An unusual and excellent small, non-climbing pea for shady conditions, this dwarf one is quite distinct from the more commonly seen Lathyrus vernus, the long, darker-veined, reddish purple flowers opening in a one-sided head on small, domed clumps in early spring. ... Learn More

The most commonly-grown lavender will produce long-stemmed, bright blue flowers which are ideal for cutting, drying or to perfume linen, both the flowers and foliage being strongly-perfumed. Long-lived and easy-to-grow, it benefits from a close haircut early each spring to encourage fresh growth. ... Learn More

This is probably the finest form of this lovely lavender which makes compact bushes of narrow, fragrant, grey-green leaves on dense spikes of strongly perfumed blue flowers. Superb, whether as a dwarf shrub in the garden, as a cut flower, or even when dried for making a pot pourri. ... Learn More

A smart, compact, form of English lavender that carries masses of deep purple-blue flowers on fine, silvery-grey, aromatic foliage. It is the perfect choice for creating a traditional Lavender hedge with the added benefit of being very attractive to bees and butterflies. Fully hardy, the fragrant stems and flowers can also be cut and dried for home-made potpourri. ... Learn More

This amazingly dwarf lavender has short-stemmed fragrant blue flowers studding a medicine ball-sized silver-grey bush. Ideal for a small rock garden or even for formal edging, the odd seedling may vary but most will be very compact indeed. ... Learn More

Making an impressive evergreen shrublet, this beautiful plant bears large, soft, velvety leaves, and almost as a bonus, purple flowers smother the plant in early summer. Although it looks tender, it is frost hardy, and either in a very large pot or in the garden it is an arresting sight. ... Learn More

This unique plant often stands pride of place amongst the winter foliage plants, where it shines like a lantern in the garden. As a bonus, purple flowers smother the plant in early summer. Either in a very large pot or in the garden it is an arresting sight. ... Learn More

This unusual Turkish plant has woolly, grey green foliage which is surrounded by pearly pink flowers that make a rustic and ornamental addition to the garden. A lovely tall and slender wild flower, it has blossoms quite similar to "Bryony", whence it takes its name. ... Learn More

From Kashmir comes this tall showy plant with remarkable propeller-like white-centred pink mallow blooms. Strong stems clad in downy ivy-shaped leaves survive without staking throughout the very long flowering season. "A remarkable stately plant" (Graham Stuart Thomas) ... Learn More

This popular plant bears large pink Hollyhock-like blooms, each with a pretty magenta centre, that smother the branches which are clad in attractive grey leaves, from June to November. A fast growing shrub, it is brilliant for quickly filling in gaps at the back of your borders. Most attractive to bees and butterflies, it does of its best in well-drained soil in sun. ... Learn More

This popular shrub is grown for the masses of dark pink, hollyhock-like flowers that smother its branches all summer long from June to September. The deeply lobed, grey-green leaves are attractive too. Extremely long-flowering, this vigorous tree mallow will thrive in a well-drained shrub or mixed border, but needs plenty of space to spread itself out as its puts on tremendous growth in just one season. In cold areas of the country it may be best grown against a warm wall to minimise wind and frost damage. ... Learn More

A fascinating, rare and elusive plant from Japan, which makes a tight spreading carpet consisting of tidy rosettes of serrated leaves. From this arise flower buds which are pink-tinged, and open to golden-eyed white flowers, followed by fluffy seedheads. An utterly hardy specimen, Zone3 in the USA! ... Learn More

An aristocratic plant distantly related to the dandelion, but this hardy perennial,non-invasive plant is infinitely more garden-worthy with branching stems that hold sizeable golden heads above rosettes of thick, leathery, deeply-toothed leaves. ... Learn More

From the Caucasus mountains comes this rare and quite spectacular plant with a remarkable resemblance to an absolutely giant muscari or "grape hyacinth". Several radiating thick, fleshy, pointed leaves rest upon the ground, whilst a stout stem arises, on the top of which numerous buds open into long-stemmed blue flowers. In a large pot or hot dry garden will be impressive, and it will grow bigger annually. ... Learn More

This rare plant makes an unusual Hyacinth type spike of flowers, the lower fertile ones being deep brown bronze, and pale brown with yellow teeth, the upper sterile tassel is purple to violet and even pinkish in some plants. Quite an amazing combination, and although it will do well in a well-drained rockery it will be absolutely spectacular in a pot! ... Learn More