Purple-green bell flowers, (resembling an ancient nightshade) are deep purple inside, and hang on thick stems bearing soft leaves. Later appear the juicy, shiny, black berries. But be warned, its common name is true and appropriate. It was derived from the fact that in ancient times women would put tinctures of the berry juice into their eyes to dilate the pupils to 'make them appear more beautiful': BELLA DONNA = BEAUTIFUL LADY! All parts of this plant are extremely poisonous, producing the drug atropine, commonly used in eye examinations, (and also scopolamine and hyocyamine) so do not e ... Learn More

Seeds were collected from these lovely cascading plants growing over walls in our gardens. They come in a wide variety of colours from reds to blues and even the occasional palest blue or white. ... Learn More

These seeds were collected from our own twenty year old plants which were originally grown from seeds collected from the famous Exbury Gardens. Colours come in all shades from pale lemon to deepest red, and every flower is dripping with heady perfume in spring and early summer. ... Learn More

Very rarely offered is this dwarf shrub carrying shiny rubbery foliage with superb, waxy two inch, pink-tinged, white flared bells. A stunning plant from the Azores, thus appreciating winter protection. Excellent conservatory plant which can stand neglect. ... Learn More

Collected on our 1994 Chile Expedition (RB94142) and new to cultivation is this dwarf South American equivalent to a New Zealand olearia. A compact evergreen shrublet bearing neat, diminutive, toothed leathery leaves. In July countless small 'shaving-brush' flowers smother its dome, before they become 'snowballs', turning the entire plant white. No-one will guess what this is! ... Learn More

Native to southern Africa, this lovely relative of "Autumn Crocuses" is commonly called "Beetle Lily" due to the dark markings on the tepals. Strangely, the epithet actually means "single flowered" which is contradicted by the fact that the stem generally bears at least two yellow flowers. It is best grown in a warm scree or even in a pot indoors. ... Learn More

Little known in cultivation or in books is this very rare geranium relative from the Andes. Sprays of bright yellow flowers over finely cut leaves. Sharp drainage and a protected spot, or pot culture are essential for this gem. ... Learn More

One of the tallest grasses in the world, this true giant has numerous branches at the nodes with one or two being exceptionally large with many stems tufted onto a stout root stock. Although it thrives in tropical to subtropical climates and is best grown in warm humid temperate areas, it can be easily grown as a pot plant or for impressive summer bedding. Its young shoots are consumed as food in some parts of China and India and new shoots start growing slowly, but soon grow approximately 30 cm per day, indeed 75 cm in one day has been recorded in Sri Lanka. Its hard wood is also used by Chin ... Learn More

The legendary 'Upside-Down-Tree' (Adamsonia digitata) makes an intriguing, long-lived bonsai or conservatory plant and is easily grown from seed. In the wild this tree is a valuable food commodity, the huge sausage fruits being the source of cream of tartar. ... Learn More

Handsome evergreen winter rosettes of shiny green leaves marbled with cream blotches. Branching sprays of bright yellow flowers in spring. A lovely old cottage garden favourite. ... Learn More

This relatively compact but quite fast-growing oriental-looking tree bears extremely beautiful, fragrant, pink, five petalled orchid-like flowers. The branches are clad with large, deeply two-lobed leaves. Native to South China and south east Asia, it thrives outdoors in such places as Hawaii, coastal California, southern Texas, and Florida. Although the tree can stand a small amount of frost it will also do well in a conservatory. Very easy to grow from seed, in traditional medicine systems it is often used to treat various disease. ... Learn More

One of the world's most gorgeous and desirable trees bearing clusters of large, sweetly-scented, magenta or pink, orchid-like flowers, which are variegated with a striking yellow flash, and open in great profusion. The branches are clad with large, deeply two-lobed leaves. Although the tree can stand a significant amount of frost it will do best in warm countries or a conservatory. ... Learn More

A most valuable and exceptionally beautiful, evergreen twining plant for the cool greenhouse or conservatory, with rich green leaves that are hairy beneath, and bearing on well-ripened wood an abundance of beautiful, large, white, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers from spring until late summer. A strong and heavy climber, this plant will need a strong structure, as without support it will form a large mound, rather like a wisteria. Although Beaumontia is a tropical vine, it can tolerate a light frost for short periods. ... Learn More

Sizeable, golden-eyed, ivory-white flowers open on tall stems above fleshy leaves. Resembling an anemone rather than a typical begonia, this extremely rare plant is endemic to the high tropical or subtropical montane forests of Equador, where it is threatened by habitat loss and classified as vulnerable by IUCN. (The International Union for Conservation of Nature). In colder areas the plant may be cut to the ground, but the tuber invariably sprouts again the following spring. ... Learn More

Large stunning clusters of bright red flowers are displayed on this scrambling shrub which is rare in cultivation, and will make a magnificent and easily grown ornamental for warm temperate climates. One of the world's largest begonias, it can grow up to 3 m tall in its native haunts in the cloud and montane rainforests in Colombia and northwestern Venezuela, where it is happy at between 1700 and 4000 m. ... Learn More