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

An easy-growing draba, making hairy grey mounds of rounded leaves, carrying stemless yellow flowers in early spring. This little gem, that makes a perfect show plant, is native to the mountains of Armenia and also Zigana Dag, Turkey. ... 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

Polished, needle-like foliage and disproportionately-large, brilliant silvery blue, "dragonhead", helmet-shaped flowers, each highlighted with a light blue lip, appear for a very long time from late May to August. This is a long-lived perennial that forms dark green mounds with distinctive foliage, rather reminiscent of a penstemon, with which it could easily be confused. Completely deciduous in winter, it is remarkably drought tolerant, and is also suitable for containers, rock gardens or perennial borders. ... 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

This elegant fern has robust foliage and is able to withstand a sunnier site and drier soil than most hardy ferns. In mild locations the foliage may remain standing all winter, but elsewhere it dies down, but is happiest in a cool, shady, sheltered humus-rich situation. More tolerant of sun than many other types of ferns, it is also a good choice for border plantings. It was originally thought to be the partner of lady fern, and like all ferns, this prehistoric plant does not produce flowers, reproducing via spores produced beneath the fronds. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the Award of Garden Merit (AGM). ... 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

Its name alone is a mouthful. But it is definitely NOT edible. However, your curious friends will have quite a shock when they touch the small plum-shaped fruits on the amazing and aptly named "Squirting-Cucumber". Yellow flowers on radiating stems produce intriguing hanging fruits. Unwary inspection triggers the incredible seed distribution method. The swollen fruit breaks off and shoots downwards (remember Newton's Laws of Reaction) propelled by a high speed jet of seeds and water which shoots upwards. Ouch! Absolutely amazing, and never fails to impress. A relative of the edible cucumbers, but under NO CIRCUMSTANCES eat it. Very few seeds collected as they disappear all over the place! ... 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

From June to September, fabulous, white, daisy-like flowers with drooping petals and burnished, orange-brown centres appear on stiff stems. This white coneflower is shorter than many other varieties, making it a valuable addition to the middle of a border or containers. It is a tough plant, and, like other coneflowers, is long-flowering and will cope well with adverse weather conditions, except drought. Try it dotted through the middle of a sunny, mixed border or in bold drifts among grasses where it will extend the season of interest. It is attractive to bees and butterflies, and birds will flock to the seed heads. ... Learn More