From the Canary Islands comes this attractive and very fragrant plant which bears three-lobed leaves that are strongly aromatic, and in summer pretty sprays of pink, two-lipped flowers appear over a long period in late spring and summer. The dried leaves are often used in cooking as herbs and spices. It is ideal for a sheltered or hot position, where it will best thrive and is a perpetual magnet for bees and butterflies. Plant it on the edge of a pathway where the spreading stems constantly get brushed and crushed for best effects! ... Learn More

This unusual specimen can finally grow into a tall, deciduous tree bearing large, short, sharp prickles all along the branches, and also on the trunk which has a pronounced buttress at the base. The leaves drop off in the dry season, and it is leafless for a long period, allowing the glorious array of large and beautifully-marked pink flowers to display to their best. The large Kapok seed pods contain the fibrous fluff which has been used since early times for a large variety of uses. ... Learn More

This spectacular, fast-growing tree, unbelievably, a member of the Mallow family, bears very tropical-looking palmate foliage, and has an extraordinary bulbous green trunk studded with astonishingly-large, triangular-shaped "thorns". It produces extremely beautiful, sizeable pink and cream lily-like flowers, which are fragrant and borne in great profusion, and are followed by large woody pods that split open to release the long white flossy hairs of the famous kapok. It is native to North-Eastern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil. Although finally becoming an open ground tree in ... Learn More

This is one of the prettiest of Celosias with graceful waves of rose-pink flowers shading to white at the base. The tall, branching stems, up to one metre in height are amazing as both a fresh cut or dried flower. Also makes a fine feature in bedding schemes. ... Learn More

A large shrubby annual producing an abundance of purple feathery plumes over bold, dark red-green foliage. A great cut and dried flower, good for use as contrasting foliage plant in formal bedding schemes. and at the back of the border. ... Learn More

This rarely-seen, tall upright herbaceous perennial produces sprays of tiny, foamy, greeny-white flowers on long stems above fern-like foliage from mid-summer through into autumn which are a magnet for bees and butterflies adding a touch of lightness to any planting scheme. It makes a superb companion to astrantias and was a wow at a recent Chelsea Flower Show. ... Learn More

A new, quite priceless, late-season plant. The shoots only appear above ground relatively late in the season, and soon produce fat buds which open into bright crimson flowers from July until October on thin stems, which bear very attractive, thick, rubbery blue leaves. This bone hardy plant, collected at high altitude, in boggy conditions, above Copper Canyon on our Mexican expedition in 2003, is almost certainly unknown in cultivation. ... Learn More

An ancient garden favourite making both a splendid border plant and is also perfect for cutting and in addition making a most attractive pot plant for the greenhouse. This lovely native UK wild flower, with its beautiful blue flowers, was once common, often as a cornfield weed, but is now rare. ... Learn More

Cornflower is one of the hardiest and easiest flowers to grow and the masses of dark mauve, double flower heads will be stunning in the border. This variety makes for an ideal choice for a cut flower and dries brilliantly too. A long standing favourite. Extremely attractive to bees. Prefers full sun and a rich well drained soil. ... Learn More

Classic Magic Cornflower produces single, semi-double flowers in attractive purple to almost black shades, and purple and white bi-colours. This stunning flower is ideal for cutting or creating swathes of colour when sown in drifts. Sow in early spring for armfuls of flowers to pick all through the summer. Easily grown, it also makes a most attractive pot plant for the cold greenhouse. ... Learn More

Cornflower Classic Romantic is a delightful mixture of charming shades, ranging from light pink to red on lovely single and double blooms. This variety is an easy to grow and long flowering hardy annual, making it a splendid border plant and also a fine flower for cutting. It is attractive to bees and butterflies so is a beautiful way to invite these insect friends into your garden. It also makes a most attractive pot plant for the cold greenhouse. ... Learn More

A mixture of coolurs of the traditional and easy to grow annual corn flower. ... Learn More

An easily grown, cottage garden favourite. It is a bushy plant with deeply cut leaves and bears lovely large, fluffy, sweet-scented flowers. Wonderful for the border and brilliant for cutting. ... Learn More

The grey-green waxy leaves and very sweetly-perfumed red flowers, occasionally pink or white with no intermediate shades, combine to perfection, and look best grown en-masse on banks, or when allowed to self-seed in walls and paving. They are very attractive to bees and butterflies and other pollinating insects and will even grow well in shallow soil where virtually nothing else will grow. And additionally, in olden times, and even now, both leaves and roots can be eaten, the leaves either fresh in salads or lightly boiled, the roots boiled in soups! ... Learn More

A large, non-spreading clump-forming plant displays long-stemmed sprays of large creamy yellow "pincushion scabious" flowers over an extended period in the summer. This is an exceptional specimen plant either on its own or at the back of the border. ... Learn More