One of our earliest spring flowers, just after the snowdrops, it can appear as early as the latter part of February where it makes carpets of golden stars on the banks of streams and rivers, or else in the more shaded areas under hedgerows. Contrary to popular belief it was the Lesser Celandine rather than the Daffodil which is said to have been William Wordsworth’s favourite flower. He wrote three poems to the little flower with the “glittering countenance”, noting the plant’s habit of opening and shutting its petals according to the weather: “There is a Flower, the Lesser Celandine, That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain; And, at the first moment that the sun may shine, Bright as the sun itself, ‘tis out again!” ... Learn More

This lovely gem supplies valuable spring colour for the front of a border or rockery. Even experts are fooled by the long, sisyrinchium-like, glaucous leaves before the very long succession of butter-yellow saucers appears. It has no vices and is too seldom seen. ... Learn More

High in the alpine meadows of the European Alps lives this quite spectacular plant. Golden-eyed, ivory white saucers open in long succession on repeatedly dividing stems, giving a good season of bloom. Easy to grow in good, well-drained but moist soil, it will gently self-seed if you are fortunate! Very few fertile seeds available. ... Learn More

A rare, striking, tall and easy-to-grow plant for most gardens. Flowering all summer with profusions of showy, golden yellow flowers with a protruding brown central cone. Good for cut flowers and arranging. Perennial but best treated as an annual. ... Learn More

This famous Banana relative is not a palm at all, despite its common name, and is a popular ornamental in tropical regions. The leaf arrangement gives the entire plant the appearance of a huge fan. The Madagascan Travelers Palm derives its name from its capacity to hold water in the leafbases for long periods of time after a rainfall, allegedly providing water for weary travellers, even during a drought. Once germinated, the resulting plant is VERY fast growing. The waxy, blue seed cover should be removed just prior to sowing for better results. High daytime temperatures may help to trigger faster and more uniform germination, and a hot water treatment before sowing and soaking may also improve results. ... Learn More

Open racemes of very large, tubular, deep pink flowers with yellow throats, open in early summer on this rarely-seen plant, which bears rough, palmate leaves. It is perennial in a sheltered spot with good drainage, but is perhaps better enjoyed in a large container which is kept frost-free. ... Learn More

One of the most valuable cottage garden flowers, but sadly ignored and rarely seen, is this sweetly perfumed plant. Because it does not possess bright flowers it is often left to languish in some dark corner....The impressive spike-like inflorescence of this ancient ornamental cottage garden plant takes up most of the upper stem, and is densely packed with many deeply-fragrant yellow-eyed white flowers. The relatively insignificant leaves are divided deeply into many narrow lobes. Fill your garden with musky perfume! ... Learn More

Collected on our 1994 Chile expedition, (RB 941010,) this shrubby and spiny unlikely verbena relative, with small, shiny evergreen leaves, produces clusters of smallish mauve bell-flowers in spring followed by most attractive violet berries in autumn. ... Learn More

Superb architecturally slashed and cut leaves form an imposing structure, from which in early summer arise immense spikes of pink fluffy panicles. "Though any form of this plant is worth growing, Tanguticum should be sought." (G.S.T.) ... Learn More

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

Tight clusters of pinkish-red, bell-shaped flowers open throughout the summer on this dwarf and choice evergreen shrub which grows just above the tree line in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and northern Apennines, on acid soils. The undersides of the leaves are covered in rust-brown spots, which give the species its scientific name. ... 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 bloom! ... 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