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

From China and Korea comes this giant feature plant, which makes a clump of tall stems with dangling panicles of tan flowers, loved by butterflies and other pollinating insects. Although it is in the same family as the horrid stinging nettles, it has no stinging abilities whatsoever, just 'stunning' abilities. With its intricately-veined, shiny, green leaves, it makes a great bold feature in any garden, living happily in sun or shade as long as the soil is evenly moist but well-drained. This venom-less pussycat can even gently self seeds if happy. ... Learn More

This rare Chilean, climbing, alstroemeria relative has clusters of flared, lapageria-like red blooms, opening from mid summer onwards, on strong twining stems. In late autumn, bunches of persistent bright orange berries appear. ... Learn More

An absolute beauty from the edges of the cold Chilean jungle. Ascending, twining stems bearing glossy leaves end in multi-headed clusters of exotic, stunningly marked and speckled, alstroemeria-like, orange, yellow and red flowers. Huge seed pods slowly form, and then from October until Christmas these slowly split open, revealing the bright red seeds inside. This incredible plant makes very deep, long-lived tubers and is completely hardy here having withstood minus 15 Centigrade. ... Learn More

Gorgeous, closely-packed trusses of tubular flowers open in early summer, each flower being of a deepest burgundy, clasped at the base with a violet calyx and stem! What a fantastic colour combination on this form of this rare plant from Colombia and Venezuela! Like most bomareas, (which are basically "climbing alstroemerias") it will prefer a warm sunny spot in deep, well-drained soil, when it will scramble up any available support or shrub before festooning itself with flower buds. Alternatively, it will also make an impressive specimen in a sizeable deep pot or a greenhouse border. ... Learn More

Bunches of magnificent, delicately marked, flared, dark pink trumpets hang from twining vines decked with fleshy green leaves. Fabulous either climbing another shrub or on a support and it weaves through a conifer here. Plant out when still small. ... Learn More

This is the rare pure white form of Borago officinalis, "Borage" or "Bugloss", which is a famous old medicinal plant with a very rich history, having been used in a versatile manner for medicinal, culinary and ornamental purposes. In the early part of nineteenth century, and indeed right up until today, the young leaves can be used in salads and the young tops boiled as a pot herb. The fresh herb is considered as a coolant that renders 'coolness' when steeped in water. Refreshing and restorative summer drinks can be made with it after mixing it with lemon, water or wine! In addition, the com ... Learn More

This rare collector's succulent plant has an amazing adaptation! Climbing inflorescences that harvest photosynthetic light in the absence of aerial leaves. This has made it a valuable curiosity amongst bulb enthusiasts worldwide. But in southern Africa this species faces severe threat due to collecting for the medicinal market. Herbalists constantly rate this species as one of the top six medicinal species to have become scarce as a result of over-utilization. ... Learn More

This exceptionally dainty rock plant has thin, dark-coloured stems, bearing clouds of gypsophila-like, red-eyed white stars, possessing an unusual peppery perfume. Very rare in the wild in the USA this unusual plant makes a choice specimen for a moist shady bed in the garden. ... Learn More

From the Rocky Mountains, this high alpine Boykinia relative has heads of five-petalled, cherry-red flowers, held just above a cushion of leathery, scalloped leaves in early spring. It is long-lived when happy in the rockery or alpine trough, where it prefers lean, gritty soil or scree, in full sun with a cool root run. ... Learn More

This is the rare white form, from the Rocky Mountains, this high alpine Boykinia relative has heads of five-petalled, pure white flowers, held just above a cushion of leathery, scalloped leaves in early spring. It is long-lived when happy in the rockery or alpine trough, where it prefers lean, gritty soil or scree, in full sun with a cool root run. ... Learn More

Thin stems bear open arrays of many white flowers, each with five tiny pointed sepals and five larger oval petals. Native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to California, it grows in shady areas near riverbanks and streams, each heart-shaped leaf having reddish hairs and several rounded lobes with teeth along the edges. ... Learn More

This uncommon plant is endemic to southern California, where it grows in shady forested areas near streams in the mountains. It bears a dense array of many small white flowers, each with five tiny pointed sepals and five larger oval petals and reaches up to a meter tall on a thin wiry stems. ... Learn More

This is one of the most profuse and long-flowering annuals, each plant producing clouds of blue to purple flowers from July until late autumn. Flowering so heavily that the feathery foliage is often obscured, its tidy, mounding growth habit is useful in borders or as an edging. Also a good choice for filling in around tall, leggy plants and carpeting bare spots. Especially effective draping over retaining walls, in pots and hanging baskets. ... Learn More