Between March and May this small bulbous plant from the Middle East has fleshy, mid green, lance like leaves and bears numerous short stems of pale-rimmed dark, inky-blue flowers. It prefers a very well drained soil in full sun and a dry summer dormancy or baking in the ground, making it ideal for a hot bank, scree or rockery in areas where summers may be wet. Will naturalise where happy. Also make a lovely pot plant! ... Learn More

From April onwards, tight conical clusters of pale blue buds open into compacted spikes of flared, waxy white flowers, each flower bell having attractively contrasting navy blue anthers. These flowers have an attractive fragrance which is especially noticeable in the evening. This lovely little plant should be grown more often but is rare in cultivation. ... Learn More

Berkheya cirsifolia, commonly referred to as the Silver Berkheya or the Silver Thistle, is a captivating perennial native to South Africa. Its distinct silver-gray foliage, deeply lobed and velvety to the touch, sets it apart. This hardy plant typically reaches heights of 1 to 3 feet and bears thistle-like flowers with striking silver-gray bracts encircling the central yellow disc, creating flower heads of 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Bloom occurs during the late spring and summer months, adding a touch of uniqueness to the landscape. The sturdy, upright stems provide structural support to the f ... Learn More

Dark-eyed mauve dahlia-like flowers arise from clumps of prickly thistle leaves. An intriguing introduction from high in the South African mountains. This newcomer demands a hot sunny spot to give of its best. We have included seed from a few pure white-flowered seedlings. ... Learn More

A striking new double form with a compact, lax habit, and an exceptionally long flowering period. The golden, daisy-like, double blooms smother the ferny foliage from early summer onwards. Brighten up your hanging baskets and containers, or let their trailing stems spread through gravel gardens and the front of borders. Likes a sunny position. ... Learn More

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

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 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 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

Sprays of white flowers, held on short stems on this loose tufted plant, age to a rosy-purple colour in June and July. It is incredibly hardy down to -28C, and is native to the Eastern Alps and also the Arctic. ... Learn More

This bulbous gem opens its delicate but tough powder blue flowers, much loved by butterflies, on slender, graceful spikes in May. Although a distant cousin of hyacinths, this fragrant, fairy-like cousin (which is NOT the "Spanish Bluebell) is much more refined. ... Learn More