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

This is the pure white form of the more commonly-seen blue variety which will establish happily on a hot rockery. ... Learn More

Large, exceedingly attractive heart-shaped silvered leaves, with distinct green veins and margins, open forming a solid imposing fan. Sprays of numerous forget-me-not blue flowers appear in early spring, and usually a second flush appears again in midsummer. In a shady, or even permanently damp spot, this is a stunning plant which will make you gasp. Very, very few viable seeds are produced, and these are individually collected. A perfect choice for a woodland garden. ... Learn More

Clumps of rush-like leaves arise on this rapidly-growing lily relative from the South African mountains. It flowers very quickly the first year from seed and will even self-seed when happy on stems which are produced in succession all summer long holding a multitude of yellow starry flowers. On a gravel drive or poor soil area it will excel! ... Learn More

These unusual, fast-growing, yellow, lily-like flowers come from Australia, where they are found in all states except Northern Territory. They are usually found in the drier northern regions, for example, north and west from near Bendigo, and are often found on light, sandy soils, extending to the far north-west near Lake Wallawalla. This unusual species includes a large number of forms within a complex polyploid series. ... Learn More

Kniphofia-like spikes of erect, thin, strap like leaves, formed in basal rosettes, hold dense terminal racemes of star shaped bright yellow flowers on strong stems which are a stunning sight when planted en-masse. These lovely flowers originated in the South Island of New Zealand, where they grow in damp places, often in tussock grassland. ... Learn More

From South Africa comes this beautiful, rare, easy-to-grow, desirable treasure. In early spring, long-stemmed, erect spikes of white flowers open from pink buds, the frothy blooms being topped by the rest of the densely held buds which open from the bottom upwards. It is drought and heat tolerant and will grow in any well-drained soil, and in warmer climes it is evergreen, increasing both by root and seed with time. An excellent cut flower, it is widespread in the winter rainfall area of South Africa where it grows on sandstone, granite, or clay. In cooler countries it will need protecting fro ... Learn More

Clumps of green fleshy leaves surround strong stems holding pyramid-shaped heads of buds which open into bright yellow starry flowers over a good period in early summer. Related to B. rossii, this lovely New Zealand flower has several variants which differ very little in stature. Bulbinella gibbsii var. gibbsii is confined to Stewart Island, and Bulbinella gibbsii var. balanifera is found in moist but well-drained rocky sites in the south of the North Island, and to the west of the South Island, in high rainfall areas, south of Arthur’s Pass. Few seeds. ... Learn More

From the mountains of southern New Zealand comes this fine hardy plant, with dwarf grassy clumps which sprout thick spires of starry, deep yellow flowers, vaguely like "Red-hot Pokers". With fleshy edible roots, (should you be hungry), this New Zealand gem is totally hardy and improves over the years. ... Learn More

Glowing and shimmering in the sunny border, this graceful, aromatic, evergreen shrub has dense, spreading, most attractive long, slender, erect shoots, bearing oval, waxy, blue-green leaves and domed umbels of star-shaped, yellow flowers from midsummer to early autumn. Indeed, the large bright yellow umbels in summer are the only clue that this rare plant is an astrantia relative! Although astonishingly hardy, it makes a perfect sea-side plant where it can thrive in the salty breeze! ... Learn More