Tall spikes of brilliant, violet-blue flowers, open on compact spikes beloved by bees. Perfect for growing in a sunny, sheltered spot or sunny patio, it flowers in its second year. In a well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered spot, it will improve steadily over the years, slowly thickening stems and trunk. In the wild it is rare and endemic to the Canary islands and especially La Palma. Very few fertile seeds collected. ... Learn More

Fantastic, striking, torch-like flowers, formed of countless waxy bracts, are borne on separate, leafless stems and on this rare form are brilliant pink edged with a white margin. One of the world's most magnificent plants, this gorgeous Indonesian beauty produces long, elegant arching canes which are produced annually, and bear pointed banana-like leaves. In hotter countries, this fabulous exotic gem can be enormous. In SE Asia, it is sometimes used as a food ingredient for delicacies and also as a medicine. ... Learn More

Round shaped hybrid Milan type, with high uniformity. Excellent internal quality; smooth skin. High heat tolerance. Maturity is around 55 days from sowing. Suitable for early protected cropping and maincrop field production. ... Learn More

Hanging clusters of long, tubular, pinkish red and orange flowers open on this rare, superb and sought-after plant, followed by small, edible fruits. It is easily cultivated in cool temperate climates without extremes of heat or cold, either in a well-drained spot in the garden or a large container. In a severe winter it can be cut to the ground, but invariably re-emerges the following spring. A marvelous shrub to about 1.5 m tall it is native to paramo and cloud forests of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador between 2500 and 4000 m. ... Learn More

Purple star-shaped flowers that appear in early summer, and continue for a very long time, are much-loved by bees, birds and butterflies, and are finally followed by red-brown berries. This rare, choice and captivating hardy evergreen shrub, with a neat, natural, compact topiary shape, is a valuable addition to any garden or even a patio, where it will thrive, especially in a hot summer. It is both frost and drought-hardy, and will thrive if planted in well-prepared soil either in full sun or shade. Besides being an attractive flowering shrub or compact tree, it can sometimes be trained to develop a climbing habit! Finally, it is an essential plant for all wildlife friendly gardens. ... Learn More

An amazing plant on all accounts, this spectacular, fast-growing shrub with masses of bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers and soft leaves is closely related to Brugmansias. Over many months throughout the growing year it provides a blistering colour display, the 2 inch (5cm.) trumpet-like flowers hanging in heavy clusters turning this beauty a fiery red. Much sought after, it is native to high cloud forests along the Andes from Colombia to Argentina between 800 and 3500 m. In cultivation this floriferous plant in the "Angel'sTrumpet" family prefers a warm or cool temperate climate, but it is adaptable and will grow anywhere where it has good drainage and adequate protection, and even makes a superb standard plant in a large pot! ... Learn More

A compact variety that produces small, oval shaped, creamy white fruits. Ideal for pots and containers. Spine free under normal growing conditions. ... Learn More

One the most distinctive kniphofias, this impressive landscape plant thrusts up strong, tall stems carrying large, rounded, egg-shaped, chunky-heads, opening into brilliant-red and lemon flowers, all held over clumps of thick, strong, broad arching foliage. This valuable late-flowering perennial from South Africa is really one of the highlights of the late summer to early autumn border. ... Learn More

Also known as Angel Lips, Spanish Flag, or West Indian Lantana, these spectacular shrubby plants have aromatic flower clusters (umbels) in a mixture of red, orange, yellow, and white florets. The flowers, which are hummingbird magnets, typically change colour as they mature, resulting in inflorescences that are two or three-coloured. Indeed another common name for Lantana camara is "Ham 'n Eggs" due to the adjacent white and yellow inflorescences. Although they are more often seen as specimens and borders around the entrances to hotels in warmer countries, in the UK they are just as much at home in a large container in a conservatory. The bunches of black berries which finally appear are much loved by hungry birds too! ... Learn More

