From South Africa comes this beautiful, rare, easy-to-grow, desirable treasure. In early spring, long-stemmed, erect spikes of white flowers open from pink buds, the frothy blooms being topped by the rest of the densely held buds which open from the bottom upwards. It is drought and heat tolerant and will grow in any well-drained soil, and in warmer climes it is evergreen, increasing both by root and seed with time. An excellent cut flower, it is widespread in the winter rainfall area of South Africa where it grows on sandstone, granite, or clay. In cooler countries it will need protecting from hard frosts or it can be grown in pots. ... Learn More

Clumps of green fleshy leaves surround strong stems holding pyramid-shaped heads of buds which open into bright yellow starry flowers over a good period in early summer. Related to B. rossii, this lovely New Zealand flower has several variants which differ very little in stature. Bulbinella gibbsii var. gibbsii is confined to Stewart Island, and Bulbinella gibbsii var. balanifera is found in moist but well-drained rocky sites in the south of the North Island, and to the west of the South Island, in high rainfall areas, south of Arthur’s Pass. Few seeds. ... Learn More

From the mountains of southern New Zealand comes this fine hardy plant, with dwarf grassy clumps which sprout thick spires of starry, deep yellow flowers, vaguely like "Red-hot Pokers". With fleshy edible roots, (should you be hungry), this New Zealand gem is totally hardy and improves over the years. ... Learn More

Glowing and shimmering in the sunny border, this graceful, aromatic, evergreen shrub has dense, spreading, most attractive long, slender, erect shoots, bearing oval, waxy, blue-green leaves and domed umbels of star-shaped, yellow flowers from midsummer to early autumn. Indeed, the large bright yellow umbels in summer are the only clue that this rare plant is an astrantia relative! Although astonishingly hardy, it makes a perfect sea-side plant where it can thrive in the salty breeze! ... Learn More

Another recently discovered, lovely new plant which has fine umbels of bright yellow flowers on repeatedly branching sprays. Best sown direct where it is to flower. The flowers, which resemble those of alchemilla, are excellent for cutting. ... Learn More

Obtained from a fanatical grower of these lovely umbellifers, this extremely rare plant, with compact heads of yellow-brown flowers, is found in the wild apparently only in the mountainous region of the Turkish Taurus mountains in the region of of the Cilician Gate! In case you are curious, the Cilician Gates (or Gülek Pass) a pass through the Taurus Mountains, connects the low plains of Cilicia to the Anatolian Plateau, through the narrow gorge of the Gökoluk River, climbing to over 1000m. We have no pictures other than of the remarkably unusual and attractive seeds, which do not resemble in the slightest those of any other bupleurum we have ever seen. Very few seeds. ... Learn More

This lovely plant is a rare UK native wild flower, bearing perfoliate leaves (speared around the stem like a kebab), and large showy umbels of tiny yellowish-green flowers surrounded by attractive, pointed, bright green bracts. ... Learn More

This gorgeous, slow-growing South East Asian native tree opens its bright orange-red flowers, produced in clusters up to 15 cm long, from January to March, when it becomes a tree of flame, an absolute riot of orange and vermilion flowers, which cover the entire crown, massed along the ends of the stalks. Each flower consists of five petals comprising a standard, two smaller wings, and a curved beak-shaped keel, hence the name of "Parrot Tree". Traditionally the flowers were used to make the bright colour for the festival of Holi. In Manipur, when a member of the Meitei community dies and his body cannot be be found, the wood of this tree is often cremated in place of the body. It is also said that the tree is a form of Agnidev, God of Fire and was a punishment given to him by Goddess Parvati, for disturbing Her and Lord Shiva's privacy. And finally, the gum from the tree called "kamarkas" in Hindi is used in certain food dishes ... Learn More

Golden orange-yellow, ray-less flower heads with spiky anthers, radiate out in a narrow cluster atop stout stems growing from a clump of basal leaves which are hairy and woolly especially on the undersides. This is the only species in the genus Cacaliopsis, although it is sometimes included in Luina, a small genus of western North America. These shade-loving plants are often found in oak or pine forests or meadows. ... Learn More

Beautifully fringed, orange and red blooms cover this magnificent, West Indian shrub which has most attractive deeply divided foliage. In a warm country or very well-protected UK garden or a conservatory, it makes one of the most spectacular plants you can ever be lucky enough to grow. ... Learn More

Flower heads open tinted red and pink before fading to silver-grey, when they last well into winter and are ideal for drying and cutting. Makes a tight, non-weeping, well-controlled clump. Perfect for a shady spot or bank. ... Learn More

This lovely dwarf catmint forms a low cushion of hairy fragrant leaves, above which, from July until September, arise short spikes carrying globular clusters of bright pink flowers, rather like a candelabra. This is possibly the last of the catmints to be in flower. Wild Basil has mauve coloured flowers unlike Garden Basil which has white flowers. ... Learn More

This very valuable, fragrant-leaved plant is equally at home in the front-of-border or herb garden, being smothered with comparatively large pink flowers all summer long. ... Learn More

The attractive osier-like Rattan palm, a climbing palm, has pale yellow fruits, about 0.5 cm across, resembling small, pointed cones, arranged in a raceme. These are often known as “canella berries” in the potpourri trade. It is alsothe source of “palm spirals,” either as a tubular spiral or pyramidal spiral, the individual stems 0.5-1 cm wide, the entire spirals 5-10 cm high. It is widely cultivated In India and Australia but in the wild is native to Indonesia, Java and Bali in Indonesia; Peninsular Malaysia; all parts of Thailand; Cambodia; Cochinchina and Central Annam in Vietnam; all parts of Laos; Myanmar; Bangladesh; and Andaman. ... Learn More

Appropriately named plants!! Out of large blue-green rubbery rosettes spring many sprays holding exceptionally lovely silky purple-pink large flowers. They have a long flowering season and with luck will self-seed on a scree. These delightful flowers are related to the North American lewisias, but come from Chile in South America. ... Learn More