in a large container. It is native to southeastern Asia, from southwestern China, northern Laos and northern Vietnam. The Latin specific epithet roebelenii honours the orchid collector Carl Roebelen ... Learn More

The most beautiful and tropical looking of the phoenix palms and also with the greenest leaves, this very graceful tree has soft, gracefully arching, glossy green fronds with hardly any spines at the leaf and bases as in other varieties, along with a smooth, slender, light grey trunk which is solitary, slender, light grey in colour and devoid of any remains of leaf bases or conspicuous leaf scars. It is native to the mountainous forests of India and Bhutan and the lower foothills of the Himalaya in India, namely Sikkim, West-Bengal and Arunchal Pradesh from 300 to 1200 m, usually occurring on ... Learn More

Upright fans of broad, robust, spear-like, grey-green leaves, glaucous on the reverse, just seem to explode out of the soil. Tubular, deepest red flowers open on strong upright stems in summer. Few plants offer such dramatic form or presence, and they offer a unique contrast to most plants that can be grown in the temperate garden, tolerating any soil, but being happiest in one that is moist, rich and free-draining. Found throughout New Zealand, Phormium was one of the first plants to be discovered when Captain Cook landed in 1773. ... Learn More

Indian gooseberry fruit eaten raw is quite sour and astringent, and in India it is common to eat gooseberries sweetened or steeped in salt water and turmeric to make them more palatable. Greenish-yellow male and female flowers are carried separately on the same branch and produce fruit which is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, and smooth and hard in appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. The tree has a crooked trunk and spreading branches and the generic name, Phyllanthus, is derived from Greek words meaning leaf-flower, alluding to the apparent bearing of flowers on the le ... Learn More

Tiny, creamy-white flowers appear in midsummer above oval green foliage. Later, the berries develop within eye-catching, red, papery Chinese Lantern like calyces. If left on the plant the calyces will slowly skeletonize, adding ornate winter interest to your garden. The stems can then be cut to create wonderful decorative flower arrangements. Ideal plant for a container display, great end of year interest and goes well with Heucheras. Prefers full sun, or partial shade with moist soil or compost. ... Learn More

This extremely choice and rare plant, which is quite easy to grow, has sizeable, lavender-pink tubular flowers which open in the stem tips in early spring above compact sprays of attractive, oblong, greyish-green, thick, pubescent leaves, the entire plant going dormant in late summer. It is native of montane, rocky slopes from the Caucasus to the Transcaucasus and Turkey, and makes a bone hardy tuber, doing well in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. Very few good seeds are ever set. ... Learn More