This attractive annual with vibrant yellow flowers, is an extremely beneficial, indeed often essential plant for the wild flower meadow. With the upper lip having two white or purple teeth, it provides summer colour, and also papery seed pods that rattle when the seed is ripe, and in olden days this was said to show that the meadow was ready to be cut, hence its other common name of "hay rattle". ... Learn More

The "Purple Bell Vine" is always one of the most sought-after climbing plants here. Deepest purple, almost black, flared tubular flowers with deep pink bracts, hang amongst the heart-shaped leaves. An exceptional container plant for the conservatory which will flower continuously for months on end. ... Learn More

Rhodocoma capensis, commonly referred to as the Cape Restio, is a distinctive and ornamental perennial native to the Western Cape of South Africa. This resilient plant, a member of the Restionaceae family, showcases an architectural grace with its slender, reed-like stems that form dense clumps, reaching heights of 3 to 5 feet. The foliage consists of slender, needle-like leaves arranged alternately along the stems, contributing to its bushy and structured appearance. Come late spring to early summer, Cape Restio adorns itself with small, unassuming flowers surrounded by papery bracts, addi ... Learn More

This is a very dwarf, bone hardy shrub, with large pink flowers up to two inches across and obovate leaves with bristly margins, growing in tundra and alpine areas of Alaska. In the wild, large sections of sea shores and mountain sides turn pink. ... Learn More

This is not just a superlative rhododendron, it is in fact one of the most magnificent plants one can grow. Maturing as a large evergreen shrub, it can, in many years, become a tree, with enormous, magnificent, glossy dark green leaves up to 30cm in length, with whitish down beneath. The large flowers, in dense rounded trusses, are bell-shaped, cream to pale yellow with a purple blotch in the throat. Both the BBC and Independent TV companies filmed this in full flower during the spring here in Plant World Gardens, whilst visitors come to our gardens especially to see these plants in full blo ... Learn More

Large, widely-expanded trumpets, either solitary or in pairs, in shades of red, pink or yellow, open on strong, stout stems, and one or two strap-shaped leaves also arise from the large underground bulb. Originally collected on the Plant World Chilean expedition of 1994, these lovely plants spend a long time under dry snow in the winter, but when they erupt in early summer it is worth the wait. ... Learn More

These superb amaryllis relatives display large trumpet-shaped flowers and thin strap-shaped leaves. These seeds have been collected from red and pink forms of these gorgeous plants high in the Andes. Plants will do best in well-drained compost in large pots or a protected scree. ... Learn More

Closely related to Kerria, this rarely encountered deciduous shrub is the only species in this (monotypic) genus. It has arching shoots and tapered, sharply toothed, deeply veined mid-green leaves, above which, in late spring and early summer, sizeable, four-petalled white flowers are produced from shoot tips, the large glossy black berries following later. ... Learn More

"Stag's-horn Sumach". Velvety shoots produce large divided leaves turning brilliant purple and orange in autumn. Clusters of deepest red fruits are displayed on female plants. If cut back hard in spring, enormous leaves, up to three-feet long, are produced. ... Learn More

This award-winning, superb companion plant to 'Carmencita' has eye-catching, red-stemmed, dark green foliage on red stems that have a silver shine, and bears from June to October flowers that are followed by dazzling, highly ornamental, deep pink seed pods. In warmer countries it makes a beautiful quick-growing tree but in cooler climes makes an attractive solitary plant for border or container, and in mild areas can survive the winter. ... Learn More

Huge, bright green, shiny leaves adorn this lovely thick-trunked Cretian form of the "Castor Oil Plant". This is the quite rarely offered, true wild form, bearing dazzling, bright red flower buds and seed pods amongst large dark green leaves. If grown in warm climates it will ultimately make a sturdy tree. Please note that these seeds are extremely poisonous if eaten. ... Learn More

This striking compact variety of the fast growing caster oil plant will add drama to any border or bed and is ideal as a screen or can be grown in a pot. It has attractive large dark red, metallic palmate leaves with deeply incised lobes. Bright, eye-catching spikes of small scarlet flowers which are attractive to bees and butterflies are followed by prickly seed capsules. ... Learn More

This selected form of Ricinus, the "Castor Oil Plant", has brighter red leaves and seed heads than many other forms, the deep red/bronze shiny leaves only producing their strongest leaf colour when in full sun and as it matures, and please note, the first few leaves will just be green! This absolutely stunning plant will in time grow into a tree in warmer countries. Please note that these seeds are extremely poisonous if eaten. ... Learn More

Gorgeous sprays of fragrant creamy-white or pink star-shaped flowers are borne in open panicles on woolly, red-brown stalks. Impressive, strongly veined, horse-chestnut-like leaves form a solid mound on this robust, clump-forming plant. The Royal Horticultural Society have deservedly given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... Learn More

Fluffy plates of brilliant pink flowers turn into crimson seed heads, above impressive clumps of mahogany-bronze burnished pinnate leaves. Although it is outstanding in rich or boggy soil, it puts up a superb show wherever you decide to put it, apart from a hot dry bank! ... Learn More