This vigorous, astonishingly hardy, evergreen climber has extremely fragrant flowers which can vary from white through pale green to pale purple, and appear in clusters in spring and early summer. Much later, right into early winter, very large, pinkish-purple sausage-shaped fruits ripen. In late winter and spring these split open revealing the seeds held in a mass of edible white jelly. This beautiful, vigorous, evergreen climber has dark green leathery leaves which are composed of three oblong, pointed leaflets held on strong twining stems enabling it to climb. It is native to central China where it grows in scrubby thickets and mountain slopes and was introduced into the UK by Earnest Wilson in 1907 and is useful as a vigorous evergreen climber, suitable for climbing over structures or on trellis. The etymological root of the latin name Holboellia is named after the Danish ornithologist Carl Peter Holboell (1795-1856). Coriacea is from Latin meaning 'leather’, in reference to this climber’s leaves. . ... Learn More

Tall spires hold numerous large, silky, glistening, almost black trumpets, in fact the darkest we have seen. If left to self-seed these flowers are amongst the most magnificent of specimens. In addition, this herb can be used in the same manner as marshmallow; the flowers, with the calyx removed, are commonly used to treat colds as they are a demulcent. Historically, hollyhocks have been used for many other types of medication and also as dye plants. ... Learn More

This generous packet contains a wide mix of single hollyhock cultivars and species in all colours from white to deepest purple. ... Learn More

A mix of common hollyhock forms in a wide range of colours, with a few of the more unusual species added that have been collected in too small a quantity to list separately. These might surprise you! (eg. A. rugosa, pallida, nudiflora). This mix will make for a bright and varied collection of Hollyhocks that will naturalise easily in your garden. ... Learn More

Frilly, palest sulphur yellow flowers open on strong tall stems on this lovely cottage-garden favourite. At Plant World we plant this and 'Black-Beauty' side-by-side for a perfect contrast. These plants will often gently self-seed, producing fabulous drifts when they are happy. ... Learn More

A generous mixture of various red hollyhock shades from darkest maroons and scarlets, to palest pinks, all collected from our cottage gardens. The odd bee-pollinated intruder may sometimes appear! ... Learn More

Found on mountain slopes, and flats of sand or clay in the south west Cape, this brightly-coloured gem opens its flowers, above a single linear leaf, in the afternoon from July until September. Although the orange flowers (rarely yellow) resemble tulips, they are in fact members of the iris family. These quite exceptional plants, which will self-seed and naturalise happily in warmer and drier climates, only came into cultivation in the 1990's. ... Learn More

From the ramonda-like rosettes of this tiny salvia relative arise many spikes holding dark violet-blue flowers which are most attractive to butterflies. Ideal in wall, trough or rock garden, this alpine gem is seldom seen, although it is an easy plant for the rock garden or for edging in a moist border. It looks particularly good when growing in the cracks between rocks, where the roots can search for cool and moist conditions. ... Learn More

In spring the spectacular trusses of pink and white flowers hang between the huge distinctive leaves, which have five or more long leaflets. The common name "horse-chestnut" originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut, (it is only distantly related), and that that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses. In Britain and Ireland, the gorgeous, very large and highly polished seeds (when freshly-collected) are used for the popular children's game conkers, when the seeds are drilled, threaded onto string and used to hit another's "conker" until one breaks, they are the "loser"! The large seeds are said to repel spiders although many do not believe these claims! This lovely flower is the symbol of the city of Kiev, capital of Ukraine. Seeds are best planted about 6-8 cm. deep after they have dried and shrivelled a little. They will sprout within 3 to 6 months as a rule. ... Learn More

Our fire collection will brighten up your garden...... Includes: Alstroemeria Aurantiaca, Paeonia mascula ssp. mascula, Ligularia clivorum 'Desdemona', Meconopsis cambrica 'Frances Perry', Moraea huttonii, Oenothera 'Sunset Boulevard', Potentilla 'Monarch's Velvet', Dierama pulcherrimum 'Blackbird', Sisyrinchium palmifolium and Eryngium planum Blaukappe. ... Learn More

This lovely poppy from the highlands of Mexico is a perennial whose leaves resemble those of Eschscholzia, being finely divided into many grey-green linear lobes. The flowers are solitary yellow cups formed from four overlapping petals, 5-7 cm across, vaguely resembling the tulip. The long thin fruits are also reminiscent of Eschscholzia. In nature it is typically found at elevations of 1500-2000 meters in the Chihuahuan Desert and south into central Mexico, where it favours rocky habitats, ... Learn More

This elegant plant, perfect for the rockery or trough, forms neat spreading mats of tiny, bright green ferny leaves, topped with dense clusters of fragrant, crisp white flowers from spring to autumn. Even out of flower, the plants are attractive, as it is an evergreen. A delightful little plant from the European high Alps. ... Learn More

This stately flower is distinguished from the common UK bluebell by its paler, larger, blue-striped flowers, more erect flower stems, broader leaves, and blue anthers, the common bluebell having creamy-white ones. A strong, robust plant, it comes from the woodlands and moist meadows of Spain and North Africa where it forms large clumps. It is a very effective bulb for planting under shrubs in garden borders or in woodland gardens, where in spring, strong, erect spikes of bell-shaped flowers appear. They can tolerate a wide range of soils but refer humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Care should be taken to prevent this species from hybridising with the less-vigorous British native Bluebell. ... Learn More

Ironically, this is a much better garden plant than the British native "Bluebell". It is also an exquisite blue, paler than the native species, with a remarkable ability to complement and enhance the effect of just about any other flower colour it comes near. Whilst the native plant has flowers that lean to one side, this one is more symmetrical, much like a hyacinth, to which it is of course related. It provides colour and contrast to the woodland garden, border front, rock garden or even a wild/naturalized area, and is particularly effective when naturalized in large drifts under deciduous trees , or at the margins of shady woodland gardens. ... Learn More

Also called 'Yellow Henbane'. Funnel shaped, darker-eyed, creamy white flowers appear on long leafy stalks in summer and autumn, whilst soft, floppy, hairy leaves clad the strong stems along which the rows of round seed pods later appear. This plant should be grown and handled with care, as for centuries the leaves and seeds have been the source of numerous drugs, including scopolamine and hyoscyamine, and it is said that even the perfume of the plant can induce giddiness. In ancient times it was used for many purposes including as an anaesthetic and also by witches and shamans to induce visions. Please do NOT try this. ... Learn More