This rather tall plant bears creamy-green flowers from May until August. In the wild it inhabits mountainous or northerly regions across Europe and Asia. The species name Victorialis comes from the German Siegwurz (Root of Victory) and it earned this name having been "worn as an amulet, to be as safeguard against the attacks of certain impure spirits," by Bohemian miners among others. The plant, during earlier centuries in certain mountainous regions of Europe, "was cultivated as a medicinal and fetish plant" Hmmm.... what an intriguing history. ... Learn More

A lovely mid-sized allium bearing round umbels of purple-blue flowers in spring and early summer. A lovely specimen, best in good soil in a well-drained spot where it self-seeds gently if you are lucky! ... Learn More

Large, chalice-shaped, deep pink-violet-purple blooms are packed together, and open in dense umbels in June and July. The large spherical heads of flowers, all with pointed petals, produce the famed ‘exploding firework’ effect. In the wild these plants grow in Xinjiang, also in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan..... gosh what a lot of stans!! ... Learn More

This new plant from South Africa makes a low mound covered with numerous bright orange-red "snapdragon" flowers. A lovely container or rockery plant. ... Learn More

One of the strongest and tallest of all Alstroemerias in Chile, this robust flower opens large, multiple-flowered florets of strikingly-splashed orange flowers over an extended period in midsummer. A superb and valuable plant which thrives in poor soil, where it will slowly spread by underground rhizomes. ... Learn More

This spectacular plant flowers from August until October when most other flowers have finished producing cupped, dark-eyed, rosy pink flowers on long stalks, clad in small, soft leaves. A sumptuous specimen which is always coveted by late season visitors. ... Learn More

This erect, very rarely-seen, British native wildflower will thrive in damp conditions and gives a lovely late summer display of multiple soft pink flowers, (which occasionally are pure white with pink anthers!) on tall softly hairy stems with attractive grey-green leaves. It is an herbaceous perennial and so will return for several years after dying back over winter. ... Learn More

This most unusual and drought-tolerant plant bears fragrant yellow flowers in late spring and early summer leading to stems of curious spherical seed pods which make intriguing specimens for dried flower enthusiasts. In the garden these eventually fall apart to release the seeds. ... Learn More

From the high mountains of central and eastern Europe comes this rare alpine gem which makes a compact cushion of small silver-grey leaves supporting numerous bright yellow flowers. It will make an ideal subject for a well-drained dry scree, rockery, or alpine house. ... Learn More

New and rarely-offered, this fabulous alpine-house, rockery or wall plant produces solid cushions of tiny velvety silvery-grey leaves, which disappear in spring under sheets of thousands of tightly packed, fragrant golden flowers, and is as choice as you can get with a spring alpine. It is native to the high mountains of Greece, Bulgaria and Romania. ... Learn More

One of the essential flowers for a hot rockery, this perpetual favourite produces bright sheets of yellow flowers over clumps of grey-green leaves. Will self-seed when happy even on the hottest, driest bank. ... Learn More

This curious flower looks just like any dwarf alyssum with yellow flowers over a tight, woody green cushion in early spring, but then the flower stems stand up and the seed pods expand, just like little balloons! This curiously attractive flower is perfect for a raised bed or rockery. ... Learn More

Delicate, willow-like foliage is topped with beautiful, pale powder-blue star-shaped flowers in spring, the light green foliage looking good all summer long before turning a beautiful golden-yellow in autumn, even standing right through most of the winter. This plant gets better with age (unlike us) and doesn't shine until a few years old. ... Learn More

This most desirable native of Greece and Asia Minor has heads of ornamental, rich blue flowers which are larger, and open for longer than most other varieties, and narrow lance shaped foliage. A beautiful, if rarely-seen plant, it deserves to be more widely grown as it is well-behaved and runs very slowly indeed. Few good seeds collected. ... Learn More

Starry clusters of elegant pale blue starry flowers appear from spring to midsummer. This rarely seen perennial deserves better recognition for its long flowering period and reliable performance as it grows happily in sun or dappled shade, coping well with drought. ... Learn More