With its clusters of creamy white flowers, this must be one of South Africa's prettiest indigenous perennials. Growing in small clumps, the countless flower heads stand on long, naked stems above the finely divided, almost fern-like leaves, which form opposite each other along the lower part of the stems, gently moving with the slightest breeze. On warm summer days, butterflies cover these filigree mounds for this is one of their favourite nectar plants. A long succession of beautiful flowers appears from early spring to the middle of summer. ... Learn More

A gorgeous, slowly-spreading plant, producing 'pincushion' flowers on many branching stems over a very, very long flowering season, often into winter!. This rarely seen colour makes a bright splash even in the darkest corner. The dense, double, scabious like flowers are a brilliantly strong crimson-cherry-red, a rare colour in border flowers, and in time it makes a large, neat, rounded bushy plant producing countless flowers which are also excellent for cutting. Although its alternative name is Knautia, (pronounced 'naughtier'), this easy to grow, strikingly beautiful plant, thankfully doesn ... Learn More

Scabiosa vestita, commonly known as the Hairy Pincushion Flower, is a captivating perennial that enchants with its unique features and graceful appearance. Belonging to the Dipsacaceae family, this plant is native to regions with diverse climates, showcasing its adaptability. The Hairy Pincushion Flower is renowned for its distinctive hairy stems and leaves, which contribute to its charming and textured aesthetic. The intricate blossoms of Scabiosa vestita are a delightful blend of lavender and lilac hues, forming intricate pincushion-like flower heads. Each bloom consists of a central dome ... Learn More

The most striking of all schizanthus, purple-veined yellow-tongued, crimson orchid-like flowers. Gorgeous pot or sheltered rockery plant. ... Learn More

Larger-than-normal, cup-shaped deep pink flowers open continuously over slowly running clumps of sword-shaped leaves. Plants grown from seeds from this famous, late-blooming, "Zeal Salmon" variety flower from summer right into the following winter and even all-winter-long in a sheltered spot and if it is mild. This must be one of the longest flowering plants in the garden! ... Learn More

This new stunning variety has unusually large flowers of deepest, most luscious, lipstick-red, which open on strong stems from early summer onwards for a very long period. This superb, vigorous, rapidly multiplying new plant will thrive in all conditions from a hot dry spot to shallow water, and in a sheltered area these plants can continue flowering right through the winter. ... Learn More

Large, cup-shaped scarlet flowers open continuously over slowly running clumps of sword-shaped leaves. In bloom from spring until the first serious frosts of winter, and even all-winter-long if it is mild, this must be one of the longest flowering plants in the garden! ... Learn More

Large, palest pink flowers open on this vigorous, clump-forming perennial bearing narrow, bright green leaves. Seeds were collected from the cultivar known as Jennifer which bears flower spikes of open, cup-shaped blossoms which appear from early summer until late autumn, and if mild weather prevails, right through the winter in a mild spot. ... Learn More

This rare pure white form has slightly narrower petals than the coloured varieties but still flowers over the entire year in warmer gardens even during the winter! Once established mature clumps continue to produce a seemingly endless supply of attractive crocus-like flowers. Occasionally odd seedlings may produce pale pink flowers. ... Learn More

From clumps of sword-shaped leaves arise stems of cup-shaped flowers from white, through pinks to deepest vermilion. This South African Gladiolus relative provides valuable colour from August right through autumn and into winter if it remains mild. ... Learn More

A lovely new-to-cultivation grass, discovered in forest on the mountains of South Africa. Clumps of sharp, angled leaves surround early sprays of green spears which later become dangling golden tassels on weeping stems. ... Learn More

A spectacular, small to medium sized, deciduous or evergreen tree that can reach up to 20 m tall. With a spreading crown, compound leaves and a profusion of deep red flowers in spring, it is well-suited to shade as an ornamental tree in warmer regions. The new leaves are bright red and add to the tree's attractiveness. It is named for the copious nectar that drips from its flowers, which attracts various species of birds and insects. ... Learn More

Clusters of bright-pink pom-pom flowers, between 1-2 cm across, are dotted with yellow from the prominent anthers on this trailing vine, and are quite remarkable. The spiny pink or green stems and touch-sensitive foliage that folds up, (rather like the "Sensitive Plant" Mimosa pudica), make this a quite intriguing plant to display in a conservatory in cooler climates, or trained along an outside wall in warmer and more temperate zones. It is native to the central USA and is named for Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist who resided in the US for many years. ... Learn More

Dense racemes of purple-blue flowers appear very suddenly in late summer and early autumn, before the linear leaves. One day it is summer, and the next day they are there! Rare in the UK, it is now restricted to Cornwall, parts of Devon and the Channel Islands. ... Learn More

Star-shaped, bell-like violet-blue flowers open over waxy, strap-like leaves in early spring. Endemic to central and southern Europe and Turkey. This heirloom is one of the most shade-tolerant bulbs, naturalising easily under shrubs or in grass where the massed heads can really create a purple haze. ... Learn More