Some moraeas can be a challenge to grow, but not this dazzling one. A very drought tolerant species, this is long-blooming, vigorous, and gets bigger and stronger every year here in a well-drained corner of our African garden, bearing large, deep blue to violet, iris-like flowers with yellow nectar guides, on strong stems. It is equally happy whether in a pot or in a rockery. ... Learn More

From the mountains of South Africa comes this exotic, spectacular but hardy iris relative. Only one whippy strap-like leaf appears,but the strong erect stem produces a long succession of large, brilliant yellow, orchid-like flowers throughout early summer. Challenge your friends to name it. ... Learn More

These unusual plants flower without a leaf, displaying blue-violet flowers with yellow-orange nectar guides on the outer tepals. They will do best in a warm scree or rock garden, or even better in a pot where they will have perfect drainage and somewhere sheltered where you can enjoy them! ... Learn More

In late spring flowers of matt yellow-brown are suffused with blue and purple, the falls having a yellow spotted basal patch. One of the most versatile plants around, this African native can tolerate virtually any soil conditions from drought to moist soil and requires little maintenance. From the South-western Cape, it usually bears more than two leaves, the spiky foliage adding perfect texture and interest to formal settings and blooms are produced over a long season through the spring and summer. ... Learn More

A rare, exquisite, and long-lived Nepalese plant. A stout rosette of thistle-like foliage (but no relation) pushes up strong stems from which radiate leafy branchlets producing exotic, almost orchid-like, flared white flowers, which turn to bright pink inside after pollination. It will repeat flower from early summer until the frost, especially if dead-headed. A superb, hardy and valuable plant. ... Learn More

The stubby clusters of flowers of this lovely plant are purple, blue (with a white fringe), or white, and it is hardy, easy to grow, and has long-lasting blooms, and no garden should be without them. They have their common name because their clusters of small, bell-shaped, deep-blue flowers resemble clusters of upside-down grapes. An additional benefit is that all Muscari have a strong fragrance, so the more you plant, the more fragrance you get ... Learn More

A lovely variety with pale, powder-blue flowers with white rims flowering from March to April. Although this variety is reputed to be sterile, we received this seed with this name attached.... ... Learn More

This popular species blooms early, in March in some areas, with turquoise blue frilled bells with indigo stripes on noticeably tubby flowers. They self-sow freely, providing more flowers to enjoy the following year, grape hyacinths being hardy, easy to grow, and having long-lasting blooms. ... Learn More

This is the original, and very well-known and loved "Grape Hyacinth". In a rock garden it is short and not too leafy with deep blue flowers tipped with white at their open ends. It will gently self-seed when happy, but makes a welcome splash of blue in spring when little else is around. Absolutely bone hardy, it originally came from woodlands throughout eastern Europe and the Balkans. ... Learn More

Originating in south-east Europe to Turkey and Iran, and described by Polunin as "a striking plant", these are the most unusual "grape hyacinths". The "Tassel Hyacinths", at 40cm, with their cluster of brilliant violet sterile flowers held above the creamy-brown fertile flowers, are one of the tallest varieties, and are almost as tall as kniphofias. They are also much later flowering, in May rather than the more normal March-April. ... Learn More

From clumps of thin fleshy leaves arise bell-shaped crowns of purplish blue, sometimes almost black, flowers. The flower heads appear two-toned due to paler crowns, which are the sterile flowers. Grape hyacinth is good for naturalizing in gardens or lawns, for forcing or growing in container displays, and for rock gardens and although it will produce seedlings, it does so in a restrained manner, never exceeding its welcome. ... Learn More

This highly attractive plant has flowers of a deep richest blue, an effect unbroken except that each tiny flower is picked out with a delicate white crinoline-edge. They are natives of rocky hillsides in central Asia, but will do well in any well drained soil in a sunny spot and are fully cold-hardy. ... Learn More

In spring, spikes arise, covered with grape-like, long-lasting blooms, the bottom flowers being deepest, darkest, Oxford blue. Grape hyacinths are hardy, very easy to grow, and have long-lasting blooms, being particularly spectacular when allowed to naturalize. ... Learn More

Abundant, true blue petals open in a disc, with a tiny yellow "ring" at the centre, blooming constantly from late spring into summer. It self-sows anywhere it is happy, giving the appearance of a cloud of blue surrounding spring bulbs to a magnificent effect. The Alpine Forget-me-not is the county flower of Westmorland in the UK, and also the state flower of Alaska where it grows well in open, rocky places high in the mountains, flowering in midsummer. Just a few seeds collected. ... Learn More

This classic blue forget-me-not, ever-popular in gardens, will give sheets of piercing blue in spring and summer and can tolerate both sun and shade. In 15th-century Germany, it was supposed that the wearers of the flower would not be forgotten by their lovers. Legend has it that in medieval times, a knight and his lady were walking along the side of a river. He picked a posy of flowers, but then, because of the weight of his armour he fell into the river. As he was drowning he threw the posy to his loved one, shouting "Forget-me-not." It was often worn by ladies as a sign of faithfulness and ... Learn More