This rare plant, native to much of the western United States, from Washington to Nebraska, has hairy stems reaching up to about half a metre tall, and many hairy, fern-like leaves divided into lance-shaped lobes. The flowers are made up of urn-shaped cups of deep silvery-purple-blue petal-like sepals, which are fuzzy with pointed or rounded tips, rarely white or pinkish sepals, and finally a feathery swirl of seed pods appears, that always attracts as much attention as the flower, this fabulous plant being both unmistakeable and unbeatable. Very few viable seeds collected. ... Learn More

One of the herbaceous, non-climbing clematis, this is ideal for the border with its numerous upright stems bearing countless sweetly-perfumed yellow-eyed white flowers, in loose panicles in June and July. Finally, attractive seed heads produce large orange seeds, each with a whispy tail! ... Learn More

This rarely offered form of this spectacular border perennial has purple-bronze foliage on strong arching stems. Strongly perfumed heads of starry white flowers from May to July give this plant exceptional value. This is not a climber like its relatives but is a 'shrub-like' clematis variety, a clump-forming herbaceous perennial, which is perfect for a mixed bed or border and can be pruned down to the ground each spring. ... Learn More

A rare, beautiful and sweetly-fragrant species that is native to China and Korea. A most unusual sub-shrubby species, it nether clings nor climbs, and produces toothed leaves and tubular, hyacinth-like, perfumed blue flowers on erect stems from late summer to mid autumn. It makes a spectacular display in sun to part shade in any well-drained garden soil that is kept moist in summer. ... Learn More

This lovely dwarf catmint forms a low cushion of hairy fragrant leaves, above which, from July until September, arise short spikes carrying globular clusters of bright pink flowers, rather like a candelabra. This is possibly the last of the catmints to be in flower. Wild Basil has mauve coloured flowers unlike Garden Basil which has white flowers. ... Learn More

This vigorous, clump-formimg species produces nemerous leafy stems to three feet or more and bears pointed hairy leaves, glaucous beneath. The beautiful, broad, bell-shaped flowers are pale yellow-green, and wonderfully painted and veined with purple and blue both inside and on the outside. It comes from high woodlands in the Western Himalaya and Kashmir up to 3,500 meters. ... Learn More

The true "Kashmir Bellflower" is a gorgeous plant with slender erect stems bearing large, single, pendulous, milky-blue bell-shaped flowers which are a noticeable flared 'tent-shape'. This beautiful specimen is found in the Himalayas, from Pakistan to Kashmir, at altitudes of 3000-4200m and is to be found flowering from July to August. ... Learn More

Delicate purple flowers with white 'stems' which are the lower part of the flower, arise in compact clumps without any leaves, in the autumn, and can soon naturalise on a rock garden or even in grass. Contrary to its common name, and this is the actual "Autumn Crocus" usually referred to, this beautiful autumn-flowering bulb is not in the slightest related to true crocuses, but is botanically closer to lilies. ... Learn More

This variety which blooms in September and October is one of the most popular as they flower when least expected, the large, lilac-pink goblets suddenly appearing just as the season draws to an end, whereas the large, floppy, upright basal leaves appear on their own the following spring. ... Learn More

A distinguished variety with large rosy purple, fragrant flowers, each with a white heart and orange anthers, these plants are often misnamed "Autumn Crocus" because of their autumn blooming, when they produce large cup-shaped flowers on naked stems, and much later, foliage which resembles hosta leaves, appearing in the spring. They do best in rich, well-drained soil and partial shade. ... Learn More

Native to only a few high mountain meadows on the island of Corsica, this plant has both pink and white flowered forms in the wild,often divided equally between the two colours. It is very easy in cultivation with narrow short leaves and miniature mid to deep pink flowers which grow in compact clusters very early on in the autumn. They are equally at home whether in the ground or a container. These seeds were grown in cultivation in the UK. ... Learn More

Pink to purple, untessellated flowers, each with a tiny white star in the throat are produced in abundance in the autumn along with the narrow, glossy leaves. This attractive dwarf species performs well in a pot but is strong enough to be grown in a choice spot outside. It inhabits much of the central Mediterranean Basin. ... Learn More

A very rare plant from Bulgaria with large, flared, pure white autumn flowers. They are easy to grow in good, deep, moisture-retentive soil, when they bloom after their summer dormancy, denuded of leaves, hence their common name 'Naked Ladies' The bright flowers last incredibly well, even though they appear very fragile, the leaves only appearing in winter to early spring, when they last until midsummer. ... Learn More

In late summer or autumn, for 2-3 weeks, flowers open pale purple-pink with rounded ends, the petals of each bloom often held parallel to the ground, and they are well suited for the rock garden. These plants are very hardy coming from such cold places as south east Russia through to the Caucasus and Dagestan. ... Learn More

Late-blooming, from September to November, this popular flower opens large, very long-stemmed, lilac-pink goblets, suddenly appearing just as the season draws to an end. The large, floppy, upright basal leaves appear on their own the following spring to make more bulbs for future years. ... Learn More