Puyas are perhaps the hardiest member of the pineapple family, making sensational rosettes of serrated leaves. Spikes of exotic blue-green flowers when mature. Plant in a wall or bank. "Worth the cost and effort to grow this rare plant." (G.S.T.) ... Learn More

A bromeliad from central Chile that forms large groups of rosettes with slender greyish green leaves that are viciously spiny along the margins. The inflorescence is a tall, upright, branched, reddish stalk with bluish-purple flowers. A very easy plant in cultivation, suitable for temperate climates. May need protection in winter. ... Learn More

Exotic, flaring, lime-green bells, loved by butterflies and bees, open on stiff upright stems which erupt in early spring from relatively small rosettes of thick, spiny foliage. This Bolivian plant is probably the quickest to bloom of all puyas, often in only a year after planting, whereas some puyas can take several years to blossom. In addition it is completely drought tolerant and is quite incredibly frost hardy if kept well-drained and dry. ... Learn More

From 3,000 species of Bromeliads (the pineapple family) this one is the king! After many years of growing a huge rosette of slender leaves, a massive stalk erupts, which can rise to more than 5 metres, and contain countless thousands of ivory-white flowers, each creamy-white blossom being 2 inches (5 cm.) wide, with bright orange anthers. These gorgeous flowers , for a short time, will attract hordes of pollinating insects and butterflies, as well as hummingbirds in warmer climes! It comes from the cool Andean highlands, at about 13,000 feet, so is believed to be frost-tolerant down to about ... Learn More

Spires of almost wax-like, deep reddish-violet flowers arise from a large rosette of saw-toothed leaves when mature. Plant in a wall, bank or well-drained position. ... Learn More

An exquisite colour mix of giant daisy flowers which make great, long lasting, cut flowers. Always a favorite for florists and amateur gardeners alike. ... Learn More

The Quince, a small deciduous tree with ancient origins, is beloved for its delicate beauty and aromatic fruits. With its twisted branches and rounded form, it brings a charming, rustic appeal to orchards and gardens alike. In spring, it bursts into life with large, pale pink to white blossoms, drawing pollinators such as bees. As the season progresses, these flowers transform into golden, pear-shaped fruits that exude a sweet, floral fragrance when ripe. While too astringent to eat raw, the fruit is prized for its culinary versatility, lending its unique flavor to jams, jellies, and desser ... Learn More

Bright sprays of fragrant cruciform flowers open in early spring on this rare, miniscule and very unusual member of the cruciferae, which deserves a place in a pot in an alpine house, or in a well-drained scree or rockery. Primuloides means 'like a primula', making this another one to baffle the experts! ... Learn More

Both rare and extremely beautiful, these completely hardy members of the "African Violet" family make dark green rosettes of hairy succulent leaves from which arise round-faced, yellow-eyed, purple flowers. They are very, very long-lived in walls where they will slowly get bigger year after year, and can stand an unbelievable amount of cold, heat and drought. ... Learn More

These completely hardy members of the "African Violet" family make dark green rosettes of hairy succulent leaves from which arise round-faced, yellow-eyed, pure white flowers. They are very, very long-lived in walls where they will slowly get bigger year after year, and can stand an unbelievable amount of cold, heat and drought. ... Learn More

The beautiful sky blue flowers of this rare and lovely plant are similar to, but distinctly different from the more commonly seen flowers of R. myconi. It grows in Serbia and Macedonia, mainly in the east of both countries and is well known on the Nidze mountain near Bitola in Macedonia. It was named after the Serbian queen Natalija Obrenovic and is also known as the phoenix flower, referring to the resurrection of the Serbian state after the destruction during World War I. Please note, seeds are extremely small, take care when opening. ... Learn More

Palest moonlight buttermilk coloured blooms, like clouds of shimmering butterflies, produced all spring and summer. Admired greatly here where they naturalise gently along pathways. ... Learn More

This is one of the loveliest of the alpine buttercups with attractive grey-green, glaucous leaves, and short stems carrying open, golden-eyed, pure white flowers. These gems come from the Pyrenees, and the Cantabrian Mountains. ... Learn More

One of the very biggest, and most impressive of all buttercups, this easy-to-grow giant opens enormous, bright green, maple-like leaves beneath large heads of large bunches of huge, shiny yellow buttercups, each with a bright green eye! This display continues until autumn when it dies completely away into a tuber, re-emerging again in early spring. This unexpectedly hardy plant is native to all of the Canary islands and will do best in rich, rather moist soils. ... Learn More

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 shiny green carpets of tightly-packed foliage. on the banks of streams and rivers, or else in the more shaded areas under hedgerows. A valuable addition to any garden, as the bright green shiny foliage is an astonishing annual weed suppressant. Annual seeds simply do not have light to survive until may or June, when the celandine's leaves promptly die completely away, leaving just tiny harmless tubers until the following February. Contra ... Learn More