A truly amazing-looking plant producing positively inedible, ornamental fruits which resemble a cow's udder at one end and human breast at the other, and with lots of rather rude common names too! Although it is perennial it can be grown as an annual, and is related to the naranjilla and tomato with large velvety leaves with purple veins and furry hair, along with prominent spikes. The branches and stems are also dotted with firm thorns. The pink-purple flowers develop during spring and are followed by the waxy, yellow colored fruit ripening a few months later. It has been used in traditional ... 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 ... Learn More

This famous plant is perhaps THE classic alpine plant, epitomising spring, as the delicately fringed purple bells push up through the snow with leathery dark green rounded leaves. This choice, very hardy and perennial plant improves yearly if grown in loose gritty soil, but produces very few seeds indeed. ... Learn More

Strong upright stems hold dividing sprays of deep golden yellow. With a valuable late-flowering period of August to October, this is the best of the taller cultivars making a grand contrast to the autumn colouring of Michaelmas Daisies and other late bloomers. These plants are exceedingly tough and forgiving, thriving in the hardest driest soil. ... Learn More

Impressively-large whorls of rosy-mauve hooded flowers adorn erect stems, which stand above clumps of attractively wrinkled scallop-edged leaves in a rich dark green; a very elegant contrast of colour displayed in June and July. This lovely plant will enjoy light well-drained soil in sun or part shade and the clump will slowly increase in size over time, but never become invasive. ... Learn More

White flower spikes open on rough stems over low basal clumps of hairy, serrated green leaves. This is a tough plant and ideal for a wild garden or hot rockery where it will hold its own. ... Learn More

Highly prized in South America, this astonishing plant has been grown there for centuries for its incredibly sweet-tasting leaves. It is now used widely in the food and drinks industry as an organic and harmless sugar supplement or substitute. This attractive, white-flowered cultivar is known for its branching habit, which creates a naturally bushy plant, and it will happily over-winter on a bright windowsill in a cool room where it will make an attractive evergreen shrub. Very few fertile seeds are ever produced. This cultivar is larger than the original species, but has the same taste. ... Learn More

Baffle friends with this late summer treasure. A sturdy dome of stems carries salvia-like leaves, then from July until October white buds inflate into masses of spectacular deep violet ramshorn-like flowers. This is an unlikely relative of acanthus ("Bear's Breeches")! ... Learn More

NEW! Discovered by Proprietor Ray as a seedling at Plant World, this unusual form of Strobilanthes atropurpurea produces a late summer and autumn display of striking two-tone flowers. The normally completely blue, curved trumpet flowers now appear in white with attractive blue lips. ... Learn More

A welcome newcomer is this dwarf relative of Strobilanthes atropurpurea. The curved, tubular violet flowers are produced over a long and valuable flowering season - usually until October or even later. ... Learn More

A rare new plant which is totally different from all other strobilanthes. Unlike the common sprawling blue ones, this compact one resembles a green igloo of leaves, decorated in summer and even into late autumn with pendulous tassels of white flowers rather resembling the "Shrimp Plant". ... Learn More

From a basal rosette of radiating, long, thin, prostrate pointed leaves arises a strong stem holding attractive pink flowers. "Trigger plants" are so called because of these unique flowers which are triggered by pollinating insects. The trigger stays cocked until an insect probes the flower, but it then springs upwards and deposits pollen onto the head or back of the insect, which then flies off to pollinate another flower! ... Learn More

One of the showiest woodland flowers you can grow, this handsome perennial has attractive, bluish-green, deeply-lobed leaves. From March until May, clusters of large, bright yellow, saucer-like flowers appear, which are followed by pointed, erect, green hairy pods. In dry conditions, the plant may go dormant in midsummer, otherwise it flowers on and off into autumn. This is probably the best of the "Wood Poppies" for a moist, rich, lightly wooded area, where if happy it will self-sow and multiply. ... Learn More

This ethereal and beautiful poppy relative from China has elegant pinnate leaves beneath exceptionally large deep yellow poppy flowers, produced over a very long season (May-Oct). This too rarely seen plant will very gently self-seed into shady places if you are lucky. ... Learn More

Another showy woodland flower, but this one is new and rare. This handsome perennial has attractive, bluish-green, deeply-lobed leaves. From March until May, clusters of large, bright yellow, saucer-like flowers appear, but unlike all other stylophorums, the resultant seed pods are sausage-shaped and hang in pendulous bunches, an unusual but quite attractive variation. In dry conditions, the plant may go dormant in midsummer, otherwise it can flower on and off into autumn. ... Learn More