This attractive bellevalia has bi-colored inflorescence, flowers turning from a bright lilac-blue to pale brownish green on opening with long basal leaves spreading on the ground. In its native environments of Italy, Greece and western Turkey, it occurs on rocky hillsides, but is easily grown in any rich, well drained soil in a sunny spot. ... Learn More

Between March and May this small bulbous plant from the Middle East has fleshy, mid green, lance like leaves and bears numerous short stems of pale-rimmed dark, inky-blue flowers. It prefers a very well drained soil in full sun and a dry summer dormancy or baking in the ground, making it ideal for a hot bank, scree or rockery in areas where summers may be wet. Will naturalise where happy. Also make a lovely pot plant! ... Learn More

From April onwards, tight conical clusters of pale blue buds open into compacted spikes of flared, waxy white flowers, each flower bell having attractively contrasting navy blue anthers. These flowers have an attractive fragrance which is especially noticeable in the evening. This lovely little plant should be grown more often but is rare in cultivation. ... Learn More

A rare and unusual small shrub bearing unusually large, thick, shiny, holly-like leaves and masses of yellow flowers in spring, followed later by shiny black berries. ... Learn More

Berkheya cirsifolia, commonly referred to as the Silver Berkheya or the Silver Thistle, is a captivating perennial native to South Africa. Its distinct silver-gray foliage, deeply lobed and velvety to the touch, sets it apart. This hardy plant typically reaches heights of 1 to 3 feet and bears thistle-like flowers with striking silver-gray bracts encircling the central yellow disc, creating flower heads of 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Bloom occurs during the late spring and summer months, adding a touch of uniqueness to the landscape. The sturdy, upright stems provide structural support to the f ... Learn More

Dark-eyed mauve dahlia-like flowers arise from clumps of prickly thistle leaves. An intriguing introduction from high in the South African mountains. This newcomer demands a hot sunny spot to give of its best. We have included seed from a few pure white-flowered seedlings. ... Learn More

From a yucca-like, but softer leaved rosette of sword-like leaves, arise huge arching spikes of red and green flowers, much resembling a dragon's head. One of the world's most magnificent hardy plants, very long-lived in a well-drained sheltered spot. Very few good seeds are ever collected. ... Learn More

This attractive, medium-sized tree of low to medium elevations in the Mountains and adjacent areas in the Piedmont of North Carolina, can sometimes be misidentified as a Cherry tree. In some older tree specimens the bark can develop vertical cracks into irregular scaly plates revealing rough darkish brown bark patterns (unlike most birches). This, however, does not occur in all specimens. The twigs, when scraped, have a strong scent of oil of wintergreen. The trees can also be tapped for syrup in a similar fashion to maples. ... Learn More

A striking new double form with a compact, lax habit, and an exceptionally long flowering period. The golden, daisy-like, double blooms smother the ferny foliage from early summer onwards. Brighten up your hanging baskets and containers, or let their trailing stems spread through gravel gardens and the front of borders. Likes a sunny position. ... Learn More

In early summer dense sprays of bright yellow trumpet flowers erupt from amidst bright green glossy leaves on a slowly spreading woody vine. Bizarre cat's-claw-like tentacles are used by the plant to fix itself to almost any vertical surface. ... Learn More

A choice Tasmanian climber grown outside for twenty years here. Thin twining stems produce creamy-yellow purple-tipped waxy flowers in spring. In autumn, outstandingly lovely clusters of deepest violet grape-sized berries appear. ... Learn More

A serious contender for the world's most attractive palm, the impressive blue-silver fan-shaped leaves can reach up to 2m in width and are divided into 20 segments each. When mature it produces strong, star-shaped stems carrying just a small number of enormous seeds. A staggeringly attractive plant, when I first encountered one in the Canary Islands I simply stood in awe for two or three minutes. A monotypic palm (ie the only one of its genus) it was named for the first chancellor of the German Empire, Prince Otto von Bismarck. The plant is as statuesque and impressive as the man was himself, ... Learn More

This lovely tropical and sub-tropical shrub or bushy tree has glossy, ovate, evergreen leaves on twigs which are covered with rust-coloured scales when young and are bare when older. Sprays of attractive pink and white flowers open, producing striking, bright red, two-valved fruits, covered with dense soft bristles. When ripe, they split open revealing masses of small, inedible, fleshy seeds, covered with red-orange pulp. The inedible fruit is harvested for its seeds which produce the reddish orange dye annatto, which is one of the most important food grade natural colourants widely used in t ... Learn More

This relatively easy-to-grow, deciduous orchid produces broad, pleated, aspidistra-like leaves. In late spring, arching stems of superb pink orchid flowers appear, with the very occasional white form appearing. Once established, this plant is a valuable garden treasure as it is quite hardy, but it may be grown in a pot to overwinter inside where winters are extremely cold. It prefers a cool, organic soil if possible in a shaded or woodland situation where the rhizomes can slowly spread over the years. Fresh seeds are collected from our gardens each year. ... Learn More

Drifts of fragrant, nodding "Common Blue Bells" are one of the most enduring sights of spring in English woods. These seeds were collected from the wild plants on Devon banks surrounding our gardens. These are Scilla non-scripta seeds. ... Learn More