In the first year, this rewarding, but sadly becoming-rarer British native flower, makes a large striking rosette of floppy dark green leaves, its strong roots soon dying safely away underground for the winter. The following spring, strong stems bear clusters of large, attractive purple "thistle" flowers, which open from mid summer to autumn. They then produce branches decorated with attractive, cherry-sized hooked burrs, or seed capsules, which are often used by children to throw onto coats and woolly jumpers causing much distress to their parents! The roots are black on the outside, and usua ... Learn More

The "Himalayan Coralberry" is a cool growing compact bush from the eastern Himalayas bearing dark green leaves with undulate margins. Profuse, star-shaped, white to pale pink flowers in early summer produce many berries in autumn and throughout winter and early spring, which remain on the plant giving it a very decorative look, making it ideal for growing as a pot plant for indoors, although it can stand mild frosts. Though not usually grown as a fruit crop, the berries, which have have a mild sweet taste, are edible and children are very fond of them. ... Learn More

This rarely grown, dwarf, clustering Thai palm really does make a nice potted plant or smaller plant, where it will do well in a shady spot in the tropical or warm subtropical garden. Native to Thailand and other parts of South-East Asia, it is an understorey palm, with densely clustering, thin, canelike stems and small leaves that are dark green above and silvery white below. The attractive leaflets are roughly fishtail-shaped and have jaggedly toothed margins. ... Learn More

Leafy stems grow most attractively variegated, prickly lobed leaves. The large, showy flowers can vary from pale peach to yellow, and have a dark red 3 to 6 lobed stigma. Coming from Mexico, this lovely annual flower can survive, and indeed thrive, in the hottest conditions. ... Learn More

Huge, ivory-white flower heads open up to 6in across, with beautiful, prominent stamens. Much loved by bees and butterflies, the prickles are also an excellent deterrent to rabbits and browsing insects and animals! These amazing plants are absolutely perfect for those difficult, hot and dry, sunny situations. ... Learn More

This Chilean plant is quite new to cultivation and is a most imposing annual plant. It very easy to grow, and spectacular to watch with its big yellow flowers and thorny, silvery leaves, buds and fruits. Once established, it will resow automatically each year only growing in spots it chooses and where it is happy, but never being a nuisance! ... Learn More

This superb species from Manchuria has triple-divided, crisped edge leaves and a purple-ended, emerald green spathe broadly lined with white. It is easily grown in almost any garden soil, although best in humus enriched loam in light shade. One of the most northerly species, this variety is very hardy. ... Learn More

Strikingly attractive, long-tailed, neatly pin-striped spathes, open in May and June on mottled, 10 to 15 inch stems with the spoked leaves piercing like parasols above the flowers. It appears rather later than many other species but is an exquisite garden plant being excellent outside in the garden in a half-shaded spot in a humus-rich soil, well drained but moisture retentive. Once established this valuable plant will increase quickly by tuber-bearing stolons and seed. ... Learn More

This truly spectacular plant rears its glossy spathe hood, which is startlingly striped in purple-brown to maroon and vanilla-cream. From the Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces in China this magnificent plant has an equally attractive leaf made up of many narrow leaflets that radiate out from a central axis, the effect being much like the spokes of an umbrella! ... Learn More

A long-lived attractive tuberous plant with striking, cobra head-like flowers amidst long-stemmed deeply divided leaves. Later appear the large heads of bright red berries which persist throughout the winter being especially attractive when it snows. ... Learn More

This exciting Himalayan arum relative has most impressive, deeply-cut, hand-like leaves, from which arise the fascinating 'flowers'. A floppy yellow hood-like spathe protects the purple waxy spadix. Very long-lived and bulks up by division of the corms. ... Learn More

The compact variety of this lovely shade-loving plant opens its flowers in early summer on erect stems bearing most attractive, bright yellow spathes with brown throats, these are yellowish green on the outside and faintly-striped. The two palmate divided leaves are ovate to lance-shaped. ... Learn More

The "Whipcord Cobra Lily" has a distinctive green whip-like spadix, which is of a considerable length and points skywards. It arises from the mouth of its "jack-in the-pulpit" flower, which flares at the mouth to reveal the pale green, white-striped, interior. This is one of the best in the genus, being also the largest, sometimes growing to more than 6 feet! The blooms appear later in the year than many other varieties, thus prolonging the season of interest, the initially green clustered fruits finally ripening to amazing, absolutely enormous heavy heads of bright red berries late in the ... Learn More

This favourite of children is best known for its spring to early summer display of hooded, green spathes which are attractively striped with purple. It is actually a tuberous perennial producing one or two insignificant leaves, each divided into three narrow leaflets. Finally, autumn brings clusters of densely packed, showy red berries. ... Learn More

A fantastic iris relative from southern africa that produces spires of deep violet blue flowers, above clumps of sword shaped leaves. prefering full sun and a free draining position this plant will quickly produce a large architectural display in a border or large container. ... Learn More