Multiple violet-purple flowers open in June-July over a base of soft leaves. Developing a long-lived stout rhizome, it is easy to establish in most conditions, whether in sun or shade. This lovely plant is one of the UK native hardy geraniums, and in the wild it ranges as far north as the Arctic. ... Learn More

A most unusual seedling appeared one day. Tight upright habit, compact trusses of upward-facing pale pink flowers. We concluded that as it appeared between the two, its parents were most probably G. clarkei 'Kashmir White' and G. sylvaticum. The seedlings displayed astonishing diversity, all having the same massed flower heads, but in colours from palest pinks to deepest blues. ... Learn More

From a central rosette of attractively marbled spring foliage, prostrate spreading stems with large numbers of smallish, violet-veined white flowers with purple-pollened anthers. The stems of this vigorous Japanese low crawler root as they spread, making it a worthwhile ground coverer or weed stifler. ... Learn More

Large numbers of blood red veined pink funnel-shaped flowers, from spring and throughout summer, adorn this low spreader, which stifles weeds whilst hybridising busily with other geraniums producing fascinating offspring. ... Learn More

On a compact slowly spreading carpet appears a non-stop display from June onwards of upward-facing white-eyed sky blue flowers. "A pearl beyond price" (Graham Stuart Thomas), but alas a reluctant seed producer - the elusive seeds are collected individually. ... Learn More

Bright yellow flowers open on multi-branching stems above thick leathery (presumably caltha or "kingcup" like) leaves which are differently shaped depending on where they grow on the plant, the upper ones being lobed and blunt-toothed, while the lower leaves kidney or rounded heart-shaped and coarsely toothed. This unusual hardy plant is from N.W. North America and is completely new to us. ... Learn More

This bright yellow flower is a classic cottage-garden perennial, blooming as early as May, and if dead-headed, flowering on and off all summer long until October, when it will brighten your garden with a touch of summer, long into the autumn months. ... Learn More

Numerous bright red or sometimes yellow flowers, open on many stems above bright green thick leathery leaved rosettes. This lovely new border or rockery plant was collected quite recently in South America (Patagonia). ... Learn More

This rare and lovely flower really is one of the most delightful border perennial, yet it is not often seen in gardens. Not only is it handsome, flowering from June to August, it is very hardy, easy to grow, and long-lived. Red shoots emerge from a central crown in April and evolve into a bushy, upright clump, the stems remaining red, carrying ovate, neatly creased, mid-green leaves that are serrated along the edges, rather like Meadowsweet. They gently branch towards the top, and a long succession of pretty, pure white flowers with five fluttering petals, with a butterfly quality is produced, ... Learn More

These vigorous perennials have linear leaves up to 24 inches long with spikes of up to 20 funnel-shaped, marked, deep magenta flowers which appear in spring. In the Mediterranean it is a wild flower in the olive groves through May and June and is naturalised in the South-West of England in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles where it is called Whistling Jack! It thrives in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. ... Learn More

This uncommon form of G. communis has larger and much deeper red-purple flowers than the normal pink form, all with a prominently flared and extended bottom lip. Flowers are borne in erect spikes from late spring and into early summer. ... Learn More

One of the most beautiful flowers with two inch wide, brilliant red blooms opening on short spikes with up to seven flowers appearing in succession on each spike. This rare and unusual Gladiolus species is found growing on cliff faces in the high Drakensberg of South Africa where it is called the “Suicide Lily” because of its preferred habitat of cliffs where attempts to collect it, or it's seed can lead to death! Easy to grow, Gladiolus flanaganii is summer blooming and tolerant of summer water before going dormant in late summer. It is often grown in good-sized clay pots with well draining ... Learn More

This beauty grows short stems carrying showy, large, dark lilac or magenta flowers, with white streaks on the lower petals. It is easily grown in any rich, well drained soil in full sun,or even in pots. This winter hardy dwarf species, native to the Mediterranean, grows in the wild in rocky, sun-exposed sites, and is hardy enough to have naturalised in the UK in the New Forest and on isle of Wight ... Learn More

This is probably the hardiest of all gladioli, down to Zone 3 it is claimed, and also strangely, one of the rarest! It makes a dense spike of large, rich coloured flowers, attractively marked on the lower petals, and usually in shades of deep purple to carmine. This is certainly the best and most valuable of the Mediterranean species, a genus containing many inferior plants, as well as this gem! ... Learn More

Native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, these gorgeous plants open dazzling spring flowers resembling pink and magenta tongues of flame, each several centimeters long, with stamens and style protruding from the throat. The slender sword-shaped leaves appear before the flower spikes that often carry as many as 20 blooms on each stem. In a well-drained spot they will slowly spread and increase. ... Learn More