This compactish, slow growing, pretty palm makes a slender, smooth trunk topped by large, circular, fan-shaped leaves with silvery undersides, which are arranged in a dense crown. A remarkably useful plant, the leaves are a popular thatching material, and are often harvested from the wild for local use, the stem of the plant being used to make poles! It is native to the Caribbean, the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba, Bahamas, Southeast N. America down to the Florida Keys, and much of the Caribbean region. In the wild it grows in open woodlands and coastal areas, but will thrive in any open situation in subtropical and tropical climates, and prefers a well-drained, calcareous soil. ... Learn More

Another giant rosette plant which is stunningly similar to the puyas of the high Andes, and also to the giant echiums that evolved separately, on the Canary Islands, demonstrating convergent/parallel evolution. It forms a large rosette of narrow, hairy leaves that eventually produces a giant inflorescence of creamy white flowers, up to 3 m tall, protected by masses of long, silvery hairy bracts and pollinated by birds. Lobelia telekii is native to the high mountains of tropical eastern Africa and inhabits dry, rocky slopes between an astonishing 3500 and 5000 m elevation on Mount Elgon, the Aberdare Range and Mount Kenya. At 5000 m the daytime temperatures are frequently below freezing. In its native areas, Lobelia telekii takes many years to flower, but in cultivation this is likely to be very much shorter. These seeds were collected at high elevation on Mt. Kenya, near the upper limit of this species where frequent frosts occur. In cultivation, the plants will do best in a large container where they can be protected from excess rain of cold. Also makes a truly memorable house plant baffling everyone who wonders what it is! ... Learn More

Rare and unique, this palm-like giant Lobelia forms a large rosette of purplish-green, large, narrow, hairy leaves, and a tall sizeable woody trunk. Eventually a giant flower spike arises protected by masses of long, silvery hairy bracts, and finally countless deep blue flowers open. Similar in stature to a giant echium (which see), it can grow up to 6 metres in total. Rare even in the wild, where it is pollinated by birds, it lives in the high-elevation bogs of the alpine zone, between 3700 and 4300 m (12100 and 14100 ft) and is native to the high Rwenzori Mountains of tropical Eastern Africa from Uganda to Rwanda which are also known as the "Mountains of the Moon". It is technically hardy, requiring a well drained location, but it can be grown in temperate areas provided the drainage is perfect. It will tolerate frost, snow and heavy rain (all of which occur on the slopes of the volcanic areas where it grows naturally), and it prefers a sunny open location with lots of light. It can also make an unforgettable sight in a large pot in a well drained soil. This rare and desirable plant can only be grown from seed which is extremely difficult to source and collect. ... Learn More

These attractive orange fruits have a refreshing citrus flavour, sometimes described as a combination of rhubarb and lime, and the bright green juice is often used as a drink. Naranjilla are quite delicate plants and need protection from strong winds and direct sunlight, in hot countries growing best in partial shade. The attractive, felted, large green leaves have a warm purply hue, but are covered in sharp prickles, the biggest ones hidden beneath the leaves. Solanum quitoense is native to South America where it is often found at quite high altitudes, but in cultivation, in cooler climes, it likes a sunny location, and to be kept warm during winter with minimum temperature of 7C/45F. ... Learn More

Masses of heavily-doubled, very fragrant, tissue paper blooms, in every imaginable colour, are splashed with deeper colours at the base of each petal. An extremely rare, choice and much sought-after variety, there are very few plants in the world that can compete with the beauty of this tree peony in full bloom. A mature plant boasts hundreds of enormous exotic blooms, much-loved by bees, each measuring up to 25cm (10") or more in diameter! These exceptional shrubs are hardy and disease resistant, and will continue to bloom for a lifetime. The exotic flowers of Tree Peony 'Rockii Mixed' are simply breathtaking in borders and make exquisite cut flowers. They became the unofficial national flower of China following a nationwide referendum in 1994. ... Learn More

Attractive white and purple flowers produce unusual fruits which become dark violet as they mature, but they are definitely not edible like many other passifloras and contain toxic chemicals. Large-lobed leaves add to its attraction, and these have most unusual hooked trichomes which help them to climb, and also makes them adhere to clothes similar to velcro! Once the plant is of sufficient size, flowering can be stimulated by frequent pruning. Originating from Central America, Mexico, and Peru, it must be grown in a sheletered spot or even a large container. ... Learn More