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

Physostegia virginiana 'Rose Bouquet', commonly known as Rose Bouquet Obedient Plant, is a vigorous herbaceous perennial that produces dense spikes of tubular, rose-pink flowers. The blooms appear in mid to late summer, creating a vibrant display that adds vertical interest to borders, cottage gardens, and naturalized settings. Its common name, "obedient plant," comes from the ability to temporarily reposition individual flowers on the stem. This adaptable perennial thrives in moist, well-drained soils and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade, making it a versatile choice for variou ... Learn More

Forming small clumps up to 6 inches high, this lovely alpine, found in the wild in the eastern Alps, bears compact heads of attractive mauvey-purple tubular flowers, each head, rather than being a single bloom, actually consisting of a collection of smaller ones, huddled together, rather imitating a scabious to which it is totally unrelated. ... Learn More

Spiky, violet-blue pom-pom flowers open with curious, shiny-blue claws protruding from them. The lanceolate, deep green leaves unfurl in early spring forming a neat rosette. This extremely neat and tidy little herbaceous alpine is perfect for the rock garden or scree. ... Learn More

A truly delightful rare campanula relative bearing unusually attractive spiky blue flowers on short stems which hold bright-green, heart-shaped leaves. ... Learn More

Unique amongst this genus, claw-shaped green buds open into narrow, spiky cones of creamy-white flowers, on rigid stems which rise above neat rosettes of lanceolate, deep green leaves in early spring. This is a lovely plant either for a small garden, rockery or a large pot. ... Learn More

A white flowering perennial plant with large oval shaped leaves and white flowers appearing in July to August which are much loved by nectar seekers. Unlike the native American Pokeberry, this species is not invasive and holds its flowers and berry clusters upright. The striking clusters of shiny, purple berries look like shiny black pearls and are much loved by birds. The mid green leaves have white veining and pink pigmentation, which only darkens in the flowering stems when berries are forming. It is tolerant of any type of soil. ... Learn More

This seed is freshly collected from plants we grew from seed we originally collected in Central Mexico. Thick stems sport large floppy leaves and spikes of small white flowers. In autumn masses of attractive, glossy, purple-black, stem-clasping berries are produced. We have been advised by french botanist that this plant can be invasive in some conditions so please take care where it is grown. ... Learn More

This new and lovely variegated form of the hardy herbaceous "Indian Poke" plant has beautifully marbled and mottled cream leaves. In late summer and autumn the stems are studded with deepest ruby, almost black, crinkled berries. Growing and flowering from seed the first year, it makes a valuable addition to gardens, but cover the roots with mulch in winter to ensure it gets through the winter. ... Learn More

From the lower Andes of Chile & Peru in South America comes this medium sized, fully winter hardy herbaceous perennial with bright rose flowers followed by showy, glossy, black berries. It is very fast growing, with glossy, dark green leaves. It will thrive in any rich, well-drained soil in a sunny to partially shaded spot, but will tolerate drought once established. ... Learn More

Attractive spikes of pink-red flowers show-up well against large, deeply-veined vivid green leaves on strong stems, and are followed by glossy black berries in the Autumn (these are not edible). A rapid-growing plant, it prefers full sun and moist soil but will tolerate some shade. ... Learn More

This tall aroid has many spathes blooming from May to late August, and bears a marked resemblance to a "Jack in the Pulpit" with a similar tubular, pale-green spathe and a long whip-like tail. However, unlike many other relatives, this unusual plant blooms almost non-stop from spring through to the autumn frosts and is surprisingly easy to grow, very hardy, and soundly perennial. ... Learn More