Alpine with hairy ovate leaves which form a tight mound or dome, unlike many of its yellow flowered cousins this variety has pure white flowers in spring. A great addition to any rockery or trough. ... Learn More

This little gem from Mount Parnassus in Greece would be a perfect specimen for a pan or hot trough. Tiny rosettes, much like those of a mossy saxifrage, push up short stems of brightest yellow flowers before almost any other plant awakens. ... Learn More

This most unusual, petite plant has beautiful basal rosettes, rather resembling hens-and-chicks sempervivums, and disproportionally large white flowers, in heavy sprays, all above leaves with interesting jagged margins and strongly twisted seed pods. It is native to Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. ... Learn More

This rare and beautiful Japanese high alpine plant makes a solid rounded cushion covered with sheets of almost stemless, golden-eyed white flowers. It is ideal for a pot or container or small rock-garden. ... Learn More

One of the very choicest and rarest of this group of plants, with relatively large fragrant yellow flowers, on thin, lax flower stems that are covered in delicate branched hairs giving them a "frosted" appearance. These arise from compact, tufted rosettes of silvery-grey leaves in earliest spring. Steens Draba is found on open rocky ridges on Steens Mountain, which is a large fault-block range in the south eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. ... Learn More

Sheets of stemless golden flowers open on a moss-like cushion on this potential show-winner that resembles some of the cushion androsaces. One of the most lovely alpines, this rare, choice, diminutive and very desirable mat-forming plant is found across North America where it grows above 9000ft, although it was first discovered in the Wind River range of Wyoming in the 1870's. Very few seeds collected. ... Learn More

This lovely plant bears nodding, cream buds which open into slightly paler ivory flowers on woody stems, the foliage consisting of tiny, leathery leaves with a grey reverse. Finally, the large impressive fuzzy ball of a seed head opens. ... Learn More

Whatever next! Can you believe a strawberry with yellow flowers. And this is the rare variegated-leaved form. Attractive red berries (edible, although pippy, but loved by birds) and very similar to alpine strawberries, are produced all summer, on a creeping evergreen carpet. Perfect hanging over a wall or rockery, or as an attractive slowly creeping ground cover. ... Learn More

Can you believe a strawberry with yellow flowers. Attractive red berries loved by birds and very similar looking to alpine strawberries, are produced all summer, on a creeping evergreen carpet. This is the more-vigorous form of the variegated form and is perfect hanging over a wall or on a rockery, where it will stifle all low-lying weeds. ... Learn More

Very large reddish-purple flowers with pronounced golden-brown cone-centres are produced from July until mid-autumn. Ideal for cutting, these plants will perform best on well-prepared humus-rich soil. (aka 'Ruby Star') ... Learn More

This Echinacea is an upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with narrowly ovate, toothed, rough-hairy, dark green leaves. It is tough and beautiful with unbeatable heat and drought tolerance, whilst attracting a variety of wildlife with its eye-catching appeal. The elegant daisy like flowers have rosy pink petals with an orange centre that rises like a cone. An excellent cut flower and also good for drying. ... Learn More

'White Swan' is a popular variety of "Cone Flower, producing bronze-centred white flowers from July to October. This form is shorter than others, making it a great, easy-to-grow mid-border plant which will thrive in any decent soil and does not require staking making it excellent for cutting. It produces in as little as four months from seed an abundance of large, pure white flowers with down-swept white petals surrounding a large central cone and possesses a lovely honey fragrance, much appreciated by bees. ... Learn More

Recently discovered in the wild is this rare and incredibly tall form of the lovely "globe thistle" which is perfect for the very back of a tall border. Numerous, tennis ball-sized, spiky heads, loved by bees and butterflies, slowly change from silver to pale blue. Clean, huskless seed is supplied. ... Learn More

Spiky leaves along with bristly metallic blue flowers, make this plant a great architectural plant for the back of the summer border. Spiny, cobwebbed leaves provide interest from spring until the blooms appear in late summer, these striking plants associating well with other tall, late summer plants such as cardoon or echinacea, or even tall miscanthus grasses. It has been given an Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... Learn More

This tall, imposing plant displays impressive, tennis-ball sized, silvery-white, prickly seed heads on strong, stout stems. Clumps of these are constantly covered with bees and butterflies all summer long. Very long-lived, trouble-free, and the perfect back of border specimen, these plants also make fabulous cut or dried flowers. ... Learn More