This rarely-seen, tall upright herbaceous perennial produces sprays of tiny, foamy, greeny-white flowers on long stems above fern-like foliage from mid-summer through into autumn which are a magnet for bees and butterflies adding a touch of lightness to any planting scheme. It makes a superb companion to astrantias and was a wow at a recent Chelsea Flower Show. ... Learn More

A new, quite priceless, late-season plant. The shoots only appear above ground relatively late in the season, and soon produce fat buds which open into bright crimson flowers from July until October on thin stems, which bear very attractive, thick, rubbery blue leaves. This bone hardy plant, collected at high altitude, in boggy conditions, above Copper Canyon on our Mexican expedition in 2003, is almost certainly unknown in cultivation. ... Learn More

Cornflower is one of the hardiest and easiest flowers to grow and the masses of dark mauve, double flower heads will be stunning in the border. This variety makes for an ideal choice for a cut flower and dries brilliantly too. A long standing favourite. Extremely attractive to bees. Prefers full sun and a rich well drained soil. ... Learn More

Classic Magic Cornflower produces single, semi-double flowers in attractive purple to almost black shades, and purple and white bi-colours. This stunning flower is ideal for cutting or creating swathes of colour when sown in drifts. Sow in early spring for armfuls of flowers to pick all through the summer. Easily grown, it also makes a most attractive pot plant for the cold greenhouse. ... Learn More

The grey-green waxy leaves and very sweetly-perfumed red flowers, occasionally pink or white with no intermediate shades, combine to perfection, and look best grown en-masse on banks, or when allowed to self-seed in walls and paving. They are very attractive to bees and butterflies and other pollinating insects and will even grow well in shallow soil where virtually nothing else will grow. And additionally, in olden times, and even now, both leaves and roots can be eaten, the leaves either fresh in salads or lightly boiled, the roots boiled in soups! ... Learn More

A large, non-spreading clump-forming plant displays long-stemmed sprays of large creamy yellow "pincushion scabious" flowers over an extended period in the summer. This is an exceptional specimen plant either on its own or at the back of the border. ... Learn More

A very low and slow-growing alpine plant, forming a carpet of fuzzy silver-grey leaves with short stems of starry white flowers, which appear in late spring and early summer. It does best in the rock garden or in a gravel scree or alpine trough garden where it does best in a hanging position. ... Learn More

This charming relative of the snapdragon is a spreading perennial that produces masses of blue flowers with delicate yellow throats. It makes a lovely display all summer long and is quick growing. Try it dotted around your rockery, or as underplanting in your borders. ... Learn More

Robust sprays of fragrant, creamy white flowers open above compact stems, bearing leathery, slightly hairy, little-divided leaves, an unusual feature within this group of plants. A new, rare and extremely garden-worthy plant from the windy Azores Islands, it will puzzle even the most knowledgeable plant enthusiast! ... Learn More

Bright pink heads on short stems, with ferny feathery foliage, make this exceptionally compact umbellifer a must for the front of a choice border. It is very slow to spread and certainly not invasive, as well as being bone hardy. As a bonus, the entire plant smells of apples! "To be sought, few herbaceous plants can hold a candle to it in early May." (Graham Stuart Thomas) ... Learn More

Large numbers of heavily doubled cup-shaped tiny yellow "poppies" are massed in branching sprays. Finely divided leaves make a substantial sprawling mass during spring and summer on this unusual member of the poppy family. ... Learn More

A dainty, and nowadays very rare, curiosity. Deeply-divided, finely-cut, fern-like foliage, displays numerous bright yellow flowers consisting of frilly, almost feather-like petals. Also sometimes called Chelidonium 'Bowles Variety'. ... Learn More

Forming a clump of stiff, leafy stems, this valuable late-season plant bears heads of curiously-shaped rich pink flowers resembling gaping mouths, hence the common name "Turtle Head". This lovely flower makes a very useful addition to every garden, flowering from late summer when most others have finished, and right into autumn. ... Learn More

A are and quite superb rockery or wall gem which produces arching stems carrying sprays of yellow 'lambs tail' flowers, sprouting from hardy evergreen succulent rosettes. A very long lived, tough and hardy, high value plant. Seed is absolutely tiny and best results may be produced by gently pushing seeds into cracks in the wall or rockery. Makes a gorgeous display even in the hottest spot on a wall or rockery. ... Learn More

An abundance of tall stems carry swathes of giant white petalled, yellow eyed, daisy flowers thoughout late summer. Clumps will gradually spread and will return reliably each season. ... Learn More